Here was our experience in 1990 with three kids and our "see the USA" vacation. We had a wonderful time. Kids were 12, 9 and 4 and we rented a Chevy mini van locally for a very reasonable price for 3 weeks. I think it was about $1200. We had a large (10 x 10) family dome tent and typical family camping gear. We packed camping stuff in those large rubbermaid containers and stored in the rear of the van. Part of the time we had the rear seats folded down so the kids and an adult could nap--we had an old station wagon vinyl covered mattress--no seatbelts with the seats down though. It was back before kids couldn't ride in the front seat.
Started in Indiana and stopped in Missouri for the George Washington Carver site, someplace that had red dirt that got everywhere for an overnight in Oklahoma (Red Rock State Park), stopped at Bandelier in New Mexico, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and on to Arizona and the Grand Canyon, up to Las Vegas, and yes it was the kids favorite place--stayed at Circus Circus one night for about $25--crazy. Then to Yosemite and on to San Francisco--my sister lives near there. Through the redwoods and up the coast to the Columbia River and Dalles Dam (homage to Woody Guthrie) and briefly into Washington to say we had been there. Back across to Yellowstone, so impressive, then to Mt. Rushmore and through the sand hills of South Dakota (that was a long drive) we stayed in Valentine, NE in the free city camping park--we decided we loved Valentine. Finally through Iowa and home to Indiana. I used a lap top and some Rand McNally software to plan the trip and the travel times. Ancient technology now. We also got a triptik from AAA.
It is more than doable to "see the USA" or at least some of its major sites in 3 weeks and our kids did get tired of travel but we read aloud and sang songs together. I'm so glad we did it.
We would have been more comfortable in an RV but it was not necessary or affordable for us at the time. Do it and make your memories. They are irreplacable.
