🏔️ Yellowstone 2026
Family: David, Molly, Oscar (3yo)
Home base 1: Silver Gate Lodges — Jun 28 (Mon) to Jul 1 (Thu) — 3 nights
Home base 2: Old Faithful Inn — Jul 1 (Thu) to Jul 4 (Sat) — 3 nights
Post-park: Summit Park (Molly’s parents) — Jul 4–6
Fly into: SLC via OAK — Southwest 4198 Jun 26 (Fri) 9:30 AM→12:15 PM ✅
Fly home: SLC → OAK — Southwest 2951 Jul 6 (Mon) 1:00 PM→1:50 PM ✅
Extra Summit Park days: Jun 26–28 (arrival buffer) + Jul 4–6 (post-park)
Trip at a Glance
A 7-8 day Yellowstone trip split across two very different parts of the park, bookended by time in Summit Park.
| Base | Dates | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| [[lamar-valley | Lamar Valley / Silver Gate]] | Jun 28 – Jul 1 |
| [[old-faithful-area | Old Faithful Area]] | Jul 1 – Jul 4 |
| Summit Park | Jun 26–28 + Jul 4–6 | Arrival decompression + BBQ with Molly’s parents + recovery |
Getting There
Fly into SLC from OAK (Southwest 4198, Jun 26 ✅) → Molly’s parents pick you up → 30 min to Summit Park. Spend 2 days decompressing, borrow their car, then head north.
Route Options to Silver Gate
⭐ 2-day scenic (recommended): Summit Park → Jackson → overnight in Grand Teton area → drive through Grand Teton into Yellowstone → Silver Gate. Breaks the drive into kid-friendly chunks.
1-day Idaho route (fastest): Summit Park → I-15 N → Idaho Falls → West Yellowstone → drive through park to Silver Gate. ~6 hrs driving.
See yellowstone-itinerary for the full day-by-day plan.
Key Drive Distances
| Route | Time |
|---|---|
| Summit Park → Jackson | 4.5 hr |
| Jackson → Silver Gate (via Grand Teton) | 4–5 hr |
| Summit Park → West Yellowstone (Idaho) | 5 hr |
| Silver Gate → Old Faithful (moving day) | 2–2.5 hr |
| Old Faithful → Summit Park | 5 hr |
| Summit Park → SLC | 30 min |
Explore These Pages
| Page | What’s in it |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Flight Research | SFO→SLC flight options, pricing, best times |
| [[yellowstone-itinerary | 📋 Itinerary]] |
| [[lamar-valley | 🐻 Lamar Valley & Silver Gate]] |
| [[old-faithful-area | 🌋 Old Faithful Area]] |
Lodging
Silver Gate Lodges (Jun 28 – Jul 1)
- Tiny town just outside the Northeast Entrance — quiet, rustic cabins
- Right next to Lamar Valley — best wildlife viewing in the park
- ⚠️ Limited dining — stock up on groceries before arriving
Old Faithful Inn (Jul 1 – Jul 4)
- Historic 1904 lodge, massive stone fireplace, iconic architecture
- Steps from Old Faithful geyser and the Upper Geyser Basin
- On-site restaurants, deli, and general store — convenient for meals