Trip planning input / help request

Ranger431 wrote:
Ive been doing a bit more research and planning and have made some adjustments. I don't have the specific overnight campgrounds, but will add them later.

Day 1, leave on Friday after work drive for about 5 hours and stay in MO.

Day 2 Make it to the far side of Nebraska. About 8 hours of driving.

Day 3 - go a little out of the way, but stay at Devils Tower. Ever since seeing Close Encounters as a kid I've wanted to see it.

Day 4 - stay put, see Devils Tower,

Day 5 make it to Colters Bay in the Grand Tetons

Day 5-7 Enjoy the Grand Tetons

Day 8 head to Fishing Bridge / Yellowstone around lunch

Days 9-11 Yellowstone

Day 12 - Head home, make it to mid Nebraska

Day 13 - Almost there,Missouri.

Day 14 - back home.

Was debating whether to skip DT and spend an extra day at GT or Yellowstone, but it just seems too neat not to see it. Maybe even spend the morning of day 4 there and drive to Rushmore for the afternoon since its only 2 hours and I wouldn't be towing.

This should have all "driving days" at 8 hours or less, I think 1 day is between 8&9 hours.

Started to try to dissect the route and your planning but like others have said it's your trip, you need to be comfortable in what you decide. Couple off good pieces of advice that I'd emphasize - coming from West Tennessee it's a "ROAD TRIP" and leaving on Friday and really pushing it the first two days will buy you some time on this "17 DAY" trip - Select the Mission/destination, and get there, then after you accomplished the mission add your stops heading home. These will likely not require the hard reservations that are needed in YNP and GTNP. Put Devils Tower and Rushmore on the route home then you will be able to have some flex in the Schedule. Keep Cody in mind and the Beartooth, as exit areas. This group did similar trips and loved it so you really have a lot of time, and best of all you are "young" so you will be BACK, like more than once.

17 days is a good amount of time so enjoy it.

BOL,