2022-11-04 06:05:36
GETTING THERE. Yellowstone Regional Airport (flyyra.com) is about 3 miles outside Cody near Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance and offers service from Salt Lake City, Denver and Chicago. Jackson Hole Airport (jacksonholeairport.com) is about 60 miles south of Yellowstone and just 16 miles from Grand Teton National Park. Car rentals and shuttle services to lodges inside the parks, nearby towns and hotels are available from both airports. BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PUP. Dogs are not permitted on trails, pathways and boardwalks, inside visitor centers or in any park waters or thermal areas. Want a good rule of thumb? A pet may go anywhere a car can go, including roads, campgrounds, picnic areas and parking lots. Always pick up after your pets and keep them on a 6-foot leash in developed areas. BE WEATHER AWARE. Temperatures not only vary by season — they vary by elevation. Dress in layers, stay hydrated and be prepared for anything from warm summer temperatures to snow as late as June. PRACTICE WILDLIFE SAFETY. Be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from other animals, like bison. Stay safe from bears when you’re out exploring by carrying bear spray, being alert, making noise and traveling in groups of three or more. Roads through the national parks are shared with all the wild creatures, so traffic halts frequently for them and speed limits are low. In fact, most traffic stops here are caused by wildlife crossings. Always stay in your vehicle if you’re stuck in a wildlife jam. Never approach, chase or feed the animals. Learn more about bear safety at wgfd.wyo.gov. ARRIVE EARLY (OR LATE). Getting an early start maximizes your chances of finding parking, quieter trails and clear waters. During the peak season, there’s often daylight until 9 p.m. or later, and many portions of the park clear out substantially by 4 or 5 p.m. PLAN AHEAD. With more than 2.2 million acres at Yellowstone and 310,000 acres at Grand Teton, the parks make up a sprawling destination, so you probably won’t get to see everything in one trip. Make your must-see list before arriving and plan on a return trip (or two or three). And be sure to book your campsite or lodge well in advance — these fill quickly, especially during peak season. It’s $35 per vehicle to visit Yellowstone or Grand Teton for one to seven days. Accessibility information can be found for Grand Teton at TravelWY.com/npsteton- access and for Yellowstone at TravelWY.com/nps-yell-access. AVOID THE CROWDS. Late June through late August is the parks’ peak visitation season. Visit during the shoulder season in early June and September for a quieter retreat. PLAN ON DISCONNECTING. Cell service, Wi-Fi and even television can be hard to come by when you’re traveling around Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Be prepared to disconnect for the duration of your visit — and don’t be surprised if sending and receiving texts becomes a challenge.
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