We're trying to plan a trip next summer to Cheyenne for Frontier days and to Yellowstone for a couple of days of camping. Looking for recs on must sees at both places, best camping at Yellowstone, and things to do/places to see driving up there and back to make a full vacation trip. TIA.

We used to go to the rodeo at frontier days every year when I lived in denver. Their wild horse race is my favorite rodeo event, don't miss that.

The best camping in yellowstone is in the backcountry. You can still do that while hitting all the major stuff. When you get to the park, go to the backcountry office and book whatever you can find closest to a trailhead. Plenty of stuff within 2 miles. You can stay in different areas of the park every night to fit your plans. Do all of your sightseeing during the day, cook dinner in the parking lot at the trailhead and then enjoy your solitude. It gets dark plenty late in the summer so no worries there. Our favorite was one near Yellowstone Falls. Bring lots of bug spray.

I never miss a chance to re-post my Yellowstone trip from nearly 7 years ago.

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2314784

Stop and visit Pinedale, WY.
Then head to, and camp in the Wind River Range. Take the road to Green Lake. Camp (for free) in one of the pullouts in the 2 miles before the Green Lake Campground. You will be about 100 yards from the Green River and firepits are already there. Day Hike the trail that goes up past the lake and follows the river.

Stop at Grand Tetons on the way to Yellowstone, even for a short visit, even just to view.

Yellowstone is great, but crowded. Best to see the front country / geothermal features before 10am and after 4pm. Yellowstone front country campgrounds are overcrowded and expensive.

Visit Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. One of the best museums and covers a bunch of stuff. If you want some more classic rodeo, the Cody Night Rodeo is great.

Bring some Chris LeDoux to listen to on the drive.

I took my family to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park two summers ago, and it was easily the best trip we've ever taken. My kids absolutely loved it, as did my not-so-outdoorsy wife. We spent a couple days in Yellowstone, and the majority of our time in GNP, camping.

My favorite sites were:
1. Grand Prismatic Spring - if you have time, take the walk around it as well as the walkway that goes up the hill above it...you'll have to park 2 different times, which is a pain, but well worth it.
2. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
3. Driving the loop to the NE side of the park