Suggest itinerary Denver-Denver via Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone

our family of 4 (2 kids aged 12 and 9) is planning to go visit Wyoming this summer(end of July). We are flying in and out of Denver. We thought of heading to Mt Rushmore, spend a couple of nights, then Yellowstone, is 5 nights too long? Then to Gd Tetons and Jackson for 3 nights.

That leaves 3/4 nights, any suggestion between Jackson and Denver?

What should we bring in terms of clothing? We live in Florida, we lost the sense of ';real'; temperatures.

We went to Zion, Bryce and Gd Canyon North Rim last year for 1 week and lovvved it. Hope to have as much fun this year.

Suggest itinerary Denver-Denver via Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone

We are doing the same trip. We are going the end of May and first week of June for 11 days. We are flying into Denver and heading to Keystone, SD and spend two days seeing Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, etc. We will then travel to Sheridan, Wy. for one night and head to Battle of Little Bighorn. We will then drive to Gardiner, Mt. and spend two days touring the Grand Loop of YNP and the route to NE entrance. We will next stop in Cody, Wy. for two days and see the rodeo and tour the museums. We are doing YNP and Cody backwards according to some people but we want to see the rodeo and it does not begin until June 1. We will travel the eastern route of YNP through the Grand Tetons and stay in Jackson Hole for two nights. We will travel back to Denver by way of Casper and Cheyenne. We toured Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and the Old Faithful and Mammoth areas of YNP last year as well as GT and Jackson Hole. We did a raft trip down the Snake River while in Jackson Hole. If you want to stay in YNP you need to try now and make reservations. There is probably no reservations at this point but should get some outside the park. I made my reservations in Jan. and early Feb. I would suggest adding Cody, Wyoming to your plans because the kids will love the rodeo and museums. As to the weather it may be cool in the morning but warm up to the low 80%26#39;s in the daytime in YNP.

Suggest itinerary Denver-Denver via Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone

Suggestion on what to do between Denver and Jackson. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo will be held in Cheyenne July 19 through July 26. I would guess you will drive right through on at least one leg of your trip. Given your children’s ages – I would consider this a “must-do.”

The rodeo is held in the afternoon, but slack events (rodeo entrants too numerous to fit into the 7 days of afternoon rodeos) are held in the mornings on the rodeo grounds and are free to the public.

There is an Indian Village, with scheduled entertainment, all free. There are four western-themed parade through the streets of downtown on Sat., Tues., Thurs., and Sat. mornings.

There are three free pancake breakfasts (slice of ham, pancakes, coffee and milk (for the kids only)with western-themed entertainment on Mon. Wed., and Fri. mornings.

Wed. morning the Air Force Thunderbirds put on an air show. Wed. afternoon the historic grounds of old Fort D.A. Russell (now Warren Air Force base) will be open to the public, free. There will be historic military camps, and some of the historic brick officer homes will be open to the public, plus generally a number of other fun family activities.

If you want to spend the night, you would need to make reservations as soon as possible – but the rates will be high. Instead, I’d probably plan on staying at least an hour away either north or south and drive into Cheyenne, spend the day and drive on down the round.

I also enjoy stopping in Thermopolis, WY to see and enjoy the hot springs. The springs are amazing just to walk around!

I would head to Mt Rushmore area for a few days. We stayed in Custer SD... nice motels and decent food. Also drive the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park and a tour of Jewel or Wind Cave. Mt Rushmore is nice during the evening lighting program, but also see it during the morning.

The Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo is HUGE... if your kids, or you, do not like crowds, this may not be the rodeo for you.

From Custer SD area.. maybe a stop at Devils Tower in WY, then a drive to Cody WY for a night or 2. The museums there are great and there is a smaller rodeo to enjoy.

5 nights in Yellowstone is great. You will have time to visit the large valleys, Lamar and Hayden, to look for wildlife. You may also want to do some horseback riding sometime.

Tetons is good at 3 nights. Maybe a night in Lander WY, see Sinks Canyon State Park, Sacajawea%26#39;s Grave, Bighorn Sheep Center in Dubois.

Day 1 - arrive Denver. IF you get to town early enough you can get to Black Hills... about 6+ hours of driving. Stay near Mt Rushmore.

Day 2 - Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave

Day 3 - Drive to Devils Tower Nat Mon, then on to Cody WY for the night. About 7 hour of driving.

Day 4 - Visit Cody WY, museums, and the rodeo. Stay Cody.

Day 5 - Drive to YS.

Day 6 - YS

Day 7 - YS

Day 8 - YS

Day 9 - YS

Day 10 - Tetons

Day 11 - Tetons

Day 12 - Tetons

Day 13 - Drive to Dubois WY and Lander WY. See Wind River Reservation. Stay in Lander

Day 14 - To Denver..

Hope this helps some.

Hi NatBP,

Welcome!

We are doing a simlar trip in July as well. You might want to consider 3 days at the end of your trip in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here is our itinerary you might pick some ideas from:

Day 1: Arrive in Denver , pick up car, be on the road by noon. Spend the night in Story, WY (just south of Sheridan) Story Pines Inn

Day 2: Visit Battlefield at Little Big Horn in the morning, head to Billings, visit Pompey%26#39;s Pillar

Stop at Walmart in Billings, pick up cooler,food supplies (breakfast, lunch foods, bottled water, snacks,etc)

Drive to Red Lodge spend the night (Chateau Rouge)

Day 3 Beartooth %26amp; Yellowstone:

Early morning drive over Beartooth, stop for photo ops and short hikes. Arrive in Cooke City early afternoon, visit YNP Northeast entrance,Lamar Valley Stay the night in Cooke City

Day 4 Lamar valley at sunrise. Drive from Cooke City to Cody via Chief Joseph Highway. Spend the day/night in Cody, visit Buffalo Bill Museum, Sierra Trading (not too fond of Rodeo%26#39;s)

Day 5 Yellowstone (Lake Yellowstone Hotel cabins)

Day 6 Yellowstone

Day 7 Yellowstone

Day 8 Yellowstone

Day 9 Grand Teton NP(Signal Mountain Lodge)

Day 10 Grand Teton NP

Day 11 Grand Teton NP

( we wish we had allowed one more day in GTNP)

Day 12 Leave Moran junction, visit Sacagawea%26#39;s

gravesite. Drive to Riverside, WY Stay the night at a B%26amp;B

Day 13 Riverside, WY to Grand Lake, CO., then Trail Ridge Rd to Estes Park (we%26#39;ve rented a cabin for a week)

Day 14 RMNP

Day 15 RMNP

Day 16 RMNP

Day 17 RMNP

Day 18 RMNP

Day 19 RMNP

(we have hikes planned throughout this week..even a 14%26#39;er!)

Day 20 Denver, fly home

In 14 days I would follow the route Casa described, or take the drive given by CeCe via Big Horn Battlefield and Red Lodge. Take your time for Beartooth hw, Chief Joseph hw and Cody (backtracking or not-lol-). I would spend one day less in Yellowstone and GTNP ad add those day(s) to the Black Hills area and visit Badlands NP/Wall etc.

3 days for Black Hills/Badlands NP and to Devils Tower would be perfect imo.

Tet