
Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Theodore Roosevelt NPs
Trip Itinerary 2021
During this trip P was 7, T was 5, and V was 2 almost 3.
When my then boyfriend, now husband, drove with me to Bozeman so I could go to college, we visited Yellowstone National Park. It was the second National Park I'd been to, and his first. While I lived in Bozeman, I visited the park several times, though I never stayed in the park. I'd either make a day trip of it, stay at a Eagle Creek Campground in Gardiner, or Canyon Campground. I took Marcus to the boiling river the first time in February 2005 when he was visiting and we stayed in Chico Hot Springs Hotel. We even made a day trip to to boiling river February 17, 2007 where Marcus proposed right in the river! My grandmother lived north of Gardiner, so we usually head back that way to stop by to visit. She was the first person we visited after we got engaged.
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All of my kids had been to Montana at a very young age. My oldest was turned 4 months old in Montana. I had taken her solo to visit with friends and family. My son turned two weeks old in Montana. Marcus, P, T, Max and I, drove to Montana and met my sister and her husband there and were able to visit with family and friends. I brought V out there solo when she was 10 months old. On all of those trips, we didn't go to Yellowstone, we wanted to wait until they were old enough to remember.
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So we were extremely excited to make this trip happen. My uncle still lives north of Yellowstone, so we chose to enter and exit that way so we could maximize our time with him. That's also why we chose to camp in Canyon Village. That way if he wanted to join us for a day, it wouldn't be a long drive. We also had some time in Bozeman to visit with friends and old co-workers.
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We could have easily stayed another night or two in Yellowstone to see more of the park. Next time we go, we'll stay on the other side of the park because we saw a lot more of the east side this time.
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Trip Dates: July 9 - July 19, 2021
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Total cost of trip: $2,178
This includes; gas, lodging (three different campgrounds, two hotels), groceries, eating out, souvenirs, groceries, and
fees for activities such as shuttle boat & museum.
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Itinerary
Day 1 - July 9
We decided to see how far we could make it this day and didn't book a hotel for the night. While driving we thought we could make it to Mile City, MT, but when we called ahead, everything was booked. So we ended up staying in Glendive, MT.
Day 2 - July 10
Drive from Glendive, MT to Emigrant, MT. Lunch with family.
1:00 p.m. - Check-In for camping at Canyon
Day 3 - July 11
6:00 a.m. Quick breakfast
Breakfast: Cereal, Coffee Milk
Leave camp and drive to Grand Teton National Park
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Grand Teton/Yellowstone Lake Suggested hikes:
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Jackson Lake Lodge - Lunch Tree Hill - 0.5 miles
Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center Murie ranch hike - 1 mile
Jenny Lake - Hike to Hidden Falls
-Take the shuttle boat over
-Then 1 mile to Hidden Falls, maybe also Inspiration Point
Moose Ponds trail by Jenny Lake - depending
String Lake to Leigh Lake - 1.8 miles
Colter Bay - hike Swan Lake Trail 3 miles
Colter Bay Visitor Center - Lakeshore Trail
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Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches and humus and veggies
peanut butter, bread, jelly, hummus, bell pepper, baby carrots, cucumber, pineapple, crackers
West Yellowstone on way back as time allows
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Dinner: Chili & hot dogs
Hot Dogs, hot dog buns, ketchup, mustard, frozen chili, coke, milk or juice
Day 4 - July 12
Breakfast: Pancakes,
Blueberries, pancake mix, bacon
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Fishing Bridge - West Thumb
Fishing Bridge
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Pelican Creek Nature Trail - 0.5 miles
By Bridge Bay
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Natural Bridge 2.5 miles
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Grant Village - Madison
South of Madison Junction
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Old Faithful
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Sentinel Meadows 2.8 miles
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Fairy Falls - 3.2
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Biscuit Basin - Mystic Falls - 4 miles
Area Canyon Village - Madison
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Dinner: Hamburgers
Ground Beef, hamburger buns, pickle, chips, peas - frozen
Day 5 - July 13
Breakfast: Pancakes:
Blueberries, pancake mix, bacon
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Tower-Roosevelt - Mammoth Hot Springs
East of Mammoth Hot Springs
-Forces of the Northern Range Trail - 0.7 mile
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Lunch: Sandwich meat
Roast beef, crackers, pepper jack cheese, watermelon
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Dinner: Mongolian Beef and Broccoli
Day 6 - July 14
Breakfast: Cereal and eggs
Cheerio’s, eggs, cheddar cheese, onion, bell pepper, breakfast sausage, milk, hot chocolate, coffee
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Pack up camp and head out
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Mammoth Hot Springs if haven't gotten to it yet.
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At Chico Hot Springs Poolside Grill with family
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2:00 p.m. - Check-in at Bozeman Hot Springs Campground
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Shower and swim
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With Friends in Bozeman
Day 7 - July 15
Breakfast: Provided by Bozeman Hot Springs Campground
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Grocery Shopping
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Stop on campus
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Lunch: Picnic lunch
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1:15 p.m. - Museum of the Rockies
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Back at camp and swim time
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Dinner: Spaghetti
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Back to swim
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Day 8 - July 16
Breakfast: Granny's Donuts
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Lunch: Picnic lunch
Drive around town and visit some old spots
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Back at camp and swim time
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Dinner: Soup with bread​
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Pack up camp and ready to leave the next day
Day 9 - July 17
Breakfast: Granny's Donuts
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Visit with friend & her family
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11:30 a.m. - Head out of Bozeman
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Dinner - At restaurant in Dickenson, ND
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Stay in Dickenson, ND
Day 10 - July 18
Breakfast: Quick Snack
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7:00 a.m. - Drive to North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP
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11:30 a.m. - Picnic lunch​
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Drive to South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP​
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Stay at Cottonwood Campground in South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP
Day 11 - July 19
Quick breakfast and head home