Yellowstone/Grant Teton National Parks with my two boys (27 & 31) on a guys trip (I'm 72).

Here are some recent discussions about Yellowstone and Tetons

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=1y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Yellowstone%2FGrant+Teton+

If you are planning July 2026, you're likely left with slim pickings for lodging choices at this point, especially inside the Park.

Cost: We are on a budget

To facilitate folks giving you useful info, a numerical value really helps.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

There are some folks who regularly contribute here who have good knowledge of Yellowstone and the Tetons, and if they see your post, I'm sure you will get some helpful information. But you might get more responses by posting in the Yellowstone and Grand Tetons TripAdvisor forums; I had some excellent advice from many people there when planning a trip a couple of years ago. The RS forum tends to lean more towards European travels, although there are still some very knowledgeable contributors regarding other areas.

Good luck with planning your trip!

Hi and welcome to the RS forum, Al!
As mentioned above, you placed your post in the forum specifically for RS escorted tours; the better spot for it would have been the "Beyond Europe" forum but that's OK; there will be eyes on it. We just so happen to have a terrific forum member who visits Yellowstone yearly so she's font of knowledge on the subject! I'm sure she's seen your post pop up but should she miss it, I've private messaged her a heads up. Keep your eye out for a response from Pam in Idaho, OK?

I'll agree that you're late in the game for nailing down accommodations for high season in these VERY busy parks so pickings are probably slim, especially for the more economical choices, but we'll see what our resident expert has to say. :O)

(Edited for spelling)

"Glamping" usually means higher prices. For economy lodging I recommend going to the website for the official concessioner, Xanterra, at www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com

There are cabin accommodations with either Shared Baths or ensuite baths at Roosevelt, Mammoth, Old Faithful and Lake Lodge. There are en suite cabins at Lake Hotel. The cabins at Roosevelt tend to be smaller so you might need 2 cabins. Will people be OK sharing a bed? There is not enough room in these cabins usually, to lay out a bedroll.

Here's how I would lay it out:

July 8: Arrive Bozeman - What time?? That will dictate where you would spend this night. Overnight Roosevelt, Mammoth or in Gardiner MT (gateway town) if you get in early enough you can drive a couple hours before dark.
9: Overnight Roosevelt, Mammoth or in Gardiner MT (gateway town)
10. Overnight same
11. Overnight Grand Tetons - maybe Colter Bay might have something in your price range
12. Overnight same
13. Overnight Old Faithful Lodge (cabins and less expensive than the iconic OF INN).
14. Overnight depends on what time you leave tomorrow
15. Depart Bozeman

This is 7 nights. You said 7 days but people often mean 7 nights. IF you just have 6 nights, you can cut one of the nights on the Northern end of the park.

Be sure to book in park lodging ONLY at the above website. There are a number of 3rd party bookers who sound official and come up first on a google search. They charge a 10% booking fee.

Book what you can. IF your choices aren't perfect check daily until something pops open. I decided on a last minute trip for June last month. I got 1 room for 2 nights but needed 2. I booked what I could and then watched the website daily and within 3 weeks there was a vacancy that I needed but you need to jump on them right away.

Once you have your lodging booked I can help you with a daily itinerary. It's too hard to do an itinerary when I don't know where you are staying as there are so many variables. This spread of nights gets you thru the whole park.

And thank you Kate for the ping!

I recently booked a similar 7 night trip for early September and I read and used many of Pam’s helpful hints and information without her even knowing. (Thank you Pam!) One word of advice is to check flights in and out from both Bozeman and Jackson to see which way works out best for you before you commit to anything. Another thing I found was that for some unknown reason, the car rental was WAY cheaper for me to pick it up in Jackson and drop it off in Bozeman. Therefore, I am starting my trip in Grand Teton NP and then heading to Yellowstone and flying out of Bozeman at the end of the trip.

Listen to Pam. She has the best advice.

IMO, you don't want to camp. There are bears in Yellowstone and the Tetons.

We stayed at a motel in Gardiner for 2 nights, followed by 2 nights inside YNP in a cabin at Old Faithful Lodge. Then on to GTNP for 3 nights. We stayed at a motel in Jackson due to the crazy prices of the limited rooms available inside the park. (We were late booking.)

