Those who’ve been to Yellowstone, Arches NP, Mount Rushmore

[Dirtebiker]

Skip Mt Rushmore. It's fine, and it's something that you will likely want to do at some point, but there's too much out there for this to make the top of the list.
Yellowstone itself deserves more than 9 days.

That was my thought. I think once I get in any of the canyons, rock formations, etc., my wife will have to drag me out.

 

[Dirtebiker]

The only reason to go to Yellowstone is to say you’ve been there. Well. The car accidents are interesting too. Japanese tourists can’t drive.

have you been to Yellowstone? You’re the first person (in a lot of reading) who says it’s not worth going.
I know it’s crowded (hopefully going in late Sept. will help that), but there is so much natural beauty, I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t want to see it!?

 

[Dirtebiker]

The wife and I visited Yellowstone some years ago in Sept. It snowed so be prepared to dress warmly, unless you’re counting on global warming to mitigate that risk!

How were the daily temps for the most part? Light jacket/sweat shirt or winter coat, hat, and gloves?

 

[Dirtebiker]

We were in the Mt Rushmore area, and then on to Bozeman Montana and Yellowston NP in June. Iron Mountain road between MR and Custer SP is really cool, It loops under itself through tunnels a couple of times and one of them is aimed right at MR. We loved Custer State Park. Saw two herds of bison, one in the process of crossing the highway. Also stopped and visited a prairie dog village. Those things are hilarious the way they scamper around and bark to each other. While driving through the park, stop at the way stations and the staff there will let you know where the animals are at that time. Yellowstone was great. We spent 12 hours in one day driving through the park and stopping at several sights. We saw bison, elk, one moose and one grizzly. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is pretty cool too. Parking and a short hike on the south rim, the hike takes you to a beautiful view of a major waterfall. Oh and the drive between these areas is pretty long, but you will see a lot (> 100) of pronghorns on the way, supposedly the fastest land animal in the U.S., although all the ones we saw we just grazing. Sounds lilke a great trip you are planning.

Question for this poster and anyone else that’s been there; stay inside Yellowstone or find motels outside the park? Can we just drive out and find a place or call ahead for reservations?
I know reservations are definitely needed at park lodges!

 

[Dirtebiker]

Whatever you decide, you will wish that you had more time to spend there. My personal favorite was Mt. Rushmore at night when the monument is lit up with spotlights and the National Anthem is playing in the background. Then there is the pigtail bridges on the Iron Mountain drive just west of there. ENJOY your trip.

Thank you Mike! I’ve been wanting to get out there for a long time.

 

[Dirtebiker]

We try to hit national parks every year, or every other year, but only visit one at a time. They are just too big to only spend 2 days in each and truly enjoy them. Two day visits are fine if you just want to say you have been there. Our hands down favorite is Glacier National Park. That will probably change when we hit Denali and Alaska in 3 years.

Denali is in the top 3-4 on my list!

 

[BroodXI]

if you can, get you a pass from NPS "America the Beautiful" will save you a ton of money. Especially if you are hitting several parks.
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm#CP_JUMP_5088574

Have a great time

My trip last year consisted of devil's tower, badlands, mt rushmore, crazy horse, yellowstone, rocky mt. national forest, and white sands natl. mounument. the pass covered everything.

 

[Spear Dane]

Mt Rushmore was a MAJOR disappointment for me. It is not nearly as big as it's made out to be. If you're going to be in that area I would go to Devils Tower. There's a very nice walking trail around the whole thing and you might see an idiot or 3 free styling up it.

 

[dvd1955]

Question for this poster and anyone else that’s been there; stay inside Yellowstone or find motels outside the park? Can we just drive out and find a place or call ahead for reservations?
I know reservations are definitely needed at park lodges!

For Yellowstone area I can't really help with that - my wife's family is from Bozeman so that is where we stayed. (I still don't understand why they left Montana to be in Indiana!!!)

 

[WanderingSol07]

Staying in the park you will want reservations, but may be fairly easy for late September. Outside should not problem. We stayed in Cody and outside the northwest entrance.

 

[BroodXI]

if you want to see most of the park, i suggest staying in the park. There is going to be alot of driving. People say Canyon is the most centrally location to see the park. But my wife wanted to stay at the Inn by old faithful.

