We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver

Ohio
3 posts
Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

Flying into Denver in mid-June and trying to decide whether we should stay in Colorado (Rocky Mountain NP and Colorado Springs\Canon CIty areas) or head up north to the Tetons & Yellowstone. We'll be there about 8 days. Staying in Colorado would be less driving but I've heard so much about the Tetons & Yellowstone....

If we decide to make the trek north - (MapQuest shows about a 9 hr drive) is there anything between Denver and the Wyoming parks worth checking out to break up the drive (with 4 boys ages 7-15)? We hope to mix up our stays between cabins, tent camping, & hotels - don't need anything fancy. We enjoy all the outdoor stuff - hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, maybe a rafting trip.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Sarasota, Florida
Level Contributor
4,186 posts
97 reviews
114 helpful votes
1. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

You have a challenging decision ahead of you! Tetons and Yellowstone are terrific, and a destination in themselves ... as is Colorado. But as you say, the ride between RMNP and Tetons is a long one and (imho) not all that attractive, except perhaps for part of the Snowy Mountain area west of Laramie and after you get up into the Wind River range near Lander.

I would lean towards spending all of your time in one place (Tetons/Yellowstone) or the other (Colorado) so as to minimize time in the car and maximize time doing your outdoor stuff. And my personal preference would be Colorado. Heck, you could do all of that hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding and raft trip just in the Estes Park (Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park) area. With 8 days, spend some time in RMNP, then make a loop to some other parts of the Colorado Rockies via Grand Lake, Summit County, maybe Leadville and Aspen, then over to Colo. Springs/Canon City. Fly into and out of either Denver or Colo. Springs, depending on schedule and who has the lowest fare.

Gainesville, Georgia
Level Contributor
4,833 posts
1,791 reviews
2,269 helpful votes
2. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

be sure you are aware of just how far in miles it is between the two. it is a long haul from denver to yellowstone. and don't even think of driving through craig co. as an option. it will take you a full day of monotanus travel. rock springs wy is a delightful town, other than that the landscape looked like the face of the moor, no trees, not even an horizon. totally isolated in a remote area was an eye opener.

Gardiner MT
Level Contributor
51 posts
3. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

The drive from Denver to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park takes at least nine hours and that does not take in possible road construction. You may want to revise your itinerary and forgo the Denver area and flight and fly directly into Bozeman, MT. From this point you are with in easy driving distance to visit the two parks.

I would suggest you use Gardiner MT the north entrance to Yellowstone as your first base, it is 1½ hours from the Bozeman airport through Paradise Valley. In Gardiner, you have the opportunity to horseback ride, raft the Yellowstone River, and be in close proximity to some of the best wildlife viewing in Yellowstone.

From Gardiner it is just a short distance to the Tower/Junction, Lamar Valley area.

Here you have the chance of seeing gray wolves, grizzly and black bear, bull elk with antlers in velvet, big horn sheep, mountain goats, moose, pronghorn, and many other species of wildlife. You may want to consider the services of a local guide for you first day, as they know the area, the best place to locate the wildlife, and carry binoculars and spotting scopes to help with viewing.

There are many campgrounds near Gardiner, either in the Gallatin National Forest or in the Yellowstone National Park close to the north gate entrance. There are also many hiking trails in the north end of Yellowstone ranging from easy class to strenuous class.

After 2-3 days if you chose to relocate I would recommend basing out of West Yellowstone, MT. It is the west gate and is the closest access to the lower end of the loop system and the closest to Old Faithful and the many thermal basins.

From West Yellowstone, you may then want to head to Jackson, Wyoming and the Grand Teton National Park. The Jackson Hole chamber can help you with any booking information you would need. From Jackson you could drive into Idaho and return along the west side of the Teton Range, about 5 hours

Ohio
3 posts
4. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

We already have our plane tickets into Denver (got REALLY great deal), so flying in somewhere else is not an option. Guess what I'm after is - is there really a lot of difference between what we'd see in Rocky Mountain NP versus taking the extra drive up to Yellowstone/Tetons (scenery/wildlife). Nine hours (x 2) of driving isn't terrible, but we'd like to make the best use of our time (8 days). We're flatlanders, so anything in the mountains will be something different for us....but it seems you hear a lot more about Yellowstone/Tetons than Rocky Mountain NP.....

Thanks for all your input!

