Fayle Loc: Seward, Alaska and Rionegro, Colombia

This is an excellent series of books.
https://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Washington-natural-landmarks-Evergreen-ebook/dp/B00NB857EW/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=laurent+martres&qid=1590420551&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Southwest-Vol-Arizona-landmarks-ebook/dp/B07287MB8Z/ref=pd_sim_351_5/130-3117908-2599400?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07287MB8Z&pd_rd_r=c6cced12-d11d-4161-8fcb-d4849f65a7cd&pd_rd_w=nQEyV&pd_rd_wg=tzWzP&pf_rd_p=6f740e39-0c25-4380-8008-7a4156dab959&pf_rd_r=VW7EG3SH6119T2K30E57&psc=1&refRID=VW7EG3SH6119T2K30E57

I recommend all of them if you intend on traveling often.

Don P

Suggest that in addition to Wyoming.. go through Northern Colorado and visit Rocky Mountain NP. The drive over the park pass is above 12000 feet. So, it’s a spectacular sight. But, be sure to stop along the way (in the park) in the Bear Lake area. The scenery is unbelievable. The crowds will be down quite a bit after Labor Day... so, it will be a much more enjoyable visit. If you overnight, do so in either Estes Park or Grand Lake. Both are a bit touristy but are also very nice. Log Cabins facilities are the most enjoyable in either spot. The drive from Estes to the Tetons/Yellowstone is about 8/9 hours. I live about 3 miles from RMNP and have been here for 3 years. I still pull out my Nikon 3/4 times per week... it’s that pretty.

RT Landrum

It's a beautiful trip, we went several years ago. Look at staying in the park, we split up our stay to spend less time driving. Stayed on the North end at Mammoth Springs to explore that area. Went out Lamar Valley to the East entrance and saw Pronghorn, Bison and even wolves. Stayed at Canyon Village and explored the center park and down to the lake, saw Elk Bison and bears. We spent 1 day driving to see the Geysers and everything on the southwest side and exited out the south entrance. Went to the Tetons and stayed there a few days and loved it. So best advice is split up where you stay to see the different areas with driving as much. Take picnics to enjoy staying out and not looking for lunch places all the time. Most of all, enjoy the beauty!!

BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

I checked out your pictures - very nice! I checked the link for the tour in a day - no tours till 2021!!! That would have been nice, though. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a small private photography tour. Fingers crossed!

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

If you head over to the airport at nearby Driggs, Idaho, you'll find a couple things of interest:
1) You can take a sailplane flight over the Tetons, a breath-taking experience. https://tetonaviation.com/things-to-do-in-driggs-scenic-flights

2) There's a surprising aircraft museum at the airport which, I believe, is free. https://tetonaviation.com/museum

BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

Oh, yeah! That's Trent's page. I've emailed him for some info. THANKS!

daf40 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I drove from Yellowstone to Phoenix last summer. The weather will be a factor, with a significant difference in temperature between August and October. On your way south, don't miss Bryce Canyon. Spectacular beauty and unbelievable photo ops, especially if you take the Queens Garden walk down into the canyon. It's like visiting the moon! Elevation around 8,000 ft. so the weather should be very comfortable. It's not too far out of your way to visit Zion National Park. Also spectacular. At 3,000 ft. elevation it could be quite warm in August but very nice in October. From there, you could head south and visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Also around 10,000 ft. and very comfortable in late summer and early fall. Or, better yet, you could bypass the North Rim and head over to Highway 89 South and take 64 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Spectacular overlooks and wonderful weather at that time of the year. Whichever way you go, you will probably pass through Flagstaff on your way south. In Flagstaff, take 89A south to Sedona. Sedona is as spectacular as any of the national parks, and much more accessible. It should be quite nice there in late September and October, but very hot in August. Note that some of the other routes that have been suggested may be equally spectacular, but far out of your way. You'll love the trip!

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

Do get out early, before the roads get crowded. My husband and I went many years ago and had our best experiences before 9 A.M. The park is vast and good planning is a must. The most disappointing part was Old Faithful, I guess because we've seen it so many times on television or videos, and it's really not that spectacular (in my opinion) up close. Mobs of people, the water shoots up, the water goes down, ho hum.

But many of the other smaller, less known geysers are beautiful with morning or evening light through the steam. The great prismatic pool is not to be missed, either.

My husband got great shots of elk just by scoping out which was a herd was moving and then sitting under a tree to wait until they drifted by.

We were there for a week - not enough time. Alas, we never got back there.

nukauboi

I have lived in Red Lodge two different times in my life. You are right. Trip from Red Lodge to Cooke City is amazing. However, they say they are going possibly as late as October. Beware that the road often closes due to snow that late. If so, go towards Cody and take the Sunlight Basin route to Cooke City. It is amazing too. Also, for a town to stay in Cody, Wyoming is fantastic. Leave a day to take in the Cody Museum. Best small museum anywhere. If anyone likes firearms, it has the entire Winchester collection which is basically every firearm ever made along with advertising etc. Go over Beartooth Pass, through the park and out Cody is a great trip.

BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

You sound like us - up before daylight - before they have breakfast out...hunt & shoot all day, get in so late we have to eat in the room since nothing is open! We go to Tennessee often - very familiar with bear jams! (unfortunately!!)

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Why is everybody suggesting driving INTO the park from Red Lodge Montana? He's coming from the south. Enter through the entrance nearest to where you find lodging. If you have time, travel every road in the park. There are different attractions on all them. If you are limited as to time, the west road up through the park is probably the most interesting. Gardiner MT has several nice places to eat, but that will probably be the northernmost point in your travels. Take a cooler and pack sandwiches, fruit, and nuts, and you can eat well where ever you are in the park. As someone has already mentioned, stay away from the food concessions in the park. Monopoly is not conducive to taste. I have seen buffalo, elk, white tail deer, foxes, bears, wolves, pronghorn, bighorn, and a large number of bird species on different trips through. Remember that the wolves and bears are not the most dangerous animal in the park. That distinction belong to something called Tourist. They pay less attention to what they are doing and where they are going than any other species on earth. Depending on your time frame, you may be able to stay in the park. This would not usually be an option without about one year lead time, but right now, who knows what is available. Yellowstone is probably the most enticing park of them all. Enjoy.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Beachlady, you'll have many recommendations for MT,WY,AZ and other places especially from those who live and travel there frequently, so I'll pass on that. On your way home from AZ to SC if you're traveling the southern route, I-10/20 and depending on the day of the week, I highly recommend an evening in Alpine TX and a night trip to the McDonald Observatory and a 'Star Party' if available (schedules on line). A really great place if you like astronomy, not to mention Big Bend NP is only a couple hours south, probably the most remote NP in the Continental US.

PS, don't forget to get your National Park Passport and document you travels. Enjoy and be safe

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

How long will you be on the road? You said August-October -- was that just the interval for the start or an indication of the length? I ran a quick check of a route from Surfside Beach, SC to Yellowstone NP to Sedona, AZ and back to SC and the recommended route was 5245 miles over about 10 days. That assumes the way I drive -- from 0900 to 1700 each day, but does not include time for stops to eat or sight-see.

You didn't say why you were going to Arizona, so I just used Sedona since it's one of the most scenic places in the state.

In 2009 I took a coach tour of National Parks of the western US and many of the places we visited would be within reach of a route such as you plan. Pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157622664139564/. How far off the shortest route are you willing to go in order to see scenic spots? Adding in Mt. Rushmore, SD increases the mileage to 5387 but only adds an hour to the drive time, for example. The route already goes through Jackson (Hole), WY and Grand Teton NP is between Yellowstone NP and there. It also goes by Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Canyon NPs on the way to Sedona. If you're interested in the Meteor Crater, the route also passes by the road to it off I-40. However, if you are planning to head south from Sedona, you won't go that way (my short route does not do that). A float trip on the Snake River in Grand Teton NP is fun (if available).

The route to Yellowstone also takes you very near Deadwood, SD which is interesting, and the Devil's Tower National Monument. Sturgis, SD is right by Deadwood, if you're a Harley fan and there at the right time. We also visited the Custer State Park in SD, which is just south of Mt. Rushmore. We stayed in the State Game Lodge there, which was very nice. (Pronghorns roamed the yard) We also had a cookout in the Park, but I suspect those have to be set up in advance.

For the major part of the drive, are you wanting to use Interstates to save time, or more leisurely travel on US Highways?

Here is the map as far as I've discussed:

SD to Yellowstone2 by David Casteel, on Flickr (click on it for more detail). I forgot to label it, but yellow box 5 is Jackson, WY. The route is 5392 miles over 10 days (drive time).

I do have a list of the hotels that my Parks tour used, but it is difficult to post it here. Send me a PM with your real e-mail address and I'll send it to you that way.

I'll let others suggest destinations in the eastern portions of the drive. However, at Amarillo, TX is the Cadillac Ranch -- an interesting short stop.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Thank you.

levinton

Lucky you! Coming from the east you have many options but coming across I90 allows a traverse through the magnificent state of South Dakota - where in the west is the Badlands, Black Hills, (ugly traverse through Gillette) then Buffalo, Cody and the northeast entrance. North side of Yellowstone Lake is fabulous. Then of course the hot pools, geysers etc. Wildlife viewing is not to be missed: wolves, bison, grizzlies in Hayden and Lamar valleys (fall is great!), of course the falls in the north part of park. Think about a prearranged tour to see wolves - hard to figure them out on your own. We have camped and stayed at places within the park and liked it (Roosevelt Lodge really nice), but there are places just at the northwest entrance - closest to the best stuff. One last thing: take old fashioned paper maps to plan your movements - you will change your minds while there. So a supplement to google maps is essential. Years ago it was great fun with our kids to catch cutthroat trout on the north side of the lake - this is not so true anymore - they are really beautiful fish and we caught and released. Due north of Yellowstone Lake is Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - grand views. Wow! You can't miss. Go south through Grand Teton - lots of gourmet restaurants in Jackson Hole. Gourmet eats in YS area, not so much.