michigansandzilla wrote:
In order to get anywhere out west, we've realized we'll have to travel 1800 miles one way. Next year our kids will be 14, 12, and 8. We have a TT and it's all 3 kids in the back row of the truck, so they don't have much room to stretch out.
Due to our work schedules, we'll have 16 days max for vacation. I figure 1800 miles one way is about 3 days of straight driving to get to the destination. We'd have 6 days of long days driving to have 10 days of vacation.
We very much want to get to Yellowstone, but the thought of driving for over 12 hours for 3 days straight does not appeal to any of us. Other options such as flying or renting a class C are cost prohibitive.
Is it worth it to suck it up and go or are we crazy for considering the idea.
Mine are 12 and 11 now...but well seasoned travelers. Every summer we do big national trips that last 2-3 weeks, next year a hair more. We started out in state when they were smaller and frequently drive 2-3 hours to various locations.
Electronics are big, you have to have them.
Frequent stops are big, you have to do it.
Try to get up early and drive until evening but allow the kids time to unwind at a campground each night if possible.
Try to find destination stops along your route to break up the drive and give everyone some time out of the car. It might stretch out your day, but its very worth it.
Finally, try to eat healthy, but also try not to stop at sit down to order restaurants. Once in while you have to, to get a break, but we've wasted and lost more time in this fashion than anything else.
EDIT: I forgot to comment on the number of days. For Yellowstone, we were done on day 4. Unless you do a lot of hiking, you only need 3 days of well planned out movements to cover the whole park and then some. Do sections are a time, be aware of drive times.
Sounds to me like you have time to stop t plenty of other hot spots along the way, to break up the drive to and from. Good luck!
