Can anyone help on some Grand Teton & Yellowstone questions. We are leaving for there later this month. Just have some logistics questions.1) Route:Is the better route from Cincinnati, OH to Grand Teton I-80 or I-90?Internet programs favor I-80 as it's a shorter. I wasn't sure if one road is more RV friendly (less mountains). We have a 32 ft class C. We don't have a toad but are planning to pickup a rental car closer to the park (see below). Unfortunately, we don't have time for other stops or sidetrips.2) Rental car:Assuming I'm coming from the south, is Jackson the best place to pick a rental car up? Does anyone know if I could get a class C close enough to the Jackson rental car area? Is there a better alternative?3) Bikes:Are bikes beneficial / needed on this trip?We will have the rental car so can use that to get around. We are staying at Colter Bay & Fishing Bridge. We're not big bicyclists. We just want to see the sights.4) Verizon coverage at Fishing Bridge:Does anyone have recent experience on how good it is, if at all?I keep reading on the internet that there was a plan in place to improve it in the last year or two. I'm not sure if that's happened yet though.Thanks!

We camped at Fishing Bridge last summer and there was no Verizon reception. We drove about 20 miles southwest along the lake to get reception.

I can't answer the route question but I think if you are not big cyclist to start with, then I would forego bikes. I think there are areas to bike near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton but Yellowstone is really too big and the traffic too bad to gain a benefit.You need to plan your routes as well to maximize sightseeing and minimize road time. There is construction and no matter what you do you'll drive roads twice but that isn't that big of a deal since it's all beautiful.I found this site useful when I planned my 2014 trip: Yellowstone Itineraries

From Cincinnati, my recommendation would be to take I74 to Davenport/Moline to pick up I80 all the way to Rawlins, WY then route 287 through Lander to route 26 over the Togowtee Pass into Grand Teton. Between DuBois and the top of the pass is a gradual climb and the descent isn't bad either. Use lower gears to control speed going down to save your brakes. I90 is much further north and would be a better return route when starting from Yellowstone, which also makes the trip a nice loop.Do a Google search for "Jackson, WY car rental". There are a number of rental places in town and also at the Jackson Hole Airport.There is a bike trail in Grand Teton that starts at the south end of the Park and goes at least as far as Jenny Lake. I don't recall any bike trails around Colter Bay. No bike trails that I can recall in Yellowstone. IMO leave the bikes at home as the distances are large and you indicated that you don't have a lot of time.Verizon works in the Old Faithful area and at Mammoth Hot Springs. We have also obtained a good signal at the Pumice Point turnout along Yellowstone Lake.

bikes would be really good in Grand Tetons, but not so in Yellowstone, so don't bother if you aren't really into biking.Jackson Airport is probably where the car rentals are, so yes, you can get in there ok.if you plan on entering from the south, take I 80 to Rock Springs and 191 north from there to 89. No noticeable mountain driving on that route. Fuel up on the south side of Jackson where prices are cheaper.Can't tell you about verizon availability.

We are avid bikers and cannot recommend them for any trip out west.

Grand Teton & Yellowstone Questions | Good Sam Community

dave54
Nomad
Jun 08, 2015
You can rent bikes at Old Faithful if you want, but Yellowstone is not a bike friendly park. The roads do not have a shoulder, and the tour bus and RV traffic makes dodging vehicles and breathing diesel exhaust an ongoing ordeal.
There are only two bike routes -- the Old Gardiner Road and the Blacktail Plateau Drive, both unsurfaced roads.

There is a brief period, a few weeks, in the Spring after the road snow cover melts and before the roads are open to public vehicles, the roads are open to bikes and you will have the roads mostly to yourself (administrative and contractor vehicles only). This is a great time to ride, as the wildlife are just coming out of winter and are real active.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jun 08, 2015
Verizon has greatly improved in the park.

As others' stated, bikes in Yellowstone are not a good idea. Tetons - o.k. but distances to sitesee are great.
glkids2
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
When we were there there 2yrs ago there
was only 4 areas that had cell service add to the fact that during normal people hours they are heavily used so while you have signal at times it tends to move slow
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2015
We were there last September 18~21 2014. Bicycles would be useless in Yellowstone except for in the campground and stores. At Fishing Bridge, Verizon phone and 3G were effective, but no 4G except in Mammoth. Try to take too many pictures. Don't get stuck in a Bison or Elk jam.

Matt
CloudDriver
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
FYI, there is a parking lot restricted for use only by oversize vehicles, RVs & buses on East Gill Ave. Coming from the north, it's a left turn at the first traffic light in Jackson. A two block walk from there to the town square with the antler arches.
jrp
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
I would favor I-80.

Plenty of rental car options in Jackson; parking a rig can be a problem and will depend on timing. either in town or at airport, you may have to walk a bit. less traffic at the airport location.

other than riding around the campgrounds, bikes will be of minimal use.

I stay at Colter Bay campground and get good Verizon with my external antenna and booster.
knshook
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
rr2254545 wrote:
Stayed at Fishing bridge 9/14/14 for 5 days and had excellent cell and data from Verizon - someone told me a new tower was installed late last summer
We had ATT last year and had awful service in Yellowstone and Grand Teton-while people who had Verizon were talking,texting. We are heading back this summer-cancelled ATT and now have Verizon.
kknowlton
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2015
From Cincinnati, my recommendation would be to take I74 to Davenport/Moline to pick up I80 all the way to Rawlins, WY then route 287 through Lander to route 26 over the Togowtee Pass into Grand Teton. Between DuBois and the top of the pass is a gradual climb and the descent isn't bad either. Use lower gears to control speed going down to save your brakes. I90 is much further north and would be a better return route when starting from Yellowstone, which also makes the trip a nice loop.

Excellent route suggestion, with the caveat to make sure to gas up in Rawlins, even if you still have most of a tank when you're going through there. (Rawlins also has a couple of half-decent CGs if you need a place to overnight.) Togwotee Pass is a beautiful ride and not all that hard to tow over due to the gradual grades. For a class C it should be a piece of cake. The Dubois KOA (east of the pass) is a nice overnight as well.

x2 on renting the car at the Jackson airport. Shouldn't be a problem getting in & out of there. DO reserve a car ahead of time. I also second the advice about bikes - don't bother. IMO riding through Yellowstone is potentially more dangerous than it's worth, and the park is too big to see the sights without a motorized vehicle.

As I recall, our phone service (Verizon) was ok at Fishing Bridge last Labor Day, but cell towers in the Lake/Fishing Bridge area are very new.
rr2254545
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Stayed at Fishing bridge 9/14/14 for 5 days and had excellent cell and data from Verizon - someone told me a new tower was installed late last summer
Dick_B
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
We are avid bikers and cannot recommend them for any trip out west.