I have no complaints about the locations of our lodging. And staying outside of the Parks in Gardiner and Jackson gave us more dinner options. We did pick up a cooler for picnics in the Parks.

"One word of advice is to check flights in and out from both Bozeman and Jackson to see which way works out best for you before you commit to anything. Another thing I found was that for some unknown reason, the car rental was WAY cheaper for me to pick it up in Jackson and drop it off in Bozeman."

I don't have experience with car rentals as I drive over from North Idaho but based on comments on the Yellowstone Trip Advisor forum the rental prices either RT or one way can be really random. SAF is right to encourage you to check both airports and check RT and open Jaw both ways (in to Bozeman, out of Jackson and the opposite). Some people say that renting thru Costco is cheaper as well but as mentioned, no experience on that.

Try to stay in the park. .we stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins which are among the least expensive options. You need to reserve about a year in advance

You mentioned camping. Just like the other National Park accommodations, campground reservations should be made at both Yosemite and Tetons. Here's the website for campsite reservations in Yosemite: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm. Reservations for July just opened so you need to move fast if you want to camp. Since you won't have gear you could consider renting an RV but one way RVs can be expensive. Also, you cannot park an RV at a tent campsite. So again, you need to finalize things quickly. If you tent camp you must have bear cans for food storage.

Fellow travelers on this forum are more than happy to help you, so please ignore Frank's less than kind response. On our trip to both of those parks, we packed a soft-sided cooler in order to picnic in the parks each day. I purchased blue ice at our first stop, and every hotel was willing to keep it in their freezer each night for us. Creekside Market just outside of Jackson has great sandwiches etc. for a day in the park. I would also suggest that you carry bear spray if you are hiking. We stayed in West Yellowstone, and there was a kiosk there where you could rent the spray. Perhaps there are similar kiosks in other locations as well. Have a wonderful family trip!

Just one additional note since previous posters covered most of the bases - Driving around in YNP and GTNP can be a nightmare depending on your fellow tourists. Plan to be very Zen about it,.

Hi and welcome to the Forum!
What a wonderful trip you'll be planning with your boys. Despite an earlier comment, of course the Forum gets questions (and answers!) about places both domestic and abroad (last I checked, Hawaii is still part of the USA and posters not infrequently have questions about travel to our 51st state). So, you're fine to ask about Yellowstone. FYI, there is a section in the Forum called "Beyond Europe," which is specifically for non-Europe travel, but helpful posters have jumped in here to address your post.
I have nothing more to add to the info above re logistics. I see no reason why you wouldn't want to camp if you can snag a spot for the 3 of you. Of course there are bears in Yellowstone--and bison, deer, spiders, gofers and other animals. They are interested in your food, not in you. You'll want to use bear cans to store your food, or hang it if that's allowed and you know how to do it properly. No food inside the tent! Just remember that food isn't just what humans think of as food. To a bear, it's anything fragrant -- toothpaste, soap, suntan lotion, shampoo, deodorant, etc. Hope you have a terrific time!

Mentioned by the OP:

..... the guys love to camp; however, we wont have any gear

I've a feeling that's because they're flying and it's a pain to haul tents and bags and all the other stuff involved on a plane. Maybe not but that's how I read that remark. Al, my apologies if that's not what you meant.

Thanks to everyone who have responded! Sorry, I posted in the wrong place.

We hope to fly from Atlanta to Bozeman to start our journey and head south and fly out of Jackson Hole. Or the opposite is fine too.

We are certainly open to cabins and even glamping tents with two twins, etc....

We are realizing the cost of the trip is more than anticipated (flight); however, we are going to try to make it work.

Thanks again!

Al

Very happy to hear that you're going to try and make it happen! As far as budget, maybe tell your adult companions that they have 4 months to save their pennies to help foot some of this grand adventure? :O)

Also, note the string of posts under “Yellowstone/Grand Teton One Week Trip Advice” in the Beyond Europe section on this Forum, which was recently updated. The OP specifically asked about tent camping. If you’re still considering that option, you might find some useful info there.