RVing to the west

you would have to put wings on the rv to see all that is 14 to 19 days. let me know when you are coming through my neck so I can keep off the freeway so I won't get run over as you fly by.

From Chicago, with that much time you can get to Yellowstone and back, with stops for Mount Rushmore and Devil's Tower. You could have time to visit Glacier, or you could go to the Grand Tetons. All of your visits will be relatively short (many go to Yellowstone for a week or two, year after year, it is that big).

Or you could go to the Grand Canyon, by way of southern Colorado towards the Moab parks complex, then down through Monument Valley to either North or South Rim, then likely coming back via the highways that replaced Route 66, with much to visit going both ways. Alternative to the Moab parks and Monument Valley might be Bryce, and Zion, particularly if going to the north rim of Grand Canyon.

I've managed each of these trips in a two-week time frame, from SE Michigan, a half day out of Chicago. While living in the middle of the plains now cuts two-three days of driving time, it can still be a problem connecting all the dots further west.

Putting Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon into a two-week trip from the Midwest or the East is probably feasible in terms of driving time, but leaves little time to visit either (a day each for GC and Yellowstone?) and means you will have to drive by a lot of other interesting places that are on most folks "out west" bucket lists.

There are escorted tour that do what you are talking about, but they usually fly to and from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah or Nevada, and have a team of bus drivers moving you from place to place for 2-4 hour visits at the big stops, less than two hours at the "lesser" national parks or monuments. Sometimes the tour use air connections rather than long days of road travel for the big moves (like Yellowstone to Grand Canyon).

But these are "bucket list" visits, checking of as many "been there" as possible, even if you were inside the park gate for maybe no more than an hour. I remember my first visit to Arches was 45 minute sidetrack on the way to supper, and skipping through Colorado NM in about 90 minutes enroute from Grand Junction to Green River. So how many "out west" places you can visit in a given time depends on how long you plan to be there, in addition to how long it takes to get place to place.

Yosemite is out of the question for two weeks from the East or Midwest, visiting anything else, as it is just that much further, at least a full driving day from Las Vegas if the routes from the east are open. Most visitors from GC will go into Southern California, then up through the Central Valley, to approach from the west, rather than trying to get over the Sierra Nevada from the east.

I've done some of those escorted tours too, other places in the U.S. and in other countries, but will not do it "out west" because I want more time in most of the parks. I might take someone's western tour plan and use my RV to turn their 8-14 day tour into a 30 day tour for me.

None of the parks you mentioned are 1 day or even 2 day. OK you must see YS and GC so suggest you stop at either Bryce or Zion or maybe both. I'm not saying you can't do more but just saying...

Yellowstone opens about mid May depending on wx. Most wild life can be seen in June.

I'd suggest leaving Chicago mid-August and hitting the northern parks first. Then work you way down to Arizona and Grand Canyon and back to Chicago. Arizona and the southern national parks of Utah will be best in Sept/Oct.

Each national park has an excellent web site which gives you campground information, including closings, road information, things to do, etc. Check them all out before your trip. I, too, would not trying to do Yosemite on this trip.

Here is Yellowstone's site:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Even Grand Canyon, especially the south rim, and Yellowstone will eat most of your time and you spend a lot of time driving. Rushmore/Badlands/Devils Tower won't be a problem since they are on the direct route Chicago to Yellowstone.

Yosemite is out of the question unless it is the sole target of your trip. It's two days to Yosemite from Grand Canyon, and the same back. Plus getting a campground inside Yosemite is on a lottery system and a 40 ft RV probably can't find a space inside the Valley. You'll be camping outside the park.

Also let me point out these parks are huge, to drive from one side of Yellowstone to the other is an all day affair and the same with Yosemite. Of course Yellowstone has horrible traffic which adds to the problem. They all have low speed limits and the Rangers will ticket you.

Since you have an RV this hopefully won't be your last trip, so I suggest:

1) Go to California do Yosemite, Lassen, Kings Canyon maybe Death Valley. Hit the Rushmore area on the way in or out. Lots of time in the car for this.

2) Do the Utah/GC loop: Go to Grand Canyon North Rim, Zion, Bryce, and Arches.

3) Do Yellowstone, Tetons and maybe Glacier. Yellowstone really deserves a week.

For all of these trips hit the Rushmore area on the way in or out. Rushmore is worth about 2 hours and Devils Tower the same. Do all three, one a year.`

As for timing, it depends on the winter snowfall. To be safe plan on July or maybe late June.

Too much to see in 14-19 days from PA or Chicago
I would try to set up a route to include Grand Canyon, add Zion and Bryce canyon, then up to Yellowstone, Grand Teton maybe up to Glacier then to Devils Tower Rush more and home.
You would need to add at least another 7 days to add Yosemite.
Many day trips on bike in Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Glacier and Rushmore are. Weather permitting!
Added Chicago for starting point.