Comments welcomed

Hi You%26#39;ll probably get sick and tired of questions from me in the next few weeks, so be warned! I%26#39;m trying to put a 3 week trip together for my wife and I, flying into Rapic City and out of Las Vegas in July-August 09. The idea so far is 1 night in Rapid City, then seeing Mt Rushmore, thro Deadwood and 1 night in Buffalo, 1 night Cody, 3 nights in YNP (different cabins each night I hope), 1 night Jackson, 2 nights Salt Lake City, 1 night Moab, 1 Mase Verde, 1 Monument Valley, 2 Lake Powell, drive thro St George for 2 nights Las Vegas. This will leave us 4 days extra on route somewhere. How does the trip sound, doable? Have I missed a gem somewhere? If we fly on 22 July we%26#39;ll be in YNP at the weekend, is it generally busy at the w/e and maybe best to go during the week?

Thanks

Dewi

Comments welcomed

Re: Yellowstone, strongly advise you read this post and our replies:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60999-i481-k24626…

In short, you might wish for four nights in YNP, it is that large and that interesting. You won%26#39;t need to relocate all the time; check out two places, as suggested therein.

Reservations: You need them ASAP. See comments about this, below.

Weekend vs. Weekday: Probably not much different, it%26#39;ll be busy in places like Old Faithful, but the crowds thin as folks walk the many boardwalks/trails to observe natural activity.

I%26#39;m unclear about your plans through S. Utah; I assume you%26#39;ll be doing the Grand Circle?

If so, do leave enough time for more than a drive through of this fantastic wonderland. Be warned, it%26#39;ll be hot, carry beverages all the time.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/

www.utah.com/nationalparks/grandcircle.htm

I%26#39;d spend a day or so in SLC, not two nights.

Canyon de Chelly deserves a look, with a wonderful trail to the White House.

A couple of Inside Pages and websites that warrant your review:

This National Park website contains a lot of very good information. http://www.nps.gov/yell/

For wildlife viewing and photography:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60999-c96653/Yellows…

Packing for your trip:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g28973-c100586/Wyomin…

Two very worthwhile museums to visit:

Cody, WY www.bbhc.org/home/index.cfm…

North of Jackson

http://www.wildlifeart.org/

Official Lodging and Tour vendor for Yellowstone National Park (Call them frequently, cancellations occur.)

http://www.travelyellowstone.com/

Comments welcomed

You have a grand trip planned with lots to see and many miles to drive. I%26#39;m sure you will wish you had more time. I think you will wish you had more time in South Dakota. The area around Rapid City has some interesting scenery, wildlife (you will see more of that in Yellowstone though), caves, mountains, history and pre-history. The mammoth site is quite interesting.

www.mammothsite.org

On your way between Deadwood and Buffalo, consider a side trip to Devils Tower National Monument (think of a movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind). From Buffalo to Cody you have two routes that are about the same distance and both are beautiful mountain drives, north to Shereidan and Ranchester, then west on US 14, or US 16 west from Buffalo to Ten Sleep. Either route will be about 180 miles and will take you about 3 hours of driving. If you take US 14 route, you can turn onto US 14A as an alternate route and the distance is the same.

If you can, try to get 4 nights in Yellowstone. I%26#39;d suggest 2 nights at Canyon and 2 at Old Faithful. Others may disagree, but most would suggest you want more time in Yellowstone. It%26#39;s a big park and has lots to see. Take a short hike or 2 (unless you like longer hikes) and get away from the crowd and see what they miss.

I%26#39;d suggest you take a night away from Salt Lake City and put it in Mesa Verde. There are 2 routes in Mesa Verde and you only have time for one each day. I shorted myself there and wished I had had another day.

Between Mesa Verde and Monument Valley, route yourself through Shiprock, New Mexico. It won%26#39;t add much to your distance and will put you closer to the formation that Shiprock is named for.

When you leave Monument Valley and head toward Las Vegas, unless you have a lifelong desire to go to Lake Powell, make a little longer route and go to the Grand Canyon National Park. Here is where you will need another of your days. You can then head back east to see Lake Powell and then up to Kanab, Utah. From Kanab you have a choice between going northwest through Zion National Park to St. George or if you want a longer route for different scenery, head on north and then east to Bryce Canyon National Park before turning back west. If you route through Cedar City, Utah, you will be a short way from Cedar Breaks National Monument. You then would head south on I-15, turning off to get to Zion National Park. Make sure to visit this area too. From here, it is less than 3 hours to Las Vegas.

