BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

I'm plotting a trip to Yellowstone (driving from SC to there to AZ to SC) in late August-October. Looking for advice on best places to stay and things to NOT MISS for travel/nature/food & wine photographers! (both in Yellowstone and/or along the way.)

I'm not really asking for hotel recommendations (unless you have some!) but would like town names that would put us close to the gates in the park to make the most of our time.

We're both seniors - healthy, but not mountain climbers! ;-) Celebrating my RETIREMENT from teaching - whooo-hooo!!

Thanks in advance!

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Drive into the park from Red Lodge Montana -- it's called the Bear Tooth highway. Charles Kuralt said it was the single best drive in the lower 48. He was right.

Joe

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Check out this facebook group....https://www.facebook.com/groups/artofwildlife/?ref=bookmarks.....they post pics from Yellowstone all the time and give really good advice on where to go for the best photo shots. The person that runs the group also gives photo tours in Yellowstone.

I agree with Ysarex....got thru the Red Lodge entrance and drive the Bear tooth Hwy as well as the Chief Joseph Hwy if you can....both are breathtaking!

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

I was there in Sep 2015 for a week. Stayed at a timeshare in Jackson Hole. Drove about the park every other day, for about 10-12 hours each day. Had to drive thru Grand Tetons park every day to get to Yellowstone.
I think it was one of the most memorable vacation's of my life. There's a cafeteria by Old Faithful, where I ate lunch the first day. Skip it. Next day thru the park I was up by Montana entrance. Drove into Montana for lunch that day - yeah Old Faithful cafe lunch was that bad. Last day, I ate at a lodge type restaurant overlooking the lake on the east side of the park. Beautiful view of the lake, and my first time having meatloaf made from Elk, Buffalo and some other meat that I've never eaten. Before ordering, I asked waitress about what to expect, and her first question was if I had ever eaten venison. No, hmmm, I ordered it anyway, after she described it as sort of sweet tasting. It was pretty good.

Animal life - I only saw Elk and Bison/Buffalo - as I recall. My wife kept saying that she wished that we'd see some bears. They're in there. They stayed out of sight and I wasn't disappointed. I don't remember seeing a single bird - I thought that strange.

Keep to marked paths/trails. 12 people or so die in that park every year that venture off the marked trails. Plan on a lot of driving about. Speed limit was 35mph throughout the park - I think. Can't really drive much faster thru that terrain.

Town names - Between the park and Jackson hole - I don't remember going thru any towns. WY is the second least populous state in the US. Jackson hole - I think it had 3 restaurants. My son wanted to see the Milky Way where there is no light pollution. Looking at a map that shows light pollution, there's only one spot in WY that has light pollution that adversely affects such celestial viewing - you guessed it - Jackson Hole. So around midnight, I pull over in Yellowstone, so my son can get his mind blowing view of the Milky Way. There we were - standing in the middle of the road, starring up at the heavens. Just magnificent. Then I hear a howl. I then directed everyone to get back in the car, as I didn't want to become dinner for a pack of wolves or whatever was howling - LOL.

Enjoy your retirement and the trip. I'm retired 10 years this August. With my timeshare, I think I've been to about 37 states. WY was great. I want to visit national parks in Utah - haven't done any of those yet.

Signs say to keep 100 yards from animals. Good luck doing that. Stopped for a bathroom break once and there's an elk standing next to the building's door. Driving down the road, my son rolls down his window and get's a great shot of an elk's nose with his cell phone. Bison in roadways - they own them - move out of the way when they want to move out of the way. Wish I had my DSLR back then - used a cheap P&S.

Amazing to see crowds of people around Old Faithful. Only place in the park where there will be hundreds of people gathered. Enormous parking lots there - a couple of them. When you park, look for landmarks to find your car later - you'd think they would mark the lots? Nah, I guess the rangers like watching the tourists wander about as they try to find their cars. Took me about 5 minutes to figure out I was in the wrong lot at first, figuring that the cafeteria didn't move.

BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

Thanks - that sounds like useful info!!

BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

WOW! Y'all are all GREAT! (and the tips about parking is good to know!) I always pack a lunch & have plenty in the cooler so good to hear that will be my best meal. ALTHOUGH...The meatloaf sounds great - I'll eat anything that doesn't eat me. Bison and elk are both delish, but my top choice is kangaroo. :-)

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Yeah. Get up!
Be dressed, equipped and out before daylight.
It's clean, clear, quiet, and no nosy folk in the way.
Get on the east side of things, and catch the dawn light.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

We had 4 nights in the park back in 2006 in september (after labour day). The weather was mostly ok.
Stayed at the hotel in Mammoth Hot Springs for three nights and a cabin at Old Faithful for one night.
Do not eat at the fast food place there. The restaurant was great and we ate there for three meals (it wasn't cheap).
Did the Yellowstone in a day tour. It was good and we got to meet some locals (Americans).

https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventure/land-adventures/yellowstone-in-a-day/

On the second full day we did the Beaver Ponds trail, about 5 miles. Good, pleasant and and easy walking. Also even though the park wasn't really crowded, just a short walk would get you away from most of the traffic.

Next day we drove to the Old Faithfull area and explored it, on foot, for about 12 hours (an afternoon and next morning) or so before driving down to the Grand Tetons (which we thought were magical) for a few nights.
No problems parking however breakfast at the resteraunt at the cabins was awful. Just bagels an coffee
We saw elk and bison (we don't have either down here in Australia)

With your permission I can post a few pics.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I've been to Yellowstone several times, both in June and the fall. The closest towns to the park at West Yellowstone, MT, and Gardiner, MT. Each one of these is right at the park entrance, Gardiner is the closest to the Lamar Valley and West Yellowstone closer to the south/west side of the park. A lot of the animals are found in the Lamar Valley area, which is currently still closed. I've photographed a lot of bear, fox, mountain goats, bison elk and more (no wolf yet) in different areas of the park. I always go with a guide that knows the park since they have the current information on what is happening with the animals. Renting rooms in either town is very expensive. Staying in Jackson Hole gives you easy access to both Yellowstone NP and the Grant Teton park. Since I go specifically to photograph wildlife my days are always spent driving around and around the park as wildlife can often be found very near the road. I don't generally do "tourist" type things and don't pay much attention to the food (often buy food at the market and eat in the room as I'm normally pretty tired when I get back to the room) so cannot provide any info on that. Getting good animal shots is about patience and perseverance. Watch for "bear jams" and then it's easy to find the bears!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

W Yellowstone and Gardiner or the two most advantageous places to stay. Daily trips from Jackson or Cody are scenic, but don't be fooled by trying to calculate distance and time to accomplish. Also, familiarize yourself with a list of highlights you wish to see and plan some logical order. Plan to be at your main objective prior to 9am, particularly if it's a thermal area. It is important in planning that you are aware of road closures and construction...important! Chittenden to Tower for example. Fishing Bridge, North Entrance delays...

Entering via the Beartooth Hiway, as mentioned, is highly recommend. Eat and stock up in Red Lodge. Be aware of snow that can shut the road down as September progresses.

Gardiner is our favorite because much of our time is spent in Lamar and more northern end of the park. Great hikes and more! Regardless of where you stay, make reservations ASAP! This year is abnormal, but typically we make reservations 6 to 12 months in advance.

Mainiac65 Loc: Maine

Go to www.nps.gov website and use the drop down menu to get to Yellowstone. Hotels in the park start closing around the middle of September and roads close around the middle of October for the winter. Lots of road construction this year, so plan accordingly.
Bring the longest lens that you have and a spotting scope,if possible.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

Try AAA and the local Chamber of Commerce in the states you want to visit. Google Yellowstone and you will find a wealth of information. You might also want to try YouTube.

Gatorcoach Loc: New Jersey

Last summer my wife, friends, and I did a road trip to Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, and Sedona. Fantastic vacation as each park has its own beauty and distinct points of interest. Actually it was my second trip to Yellowstone (the last is 1971!) and still my favorite as it has everything - mountains, lakes, rivers, animals, geysers and hot pots. The most helpful item we had was our on-board tour guide. This inexpensive app is great, plays through your radio and gives spot on descriptions and suggestions. I love it when you come to a crossroad and make a turn, he says, " Ah, I see you have decided to go right to the such and such".

Check it out. It's great. https://gypsyguide.com/

The food at the park areas leaves a lot to be desired....ate a lot of oatmeal! And ALWAYS have your camera handy. Have a great trip.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Yellowstone is a National Park.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The Bear Tooth Highway has recently been "modernized". While still a great drive it did not seem as dramatic last year as on previous trips. While certainly an easier drive due to loss of many switchbacks many of the small road side ponds have been bypassed. Still a very interesting trip in. This is best early morning and late afternoon.