Is our summer trip out West too ambitious?

Jawbreaker wrote:
Leaving June 28th from Milwaukee, WI area, returning July 14th
My family of 4 (2 kids 11 & 13)

First stop Souix Falls, SD (1 night)500 miles
Next stop Rapid City, SD (2 nights) + Custer and Wind Cave 350 miles
Next stop Cody, WY (1 night) Rodeo, etc 400 miles via I-90/14
Next stop Yellowstone (2 nights) Fishing Bridge + 1 other 1/2 day to drive and get set up
Next stop Grand Tetons (1 night) 1/2 day to drive & get set up
Next stop Salt Lake City, UT area (1 night) 330 miles via 89/I-15
Next stop Zion Park (2 nights) 300 miles
Next stop Bryce Canyon (1 night) 85 miles
Next stop Rocky Mountain (plus 1 day layover in-between)(2 nights) to Estes Park - Rocky Mtn. NP via I-70 - 600 miles Rocky to St. Louis via I-70 to US40 at Wentzville, MO to 109 to Eureka (Six Flaggs) - 900 miles with 1 stop somewhere
Last come through St. Louis Six Flags and then back home. Six Flaggs, MO to HOME via I-55/I-39/I-43 - 400 miles

-Tim

Although you could get a "taste of each area" in the time you alloted, there is entirely too much driving time inbetween your stops. I'm a firm believer that coming from the east to visit the western parks can be done in a short timeframe. We've done it from Michigan when we were working - but we returned to do it again and again. Yes, even Yellowstone can be skimmed over in two days if that's all the time you have. However, keep in mind that you really won't be seeing all of Yellowstone so you'll definitely have to come back for more! When you're working you have to make do with the vacation days you have. But I also believe that too big of a circle and stops like you have planned would be very tiresome.

Therefore, I suggest you make this planned trip in a two-year period. Get to the Grand Teton Nat'l Park this year and head home. Do the lower segment next year. I think you'd all enjoy it much more. Or reverse the two year plan depending what part of the trip the whole family chooses to do. Let the kids decide, too. :) Take a vote.

As for reservations. For Rapid City and Cody probably calling a day or two before would be enough. There are a lot of campgrounds in the area. Just have a list of possibilities ready. Yellowstone and Grand Teton has some non-reservable (no hookups) campgrounds that you'd easily fit into. Fishing Bridge - need a reservation. However, to secure a spot in Yellowstone you need to arrive at those other campgrounds early morning. For the Tetons, the no reservation campgrounds at Colter Bay campground (no hookups) and Gros Ventre campground (no hookups) each have 300 sites and if you're coming from Yellowstone you'll get there in the morning before noon so you're sure to get a spot. For Zion and Bryce - if you want to stay in the parks, reservations are advisable at that time of year on the limited time you have. Eureka, MO (for Six Flaggs) - need a reservation. Going and returning home via the interstates - probably no reservations if you don't stop near a big city but best to call early in day to secure a spot - usually no fee for doing so. Safe travels!