Ask more questions and we can give you more ideas.

Everyone has their favorites, so you%26#39;ll get lots of different opinions. Read them and pick what sounds best for your interests.

The main thing is to get your lodging reservations made ASAP!! Especially in YNP - where you stay may depend on what%26#39;s available. If you don%26#39;t get what you want the first time, keep calling back - there are always cancellations.

Personal preferences: I would add 2-3 nights to YNP and not spend the 2 nights in SLC. You also may want to add a night or 2 to southern Utah so that you can see Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef. Also, you%26#39;ll be close to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is certainly worth a visit.

Good Luck - and come back with any more questions that come up!

Wow, that%26#39;s a great response and so soon. Thanks, its giving us food for thought and raising more questions! Sorry, I should have said that we have already done Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon a few years back when we toured from SF to LA thro Yosemite, LV, the canyons and Palm Springs so we won%26#39;t be doing the canyons again.

I too have done the Grand Canyon. Three times already and I might have to work in a fourth so I can get to the north rim. I saw different things there each time. When you were there, did you see the California Condors?

RM-NM We have seen both of the Rims at the Grand Canyon. Liked the more ';intimate';, closer, feel of the N. Rim. That was part of a wonderful, take it easy, trip hitting all of the S. Utah NPs, including Arches (twice, as part of another trip to E. AZ), and hiking many trails. Hope you get there...

Here%26#39;s a plan that may work.... more time in Black Hills, Yellowstone and Tetons!

Day 1 Jun 22 Fly into Rapid City. If early enough, drive to Keystone for the night.

Day 2 June 23 Visit Mt Rushmore in the morning, drive Needles Highway see Sylvan Lake and enjoy Custer State Park. Stay in Custer, Keystone or Hill City.

Day 3 June 24 Take a tour of either Jewel Cave Nat Mon or Wind Cave Nat Park. Drive up to Deadwood area. Stay there!

Day 4 June 25 Drive to Cody WY. Stop at Devils Tower Nat Mon on the way. The museums in Cody are great! Maybe a rodeo!

Day 5 June 26 Cody Museums in morning, then on to YS

Day 6 June 27 YS

Day 7 June 28 YS

Day 8 June 29 YS

Day 9 June 30 Tetons

Day 10 July 1 Tetons again. Stay in Jackson.

Day 11 July 2 Drive to Salt Lake City

Day 12 July 3 SLC in morning, drive to Moab in afternoon. Sunset at Arches.

Day 13 July 4 Moab area. Enjoy 4th of July activities

Day 14 July 5 Moab area again.

Day 15 July 6 Drive to Cortez CO and Mesa Verde. Stay inside Mesa Verde if you can at Farview Lodge.

Day 16 July 7 Mesa Verde in morning if you need more time. Drive to Monument Valley. Stay there at the View Hotel or Goulding%26#39;s.

Day 17 July 8 Drive on to Lake Powell area. See the lake, visit Antelope Canyon as well. Maybe a float trip on the Colorado River

Day 18 July 9 Lake Powell area

Day 19 July 10 Vegas

Day 20 July 11 Vegas

Day 21 July 12 Back home

We did the float trip near Lake Powell from Glen Canyon Dam a few years ago and everyone still talks about it. We had a group from 6 years to 60 and everyone enjoyed it. Remember to wear a bathing suit as you do get a chance to jump into the river.

Agree with Voyager. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is IMO more interesting. Set in The Kahbab forest with it%26#39;s unique White tailed squirrel it is also but a few hours from Bryce, Zion %26amp; Cedar Breaks all wonderful.

Hi there...this is Wanda from the SD Office of Tourism. A few thoughts depending on where you end up staying while you%26#39;re in SoDak...if you stay in Custer and are interested in local artwork, there%26#39;s a great store on main street called ';A Walk in the Woods.'; The second floor is a great little art gallery full of art by South Dakotans, including some Natiev American artwork. If you stay in Keystone, I%26#39;d recommend stopping at the 1880 Train Depot for a ride and/or just to buy some saltwater taffy. The Red Garter Saloon is unique, and you can get an old-time photo taken down the street. If you end up in Hill City, there%26#39;s a main street full of art galleries, an award-winning winery (Prairie Berry) and a great German restaurant called the Alipine Inn. I hope this helps and gives you some ideas...have a great trip!!

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