August Trip/Yellowstone/Tetons/Wagons West

We are flying into Jackson on Wed. Aug. 16- staying in Kelly @ Budge%26#39;s Cabins. We are there for Wed-Sun. Monday we leave to take the Wagons West Covered Wagon trip for four days-return Thurs. and stay the night in Jackson before flying out Friday. I need help with the time before the wagon trip. There are 6 grown adults on the trip, ages 50-70. We want to see Yellowstone 1 day and Tetons 1 day. I thought it best to do Yellowstone on Thursday- less traffic? Doing research it looks like we%26#39;ll have time to do the lower loop. What would you recommend? Clockwise start or counter-clockwise? What would you not miss?Can you order park passes prior to the trip? Where do you get the passes %26amp; when do these they open for purchase? We are very early risers and want to get there as early in am as possible. I thought about getting the Gapper GPS to rent- the people guide services seem a little high and don%26#39;t like the idea of stuffing into bus/vans and being on their time schedule. After Thursday at Yellowstone thought we%26#39;d have to rest some on Friday and maybe take a trip to Dubois for food and their local rodeo that night. Saturday we can do the Teton Park, with the GPS guide again. I thought I%26#39;d get Yellowstone planned 1st then work on the Teton Park part of the trip.

August Trip/Yellowstone/Tetons/Wagons West

Error in Dates- arriving Wed. Aug. 19th!!

August Trip/Yellowstone/Tetons/Wagons West

Don%26#39;t see any reason for a GPS. The roads are few and very clearly marked. Plus, you get high quality maps when you enter the parks.

What you do need is more time in Yellowstone, as I%26#39;m sure your research, at least on TA Forum, indicates -at least two days. BTW, the lower loop is not the most interesting, but still, very nice drive and does lead to interesting stops/viewpoints.

Covered wagon four day trip? Gosh, it%26#39;s not for me when there is so much to see and to do in Yellowstone and Tetons in relative comfort. To each his own, but obviously this is a special opportunity to do either and is very personal.

If you mean park passes, you get them at the entry gates, not a big deal. Given your ages, you want to buy the Golden Age Passport, for anyone over 62, a lifetime pass to all the National Parks and much more. Also, it covers all passengers in private car.

You might check the web for purchase of same.

I agree with voyaging about not needing a GPS for reasons stated.

Have you checked the YNP website yet - http://www.nps.gov/yell/ ? Just wanted to make sure you were aware that a section of the lower loop will be closed for repairs starting Aug.17th - between Madison Junction and Norris. So you won%26#39;t be able to completely circle the lower loop. You will be able to see most of it, but with some backtracking, which is not a bad thing - you get different views of the areas that way. Plus you never know what wildlife will be out at various times of the day.

Good Luck and Have Fun!