drive to yellowstone from California

My my wife and I, are planning a driving tour of Grand Teton nation al park, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore Fort Colllins and Denver and back home thorugh Vegas.. We wanted to go in April but I understand the park is closed until after 4/18 . We want to also vist Cody.WY and take a slow float trip on the Grand Tetons.I would appreciate places to stay slong the wasy, and where to pick up tours etc. Also any suggetoin on routes. We are planning on 2-3 weeks. Also we are Seniors

Many thanks

drive to yellowstone from California

If you are planning to go in late April or May you should go ahead and make reservations because the ones in the park itself go fast. If you do not want to stay in the park you will probably have no problem. We are going the last of May and I made reservations in Jan. and early Feb. The best route would be to go from SLC to Jackson then tour Yellowstone%26#39;s Grand loop, drive to Cody, then to Mt. Rushmore, Denver, Las Vegas and home. Many of the raft trips to not start until Memorial weekend. The Cody nite rodeo does not begin until June 1. There are a lot of wildlife and scenery to see and the museums in Cody.

drive to yellowstone from California

Even though portions of YS open April 18 or so... The drive from Old Faithful to the South Entrance toward Tetons is not scheduled to open until May 9. Most lodging inside the park does not open until mid May, with a few exceptions. Visit www.nps.gov/yell for more information.

Mt Rushmore and the Black Hills is nice to visit. Spend 2 nights or so.

Not sure the draw to Fort Collins unless you have family there.

Where is California? Northern or Southern. Probably 3 days to YS from Southern, 2 days from Northern.

Also to return to Southern CA from Denver.. plan on 1.5 to 2 days of driving.

You mights like to read these articles about driving through Yellowstone. I wrote them for a driving tour for our 95+ tour. The articles give ideas of what to see and do on the interior roads within Yellowstone Park - just click on these links and they should take you to the page with the information.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i9356-Yellowsto…

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i5816-Yellowsto…