Northeast Ohio to Yellowstone with Kids!

Wow reading this thread makes it seem like no one can take a vacation without a month or more to do it. Oh yeah, the kids will make it worse they will hate it.

We don't all have unlimited time or funds. At one point in time I was a kid and my parents did trips like mentioned except we had even less time. Yes the driving was not the greatest but you get over it. Yes the kids might complain some but they get over it. No you may not be able to see everything you wanted to at whichever park/s due to time limitations. However as I have looked back over my life at various times I look back on those trips with a great fondness (I can even remember complaining about the drive time). I am so glad my parents did those trips. Did I see everything in any given park not even close, did I care no. I just went back at a later time in my life again and again and again if needed to see all that I wanted too or in some cases to see the same thing/s again.

I know even today as I near retirement I cant take three weeks off of work at a time and most times not even two weeks at a time so you make do with what you get. Doesn't mean I cant enjoy going to "those" places that I cant possibly see in a week to ten days or less with travel time. Those trips with my parents showed me there was more out there than I knew and watching it on you tube (which wasn't around back then), reading about it in a book or watching it on tv isn't the same thing as being there seeing it first hand even if only for a short while. Don't get me wrong it would be great and even better if one could spend 2-4 weeks at YNP (or whatever park/area) but the reality is most visitors at any park spend only 1 or 2 days. I know for me those few days at YNP or whichever park instilled in me a desire to see more and explore deeper in those areas even if I didn't realize it until years later.

I realize that I am a little late to the party with this post, but we made this trip with kids about 9 years ago. It was a GREAT time! We are also from Northeast Ohio. We spent 3 days on the road in each direction, pulling a hybrid camper. To avoid set-up/take-down time each day, we stayed in hotels on the way out and back. We stayed in Yellowstone NP (6 nights) and Grand Teton NP (4 nights) during out time there. To do it again, we would spend the 4 nights in Yellowstone and the 6 nights in Teton--we felt like there was so much that we missed in Teton (but we will be back!) We took I-90 out. We planned for some time at Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Our boys were impressed with Mount Rushmore, but Devil's Tower took their (and our) breath away. Be sure to pack clothes for both warm and cool temps (we had snow in June) and be ready to layer up and down. Each day we packed a cooler in the car and daypacks and took off for a different end of the park with stops at the thermal features, and some hiking. Try a horseback ride out of Teddy Roosevelt lodge and then have dinner at the lodge--delicious! There is a hiking trail at the Prism spring area that takes you up above the spring and has a fantastic view of the area. If you go to Grand Teton, take a boat ride across Jenny Lake and hike some of the trails there. I found in the Lonely Planet guidebook a recommendation to go to Jackson Lake Lodge in the evening and sit on the patio in the back. We found the lodge on the first night and did this--kids had a cherry coke and the adults a local beer--we enjoyed incredible views of a slough busy with wildlife, the beautiful lake and incredible views of the Tetons--we ended up there each evening for a bit to take it all in, then back to the campground for dinner and planning the next days adventures. Ranger talks in the evening at each park were great. The driving out and back was certainly a haul, but it was also a great way to see some of the country. We certainly added to our list of places to go on that trip. We went back home via I-80. We made some amazing memories with our family, including the long hours in the car. Wishing you all the best!

X2 on KNDB’s and my comment about layered clothing. We live about 110 miles from each park, at 6:15 AM this morning when I got up the temp was 36* now at 4:40 PM it is 70*. With 89* predicted by this weekend.As the snow in the higher elevation melts the nite temp’s warmup.

I did about the same thing as the other guy from MD. Left our home at BWI went the Northern route out + up into Canada. Headed South, Grand Canyon, Vegas, Disney,Tucson, then into Mexico. Tombstone, Bisbee, Albuquerque, —— you get the idea. You can do it. Best part was skiing on Mt Hood in August. Can’t never did anything.

If you and your significant other can safely do long drives like that, go for it. My family and I have traveled plenty with long drive days to maximize time at the destination. Mind you, that was before the kids had ample entertainment to occupy their time during the ride as the do now! You know your family and their ability to do long rides. Hit the road and enjoy. The road trip is half the fun for me, always has been. Whatever you don't see this time, see it another time. Sorry I can't help on the route but i figured I'd chime in to counter those who act like it's the worst thing in the world and child abuse to take long drives.

As BarabooBob commented it is up to your children. My children also grew up thinking this is the way you travel. One daughter cleans windows, wife makes a snack, I fill the tank. The other daughter jumps in and helps who ever needs to use the bathroom first. If you work as a team this can be done and done with smiles on your face. From Niagara Falls NY we made it in 3 days hitting the Corn Palace and Wall Drugs. I say go for it!!!!

Go to RVPARKY and set your trip there so you can see how long each day of driving will be.

Since this thread has been resurrected my general thought is vacation is not an endurance run. Vacation is meant to be enjoyable. 8-10 hour driving days are not enjoyable. If you only have 2 weeks of vacation choose a 2 week destination not a 3 week destination. Excessive time staring out the windshield is a waste of vacation time.
Wherever you are starting from there is a great big country out there, you don't need to drive for 3 consecutive days to find a worthwhile destination.

Driving a couple of long days at the beginning and end of a vacation is not high stress. My kids grew up doing it and they still enjoy on the fly trips. When you are young with young kids, sometimes you either bust your butt to get somewhere or you don't go. I only had 2 weeks for vacations because that was all I could get from my job. We went to Yellowstone, Glacier, The Grand Canyon, Florida, and Acadia. Every one of those trips was usually 2 days at the beginning and end with 600 mile days. Three of our daughters still talk about those trips as being great family vacations. If you talk about it like it is hell on earth, the kids will not have any fun.

The interstates are obvious. Half of your time at least will be driving. With kids you are asking a lot. Flay and drive or go somewhere closer to home.