Trip to the Black Hills, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons.I am thinking of allotting time as follows:3 days Black Hills6 days Yellowstone2 days Grand Tetons3 days return tripNotes:2 week tripJuly 20155 adults, 3 kids ages 9 to 75First trip for everyone to these placesTrips starts ends in Northeast IowaNot big hiking familyWhat are the thoughts on the time I am allotting to each? Is Yellowstone to much time?

You can never spend enough time in Yellowstone, but I would delete one day and spend 3 days in the Tetons.Plan your stay in the Black Hills. See Mt. Rushmore for sure. The rest??Our recent trip to Yellowstone Grand Tetons

Don't forget the Devils tower, and Glacier NP

In the Black Hills area there is Custer State Park with Buffalo herds and Prairie Dogs, worth a day trip. A day for Rushmore. And the third day for Wind Caverns. That leaves out the Badlands NP, Wall Drug and the Minuteman silo. But those can wait for the next trip. You can spend 60 days in Yellowstone and not see it all. If you don't hike then there isn't a lot to do at Grand Tetons except drive to different view spots and take the ride across Lake Jenny so I'd leave your division of time as is. There are several different hot spot areas in Yellowstone you can spend a day each on. On your trip up or back you may want to stop at Devils Tower since you'll be close to it when going between YNP and the Black Hills. It's a 2 hour visit which will give you time to walk around the paved trail around the tower.Better make reservations for YNP soon and maybe for the Black Hills too. Custer State Park is a very popular camping spot.

Search this Forum for each of those locations to get an idea of how much time posters have spent there.Black Hills is worth two days. Take the bus tours of Rushmore and Crazy Horse and a separate tour for the Badlands.Suggest four days in Yellowstone including two bus tours.A couple of days in the Grand Tetons should be enough if you don't hike.

I've been to these places several times and if I was going back with your time allotment I would do this:2 days Black Hills, Rushmore, Badlands2 days driving toward YNP unless you want to drive 500 miles in one day. If you are taking 90 to Billings you can take 120 to Cody and see some of these sites here like the Buffalo Bill museum and the little ghost town. Get in your toad and drive the Chief Joseph Highway to 212 (Beartooth Highway) to Red Lodge. This is a "not to miss" drive. From Cody take the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic HWY into the East entrance to YNP. (This is a beautiful drive, also)5 days YNP (You'll have to come back several times to really see it all anyway. LOL)2 days in Grand Teton3 days to go home.:MHave fun.....there's no place more beautiful than what you will see here!

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DeanRIowa

Explorer

Jan 29, 2015

Time allotment for Black Hills/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons

Trip to the Black Hills, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons.

I am thinking of allotting time as follows:
3 days Black Hills
6 days Yellowstone
2 days Grand Tetons
3 days return trip

Notes:

2 week trip
July 2015
5 adults, 3 kids ages 9 to 75
First trip for everyone to these places
Trips starts ends in Northeast Iowa
Not big hiking family

What are the thoughts on the time I am allotting to each? Is Yellowstone to much time?

rv2go
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2015
You can never spend enough time in Yellowstone, but I would delete one day and spend 3 days in the Tetons.
Plan your stay in the Black Hills. See Mt. Rushmore for sure. The rest??
Our recent trip to Yellowstone Grand Tetons

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Time allotment for Black Hills/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons

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