GT and YNP in 2 days

My sis and I are taking my mom and uncle ( both in the 70%26#39;s ) Jackson in mid July but only have 2 full days to spend on each park.

Thought of lodging in Jackson on Day 1 for the night (of arrival) and on

Day2 with rental-car and GPS go to the Tetons, find LODGING for the night on West YP area,

Day 3 - do a day%26#39;s trip in Yellowstone and head back to Jackson for the night.

Day 4- fly back to Texas!

Is this doable? Any better ideas? I dont want to tire them as well. I thought of taking the 12-hour bus tours...but I dont want them to feel pressured by a time schedule.

Just desperate to take them on this trip.

Thanks.

GT and YNP in 2 days

It is not really doable. Yellowstone is huge and Jackson is quite a ways from it. I%26#39;d really recommend you wait until you could add at least 2 more days to the trip. It%26#39;s a shame to spend 2 days travelling to spend 2 days in the parks.

When do you arrive in Jackson and when would you fly back out?

GT and YNP in 2 days

I have to agree with Shell here...that would be an awful lot to cram into two days, and I too would srongly recommend waiting until you have more time. We normally recommend a MINIMUM of three days in Yellowstone alone, and that%26#39;s just to get a quick peek at things. Once you realize the sheer size of the area, you might want to reconsider.

YNP alone covers as much land area as the states of Rhode Island and Delaware COMBINED, that%26#39;s over 2 million acres, with 350 miles of roads to explore. YNP is NOT a drive through in one day experience!

From the town of Jackson to West Yellowstone is nearly 130 miles. Your plan to land in Jackson and stay there the first night is great. However for you to leave Jackson, tour Grand Teton, drive the south western side of YNP, and stay in West in one day will require a driving marathon. Then to leave West on your 3rd morning, try to see more of YNP and wind up back in Jackson that night will be another very long day in the car, allowing very little time to enjoy the sites, and the sights. This could be a real concern when traveling with seniors whom you do not want to feel rushed.

If we haven%26#39;t talked you out of it, and you decide to make this trip anyway, a few other points.

In July, both the town of Jackson and the parks will be busy, which can mean crowds in some areas, delays and traffic to deal with.

Don%26#39;t worry too much about a GPS, as there are only two or three main roads within the parks, they are all very well marked, and very simple to drive. Just follow the free map that you will receive when you enter either park.

Finally, I would not recommend heading out there without locking in lodging reservations ahead of time, especially in July.

Arriving July 13 in the evening. Leaving July 16 at the 815am AA flight. How about just like a Taste of the GT and YN Parks...

I thought of just doing the highlights of each park...for the day. I know this will be a lot of driving for us-- but I still look forward to a lengthier trip in the future.

I havent booked the lodging part yet while waiting for some suggestions.

Thanks again.

What an eye-opener! By the end of your response (Hawkeye11) to my question....I couldnt believe the vastness of the parks and the BIG drive I was undertaking. I have purchased the plane tickets, so no turning back for me, I just have to make the most of it. I guess....What do you think of these 12 hour tour Buses/SUVs/Vans that make it there and back with ample time for viewing the highlights?

Although, I dont want them to be on a strict time sked, this may be a better alternative. Well, I really dont know now.

Thanks

Any time in Yellowstone is better than not getting there at all. If you already have your airfare booked, then get your lodging reserved soon, and one of the one or two day tours out of Jackson probably would be the best choice for you. They are informative, you get a look at most of the highlights, and the best part is someone else does all the driving! There are several tours that operate out of the Jackson area, and I would reserve one of them very soon too. In July, I wouldn%26#39;t want to take my chances as a walk in.

We have taken the two day Wildlife Safari Tour from The Teton Science School, and we would highly recommend them, but there are many others to chose from as well.

One word of caution - with this being such a quick trip, you%26#39;re not really going to have time to acclimate to the altitude before it will be time to leave.

Hopefully, no-one has any underlying health problems. Even so - make sure to stay well hydrated - drink more fluids than you think you need. Also, rest when you can.

Good luck - and Enjoy your trip!

I%26#39;d drive through GTNP, go Oooh and Ahhh, but use as much of your time as possible in YNP. Once there, you%26#39;ll understand. And you%26#39;ll spend time driving in this vast park, so to drive to Jackson and back is extra tedious, while driving within YNP is always interesting.

Mid July is peak season, so get lodging.. Here%26#39;s another plan that may work as well. I am not a fan of bus tours, but that may be the best for you.

Day 1 July 13 in the evening. Stay in Jackson.

Day 2 July 14. Breakfast then drive to Yellowstone Old Faithful area. See the geysers. I looked at lodging at www.travelyellowstone.com and there is a room with 2 double beds at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. $202. This is right inside the park and would be a great place to stay!

Day 3 July 15 Drive to Canyon area. See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the falls. Have lunch. Drive through Hayden Valley, see the Lake area and back to Jackson for the night.

Day 4 July 16 Early morning flight!

Yeah!

So I get it....drive to YNP instead on Day2 after breakfast, stay the night and drive back to Jackson on Day 3....

How about GTP? Cant squeeze it in I guess...

Do you suggest that if I drive through GTP that I could also lodge at the YNP area on Day 2 as Casa Azul suggested?