Yellowstone Itinerary

We just returned from Yellowstone. We saw a momma grizzly and 3 cubs on the road from Norris to Canyon near Wolf Lake.Be sure to visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Very scenic. Eat at the Old faithful Inn Dining room.Good food and service. Very historic building.

Thanks for all or your all's help. We just booked horseback riding in the Tetons now looking to book rafting in Jackson and maybe a lake boat ride on one of the Lakes in the Tetons.

when staying in Cody, we like to have dinner at Irma's, timed to be done by 6 when the shootout show starts outside. when doing Bear Tooth, we like taking a simple picnic lunch and stopping up on the pass at the Top of the World store for a break.
In Yellowstone, we like timing our lunch or supper time to visit Old Faithful and we eat and see the geyser or vice versa. Be sure to tour the old lodge. It is something worth your time.
Staying at Bridge Bay, we like eating over at the Lake Lodge (not hotel) buffet. affordable and decent food.
In the Tetons, you can do white water rafting out of Jackson or slow river boating for see animals, etc. You can ride to the top of the mountain out of Teton Village ski resort, for a terrific view. and there are several hikes, short or long, down in the Tetons.

If you are going to hike, please remember to take bear spray. You might already know this, but just thought I would add my $.02. Are you dry-camping in Grand Teton? If so, get there around 9:30 to 11:00 as that is when everybody, who are leaving, is checking out and you can pretty much get your choice of spots. Lots to do in Grand Teton, not as much as Yellowstone, but still plenty. Cruise boats on Jackson Lake, lunch and dinner cruises as well. Go over to Jenny Lake and either hike or cruise to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, then over to Moose and the Moose-Wilson road to the Laurence Rockefeller Reserve with a very gentle hike to Phelps Lake, the site of the Rockefeller compound in this, the newest, part of Grand Teton. Also you can go to the Gros Ventre area and see one of the largest landslides in the continental United States that formed a lake. Also Two Ocean Lake with hiking and the wilderness area. There aren't as many sites to see in Grand Teton as there are in Yellowstone, but they are majestic, especially the Tetons, Mt. Moran, from the deck of a boat on the lake right at the base of it looking almost straight up about 6,000 or so feet. Enjoy your trip and you will never forget it.

We visited Yellowstone in August 2012, our best times were near dawn and dusk.

Waking early is not for everyone. Most folks wont do it, which is why it's a great time to travel the Park. You see more in less time without the 5 mile back-up. Dinner time to dark was also not as crowded as midday.

We saw more animal activity between 6:00 and 8:00am than we saw the rest of the day. We went to view points with no parking issues, had trails to ourselves for a little while. We'd bring a thermos of coffee, and a portable breakfast to enjoy. Good times.

You may find July busier early in the morning but suspect it will be better than later in the day. Its worth a try if the crowds get to you.

Most days we left just prior to sunrise to see wildlife and watch sunrise, took a mid day break/nap when the Park was super crowded. Worked well for us.

Enjoy!

For things to do in Yellowstone here are suggestions:

Yellowstone

and for Grand Teton Nat'l Park:

Grand Teton Nat'l Park

The Chief Joseph and Beartooth Highways make a beautiful day trip that can be done as a loop. Take route 120 from Cody to route 296 (the Chief Joseph Highway) to route 212 over the Beartooth pass to Red lodge, then route 308 to Belfrey and route 72 to join with route 120 to Cody.

There are boat rentals at Colter Bay and I believe also at Jenny Lake.

Don't miss the William F. Cody Museum

If you are in Cody on July 4 for rodeo they also have parade and fun stuff on the 4th in the morning. Busy place on 3rd and 4th. One of the local favorite restaurants is known as the Chop Shop. Actual name is Wyoming's rib and chop house.

We're doing a similar trip in June, so I want to follow this thread. We haven't started narrowing in on specific things to do at each stop, yet.

Our family visited Estes Park a few years ago and loved the area.