Our itinerary, how does it look?

Ok, so we think we have this about figured out now. (LOL) Would apperciate any input. This trip is planned for late June, this year. Keep in mind we won%26#39;t be doing any long hikes (nothing over 2 miles) unless something we want to see is over that, then we will consider it. Also we have drove through National Parks after dark (GSMNP %26amp; Grand Canyon, Arizona)

Day #1 - We can%26#39;t leave till about noon. (its a 27 hour drive from home to YNP. but we want to drive cause some of the states we are going through we have never been in and yes we are those ';people'; thats on a ';mission'; to be in or go through all 50 states) Any way 1ST day we hope to make it to around Kansas City MO. (its about 6 hours from here to St. Louis)

Day #2 - Cont. driving. Hoping to make it between Cheyenne WY. and Rowlins WY. (hoping closer to Rawlins) We are not planning on making motel reservations for this area or should we?

Day #3 - Take hwy. 287 out of Rawlins. Swing by to see Independance Rock hist. site. Back track back to hwy. 287. Cont. on. When 287/26 ends, its near Grand Tetons. We want to go view this (not planning on spending a lot of time here or at Ind. Rock site) After this head up to YNP. If still daylight we want to see Yellowstone Lake and Old Faithful. Check into motel West Yellowstone.

Day #4 - YNP day, Going to try to see the lower loop. ';Hoping'; to see Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake (fishing allowed here? from the banks? lisences available at visitor center or rangers office?) Would also like to see Inspiration point and artist point. (is this the ';Grand Canyon'; of Yellowstone?)Is the hike to see these long? At dark or near dark head back to W. Yellowstone, motel. Need motel recomendations. I need to get this reserved ASAP.

Day #5 - Check out of motel. Go see the 1959 earthquake mon. head back through W. Yellowstone and drive the top loop (my map is not showing much for the top loop...so I don%26#39;t know what all is there) Eventually drive the Beartooth Highway (I%26#39;m hoping this will be late afternoon but way before dark!) Take this highway up to I-90. Check into a motel around Billings MT. (I%26#39;m not planning on making reservations for this 1 either, hoping we might get further down the interstate)

Day #6 - ';Might'; see the Little Bighorn Battlefield Nat. Mon., heading on down I-90 (I%26#39;m thinking we might make better time by staying on interstate) heading to SD. Stop in and see Devils Tower Nat. mon. Back to Interstate and on to SD. ';Might'; go tour Badlands 1ST and back track back to Keystone (We want to see this but don%26#39;t want to put it on our day to go home...20 hour drive from there to home) Check into Keystone SD. (reservations done made here)

Day #7 - Tour Jewel Cave (if I can get reser. made for it) after jewel cave, see Wild Life Loop at Custer State Park. (is this a 1 way road? if we start down it will we be able to turn around and come back out of it, if we see we are pushing for time?) The late afternoon and evening will be at Mt. Rushmore.

Day #8 - If we arrived at Mt. Rushmore late the day before we can go back on this day. ';Maybe'; see Crazy Horse on this day and we can put the Badlands on this day too. The evening of this day we will be going to a chuckwagon supper.

Day #9 - get up early and start home.

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help!

Our itinerary, how does it look?

';Stop to smell the roses'; comes to mind. :)

I do not think you realize just how large YNP is, and you cannot drive through with speed. The speed limit is 45 mph, and you won%26#39;t average even that. Bison jams and traffic, especially at the many viewpoints, and more, will slow you down.

You might even stop and look around. Like everyone else mesmerized by the sights and wildlife.

This National Park website contains a LOT of very good information, including an interactive map. Strongly suggest you study it before making final plans. http://www.nps.gov/yell/

For wildlife viewing:

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

Our itinerary, how does it look?

BTW, do make reservations ahead on I-90; motels will fill up for the most part.

Consider dropping some things from your itinerary (fishing, Hebgen Lake/Monument), save them for another trip. I%26#39;d focus on YNP and give it two full days (and that%26#39;s truly a minimum).

A couple of observations/suggestions: You mentioned that you%26#39;ve driven through Natl. Parks before after dark. I just want to point out that besides the twisty roads, etc. in YNP, that%26#39;s when the animals are out and about - not a hazard you%26#39;re likely to encounter at Grand Canyon, but definitely something you%26#39;ll need to be aware of here. The up-side is that it stays light until almost 10PM at that time of year, giving you more daylight.

You asked about fishing. You can buy licenses at the stores and/or visitor centers. You can fish from the banks of the Lake - but usually it isn%26#39;t very productive that close to shore. If you have the time, fishing any of the rivers or streams would be a lot of fun. Keep in mind too that it will be mostly ';catch and release';.