 

[BugI02]

Question for this poster and anyone else that’s been there; stay inside Yellowstone or find motels outside the park? Can we just drive out and find a place or call ahead for reservations?
I know reservations are definitely needed at park lodges!

Better call ahead for reservations a little sooner, like now. Also check the NP website because some of the sights begin shutting down in late september/early october and check for fires in the area closer to when you go
Best deals I am aware of are in West Yellowstone where there is a nucleus of hotel/motels and restaurants. We have taken to staying in Jackson but it makes for a long (though beautiful) drive in

This is a well thought of property in West Yellowstone. Friends have stayed there and loved it, but I have not personally stayed there in more than ten years

https://www.yellowstonekellyinn.com

 

[tsm]

How were the daily temps for the most part? Light jacket/sweat shirt or winter coat, hat, and gloves?

We went in early/mid Sept and jackets/sweaters were sufficient during the days. If you’re going to be there in late Sept, I’d make sure to pack at least one warm coat just to be on the safe side. You remember the old adage: better to have it and not need it vs. need it and not have it!

 

[RugerRog]

I like Yellowstone. The wife and I have been there twice and never feel we stay long enough. There is a lot to see and do. If you dont have reservations in the park now, you may not get them. Last time we went I was not able to get any inside the park, and I was trying 3-4 months in advance, so we stayed in Gardiner MT, West Yellowstone, and Wapiti (I think). We never did a lot in the Grand Tetons other than look at them, so probably never fully appreciated the area. Late Sept, we were there Laborday week our first time, and it was cold in the early morning and late evenings, Jacket with Liner, and light gloves. in the mid 30's.

Dont taunt the Buffalo, lol.

If you go to see Rushmore along the way is Devils Tower, from Close Encounters, and I thought it was cool. We spent a few hours there walking around the Tower and stopping the Visitor center. As others said, I'd skip Crazy Horse. The Badlands are nearby and they are cool to stop and see, but dont know if I would venture that far.

There is a lot to see and do in Utah, I think they have more National parks than any other state. We are headed to Arches and the Canyon lands next year. Found this link for you. https://utah.com/five-national-parks-five-days

I think between Utah and Yellowstone that might occupy a lot of your time.

 

[jamil]

I will never go back to Yellowstone. Went there a couple of years ago and if you're crowd averse like me, it's just awful. It's a tourist trap. There was cool stuff, indeed. But two-legged cattle clogging up the works. No thanks. Outside of West Yellowstone was a ATV rental shop. I wish we'd have done THAT for a few days instead of Yellowstone.

Arches/Canyonlands was awesome, however. Lots of places to go where not a soul around anywhere. Not sure if it still is awesome. I don't think I've been there since late 90s. I dunno. Maybe it's a cheezy tourist trap too now.

 

[dprimm]

When we went to Mt Rushmore my wife and I enjoyed it. We are both science people so we looked it the building of it from that viewpoint. We also had just spent 10 days in Yellowstone.

Another stop in SD that was very neat was the private dinosaur dig. All enclosed you can see everything. a few hours including the drive out of the way home. I can try to locate the name if you want.

 

[BugI02]

Also want to mention this place, not as a place to stay (very pricey and booked a year in advance) but as a stop to rest and eat when moving through Grand Teton NP. Excellent food, gorgeous surroundings and reasonable prices (for what you get, not fast food real restaurant)

https://www.gtlc.com/lodges/jackson-lake-lodge

 

[mkgr22]

As mentioned above, Yellowstone in September can mean snow.

The roads will quickly go from "Snow tires recommended" to "Snow tires required", then "Road closed"!

Then you are stuck in the park until it clears.

 

[traderdan]

If you DO go to Mt Rushmore....wander around in the crowd, look up at the Presidents and exclaim, "Not one Democrat up there!"

 

[Alpo]

It's all good. Sometimes it depends on the time of year. Late September will reduce the number of people on the roads and at the parks. Most of the facilities will be open, but those that cater specifically to tourists may have closed down by then. Be careful on the 2-way roads in the mountains. We almost got blindsided by a cowboy reaching down on the floor for something and headed our way in the wrong lane. The alternative to a crash (if we didn't get stopped in time) was about 3,000 feet down to the valley floor.

It's beautiful. It's soooooo big. If you find a spot you really like, stay. You can always see something else on the next trip. And you will be back.