Planning a Vacation Part III – Narrowing the Plan

I think we are really narrowing in where we want to go and what we want to do. We did decide to stay in Wyoming most of the vacation. We have reduced our driving time from 9 days to about 4 days. I think that will work better for us this trip.

We are narrowing down on the beginning and end of the trip. We have already made reservations in the park for five nights the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th.

The new driving plan ( Approximately 2,313 Miles):

We are still considering driving into Montana from the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone, there are supposed to be some spectacular drives there.

Beginning Itinerary:

Official Yellowstone Trip Planner Link

Staying at Yellowstone… Camping Yay!

Madison Camp Ground:

We reserved a camp site at Madison Camp ground for all five nights. There are no showers but we can grab a shower in the other camp sites, no problem. The Madison camp ground was the most central campground, had bathrooms, nice tent sites, and was still central. We liked the idea of traveling a little farther each day, and staying in the same place. Hopefully the horseflies won’t be so bad this time of the year. The elevation of the camp ground is at 6,800 feet, which is probably one of the lower elevations of camp sites at the park.

Here are some reviews of the camp site. I’m pretty happy.

August 5th – Yellowstone – North Entrance and Norris Geyser Basin (***)

Check out the Mammoth Hot Springs Welcome Center as we enter the park.

Norris Geyser Basin Photo Tour

It is a little sketchy from here… Still working this part of the plan

A little help from the Yellowstone Insider

August 6th ?? – Yellowstone – Old Faithful

(Road) Madison Junction to Old Faithful (One the way… Lower Geyser Basin (***))

Old Faithful Upper Geyser Basin (****)

Fire Hole River Walk (****)

August 7th ?? – West Thumb Geyser Basin

Geyser Basin Walk (***)

August 8th ?? – Canyon Area (****)

(Road) Fishing Bridge to Canyon

South Rim Drive (****)

Artist Point (****)

North Rim Drive (***)

Inspiration Point (***)

August 9th ?? -

Plan B – Yellowstone – North Entrance – Mammoth Hot Springs (**)

If we find we have loads of time left over…

Mammoth Hot Springs Tours

August 10th – Cody (Sunday)

Morning of…

Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Open Daily August hours: 8 AM to 8 PM)

Wild west show and rodeo (Rodeo @ 8 PM)

Stay in Cody

Hour and a Half to Termopolis

August 11th – Dinosaur Center : Termopolis

Morning of…

Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Site (Open Daily 8 AM to 6 PM)

Wanna do both Museum and Dig Site Tour (Tours conducted hourly)

Centennial Scenic Byway

4 Hours to Jackson Hole

Stay in Jackson Hole (Evening)

August 12th – Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole

(This day can be switched with the 14th in case of weather)

Horseback Riding ??

Stay in Jackson Hole

August 13th – Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole

Hot Air Ballooning ??: Jackson Hole

Grand Teton National Park, Teton Park Road

Stay Jackson Hole

August 14th – Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole

Spa Day ??, Shopping

Stay in Jackson Hole

.

Heading back:

Got suggestions? Let me know. Plenty of room for suggestion as we are roughing out the details.

Articles that may interest you:

More Scheming from Dharma V.

Here is the book my other half used to find us some nice roads to drive. He is a smarty…

National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 3d Ed. (National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways) ISBN: 1426200560 ISBN-13: 9781426200564