Inspiration Point and Artist Point are both at the Grand Canyon area of the Park. It%26#39;s a short walk to Artist Point from the parking area. There is also a 1-mile round-trip trail (Uncle Tom%26#39;s) there - not long, but quite steep. The road to Inspiration Point is mostly paved with a lot of turn-outs - there are also numerous side trails that you can choose to hike for different perspectives.

Since you really will only have 2 days in YNP, you may need to choose which things you most want to see and concentrate on those.

I agree with the previous suggestion that you think about slowing down a little to appreciate the area - it%26#39;s beautiful and very interesting - but definitely not a ';drive-through'; experience.

I admire your enthusiasm/energy. We have visited all of these sites - on 3 separate trips! And, I have always been called ambitious in vacation planning.

Best advice has already been given - decide to skip some of these for another day, and enjoy the heck out of the stops you do make.

I would skip altogether (for this trip): Fishing, ';1959 earthquake mon.';, and heading thru Beartooth Highway to Billings/I-90 (go out of YNP thru Cody and straight across Wyoming - pass Devil%26#39;s Tower and get to Mt. Rushmore / Custer Park.) Also, skip Crazy Horse and even Jewel Cave, in favor of more time to appreciate Badlands/Mt.Rushmore and Custer Park.

I think this would leave you a little more flexibility for more time for the ';jewel'; of the whole trip, IMO, Yellowstone! The more time you spend there, the more you will see. And- what wonders abound! Enjoy!!

P.S. All of the things you want to see are awesome. I say to %26#39;skip%26#39; some, only for the sake of time. Then, make quick plans to somehow get back to these areas again soon (it will make you feel better), and savor the memories you gather from this trip!

Yes we realize the speed is 45. Same as in GSMNP and Grand Canyon. Yes we realize we will come upon a ';traffic/bear jam'; or any other wild life jam. ((bear jams are common in GSMNP...black bears are close to where I live and yes they have elk in the GSMNP) Yes, we know we probably won%26#39;t be able to even drive 45. Yes we know YNP is a very BIG area (millions of acres) We don%26#39;t expect to see EVERYTHING. And we don%26#39;t expect to see it all in South Dakota either. We have been going to the GSMNP (3 hours from home) several times a year for the past several years and to this day have not seen it all either. Guess thats why we keep going back!?!? The days we will be in Yellowstone are in the middle of the week. Someone said something about curvy roads, well we are kinda used to that too. If you have never drove through Tennessee, don%26#39;t expect a straight road here. (road construction crew was drinking moonshine when these roads were built)

Back in 2002, we done a trip similar to this. Went to Colorado Springs CO. for a wedding, drove up Pikes Peak, spent 3 nights there in Colorado Springs, headed west over rockies, visited the 4 corners mon. spent the night in the town before this, headed on to The Grand Canyon in Arizona spent 2 nights here (actually 2 miles south of south rim) Yes they do have Elk at The Grand Canyon. Almost saw a car hit one because they were speeding (and it was not us) Saw the basics, started home, stopped by the Petrified Forest in Arizona, spent the night in New Mexico then again in Arkansas, stopped by Graceland in Memphis and then home. Yes it was short and this trip will be too. We know that. But we have jobs and we are not able to take off any more days. Plus we are not the type to ';lolly-gag'; around at 1 spot. Stop, get out, take a look around, take a few pics, video tape and then get out of the way for the next visitor to enjoy....thats us.

I wonder why you asked for ';input';? It doesn%26#39;t sound like you really wanted it - just judging from your response to the suggestions we all tried to give you.

Hope you enjoy your trip - on your terms...

heypaula, Yes we do apperciate the suggestions. And welcome everyones thoughts! But after reading the posts we ';thought'; that a few (not all) on here ';thought'; we had never been to any mountains and that we were just city folks which is not the case. And I completely understand. (I do the same thing when a newbie posts in the GSMNP) So my 2ND post was to let everyone know what %26amp; where we have been (basically) I%26#39;m sure we will not do everything I have mentioned above. But 2 days is better than none:) But we do apperciate ALL the suggestions and ideas. Thanks!

You%26#39;re welcome Tennessee - and thanks for writing back.

Few more questions; In YNP is there alot of side roads going off the main 2 loops? Picnic areas? And is a 4 wheel drive recommended? Time zone for that area? Glad to hear it won%26#39;t get dark till almost 10. Thats a plus! Thanks!

There are not a lot of side roads going off the Grand Loop, except those leading into the various popular sites, and campgrounds. There is no four wheeling or off-roading to be done in YNP, and in June there would be no need for a 4X4, unless of course that is what you are driving anyway.

There are numerous picnic areas scattered throughout the park, but again all on paved, hardpan, or gravel roads.

Yellowstone is on mountain time, two hours earlier than Tennessee.