South Dakota, Montana & Wyoming in May?

[twogypsies]

I hope you're scouring the national park's web sites for information. There's some good stuff there as to what to do and see, special alerts to construction and road information. Here is the projected 2019 road opening dates.... naturally, subject to change depending on weather.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

I hope you're scouring the national park's web sites for information. There's some good stuff there as to what to do and see, special alerts to construction and road information. Here is the projected 2019 road opening dates.... naturally, subject to change depending on weather.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Thanks, I have that website bookmarked.

If the projected opening dates are close my projected arrival dates of May 15th or a few days later should work good for me. I will be coming in the West entrance and the North-Central part of YNP may be the only part I cannot access.

[guardrail53]

We went to Mt Rushmore in mid May, 2016, and it was cold, windy! Temps down in the mid 20's at night! We stayed at Custer State Park, nice! Leaving out of the area going west, down to Casper, Wy. and on across thru Devils gate, saw snow, got to Rawlins, I-80 west, saw lots of snow, spent the night in Little America, woke to 1' new snow in the morning!
Watch the weather reports that time of the year, just to play it safe!


travelsouthdakota.com for a free vacation guide! It is worth it for all the great info, maps, CG's info! Enjoy your trip. Rail!

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by guardrail53

We went to Mt Rushmore in mid May, 2016, and it was cold, windy! Temps down in the mid 20's at night! We stayed at Custer State Park, nice! Leaving out of the area going west, down to Casper, Wy. and on across thru Devils gate, saw snow, got to Rawlins, I-80 west, saw lots of snow, spent the night in Little America, woke to 1' new snow in the morning!
Watch the weather reports that time of the year, just to play it safe!


travelsouthdakota.com for a free vacation guide! It is worth it for all the great info, maps, CG's info! Enjoy your trip. Rail!

Ugh!! I have slowly been backing up my dates for the last of May. I mainly want to be there and gone before school lets out and the families start their trips.

The big concern is Memorial Day. I have no idea what happens at either YNP or GTNP on Memorial Day.

I have vacation guides coming for South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

I have Rafter J back in my stops which will be close to a lot just SW of Rapid City.

[Gladie]

We went to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone May 22,2017 thru June 2. We also like to travel to tourist areas when School is in session. The weather was glorious, not cold but cool. Pictures show us in blue jeans and short sleeves, jackets at night. The skies were mostly cloudless, so blue. The crowds and roads were very manageable. Entering Yellowstone from the south, there were patches of snow on the ground. I believe one or two roads were closed but everything was all opened when we left. Also, that’s when we started to see an increase in traffic, right after Memorial Day. We stayed at Headwaters, Colter Bay and Madison with reservations made only days in advance. Black hills area, Custer Park, Crazy Horse was also more comfortable weather, easy to get around. We stayed at The Pines Campground. A lot of people don’t care for Crazy Horse but we enjoyed it very much, museum and laser light show. Badlands was very hot In June, close to 100. One to two days is enough. We like photography and there’s lots of wildlife there. If you can, get out of Yellowstone early June unless you like lines, just my opinion.

[Gladie]

Originally Posted by Gladie

We went to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone May 22,2017 thru June 2. We also like to travel to tourist areas when School is in session. The weather was glorious, not cold but cool. Pictures show us in blue jeans and short sleeves, jackets at night. The skies were mostly cloudless, so blue. The crowds and roads were very manageable. Entering Yellowstone from the south, there were patches of snow on the ground. I believe one or two roads were closed but everything was all opened when we left. Also, that’s when we started to see an increase in traffic, right after Memorial Day. We stayed at Headwaters, Colter Bay and Madison with reservations made only days in advance. Black hills area, Custer Park, Crazy Horse was also more comfortable weather, easy to get around. We stayed at The Pines Campground. A lot of people don’t care for Crazy Horse but we enjoyed it very much, museum and laser light show. Badlands was very hot In June, close to 100. One to two days is enough. We like photography and there’s lots of wildlife there. If you can, get out of Yellowstone early June unless you like lines, just my opinion.

GTNP May 22,2017

[Gladie]

Originally Posted by Gladie

GTNP May 22,2017Attachment 208776Attachment 208776

Ooops

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by Gladie

GTNP May 22,2017Attachment 208776Attachment 208776

That is a pretty picture and I don't mine the snow being in the mountains. I don't want to drive in it.

[twogypsies]

Here are some visitation statistics from over the years at Yellowstone. Note that June has double attendance than May. On this there's a blank field you have to choose from the list. Also, in another chart I viewed the West Entrance is the busiest.

https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSRepor...onth?Park=YELL

[reubenray]

I am checking into swinging into Idaho from West Yellowstone to the Grand Tetons instead of taking Hwy. 191 through Yellowstone. The route will be I-15 to Hwy's 26/89 back to Jackson. This is assuming that Jackson is easy to drive through with a 41' motorhome pulling a car.

Any recommendations for campgrounds along this route is appreciated. Also will this route scenic or dull.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by reubenray

I am checking into swinging into Idaho from West Yellowstone to the Grand Tetons instead of taking Hwy. 191 through Yellowstone. The route will be I-15 to Hwy's 26/89 back to Jackson. This is assuming that Jackson is easy to drive through with a 41' motorhome pulling a car.

Any recommendations for campgrounds along this route is appreciated. Also will this route scenic or dull.

Dull. The full impact of the Grand Tetons, driving down the 'backside' of the Tetons is dull, the Tetons look like a couple of green lumps in the distance as compared to the 5-7,000' exposure on the east side. (The mountain men called them 'les trois tétons' (The three nipples) and I think they were named from the Idaho side. There are some labeled lodgepole pine nurseries that identify the years they were planted. The Palisades Reservoir is not Jackson Lake, however, landslides along US 26/89 between Alpine and Hoback are always exciting.

The longer route through Yellowstone, down the J.D. Rockefeller Parkway past Jackson Lake is a bit longer and the 45 mph limit makes it longer, but I've done that route over 50 times and have never found it tedious. You're on vacation, take the scenic routes!