Northeast Ohio to Yellowstone with Kids!

I realize that I am a little late to the party with this post, but we made this trip with kids about 9 years ago. It was a GREAT time! We are also from Northeast Ohio. We spent 3 days on the road in each direction, pulling a hybrid camper. To avoid set-up/take-down time each day, we stayed in hotels on the way out and back. We stayed in Yellowstone NP (6 nights) and Grand Teton NP (4 nights) during out time there. To do it again, we would spend the 4 nights in Yellowstone and the 6 nights in Teton--we felt like there was so much that we missed in Teton (but we will be back!) We took I-90 out. We planned for some time at Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Our boys were impressed with Mount Rushmore, but Devil's Tower took their (and our) breath away. Be sure to pack clothes for both warm and cool temps (we had snow in June) and be ready to layer up and down. Each day we packed a cooler in the car and daypacks and took off for a different end of the park with stops at the thermal features, and some hiking. Try a horseback ride out of Teddy Roosevelt lodge and then have dinner at the lodge--delicious! There is a hiking trail at the Prism spring area that takes you up above the spring and has a fantastic view of the area. If you go to Grand Teton, take a boat ride across Jenny Lake and hike some of the trails there. I found in the Lonely Planet guidebook a recommendation to go to Jackson Lake Lodge in the evening and sit on the patio in the back. We found the lodge on the first night and did this--kids had a cherry coke and the adults a local beer--we enjoyed incredible views of a slough busy with wildlife, the beautiful lake and incredible views of the Tetons--we ended up there each evening for a bit to take it all in, then back to the campground for dinner and planning the next days adventures. Ranger talks in the evening at each park were great. The driving out and back was certainly a haul, but it was also a great way to see some of the country. We certainly added to our list of places to go on that trip. We went back home via I-80. We made some amazing memories with our family, including the long hours in the car. Wishing you all the best!