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All of it.
There isn't one part of Yellowstone I would put over another. All of it is worth 'expensive' time. The speed limits in the park are slow, from memory around 25. However, for much of the time you may be travelling much slower, or stationary. When all the traffic is held up by wildlife, relish in it. Try to avoid thinking of your next stop, and what you may have to miss. Enjoy the moment, which could even mean sitting in your vehicle surrounded by wildlife. And when you are on your way to the next point of interest, and someone spots a wolf or coyote doing what it does naturally, stop and treasure the moment, regardless of what planned site you may miss. It is that sort of park.
Enjoy Yellowstone.
Lifey
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The nice thing about Yellowstone is that most of the park is set up where you can see it by driving the 'figure 8" loop through the park. You'll need to taylor your plans a bit to where you'll be staying.
We spent 3 nights at Canyon Campground. We arrived via Beertooth in the afternoon, and saw the Lamar Valley in the evening. The next day we did the lower loop, going to the mud volcano area and around to Old Faithful, the Paint Pots, and surrounding geyser areas. The second, we did the upper loop, like Tower Falls, Mammoth, and Norris. Day 3 we saw the canyon area in the morning and continued to Tetons in the afternoon.
That was a great overview, but it was also a very brief one. There are still several of the geysers that I didn't get to, including the entire lake geyser area. There were lots of hikes I wanted to take, but couldn't get to. Simply put, there's lots that was saved for next time.
I think it would be tough to do Cody without adding more time. However, if its a priority, I'd think about going from the Beartooth to Cody via the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. You might even think about spending the night there, before heading in for your 2 days in Yellowstone.
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Hi all and thank's for all inputs.
I understand that I need to make the reservation a.s.a.p. and that's why I need help to decide where to stay to get the most out of our trip.
Due to all the input here I wonder if this change of plans can be a good idea:
Skip to go into YNP via the Beartooth Highway and instead come through Cody, stopping there overnight, and go into the park via the N Fork Hwy to Lake lodge for the first night stop. Next day drive north to Mammoth for the next night and the next day head south through Norris and Old faithful to Grant village for the third night.
Is there a big difference between Beartooth and N Fork Hwy from a scenic point of view?
Best regards
Pelle
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Hi,
Now everything is set. Made som small changes due to my original plans but this is what it will be.
Arriving in Chicago around 12:30 pm and drive to Mauston in Wisconsin for the first night. Next day to Sioux falls in SD. Third day to Badlands NP and we stay in the park over the night. Next night will be spent in Custer and the night after in Deadwood.
From there we drive to Cody where we will stay 2 nights. After the first night we will drive up north and go the Beartooth highway from the north to the south and then Cheif Joseph byway back to Cody for the next night. From there we go direct in to Yellowstone NP and stay the fisrt night in the Lake lodge. Next day we will drive the north loop and stop for the night in Canyon lodge. Maby we will use the evening and drive up to Lamar valley and back. The next day we take the south loop to Grant lodge where we will spend our third night in the park. Maby a drive by the lake in the evening up to Lake lodge and back. Next morning we will leave the park via the south entrance. After another 3 night we will spend two nights in GC NP at the north rim lodge. From there via Williams for one night we end up in Las Vegas.
I know it's a lot of driving but that's something I like, specially if the route is scenic but does anyone see any major errors in this plan ?
Best regards
Pelle
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I'd say your plan to get off an international flight and then try to drive 3-4 hours is a pretty big potential problem.
By the time you land, you will have already been traveling for at least 11 to 12 hours, and by the time you get through custom and get your rental car, it will be about 2pm Chicago time - but your body will think it is about 9pm. That's really not the time to be setting off on a 200 mile drive.
I could see getting on the road to Rockford or Beloit, just to make sure you escape Chicago's traffic, but I wouldn't try pushing much beyond that. Even your original idea of getting to Madison was a bit of a stretch, but I think if you try to get all the way to Mauston, you're just setting yourself up to be exhausted to be on the road the next day.
Even from Rockford, you could still get to Sioux Falls in a day.