Chicago >>>Yellowstone/Tetons first 2 weeks October

[sgadomski]

Professional photographer doing roadtrip from Chicago to Yellostone/Tetons in the first 2 weeks of October. I have never been to that area. Any good, specific location ideas? Should I plan on the North Entrance? Ghost towns accessible with 2 wheel drive? What might snow conditions be like then? Ideas other than the Mormon Barns would be appreciated. Thank you.
Also would I have time for Glacier N.P.?

[DonnaR57]

The main highway through Glacier NP, Going to the Sun Highway, is scheduled for closure in mid-September. So that might be a place to save for another trip. Even during the summer, the highway has had its moments of closure due to unexpected snowfall, or freezing rain.

I'll let others chime in about Yellowstone and the Tetons.

Donna

[Lifemagician]

Hi, and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.

The first thing I think you need to take into consideration is the official closing date of both Yellowstone and Glacier NP. Not that you cannot get into these places, but most, if not all of the services will have closed down, and the Going to the Sun Road in GNP will be closed. If you mean the Northern entrance into Yellowstone as the Beartooth Highway over Beartooth Pass, then chances are it too, will be closed.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

Glacier NP is open all year round, although as Donna mentioned the 'Going to the sun road' won't be open along it's entire lenght and weather plays a part in what is and what isn't accessible. The same can be said of Yellowstone NP where winter can come early and closures occur during October and you could face weather disruption.. To get an idea of climates and visiting your best bet is to look at the NPS sites. You can find Glacier NP here and Yellowstone NP here.

It can be a wonderful time to visit as the crowds have gone, but take plenty of warm, layered clothing with you. The Grand Tetons is another area you could visit and with a couple of weeks they are all options, but you would be looking at a weeks worth of driving. You will need to keep up to date with weather conditions prior to leaving and as you travel and make certain decisions as you go.

[glc]

The North entrance to Yellowstone is open all year, weather permitting. That's US-89 from Gardiner. The "Beartooth" entrance is the Northeast entrance, and that's also open year round but only to Cooke City. The road from Tower Falls to Canyon Junction over Dunraven Pass will close October 11, and all the rest of the roads except from the north to northeast entrances will close November 7.