suggestions for places to stay in the Jackson area?

[shireen]

Some friends and I are thinking of coming to Jackson in August 2017 for the solar eclipse, and use that opportunity to explore Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Prices are really expensive in that area! Any suggestions for good reasonably-priced hotels/motels/inns in the area?

Thanks!

[danimich1]

1. Prices will probably be even higher at that time

but I've heard the Painted Buffalo is cheap and clean. I've never stayed there myself, but a lot of people I know have stayed there when trying to save money. If you want cheaper you can consider the town of Driggs in Idaho, or possibly Dubois, WY. Driggs isn't too far away. I've rented a home there in the past through tripadvisor and have been very pleased. Dubois is a little further away, but might be more reasonable. I think there's a Super 8 there. I've never stayed in Dubois, but since it's away from Yellowstone it might be cheaper. Good luck!

[shireen]

4. thanks for the tip

After hearing what 2naSalit said, I'm having second thoughts about going there in summer. I'd love to see it someday during the off-season so I appreciate your advice.

[2naSalit]

2. Good luck...

It's very pricey in Jackson, hell the people who work there live in Driggs, Over the Teton Pass which is a heck of a commute (10% grade for 7 miles - both sides).

And this would be the . worst. year to visit either Park. There were 3.4 million people who visited YNP in 2014; 4.2 million in 2015... and it was traffic gridlock for the majority of the day, every day from 4/26 when the roads opened until 11/2 when they closed. It was insane, people were rude, pushy, drove like idiots... at least one head on crash each week... People crowding around the animals and doing everything they thouight they could get away with because "rules suck" and shouldn't apply to them. And then there will be an additional 600,00 Chinese folks showing up, most on buses with kamikaze drivers bu worse are the many thousand who show up in a car they have to idea how to operate, no clue about driving rules or courtesy, and they have no licenses either (got one online type so they could rent the car). So there's that. The parks are understaffed and there won't be an LEO when you need one due to the shortage. And then there's the 4th grader program to bring in untold thousands more and the centennial to boot. I live within a stone's throw of the park and I will not go in the park at all this year, in fact, I have taken a job 60 miles away just to be away from the traffic and tourists.

Too many people in a sensitive ecosystem will surely be the death of it.

http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/news/article_af922ea6-034e-11e6-a792-17cd88950430.html

FYI.

Sorry for the rant but I spent the last two summers working as a Ranger in YNP and I never want to be exposed to the GP like that ever again. I was held to an impossibly high standard last year given the number of people we saw last summer. I know for a fact, because we actually keep count, that I spoke to at least 1200 - 1500 MORE/week people last summer than I did in 2014. I worked hard in college to study this place so I would be able to come work here only to be chased off from one of the least populated places due to overpopulation for 6 months of the year. After 11 years, I and many of the long-time locals, are looking to get the hell out of here. Most of the real estate in the area is being scooped up, cash in fist, by Chinese investors too so it won't be long before Yellowstone is surrounded by corporate interests and nothing more.

[shireen]

3. Wow!

Thank you. I had no idea it was so insane out there. It's really sad to hear about the crowds. Doesn't seem right for a natural place.

Is winter a good time to visit? I won't make it this year, but I'd love to see the parks someday.

[2naSalit]

7. Winter is a totally different

situation. Entry to the park is highly regulated, therefore, no crowds. You will have to ride in on a snowcoach or a snowmobile but it's sooooo worth it. The place is just heavenly with snow. The other thing is that the north road from Mammoth HS to Cooke City through Lamar Valley road is open to wheeled vehicles year round as the residents of Cooke City have no way t get to town in winter... the two passes (the infamous Beartooth Hwy and Chief Joseph/Sunlight aren't plowed in winter). that's where you are very likely to see wolves and bears. Wolves have been very visible in the Lamar since reintroduction 21 years ago.

Do yourself a favor, look at a map and study it, one that shows the mountains so you can get a feel for the area regarding location of towns/cities and distances. Lots of folks kind of freak when thy realize that it's hours to get from place to get to another. I have to go 100 miles - one way - to go to a grocery store that has normal prices or any name brand store, a hospital. We do have life flight now, that started last summer, and with the people who come here without a clue and get hurt... those guys are very busy, hear the helicopter at least twice a day heading into the park.

All roads are two lane in and out of the park until you get to the nearest city/Interstate... 60 miles minimum on the north side, longer elsewhere.

VRBO/Home away are good sites to find a house, townhouse, cabin or house to rent in the area for usually reasonable prices. https://www.vrbo.com/

As long as you're with in 30 or so miles, you're close.

[shireen]

8. thanks!

I don't know when i'll get out there but it's good to know all this. Appreciate it!

[2naSalit]

10. No problem

Even though I'm not doing it this summer, I still feel that offering helpful info is my responsibility. Nothing worse than a bunch of rude awakenings when trying to be on a vacation to relax and enjoy! I'd much rather people had the chance to learn what they can before traveling for days to get here only to find that everyone else on the planet had the same idea at the same time.

Funny anecdote from last July 4th... some guys from India were at the info desk inquiring about their plans in the park and there were tons of people in line. When they finally got to me they asked why there were so many people. I told them that it's our national Independence Day holiday so everyone is on vacation... and they all came here.

They saw the humor in it and we had a good chuckle, except that I was faking it.

The volume of people I had to attend to (mostly as travel agent and concierge) traumatized me such that I spent the first six weeks after my tour of duty ended in the house avoiding everyone, even my close friends.

[shireen]

11. I can empathize with that ...

Being in a large group of people makes me anxious. I'd be horrified to find myself in a swarm of humans at a natural setting like Yellowstone!

[Ptrsnross]

5. Try This

Thermopolis is just inside the zone of totality. It's a lot cheaper than Jackson and you can enjoy the hot springs. On the morning of the eclipse you can head south through the Wind River Canyon (totally worth it) to Shoshoni which will be in the middle of totality. From there you can head west to Jackson, Grand Tetons and north to Yellowstone. I used to live in the area for twenty years.

[2naSalit]

6. You might not recognize it now. ...nt

[shireen]

9. thanks for the info!

that sounds really nice.