YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
July 2020

From San Diego to Wyoming…

We wanted an easy trip and something outdoorsy. Then that turned into why not something on the bucket list. Our boys love anything beach so when we said Yellowstone, well, they didn’t hear Hawaii.

Shortly after landing in Jackson Hole I felt this incredible- “I found it.” I don’t know how to explain what that felt like other than I was feeling this sentiment in my heart. Shortly into the trip- it hit the boys the same way. Let me tell you, our whole family fell hard.

 

This place is incredible. Jackson Hole to Teton to Yellowstone-Wyoming is a place that you need to visit.

 

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4 nights & 5 days

WHERE WE STAYED:

Teton Mountain Lodge (307) 201-6066

Address: 3385 Cody Ln, Teton Village, WY 83025

Great location to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.This will put you at the south entrance of Yellowstone Park (1 hour 25 mins away). You will enter through Teton National Forest. My favorite things about this resort- 1. easy to rent bikes and ride from the resort to a bike trail; 2. you can take the tram to the top and get such a spectacular view and watch the mountain bikers come down and 3. you are in a little village so there are some shops and eateries.

 

OUR GOAL ON WHERE TO STAY FOR NEXT TIME:

Lake Hotel and Cottages inside Yellowstone Park//This will be on our wishlist to stay the next time we visit.

I really like the following 3 links for ideas about where to stay

Travel Daze
https://traveldaze.co/2018/04/09/where-to-stay-yellowstone-accommodation/

Explore Now or Never
https://explorenowornever.com/yellowstone-3-day-itinerary/

Wandermust Family
https://www.wandermustfamily.com/yellowstone-tips-and-tricks-for-planning-a-trip-to-yellowstone/

 

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From Teton Village to Teton National Park to Yellowstone…

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

1. Yellowstone has five main entrances- northwest, northeast, south and west. Take a look at a map to get an idea of what you want to see and how much driving it will take just to get to the park to get started. What you want to do or see will influence where you will want to stay.
2. There is going to be a lot of driving. Keep this in mind for a rental car- one that is comfy and not a sports car (you will be pulling over sometimes onto gravel to see animals and natural geographical features).
3. If you truly are going with the goal of exploring and seeing the parks- hit the grocery store. Seriously consider packing FOOD, SNACKS, DRINKS to keep in the car for your adventures and GET GAS as you see gas stations.
4. Buy bear spray.

FIRST TIP:

• When you enter the park ask if there are any street closures you need to know about.
• Say yes to the maps!
• Do not be in a rush to get where you are going. You will miss “it.” This whole trip is about taking it in. So if you see people pulled over you need to slow your roll and see what they are seeing.

 

NATIONAL PARK PASS:

We did not buy one online. When we pulled up to Teton National Park we bought it there. At the time you could do a 7 day pass for 35.00 or a 1 year pass for 70.00. This pass will work at all national parks; you buy it once for the amount of time you need or want- 7 days or a year pass.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm

 

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FAVORITES (driving north to south):

Laurance Rockefeller Preserve//We saw a gorgeous moose. Read about this area. We didn’t hike in it. Heard great spot for bears.

Yellowstone//Entered through south entrance.

Lewis Falls//30 foot falls; easy to stop for and see and admire.

Old Faithful//Wait for the geyser of course. It can be up to 1 hour and 30 minutes apart. Hint– if you go inside the store they can give you a pretty good idea of when the next eruprtion is about to happen.

Blue Star Spring//Walk here from Old Faithful. The blue is incredible.

Mud Volcano Trail//This is where we saw some elk grazing and literally just a few feet away. Which happened accidentally as we first did not notice them. Very popular to be seen in this area are moose.

Norris Geyser Basin//The hottest and the oldest of them and you get to stroll right through them.

Obsidian Cliff//We didn’t make it to this. It did come up in things to see.

Canary Spring//Just too cool and you must see. From afar it reminded us of snow reflecting the sunshine.

Boiling River//Bring your swimsuit and a towel. Yes, you must! Hot springs feed into a river creating an ideal invite to put your suit on and come on in.

