Yellowstone traffic

I've been to the park to do front country stuff twice this summer with people who have come to visit us. And from here on out, my wife and I have decided that if people want to come visit and make a front country day trip to the park between June and September, we'll send them on their way and have dinner ready when they get back. The traffic jams for bison and for the entrances to places like Midway and Norris geyser basins have been like nothing I've seen before.

Edit: I should add that I'd happily still go for day hikes or more focused visits. The trying to see as many spots as possible day trips are what's a no-go now. That was all we'd do when I was growing up.
 
Jackson said:
I've been to the park to do front country stuff twice this summer with people who have come to visit us. And from here on out, my wife and I have decided that if people want to come visit and make a front country day trip to the park between June and September, we'll send them on their way and have dinner ready when they get back. The traffic jams for bison and for the entrances to places like Midway and Norris geyser basins have been like nothing I've seen before.

Edit: I should add that I'd happily still go for day hikes or more focused visits. The trying to see as many spots as possible day trips are what's a no-go now. That was all we'd do when I was growing up.
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Yep.... We just pick and choose days and sites .. .. but I'm only 30 minutes away.
 
Oh man, my nephew and his wife talked me into going up there with them in two weeks. They’re flying in from Hawaii and already bought their tickets or I’d cancel. They’re flying into Jackson or I’d even try to divert them. Shoots.
 
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I’d imagine with all th brand spankin’ new to th outdoors people, there are first time chipmunk jams, prairie dog jams and magpie jams along with many more critters that have never gotten to experience th limelight that people are goin’ Gaga over.
 
Goodness Gracious all of those people. It has indeed been hectic here in Jackson with alllll of these freaking flatlanders. Record numbers of Flatlanders this year. Have to get out of here myself to somewhere new and not many people .... So heading to Alaska and the Aleutians in a few days.
 
Jackson said:
Edit: I should add that I'd happily still go for day hikes or more focused visits. The trying to see as many spots as possible day trips are what's a no-go now. That was all we'd do when I was growing up.
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The last couple of years we have been camping in the park and then trying to do longer day hikes that are within a relatively short distance of our campground. That taking people through to see as much as possible ended up driving everyone crazy.
 
Back from Yellowstone, no problem entering the park at the South Entrance (only about 6 vehicles at noon). Only saw one horrible traffic jam with cars backed up for a couple miles trying to get into to Grand Prismatic, we were going the other direction and it did not affect us.

Old Faithful had a ton of people, but the boardwalks did not feel crowded. The Canyon had lots of people, but early morning or after dinner was not crowded at all.

We definitely made the right decision to stay in the park. I'll post a trip report eventually.
 
Never smelled any smoke so that was nice. The haze was terrible in Grand Teton, could barely see across the lake. It wasn't too bad in Yellowstone until I did a dayhike to Observation Peak. Once I got up high, the haze was very obvious, but I could still see the south rim of the canyon.
 
wsp_scott said:
Back from Yellowstone, no problem entering the park at the South Entrance (only about 6 vehicles at noon). Only saw one horrible traffic jam with cars backed up for a couple miles trying to get into to Grand Prismatic, we were going the other direction and it did not affect us.

Old Faithful had a ton of people, but the boardwalks did not feel crowded. The Canyon had lots of people, but early morning or after dinner was not crowded at all.

We definitely made the right decision to stay in the park. I'll post a trip report eventually.
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Glad to hear it! That Midway Geyser Basin traffic is just insane, having sat in it twice this season. I know it's a cool feature but sheesh.
 
wsp_scott said:
Back from Yellowstone, no problem entering the park at the South Entrance (only about 6 vehicles at noon). Only saw one horrible traffic jam with cars backed up for a couple miles trying to get into to Grand Prismatic, we were going the other direction and it did not affect us.

Old Faithful had a ton of people, but the boardwalks did not feel crowded. The Canyon had lots of people, but early morning or after dinner was not crowded at all.

We definitely made the right decision to stay in the park. I'll post a trip report eventually.
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Where in the park did you stay? My wife and I are camping at Canyon campground in a bit less than a month.
 
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