Driving From Seattle

Is there any place to visit 1/2 way towards Yellowstone from Seattle. I heard it is a 12 hour drive, with a teenager in tow we might want to stop 1/2 way for the night. Any suggestions. Also any suggestions for a place to stay outside Yellowstone? Tried booking for in the park stay, but all booked.

Driving From Seattle

Hi BratTee1

I don%26#39;t know too much about the drive from Seattle to Yellowstone. If my kids were teens I%26#39;d probably try to do the whole drive in one day.

As for lodging, there%26#39;s lots of choices in West Yellowstone, depending on what you like, and its kind of a central location. If your main intrest is watching wildlife, Gardiner MT or Cooke City MT might be better (closer) options. I%26#39;d make some kind of reservation while keeping an eye on penalties for cancelations, then keep calling the park concessioner as they often have cancelations and you might be able to get lodging inside the park for at least some of your stay. But call them directly and fairly often (once a week?) for a better chance of getting something. The number is 1-866-439-7375.

Driving From Seattle

Thanks for the information. Being a 12 hour drive we might make it all the way. It all depends on traffic and such.

Our main goal is to see Old Faithful, anything after that is gravy! Then we are off to Mt. Rushmore. We are thinking of staying about 2 days in the Yellowstone area.

Suggest you visit Missoula, Butte, Bozeman for an overnight, tour the towns while driving through. The old towns and historic displays are quite interesting, even for a teen. Check them out, individually, on Things to Do for each town, left hand column. Or, their visitor/tourism centers. From any of them, you would go into the N. or W. Entrances to YNP.

I would spend 3 nights minimum in YNP; it is large, diverse, and has so much to see, Old Faithful being just one of many wonderful areas to walk among fumaroles, vents, geyser areas, waterfalls, rushing and calm rivers, etc.

Then, there is the wildlife. Lamar and Hayden Valleys, among other places along the roads. You will probably want to go back to any or all of the above during your stay to see them at different times.

Bring binoculars, cooler with snacks and beverages. Take your time, enjoy it more. You will regret too short a time in the park.

Wow thanks for the detailed sugguestions I like that, will use it. Don%26#39;t know if 3 days we can do it because of time crunch we are also driving to Mt. Rushmore then back to the west coast.

Brat,

You might give us a better idea of the time you are allocating for your trip. From you response, I%26#39;m guessing that you are trying to do too much in too short a time.

Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills are wonderful -- but honestly, you will be spending a lot of drive time to there and back. I%26#39;m guessing that when you get home, you will wish you had just spent the time in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson, Cody, Beartooth Highway, etc. Particularly with a teenager, getting out and doing rather than days on the road will make for a more memorable trip.

If you insist (LOL) on Mt. Rushmore, you might go out the NE entrance, Beartooth Hwy., for a spectacularly beautiful drive. Google it. If you go through Cody, you might enjoy the rodeo and the museums, the latter well worth it and your teen might find it fascinating.

Obviously, I agree with Shell Net.