BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I'll bet the elk regretted that!

Hacksaw Loc: Pacific Northwest

I visited Yellowstone in May 2015 as a part of my road trip and had a wonderful time. Since I was alone, my accommodations didn't matter that much. I drove in from the Cody side and stayed at a motel/RV place (Green River) about halfway between Cody and the east entrance to the park. The drive into the park was quite spectacular itself. If I were going again, I would opt for September as some of the park was closed in May due to construction projects etc.... When driving in and around the park, be vigilant for wildlife on the road. I ran into a Big Horn Sheep 20 miles outside the park on my very first day there on the way back to the motel (the sheep survived). Also, be patient with the idiots who stop and park their vehicle in the middle of the road so they can get out and try a snap a pic of a bear 200 yards away with their iPad.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Which advise was contradictory? If you're referring to my post,please check flight costs and at the same time check car rentals in September,particularly into Billings.

Vi Loc: Upper Midwest

I was there last year in Aug. Had a great time. Allow 3 to 4 days in Yellowstone and 2 days in the Grand Tetons. The two parks are almost back to back to each other and are amazing. It is cheaper to stay overnights outside of the parks vs lodging inside. Also, don't rent a motor home. You can't drive it to all the really good sites that are on the back roads. Pack picnic lunches as restaurants are not plentiful. An SUV is the best choice for rentals. They give you the space for gear and the ability to go anyplace. Flying into Billings is a good idea, rent a SUV and take the beartooth pass to the northeast enterence to Yellowstone. Fantastic drive and will take up a good part of a day with all the pull outs for scenic overlooks and camera opportunities. Driving is all on 2 lane roads and be prepared for the Wyoming stop sign, they pop up anytime and any where....the bison, especially if two decide to fight. Enjoy!

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Send me a PM and we can discuss. I live in Sarasota and am going this September and perhaps next May as well. Gary

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Buy the $10 Lifetime Senior Pass when entering the park if anyone is 62 or over-good in any National park of Monument for Free admission of a vehicle. Since this is the 100th Anniversary year for the National Park System do make advance reservations. MTShooter may have more info on where to
stay if the in park lodges are booked.

gapeach Loc: Atlanta, GA

I have been flying in from Atlanta several times a year for the last 10 years. To do this, I have to travel as economically as I can. Have gotten great deals by watching fares very closely and, more times than not, have flown directly into Jackson Hole or Idaho Falls (with a quick layover in SLC). I've found that my beloved Delta wasn't my choice most times the past 5 years due to much higher prices.

Have also gotten great deals by watching rental car rates closely. While I book my flight a few months in advance (usually), I have waited really close to departure to book my rental vehicle in order to get a better deal. Recently booked 19 days in a full size SUV for $350...out of Jackson Hole.

With that said, I always compare all the cities MT Shooter mentions, as well as SLC and Denver, for airfare and rental cars/SUVs. If I have the time, I don't mind driving from Denver or SLC. One of these days, I might just fly into Billings and get a small rental RV as MT Shooter mentioned. (Have sought MT Shooter's advice several times and plan to stop in to see him in September. Very helpful!)

Lodging...book as early as you can.

My favorite times to visit are late May (baby animals and the bears are more visible) and late September (color peak). Crowds are a bit smaller then, too, although more now than when I first started visiting regularly.

FrankR Loc: NYC

I would look at flying into Billings Montana renting a car, drive down US212 which becomes the Bear Tooth Highway south of Red Lodge and is spectacular. Charles Kuralt called it the most beautiful drive in America. That will take you into Cooke City, which is a little town near the northeast entrance to Yellowstone. A couple of places to stay there that are probably less expensive than in the park. It's only a few miles to the park and that entrance is real close to the Lamar Valley, which is among the best places to see wolves in the park. There's a woman who owns a cafe in Cooke City and makes the most spectacularly delicious bisquits and cinnamon coffee rolls in the solar system. That may be reason enough to stay in town, not to mention a restaurant with what looked like 50+ beer choices on the menu.

Carlmk Loc: Naples, FL & Boston, MA

Loved Yellowstone, early June 2015. I agree with so much of the advice. We spent 3 days in the park and two in Jackson Hole.

I used a Nikon 18-200 mm lens. Decent enough wide angle but the zoom allowed me good wildlife photos without getting too close.

cincykid

In addition to previous comments, if you are a senior (62 I think) get a Golden Eagle or Senior Card. They are good for a lifetime at any National Park and will save you a "ton".

Bigbadjohnr0013

Best rate to fly to Florida is SouthWest, great prices. Where do you want to go in Florida? North, South, East or West.
Florida has plenty to see and shoot,(take pictures). On the East you have the Atlantic Ocean, Jacksonville, Daytona,Coral Springs, Fort Lauderale and Miami. West coast you have Gulf of Mexico, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sam's Beach Bar 6325 Clark St, Hudson Fl 34667. Great sunsets, fantastic food and night life. Have fun

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Southwest thanks you for those words....The OP is in Florida and wants to go to Yellowstone!

waldron7 Loc: State of Confusion

If you are going to stay outside the park and plan to go in and out of the park several times, it is a good idea to obtain a lifetime senior pass, if your age qualifies. They are obtainable from any national park, military site, or monument ranger station.

Walrus_NC

We visited Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in mid-September 2014. Trip of a lifetime.

1. The park starts to shut down in late Sept as the are entering into their winter season. The area is gorgeous at anytime, but Sept in probably better than May since some areas in May will still be closed due to snow.

2. It is MUCH cheaper to fly into Salt Lake City and rent a car. Flights are cheaper and car rentals are much cheaper.

2. Hotels in the park area are very expensive and require getting reservations months in advance. Gardner, MT is a good choice for outside the park.

3. If you can get into the Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone for a night or two, do it!!! It is well worth it. The cheapest rooms do not have a private bath but have a separate common bathrooms on the hallway for men and women. They provide nice bathrobes, so don't worry. The interior lobby of the Old Faithful Lodge is a MUST SEE!!

4. Get up and get out early to photography in the cool morning air at Yellowstone. The steam rising off the warm waters in the morning is magical and spectacular.

5. The Grand Tetons is a more compact park and you can see most of it in 2 days. Find the Ansel Adams locations and try to duplicate the settings.

6. Get an ultrawide angle (10-22mm range) for your crop sensor camera. 24mm is not wide enough. I shot a lot of images at 16mm on a full frame Canon 6D using a 16-35mm and their were times I wished I could go wider. You can also go "wider" by using a panning technique and stitching photos together afterwards.

7. Shoot bracketed images on your landscapes so you have the option of doing HDR in post-processing if you want.

Sage36 Loc: Northern Wyoming

Flying into Cody is a good idea, Jackson is another. The most important thing is to have reservations for a place to stay when you get here. Many inside park reservations are booked months ahead. West Yellowstone facilities are an option and close, but the traffic jams can be horrendous getting in. Gardiner is also close. Pahaska Teepee requires a drive of about 2 miles to the gate, but 20 or so to fishing Bridge, but not as crowded and stunning scenery and good chances of wildlife anywhere along the route.