Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

Rangerman40 wrote:


That second day was a bit of a bear. I think I drove like 14hrs that day with two kids under 5.... unfortunately I only get so much vacation a year so I had to make the drive count.

It's the kids I feel sorry for! Wow!! We've taken 2-week vacations but the kids were older so they could remember the trip. This is a case where the wife should know how to drive to relieve you if you feel you need to cover that many hours on the road.

acritzer wrote:

Rangerman40 wrote:

acritzer wrote:
Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

That's the place!! I saw a few Brown Bears in the vicinity when we were there!! It really is the most convenient campground for Yellowstone. Lots of people will tell you to stay in West Yellowstone, but the amount of driving in and out every day is just not worth it. When planning your trip realize it takes a good 5 days to properly explore the Black Hills area, and I'd say a minimum of 4 just to hit all the hot spots and complete the loop in Yellowstone.

Thanks! We're planning to sit down soon and really get planning. I want to make sure we cover all of the must sees. Thankfully we should have 2-3 weeks if we really want to.



Any suggestions on a stopping point 1/2 from here to there? Driving with the kids, I probably won't want to do much more than 8 hrs. a day.

Leaving from Dayton and hopping directly on 70 at around midnight on a Friday night I stopped just over the border outside of Danville IL on 74 at a rest stop for the night. The next day we started fairly early and I stayed on 74 until I hit 80 west and stayed on there to just outside Omaha where I hopped on 29 and on up to 90. That day I made it to another rest stop on 90 somewhere near White Lake SD. The next day we enjoyed the drive and rolled into Custer State Park in the early afternoon. That second day was a bit of a bear. I think I drove like 14hrs that day with two kids under 5.... unfortunately I only get so much vacation a year so I had to make the drive count. Luckily for me I don't mind driving all day. I missed a few things on the drive out I would have like to have seen like The Bridges of Madison County, Amana, and the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD.

Just a side note, but somewhere out on 29 the speed limit goes up to 80 for the rest of the way and it feels like you are the slow guy in the Indy 500.

acritzer wrote:

Rangerman40 wrote:

acritzer wrote:
Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

That's the place!! I saw a few Brown Bears in the vicinity when we were there!! It really is the most convenient campground for Yellowstone. Lots of people will tell you to stay in West Yellowstone, but the amount of driving in and out every day is just not worth it. When planning your trip realize it takes a good 5 days to properly explore the Black Hills area, and I'd say a minimum of 4 just to hit all the hot spots and complete the loop in Yellowstone.

Thanks! We're planning to sit down soon and really get planning. I want to make sure we cover all of the must sees. Thankfully we should have 2-3 weeks if we really want to.

Any suggestions on a stopping point 1/2 from here to there? Driving with the kids, I probably won't want to do much more than 8 hrs. a day.

Suggested Route you and only you will know when you are going to stop. Might suggest that you start on a Friday right after work just to get a jump on things, as it is a good drive to get to the Rockies and start the trip, and the Friday start just gets you closer and will make the trip just a little easier.

I also took the liberty to run you through Colorado - Will give you a chance to just drive through areas you might enjoy later - And coming in from the South just allows you to take the "EASY WAY" in.

Hope this is some help,

Rangerman40 wrote:

acritzer wrote:
Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

That's the place!! I saw a few Brown Bears in the vicinity when we were there!! It really is the most convenient campground for Yellowstone. Lots of people will tell you to stay in West Yellowstone, but the amount of driving in and out every day is just not worth it. When planning your trip realize it takes a good 5 days to properly explore the Black Hills area, and I'd say a minimum of 4 just to hit all the hot spots and complete the loop in Yellowstone.

Thanks! We're planning to sit down soon and really get planning. I want to make sure we cover all of the must sees. Thankfully we should have 2-3 weeks if we really want to.

Any suggestions on a stopping point 1/2 from here to there? Driving with the kids, I probably won't want to do much more than 8 hrs. a day.

acritzer wrote:
Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

That's the place!! I saw a few Brown Bears in the vicinity when we were there!! It really is the most convenient campground for Yellowstone. Lots of people will tell you to stay in West Yellowstone, but the amount of driving in and out every day is just not worth it. When planning your trip realize it takes a good 5 days to properly explore the Black Hills area, and I'd say a minimum of 4 just to hit all the hot spots and complete the loop in Yellowstone.

I have always liked the east entrance to Ystone. It is quieter and follows the Shoshone River. For years I always found moose in there. Now it is tougher since the wolf introduction.Cody is one of the great western towns and right n the way.

Check out the WEB CAMS in the park to give you an idea of current conditions.

Old Faithful is cold Now and you can watch this and other sites in the park just to give you the feel.

Last thought is you might come in from Colorado - allowing Dinosaur NM and Flaming Gorge to be on the itinerary. Then on up to Alpine and then up to Tetons.

Just one of many options,

BOL,

Rangerman40 wrote:
I did this exact trip from Dayton, OH this summer. We stayed at Custer State Park and from there visited Wind Cave National Park, Mt Rushmore, The Badlands, Minutemam Missile Site, Mammoth Site, Needles Highway, Devils Tower and a few other odds and ends. From there we headed west to Yellowstone. Take 16 through the southern portion of the Bighorn Mountains to RT 20 north and then hop back on 14 to Cody. There are a couple decent pulls but nothing too crazy. You'll see more RVs on that road than you've ever seen in Ohio. Once you get to Cody you are an hour from the gate to the park, and once you hit the gate you are another hour to the loop. I recommend staying at Fishing Bridge in the park. It's basically a glorified parking lot in the woods but it's the only campground with full hookups in the park. After a solid 4 days or so in Yellowstone drop on down to The Tetons for a couple days and stay at Colter Bay in the park. The trip back to Ohio from there starts taking my you southeast though Wyoming through the Wind River Indian Reservation until you run into I-80 and head East.


I forgot to mention...... as far as weather goes it's a complete **** shoot. We had weather in the upper 80s in SD, and it snowed on us in Yellowstone..... On July, 11.

Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

I did this exact trip from Dayton, OH this summer. We stayed at Custer State Park and from there visited Wind Cave National Park, Mt Rushmore, The Badlands, Minutemam Missile Site, Mammoth Site, Needles Highway, Devils Tower and a few other odds and ends. From there we headed west to Yellowstone. Take 16 through the southern portion of the Bighorn Mountains to RT 20 north and then hop back on 14 to Cody. There are a couple decent pulls but nothing too crazy. You'll see more RVs on that road than you've ever seen in Ohio. Once you get to Cody you are an hour from the gate to the park, and once you hit the gate you are another hour to the loop. I recommend staying at Fishing Bridge in the park. It's basically a glorified parking lot in the woods but it's the only campground with full hookups in the park. After a solid 4 days or so in Yellowstone drop on down to The Tetons for a couple days and stay at Colter Bay in the park. The trip back to Ohio from there starts taking my you southeast though Wyoming through the Wind River Indian Reservation until you run into I-80 and head East.


I forgot to mention...... as far as weather goes it's a complete **** shoot. We had weather in the upper 80s in SD, and it snowed on us in Yellowstone..... On July, 11.

Made similar trip from St Louis to Portland Or - don't recall anything major. Depending on "how early" weather can be an issue - but that varies yr-yr ... so far this yr sizes up as nasty.