Lincoln, Nebraska
Destination Expert
for Lincoln
Level Contributor
750 posts
62 reviews
56 helpful votes
5. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

Both parks are beautiful and have things to offer. We would do both even with the 9x2 road trips. When you have gone that far it would be a shame to only go to CO or WY. You could spend 2 days at RMNP, 1 day on rd., 3 days at Yellowstone, 1 day in Grand Tetons,and 1 day returning to Denver. Yes, you can spend a lot more time in all the parks, but this way you can see at least some of all three. You will see a lot more wildlife in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We have only seen elk and moose at RMNP.

Salt Lake City, Utah
Destination Expert
for Utah, Zion National Park
Level Contributor
19,859 posts
269 reviews
464 helpful votes
6. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

I like the way you plan trips....get a good deal on the tickets and then decide what to do at the destination :-)

To me, Yes, there is a huge difference between what you would see in Yellowstone/ tetons and RMNP. However if you have never experienced the Rockies then either will give you a new appreciation for them.

So which do you want to do??? Drive that long and boring drive to see the first and still premier park? Or stay close by and see all that the Front Range has to offer?

You can have a great trip by staying in Colorado and seeing RMNP, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Red Rock amphitheater, Florrissant Fossil Beds, maybe even head down to the Great Sand Dunes NM, go hiking and fishing to your hearts content almost anywhere in those magnificent Rockies. I like RMNP, it amazes me everytime I go. It is high alpine territory accessible for the masses.

Yellowstone has the geysers/hot pots. You will not find anything else like them in the western hemisphere and everyone should see them at least once. If you think you could plan another trip to Yellowstone where you land a little /or alot closer to avoid that long and very empty drive then I would stay in CO and do Yellowstone another time. If you think this will absolutely be your only ever chance to see Yellowstone then I would make that long and empty drive because it really must be seen.

PS. If you do decide to go to Yellowstone then yes there are some things to see that would be interesting. Casper is a great little town and would be worth stopping in for the night. If you are interested in pioneers then Guernsey wagon ruts (a little side trip) and the ferry crossing in Casper are interesting historical sites along the Oregon/ Californian trails. You could turn west there and hit the Tetons at their most magnificent (through Dubois to Moran),or you could keep going north to Sheridan and take the more scenic route to Cody and visit Buffalo Bill country. Or you could just stay on I-80 to Rock Springs and then head north (probably the fastest) or you could keep going to route 30 and head to Kemmerer and over to Fossil Butte NM before heading north either back to 189 or west to 89 via Montpelier. Or make a loop and do two of those routes...

If I am in Denver though I would stay in CO.

Evansville, Indiana
Level Contributor
12 posts
309 reviews
283 helpful votes
7. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

We have never been to Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons, but do hope to do so maybe next year. We have however been to RMNP many times and will probably return again this year. Estes Park is a wonderful town and the beauty of the FRONT RANGE and the BIG THOMPSON canyon is wonderful. It is not a long drive from Denver and it is beautiful if you take 34 through the Highway. There are lots of great cabin resorts to stay in during your stay in Estes Park. A vist to the Stanley Hotel (the Shining hote) is fun, but too expensive to stay there for what you get. The drive up TRAIL RIDGE road is unbelievable. And if you drive over to Grand Lake, you are likely to see moose in June. We have seen coyotes, moose, elk and bighorn sheep in RMNP. You can hike to your heart's content. Bear Lake is an easy hike. Sprague Lake is peaceful. OR you can do an adventourous hike. I would recommend driving the entire trail ridge loop to Grand Lake. We usually have lunch in Grand Lake.

Green Valley...
Level Contributor
18,059 posts
54 reviews
47 helpful votes
8. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

IndianaKris, this was posted in April, 2007 for a June trip, so is long gone. Perhaps you want to share your obvious knowledge about RMNP on the CO Forum. Also, when you do go to YNP, you will find unique qualities of its own which sets it apart from any other NP.

Denver, CO
Level Contributor
21 posts
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
9. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

I live in Denver, CO and we love Estes Park, RMNP, Canon City and everything else. That said, we are heading to Yellowstone in July. This will be our second visit. Yellowstone is just awesome and as others have said, there is nothing like it anywhere. We will break our trip going up in Thermopolis (visit Hot Springs State Park). Your coice is a hard one. No matter which one you end up end you will see beautiful scenary.

sydney
1 post
10. Re: Tetons-Yellowstone from Denver
Save

we are leaving sydney end august and thanks for the advice.

© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.