DW and I just decided a few days ago we may try to go out west this summer. Have a 17 day opening. Want to go to The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore & The Badlands. Can this be realistically done in 17 days w/o stressing and pressing for time?? Is this too much in too little time? Will be going from southeast Louisiana. Also any suggestions on campgrounds along the way would be greatly appreciated. I don't even know how far in advance reservations have to be made. Just decided to use our IRS refund and rebate on something nice. Thanks in advance. Steve A. Dagro
Can you do it? Yes, but it is going to be a rush. Not going to have time for much other than driving and a few side trips. In your situation, I might figure out which place I wanted to see more and then just do that one. It is a long haul to the Grand Canyon and then all the way back up and across to the Black Hills. You would have a much better trip to either drop off one or the other (IMHO) Yellowstone and Rushmore area would more than fill the 17 days you have available.
The Rushmore/Badlands area alone can easily occupy 5-6 days just hitting the highlights (Rushmore, Custer SP, Spearfish Canyon, Rapid City sites, Jewell Cave etc) Then all the Yellowstone sights to see. Yes, a lot of space to cover and a lot of things to see/do in a relatively short time.
Wish we were going with you.
Have a great trip
It can take a day to see Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse monument. And I'd use a toad for that, as the tunnels and roads in the Park are not condusive to Class A's.
The other thing to pay attention to is the when. Sturgis motorcycle rally is August 4 - 10. Thousands of bikes on the roads in South Dakota from the 29th of July through the 12th of August. Not the best time to see Rushmore, Custer, Spearfish, Crazy Horse, or the badlands, if sharing the road with that many motorcycles is going to bother you or the family.
* This post was
edited 05/09/08 02:38pm by Lyman *
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I would drop the Grand Canyon from this trip and do just the Yellowstone/Rapid City portion. I was there last year, took 12 days from leaving/returning and I live in southern Mn where it's only a 20 hr drive to Yellowstone. I felt it was just the right amount of time, and we took our time going to the sites.
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I agree with majsantara. Drop the Grand Canyon and concentrate on the central Rockies. Do another trip and see the Southwest with Zion, Bryce, Arches and the Grand Canyon. While at Yellowstone, make sure you drop down into the Grand Tetons for a few days. Aside from the oddity of the thermal features of Yellowstone, in my opinion, the Tetons offer more beautiful scenery.
Definitely will have to rethink this one. From my driveway to Black hills is roughly 1400 miles. From my drive to Yellowstone is approx. 2000 miles. I figure I would need at least 3 weeks to do this one. I am self employed so I can't come home from a trip and go to work so I can rest. May settle for the Smokies for my 1st extended trip. Really don't want to drive more than 300-350 miles/day. Farthest trip to date was to Petit Jean SP ,AR. 400+- miles. DW won't/doesn't want to drive the long bed crew cab w/30ft 5ver. Looks like I'll shift my focus about 2500 miles SE of Yellowstone. Thanks for enlightening me. Steve A. Dagro
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