trip to Yellowstone
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
Just saw this thread, and the ideas and suggestions are Great a dn much appreciated. 4 of us are leaving Southeast Michigan on Friday morning (July 2) and heading to Rocky Mountian National Park, then up to Laramie, thru the Snowy Mountian Range, up to Jackson, thru the Tetons, and Yellowstone, beartooth, Red Lodge and then heading to the Black hills for a few days.
Your suggestions helped me to learn more about the area, and will enable me to find some places that I probably would have missed.
Thanks for all the info...
Your suggestions helped me to learn more about the area, and will enable me to find some places that I probably would have missed.
Thanks for all the info...
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod, MA, USA
Gardiner and West are very different towns. West is a tourist trap. IMAX theater, taffy shops, curio shops, etc. Some people like that kind of thing. Gardiner is very tourist friendly, but not as schlocky as West, IMO. Quieter, laid back. West has more national chain hotels, but a few mom-n-pop places. Gardiner is mostly mom-n-pop places, with a couple national chains. West is also in a forest, cleared for the town. Gardiner is in a canyon, perched on both sides above the Yellowstone River--the US 89 bridge connects the two halves of town. Elk, antelope and bighorn sheep often wander through town in Gardiner; the occasional bison will wander through West. That ought to give you a sense of what the areas look like.
Mom-n-pop places are scarcer around GTNP. There are some places along US 287 just east of Moran Jct. I just can't recall anything on US 191 from Moran Jct until you get close to Jackson. Maybe a WY local knows better. (I always camp when I'm down there.)
Mom-n-pop places are scarcer around GTNP. There are some places along US 287 just east of Moran Jct. I just can't recall anything on US 191 from Moran Jct until you get close to Jackson. Maybe a WY local knows better. (I always camp when I'm down there.)
Yeah, Gardiner sounds like the nicer place to base out of for a day or two. Any recommendations on a decent Mom & Pop place or two there that I should look into?
As for GTNP, I did see a few decent priced Name Brands in Driggs, ID & Pinedale, WY, and there were a also a couple in the Lander/Riverton, WY area.
Another thought I had was maybe heading north after I do GTNP & YNP and taking in Glacier NP & heading East from there; but I just may be spreading the trip too thin if I try to do that....
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
I've heard good things about staying in Driggs, but never done so myself. I've stayed at the Bull Moose Lodge in Alpine a couple of times and have enjoyed that. Comfortable room right around your price range.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod, MA, USA
Northern Route; US-2
Okay, a wee bit of change in plans for the trip back East from Billings. Am still planning on 2 days in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area (...maybe based in Gardiner - Still need to scope out motels); but now instead of heading further south, am planning on heading northwest and cutting across Glacier National Park. 
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
we stayed at a place called moran jct.grand teaton rv park.30 miles from s end of yellowstone and jackson hole.cabins were 60 a night.there was a good place to eat down the road.we made da trip out of this place pretty nice
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
Okay, a wee bit of change in plans for the trip back East from Billings. Am still planning on 2 days in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area (...maybe based in Gardiner - Still need to scope out motels); but now instead of heading further south, am planning on heading northwest and cutting across Glacier National Park.
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
Okay, a wee bit of change in plans for the trip back East from Billings. Am still planning on 2 days in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area (...maybe based in Gardiner - Still need to scope out motels); but now instead of heading further south, am planning on heading northwest and cutting across Glacier National Park.
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
After that, will be sticking to good, old US-2 East, probably all the way into northern MI. Any thoughts on good motels along that route (...obviously am scoping out all Mom & Pop places, because there are no Name Brands that far north), and am also curious how well ahead I need to plan on gas stations....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
Yeah, Gardiner sounds like the nicer place to base out of for a day or two. Any recommendations on a decent Mom & Pop place or two there that I should look into?
As for GTNP, I did see a few decent priced Name Brands in Driggs, ID & Pinedale, WY, and there were a also a couple in the Lander/Riverton, WY area.
Another thought I had was maybe heading north after I do GTNP & YNP and taking in Glacier NP & heading East from there; but I just may be spreading the trip too thin if I try to do that....
As for GTNP, I did see a few decent priced Name Brands in Driggs, ID & Pinedale, WY, and there were a also a couple in the Lander/Riverton, WY area.
Another thought I had was maybe heading north after I do GTNP & YNP and taking in Glacier NP & heading East from there; but I just may be spreading the trip too thin if I try to do that....
For GTNP, there are places just east of Moran Jct. Also places in Alpine. Nice ride down to Riverton, but that is a haul. Pinedale, too.
If you are resolved to go to Glacier, why not take US 287 when you come back north from GTNP? Going back to Billings doesn't make sense, unless you want to go back to Billings.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod, MA, USA
No, I'd go from Billings to Gardiner, then from there to (probably) the West Entrance of Glacier NP. That looks to be a decent ride, and if we've got tiem left in the day after we get there, we can take in the sights around the western part of GNP.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cape Cod, MA, USA
Well, I have never stayed in Gardiner (too close to home), but any of the places on US 89 north of the river all look pretty nice and seem pretty crowded all summer. They must be doing something right.
For GTNP, there are places just east of Moran Jct. Also places in Alpine. Nice ride down to Riverton, but that is a haul. Pinedale, too.
If you are resolved to go to Glacier, why not take US 287 when you come back north from GTNP? Going back to Billings doesn't make sense, unless you want to go back to Billings.
For GTNP, there are places just east of Moran Jct. Also places in Alpine. Nice ride down to Riverton, but that is a haul. Pinedale, too.
If you are resolved to go to Glacier, why not take US 287 when you come back north from GTNP? Going back to Billings doesn't make sense, unless you want to go back to Billings.
Thanks and, yes, once we leave Billings a the end of the week, we're done with Billings. Plan to hit Gardiner, using that as a home base for a couple of days, then North to GNP and start heading East after that.