 

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Lamar

Hayden Valley

To the east on the map:

Uncle Tom’s Trail.

Lamar. This is where we experienced the bulk of buffalo in the streets and walking right next to the car. I apologize for the lack of quality in the photographs but we remained inside the car.

Hayden Valley. Have you experienced plains? This is a must. Plain and simple. We were almost four hours from our hotel. But if we were staying close, I would stay until dark so we could experience the sky with nothing around.

Tower Junction to Canyon Village would have been a shortcut for our drive. It was closed at the time.

 

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Close to Teton Mountain Lodge Resort:

Beaver Creek Trail

Taggart Lake Trail

 

ANOTHER LINK I LIKED:

https://eternalarrival.com/travel-blog/north-america/usa/2-day-yellowstone-road-trip-itinerary/

 

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FOR THE KIDS:
Printable for the road trip…

Loved this animal chart from The Farmer and the Southern Belle.
And honestly we all got in a debate whether we saw elk or a moose.
Beach folk. What can I tell you.
Animal Spy from The Farmer and the Southern Belle
https://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2018/04/yellowstone-scavenger-hunt.html

FOR THE KIDS:
On phones back at the hotel room…

from Yellowstone Internet Scavenger Hunt from Education World
https://www.educationworld.com/sites/default/files/Internet-Scavenger-Hunt-Yosemite-Park.pdf

 

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WHAT WE SAW & DID:
Teton Village

Alpenrose at the Alpenhof Lodge//Teton Village.  We went for breakfast. This place is so cute- it looks like a swiss style cottage like restaurant.

Bikes//We rented bikes at Mudroom. Our route: we kept it simple. We left the resort area toward Highway 390/Moose Wilson Road. We made a right onto Highway 390/Moose Wilson Road (we never crossed across 390; we rode adjacent to it; there is a great spacious sidewalk you can ride for quite a while). You will see horses and they seem quite friendly and used to people coming right up to the fence (like they were expecting food). If you keep going you cross a bridge and ride through a canopy of trees.

Jackson Hole Tram//We all four did it. It is worth the view. Also fun to watch the mountain bikers. Stop for pizza after at II Villaggio Osteria. Little center in the middle of all this with shops.

Favorite pizza//II Villaggio Osteria in Teton Village. We went for pizza. The boys were happy! And it gave me a chance to walk around and discover some shops.

Favorite shop// The Rodeo.

Calico restaurant//I really wanted to go here at night. All the lights outside are lit up. Did not make it but heard great things.

 

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WHAT WE SAW & DID:
Jackson Town Square

Headed into town, Jackson Town Square//You can drive by the National Elk Refuge. During the winter they migrate down; during the warmer months they migrate back up (fyi-sleigh rides during December; joke you not).

In the town//It’s busy but it is quaint and charming and still a town. You will appreciate it. Linger. Stroll. We stopped in shops and bought souvenirs. Found the cutest place to eat (see next). And when you see officers on horseback greeting everyone, well, remember that feeling that my heart spoke too at the beginning of this post. That feeling just pings over and over. It is a really good feeling.

The Saloon at the Jackson Hole Playhouse//Jackson Hole.  They have a couple of saddle seats at the bar. I was sold! So cute inside. The food was good. Easy in and out. I really liked this place.

Cowboy Coaster//Yes, just like it sounds. A coaster through the mountain. Why? Because I have teen boys. And this is what a teen boy mom does.

 

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WHERE WE ATE:

Alpenrose at the Alpenhof Lodge//Teton Village.  We went for breakfast. This place is so cute- it looks like a swiss style cottage like restaurant.

II Villaggio Osteria//Teton Village. We went for pizza.

Calico//Teton Village. Had so many twinkle lights outside. Looked charming and perfect.

Bubbas Bar-B-Que//Jackson Hole.  We landed and wanted a bite. This came up on yelp. It was good and easy.

