Yellowstone and Glacier in May

Heavenbound wrote:
I've been doing a lot of reading and searching but I'm not finding the answers I'm looking for. (maybe I'm just not finding the answers I want)

My family (4 kids wife and I) are planning a trip from SE PA to Yellowstone and beyond. We have set aside a little over 3 weeks (5-4 to 5-27) for the trip.

This time works well for us because we homeschool so our kids finish early and we can travel and avoid all the crowds.

My concern is being so early in the season what in Yellowstone and Glacier will we be able to see or do?

YNP and GNP are the "main" parks we have on our list

but also on the list are
Badlands,
Rushmore,
Custer,
Wind cave,
Tetons,
Jackson,
Crater lake,
Yosemite, and
Sequoia.

Yes I know that some of those are in Cali.

One of my thoughts is to do the southern part of the trip first and then head north for the other parks? maybe catch better conditions?

I know its a lot of driving and miles,

we did a 3 week 6300 mile trip last May to
Texas then
Grand Canyon, up into
Utah for the mighty five, into
Colorado, and across back home.

Did numerous 700 mile days.

Not looking to do that everyday but we can handle a few.

Nothing is set in stone, just a basic idea of what we would like to see.

We prefer not to make reservations ahead of time.

We find campgrounds along the way.

thanks in advance for you input, you guys really are a wealth of knowledge!

I used this site a lot for our last trip.

We are traveling in a 1990 Coachmen Catalina 28' class C

Simply Put - Too Early and Too Much

Rockies, Yellowstone and Glacier - if you want to enjoy without crowds and when they are Beautiful you should think about September first Week of October - JMHO.

Cali is a whole separate trip - IMHO - you could easily spend next year there, and just there.

Lets just see if you've already done a few of the things that are often missed on these trips;

Beartooth
Chief Joseph Hwy
Wind River Canyon
Cody
Thermopolis
Shoshoni
Flaming Gorge
Dino NM
Steamboat
West Side of RMNP

Glacier if you want to see and enjoy it is still frozen over till 4th of July - and - you will want to add the Canadian side when you go - so a few more days along with all the lakes and other sights in the Area.

Not try to "Preach to You" but you did ask.

If you could ID the kids - ages and sex it might help - I had two Boys and now have 6 Granddaughters, so while they are similar they are truly very different in what THEY ENJOY, doing and seeing. :)

Here are a couple of sites that might help in the planning -

Family that did this every year and now has moved to the West Coast.

Stan Parker's Album is great in exposing locations you never knew were there.

Why September and first week of October are the time to be in the Rockies.

Yes you can Do It - and Yes more time would be Great BUT not likely to Happen, so Divide it into more manageable pieces and then GO.

You will be a Hero to your Kids forever - they will not remember the Long days in the Car/Truck/Coach but they will remember the Water the Rocks and the Sky.

Post more - argue some - share your itinerary - Maybe even post on irv2.com - and I'm sure you will get info that will help,

Best of Luck,