FL to Yellowstone 10 weeks out west what to do?

[FLGup]

We have a family reunion in Alabama at the end of July where we will need our RV.

So, the DW says, let’s leave next month and go back out west. Two years ago we went to Sedona & the Grandcanyon, Bryce, Zion, RMNP. Let’s go to Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore.

OK......that’s 10 weeks before we need to be in Alabama! :E. We will have 10 weeks to explore. Cool. Im glad she’s willing to break away that long. She said she wants to be in Yellowstone before the crowds get too thick. I agree. But this is last minute. So we found a full hookup site in Yellowstone West for 5 nights the last week in May (we prefer full hookup). But from there.....where? And how long? We will have 6 weeks or more, after Yellowstone, before we have to drive towards Alabama.

Suggestions?

[agesilaus]

We stayed at that CG, it is 'old' and tight. But it is right downtown.

[BUB1988]

Depending on what you like to do. Austin Texas is an awesome place. Lots of food and music downtown. There is an old RV park, Pecan Grove, that is only a mile from downtown Austin. Another stop as you get to Alabama is outside of Birmingham called Barber Motor Sports. It is a 5 story motorcycle museum and has the largest collection of Lotus racing cars in the world. They old vintage motorcycle races and Indy car racing, among other track events. It is well worth the stop due to the amount of history on motorcycles. If you gamble there are also quite a few casino's down toward Alabama and Mississippi. Mobile Alabama is also a military park that a good stop.

[Atlee]

On our trip in 2018, we visited Mesa Verde NP, Hovenweep NM in extreme SW Colorado. Then headed up to Capital Reef NP in Utah. As a change of pace, we spent 3 days in Salt Lake City. Needed a little down time, visit the laundry mat, plus visit Temple Square and Antelope Island State Park which is in the Great Salt Lake.

From there we went up to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Arco, ID. From there we went to Grand Teton NP, then up to Yellowstone, Cody, Wyoming, Little Big Horn National Battlefield, then Devil's Tower while headed to Custer State Park in South Dakota.

From Custer State Park, we visited Deadwood, took Iron Mountain Road to Mt Rushmore, and Needles Highway from Rushmore back to Custer. Stopped by Crazy Horse Memorial too.

From Custer State Park, we headed west and stopped at Wall Drug for an hour or two, before continuing to Badlands National Park. Drove through Badlands NP until it dumped us back I-90 where we meandered to Michigan to visit our daughter, and then back to Virginia.

I think of all the NP's we visited, Grand Tetons NP was by far my most favorite. I also found Craters of the Moon to be very interesting. Lot of volcanic craters of course, but lots of different rock formations which were, of course, of volcanic origin which made this park very different from most of the other parks. From a historical perspective, Little Big Horn was quite interesting.

[agesilaus]

Yeah but the OP said that they already did the southern parks, GC, Zion, Bryce ect. Of course there is a lot to do based out of Cortez CO, Mesa Verde, Canyon of the Ancients, Hovenweep, Rainbow Bridges, Goosenecks, Canyonlands ect. You can spend weeks there seeing the parks around there. Including the North Rim and that area. Capitol Reef is another park and they didn't mention Arches and the cool season is certainly the time to visit that hot box.

[vjstangelo]

Head out along I40, from 40 check out Flagstaff, then the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Head north and catch Zion, up I80 through SLC. Stop in Provo and check out the train museum there and Golden Spike memorial. Continue north on I15 and detour to Lava Hot Springs, ID. There is a KOA there. Continue north through Idaho Falls to West Yellstone. Head home and check out all what others cited above (Devils Tower, etc.). Little Bighorn NM is worth a stop, as is a day or 2 in Sheridan WY (KOA’s at both). Sheridan has a historic Main Street worth visiting.

[Barbielab]

I second 4runners itinerary for best chance of good weather. You’ll be able to see the Utah parks before it’s too hot, and hopefully avoid too many snow closers in the north. Save at least a week to 10 days for the Badlands/ Black Hills area as there is tons to do. Have fun!

[4runnerguy]

Because of the snow this year, I'd head west using a southerly route. Consider taking in places like Santa Fe (Bandelier NM), Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde (Durango), Hovenweep, then up to the Moab area for Canyonlands and Arches. Continue north through Vernal to see Dinosaur NM and the Utah Field House in Vernal (great museum). All of these places should be good to go by the time you get there in early to mid-May.

Head into Grand Teton from the south and spend some time until your reservations in West Yellowstone. They're aiming to get the south entrance road opened around May 10.

After Yellowstone, begin a meandering path up to Glacier NP, maybe venturing into Idaho also. Craters of the Moon, Sawtooth Rec Area, Bitterroots, etc. there's lots of options there.

To best see Glacier, I'd recommend spending a few days on each side of the park. You'll have to take US 2 around the south end as you can't take you rig over Going to the Sun Road.

On the way back east, catch the Black Hills, Custer SP, Mt. Rushmore, etc. If you haven't been, NW Arkanasa and SW Missouri have interesting scenery, caves, etc.

I also echo those above and encourage you to use your water and holding tanks so you can expand where you can stay. Also, check into state parks along the way as they often have flush toilets and showers even if they don't have FHU. And in many of the mountainous places in the west like Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, etc., you won't need electricity for a/c as it just doesn't get that hot.

[RGar974417]

We enjoyed the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum in Minden,Nebraska. If you like history,old cars,trucks motocycles etc, they have it in spades. There is a campground next to the museum. You get one free ticket if you stay at the campground.It's about 10 mile south of I-80.

[Busskipper]

agesilaus wrote:
They just had 31 inches of snow in SD. It has been a very snowy year.

Not in Custer - located in the Black Hills............

Custer live web cam

Sure looks like rain Here 🙂

[agesilaus]

They just had 31 inches of snow in SD. It has been a very snowy year.

[catkins]

If travelling out west during summer months, you will need to try and get reservations ASAP, especially for destination areas. National parks have limited campgrounds in their area or in them and those fill way in advance. Have a grand trip!

[GeoBoy]

I would start in SD, Black Hills, Custer, Mt. Rushmore, Needles, then head up to Devils Tower. I would then head over to the Tetons then West Yellowstone and then if you have time find things that interest you on the return trip.
Going to the Tetons and Yellowstone in mid May would be very disappointing.

[tragusa3]

10 weeks! Nice! We usually do 6-7 weeks and this year have 8. We're doing the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Rockies. What I wouldn't give for 10 weeks!

Slowing down would be one of my wishes. I think we leave some parks not because we run out of things to do, but because we are exhausted. 5 days in Yellowstone...relax around camp for a few days and then I'd be ready for another 5! Changing pace changes everything. You can do activities that you might not have otherwise.

I second the Tetons and San Juans. Each good for a week. We had 5 nights in the Black Hills and wished for 5 more. Maybe go as far as Glacier? With 10 weeks you could do just about anything depending on the pace you want.

Anxious to see how this pans out.

[JAC1982]

What about heading down to Moab? It won't be too hot yet in May.

[ppine]

Is this a trick question? There is so much to see in the West you can't see it all. I have trying for 50 years.

Pick some famous places you want to go. Roughly plan out a route connecting the dots. Be ready to deviate from your plan at all times. Be ready to stay somewhere you like for 4 days or more.

Yellowstone is great in May because you get to see the babies. Avoid the summer. I like the fall for rut.