Planning to fly into Bozeman next summer. Pretty much deciding between heading northwest to Glacier and stopping wherever along the way or going south to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Plan on 5 nights either destination. What would you choose?

To me, you can't go wrong with either place as they are both amazing in their respective ways. I've been to Yellowstone/Tetons several times, but just returned from my first Glacier trip a couple of weeks ago. The wife and I already want to go back.

I'd say if you already have arrangements to fly to Bozeman, then go to Yellowstone/Tetons. The drive down to West Yellowstone is really pretty. If you want to go to Glacier, I'd fly to Kalispell. From there it's only like a 30 minute drive to the park.

If you like the outdoors you will not be disappointed in either place!

Both places are beautiful and a must visit, but they are two completely different trips. Glacier is rugged peaks, mountain lakes and alpine hiking with dense forests, grand vistas but very little opportunity to see wildlife due to the thick forest cover. Yellowstone is unique geothermal and geologic features and the best wildlife viewing on the planet but not very mountainous. Both places have lots of people and slow moving car traffic so the key is to hit the highlights and then get off the beaten path and hike some good trails.

Agreed that the drive from Bozeman into Yellowstone is a much better use of time than driving to GNP, or switch your flight to Kalispell. But the main key is to reserve lodging in the park as this will put you much closer to the places you want to see and allow you to beat the crowds to the trailheads, etc and eliminate a 1-2 hr drive each day entering and exiting the park. If you can't stay in the park then it is easier to do GNP than YNP as Kalispell and Whitefish are great places on their own. Also YNP has some great fly fishing opportunities and you can get a guide in Gardiner if that is your thing. But lots to do in both places and there is no wrong choice.

It will really depend on when you are looking to go - early summer, mid summer, and late summer really impact what you'll be able to experience. If all you're going to do is a Grampa tour of the parks - driving through and seeing stuff close to parking lots - you'll have a few more options. in Glacier the Going To The Sun road won't be fully open until late July. Many of the best hikes in the Grand Tetons aren't accessible until late July. If this is a 4th of July trip then it will be very different from a 4th of August trip. If it's early then you can probably do most of the classic stuff in Yellowstone provided you're staying close to the parking lots.

My wife and I just finished a ten day trip through Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier. All were great. We did Teton while staying two days in Jackson at Antler Inn. Looked terrible but it was great. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Elk Antler Park are a must.
Spent three days visiting YS at Crosswinds Inn. Close enough to walk to dinner each night. Park was great. Unfortunately Lamar Valley was closed due to the spring floods but we saw lots of wildlife. Bison, elk, deer, were plentiful. We did Old Faithful on the way up from Jackson. Best food was at Bullwinkle's plus they had slots.The drive up from YS to Glacier included the highlight of our trip. A momma moose and youngster trying to cross our road. We stayed at the Country Inn in Kallispell. This was a brand new hotel. Very nice. The next morning we did the "Going to the Sun" road. You gotta look to see when it's open and if you need a reservation. That drive is great and terrible if you hate heights. But you get to see a few glaciers. This was a great trip.

Driving around to sightsee, watch wildlife, eat at restaurants...Yellowstone/Tetons.

World class hikes.....Glacier

Not trying to hijack this thread, but when is it too late to go to glacier? I dont mind hiking when its cold, but obviously snow will accumulate at some point...

I was there the first weekend in October and it was great. Fall colors were fantastic and no snow was on the ground. Check to see when they will close the GTS road because it was closed the weekend after we left and then a big snow storm came through the mountains. Also the lodging in the park and restaurants start closing the 3rd week of Sept if I remember correctly.

thats what I was afraid of - probably already too late to make a trip.

I had originally planned to go late sept and it did not work out.

I was referring to when I made the trip 2 years ago. Not sure when they close this year, but I bet its still open this weekend and maybe the following weekend. You could call GNP and see.

Orthodox Texan said:

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Planning to fly into Bozeman next summer. Pretty much deciding between heading northwest to Glacier and stopping wherever along the way or going south to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Plan on 5 nights either destination. What would you choose?

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Double your stay and do both!

We went in 2018 and spent 10 days seeing all of them. Our first stop was Grand Tetons, which we all thought were simply majestic. Then we went to Yellowstone and were blown away by the sheer size wide sweeping vistas there, and of course the waterfalls and all the wildlife were outstanding. Then we drove up to Glacier, and I must say, that is the most beautiful place I've ever been. It's not called the crown of the continent for nothing!

To be honest though, you can't go wrong with either one. If I had my choice and had to choose one, I'd go back to Glacier. But there's so much I still want to see and do at Yellowstone.

In Glacier, the Going To The Sun Road is a MUST. It will normally open in late June or early July. We went the week of July 4, and were hiking at the pass IN SNOW on July 4th...in shorts and t-shirts! It was awesome! Fun fact in GNP...the mountains are about half the altitude as those in Colorado!

I'd say it mostly depends on when your trip is. I've done both and preferred Glacier by far, even though most of GTSR wasn't open because we went too early (late June). The hikes we were able to access were outstanding. I'm planning to go back in 2023, but waiting until mid-July this time to be safe. If you do decide to do Glacier, I agree with everyone saying to fly into Kalispell. Super convenient.

The Beartooth highway just north of Yellowstone is phenomenal if you can work it into your trip.

5 days? Jackson Hole/Yellowstone

10 days? Glacier NP - a few days on each side and if you can get up to Waterton National Park to finish that's the best... I did 4 days West Glacier, 2 Days East Glacier, and 2 days Waterton NP (and 2 days in Banff before that as we started and ended in Calgary) - awesome trip!

I second the Bear Tooth Highway…one of the most amazing stretches of scenery on the planet.

My family of 5 did this trip in this past summer (early July). We flew into Kalispell from DFW, went to GNP for 2 days (plenty if you're doing normal hiking and viewing), then drove down to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons for the next 4 days. I can't tell you how much fun it was for us.

That said, Glacier's Road to the Sun was still not fully open yet because of repairs from the heavy snow. That increased drive time to go to the East side of the park by about 2.5 hours each way on our last day there. Also, unlike at Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons, mosquitoes are an issue at Glacier, big time.

Yellowstone crowds are kinda crazy, but not too bad. Just expect a lot of folks around Old Faithful when its close to erupting. But it's just awesome in so many other ways. Strongly recommend dinner at the Old Faithful Inn (big buffet and very neat to enjoy at the original lodge.)

For Yellowstone and Grand Teton, the crowds are not bad early and late.

For Yellowstone, 10 am to 4 pm, it's packed. The only crowds for early morning stuff will be at the best animal watching locations, but it won't be packed.