Gun Barrell//Jackson Hole.  *Make reservations. The uber driver highly recommended it. We were not able to get in. The scoop: apparently they serve many different types of meat, from Buffalo to Elk to…

The Saloon at the Jackson Hole Playhouse//Jackson Hole.  They have a couple of saddle seats at the bar. I was sold! So cute inside. The food was good. Easy in and out. I really liked this place.

 

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Let’s talk packing…

LUGGAGE:

We kept it simple. We didn’t check any luggage in; we carried everything on to the plane.

I had a roll on, a tote and crossbody bag.

The crossbody bag- so I could access my id and boarding pass easy.

I do recommend a backpack that you can use during any walks or hikes you may do.

 

EXTRAS I HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

1. binoculars
2. camera with zoom lens/telephoto lens
3. bug off spray
4. sunblock
5. collapsible cooler (not necessary but would have been nice to have in the car for all day adventure)

WHAT I WORE:

During the day//Leggings with a tank top (and always had a sweater or long sleeve something in the car), athletic sneakers, hat for shade, waist bag so I could carry my phone and be hands free.

Highly recommend a backpack or roomy waist bag (water).

Granite Hot Springs. Thermal pool with views of the Teton National forest.

 

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Can you hear your mom? (because I feel like this part that is who I will sound like, but here goes)…

THINGS TO KNOW:

 

• Look over your route before you go and take screen shots if using a phone map app.
• When you enter the park, say yes to the park map they offer!
• We did not have service in the park and my phone had a hard time connecting and updating.
• Signs are not super easy to always spot but they are there (they are discreet; sometimes small, brown wood signs)

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There are no street lamp lights so it is dark at night; like completely dark.

Two things-

1. Will you be comfortable driving around at night; make sure you know your route that you need to take.
2. Most importantly, ENJOY THE STARS. We pulled over safely. Turned off the car. Stepped out and just stared up to the skies (the boys made it quick as they kept saying what if a bear comes up; I know but they have lived by the beach their entire lives. And I am not going to lie- I started to think the same thing. “Okay back in the car!”)

 

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REMEMBER TO:

• Check weather before you go; that means look at temperatures during day and at night (so you can pack accordingly).
• Keep an extra layer of clothing in the car. If you plan to hike in areas with forest can you bring it along in a backpack.

 

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RANDOM SHARE:

• We left on a Friday and came back Tuesday.
• We went during the month of July. It was light outside until 9:30/10:00. Weather was 80’s during the day and whoa does it drop at night and can feel cool during the day if you are hiking in shade.
• FIX YOUR WATCH:
  From San Diego to Wyoming…
  When you arrive in Jackson Hole, Wyoming you loose an hour.

 

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ONE LAST IMPORTANT TIP:

Just go with the flow. If you feel like you “missed it” then you are missing all the beauty and opportunity around you. Keep going. There is countless opportunity. Don’t fret. Just take it in and let this amazing piece of country wash your soul.

I would really love to hear from you if you go! I truly mean it when I say Wyoming stirred something in my heart. I cannot wait to go back.

xo,
Dyanna

 

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HOW WE GOT THERE/TRANSPORTATION EXPERIENCE:

• Delta//Flew from San Diego to Salt Lake City
  we did have to unboard; gates did not feel terribly far from one another at Salt Lake City
• Delta//Flew from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole Airport
• Landed at airport//We took an uber from Jackson Hole Airport to rental car

 

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We arranged for the rental car before we left for trip.

Believe it or not, all the common/well known rental car places and the ones located at the airport had no cars available. So we started to call around. Some of the adventure/activity stores also rent cars. We were lucky to find one at-

RENTAL COMPANY WE USED:

Rental car//Leisure Sports
Address- 1075 US-89, Jackson, WY 83001
Telephone- (307) 733-3040

 

RENTAL CARS AT AIRPORT:

Enterprise Rent A Car (844) 934-1077//1250 E Airport Rd.
Hertz Rent A Car (307) 773-2272

 

RENTAL CARS SOUTH OF AIRPORT:

Dollar Car Rental (307) 733-9224 (10 miles south of airport)
Avis Rent A Car Rental (307) 733-3422 (11 miles south of airport)