It is one of the most cool, awesomeness, beautiful places on earth and everybody should go once. We just spent a week after Labor Day last year thinking it would be less crowded. It wasn't. Just be aware it is a 2 lane blacktop road with no shoulders. Speed limit is 45 mph or less. Very few places to pass slower traffic. It is very crowded. Traffic is really bad. They are always working on some part of the road so expect delays.

If you are camping make reservations or have your first come first serve campsite by noon. If your staying in the park hotels you might want to start making reservations now. If someone sees a chipmunk off the side of the road they will stop to get a picture. Which causes a traffic jam for a mile. A bison several miles, an elk 5 miles, bear or wolf and you could be stuck there for days. The bison are really cool to see they generally have at least 1 or 2 asian people hanging off their horns and they are still clicking away with their cameras. Its just insane watching the people walking right up to the bison. The bison are giant and can fling people a long way with just a flick of their horns. Don't be one of these people.

The best way, time. and places to see animals. Have a couple of good pair of binoculars and a good spotting scope is nice. Get up about and hour before sunrise be at either Lamar Valley for bears, wolves and bison. Hayden Valley for elk. Be there early to get one of the pull out spots they fill up fast. Go see the geysers and mud pots and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone during the day. Fishing in the park is so so. If you are willing to walk away from the road 1/2 mile or more it gets better. The fear of the bears really cuts down on people getting very far from the road. I have fished there a lot. I have never encountered a bear while I was fishing but I do keep my head on a swivel cause they are around.

West Yellowstone is pretty touristy. Lot places to shop. They have a grizzly and wolf habitat(zoo). Several hotels here. If you still have time go out thru West Entrance and head down hiway 191 when you get to the other side of Hebgen Lake turn and go up to the earthquake area its pretty amazing to see the area. There is an outlook area thats like a little museum that explains everything. Then get back on 191 towards Big Sky its a ski resort where a bunch of rich people have built giant houses up on the side of the mountains and I would skip it and stay on 191 turn onto Spanish Creek Road. You will be passing thru Ted Turners Flying D Ranch. It's about a 10 mile drive there is a good campground at the end. It's way cool road and lots of animals. It's some Big Country. If you are not camping head back out on to 191 head down to four corners.

Stop at the Bozeman Hotsprings relax and take a soak. Next day head into Bozeman lot of neat stuff in Bozeman. Leave Bozeman head down I90 to Livingston turn and come into the east entrance of YNP. Either on the way up or on your way home you have to go thru South entrance of YNP to the Grand Tetons National Park. Its right there. GO trust me you'll thank me later. I agree with the Cody area also some cool stuff.

Not sure when the best time to go is. It really is a beating. There is just too many people and cars. They really should limit the amount of people in the park. But it is definitely worth it once. There are a lot of one of a kind things to see. I lived outside of Bozeman for many years have been to YNP many times. Like I said we were just there in Sept. camping. The first nite the wolves started howling sounded like they were right there with us. The elk were bugling everywhere the whole time we were there it was quite the experience.

You should have a Pic-a-nick with Yogi and Boo Boo.

I wanna find an elk shed and bring back.

You really need to do some of the hikes and not just drive around.

Do they have some easy hikes as we will have a 9 year old and a 3 year old with us?

We did a few simple ones at Big Bend a year and a half ago, but then my son was able to fit in a on the back baby carrier for when it got too difficult or he got tired. He's probably too big for it now.