Forum Discussion

Guilty001's avatar
Guilty001
Explorer
May 20, 2013

Traveling West

My Wife and I are thinking about a trip from northern Indiana west to Yellowstone, glacier park, salt lake city, then points east back to southern Indiana.
Any ideas the best route things not to miss and things not to waste time on as we will have about three weeks.
  • Our favorite RV park near Yellowstone is Red Rock RV Park, near Island Park, 12 miles from the west entrance to Yellowstone. It's 5 miles off Highway 20, so absolutely quiet, gorgeous views, large sites. May be booked up already, but if it fits your schedule, relax there a few nights. Beside easy access to Yellowstone, there are other great day trips to Ennis WY and along the Madison River. If you play golf, a fun little course in Island Park. Be sure to stay away from Highway 32, which is a scenic route from Jackson to Island Park, it is a brutal grade. Take Highway 33 to access Highway 20 to or from West Yellowstone to Jackson.
  • Thanks so much for all the good information from everyone you guys are great. I think we are going to take the suggestion of taking 90 out and 2 lane it back. take 1 week out and 2 or 3 back. Great advise hope we can return the favor in the future
  • I think it depends entirely on if you are a destination traveler or a journey trekker! 3 weeks is a fair amount of time to see the sights at those destinations but won't allow much more than a stop over or two enroute to and from.

    If I were you I'd either either make a fast trip out or back on I-80 or I-90 then slow down and "2 lane it" to or from...your choice.

    Our fast route trip would be to go I-90 and be there. There are a few places to stop along that are interesting.

    The more fun route is to get on hwy 20 west. It's wide open, no traffic (in Nebraska & Wyoming), scenic with small towns that nearly all have small RV parks. Don't miss the panhandle of Nebraska on the slow route...you'll be surprised our landscape isn't what some consider typical "Nebraska". (along I-80 you don't see our vast variety) You can buzz north into the Black Hills via a quiet scenic route or head into Wyoming still on hwy 20 and onward to Yellowstone on a variety of routes. We love the road north from Lusk, WY to Devil's Tower.

    Experiment and mix it up...it will be a awesome trip.
  • Consider US2 across the top of the US if you go to Glacier NP 1st. It's a nice 2-lane with just enough towns and services. Also US 20 through northern Ne. a nice alternative to the interstates. Goes to or close to YNP.
  • Adventure Caravans has a tour of the Western Parks that takes the entire month September. The point is the West is VAST and three weeks from Indiana is not much time.
    For immediate information search this Forum for the areas/parks you are interested in. Lots of previous discussion.
  • Three weeks is a pretty good timeframe for that itinerary. I'd suggest going via I-90 one direction, visiting the Badlands & Black Hills in the process. Devil's Tower isn't terribly far off I-90 in eastern Wyoming, and there's a decent enough KOA right by the tower, with a great view from many campsites. (1-2 nights there should be sufficient; 1 would be enough if you're going there right from the Black Hills.) Another good stop along I-90 in southern Montana is the Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Custer's Last Stand). Worth a day, IMO.

    You MUST have reservations in/near Yellowstone. CGs inside the park may be booked up by now, and only one (Fishing Bridge) has hookups. Decent CGs in Gardiner, MT (north entrance) and West Yellowstone (west entrance) may still have openings, but I wouldn't delay. I would suspect you will need reservations near Glacier as well. Remember that Glacier has a short season, compared to Yellowstone (and certainly compared to southern Indiana!) When were you planning to visit?

    Along I-80, which would be a good way to/from SLC, there are a lot of pioneer-related sites, including "living history" villages, state parks, etc., in central Nebraska, which are really interesting if you are into history. Not especially cheap or simple to get to, but the big arch museum over I-80 in Kearney, Nebraska is worth the stop.

    I second the must-see on the Tetons. Allow yourselves at least 4 full days in Yellowstone & the Tetons combined. (Tetons make a good day trip from Yellowstone; the parks are virtually contiguous.)

    Between Yellowstone & SLC, the easiest route is via I-15, but a more scenic (and longer) route goes through Star Valley, Wyoming, by Bear Lake and through Logan Canyon. Worth it if you have the time. There's a nice little museum dedicated to the Oregon Trail in Montpelier, Idaho, along that route, and is worth a couple hours.
  • We went out 80 and back 90 and loved it. Be sure to see the Grand Teton's and pikes pike