traveling West on I 80 to Yellowstone with a 4 year old.

[bass_n_bob]

We will be traveling next summer from NY State to Yellowstone on RT 80. We will have our 4 year old grandchild who is a terrific traveler. Would appreciate any recommendations for things that would interest a 4 year old along the way, particularly west of Chicago.
Thanks .

[brirene]

shoe777 wrote:

brirene wrote:



"Where in the he$$ is Wall Drug?" 😄 Sorry, couldn't resist.

Wall Drug
:h
Texas Shadow is right. I was thinking about 90.

LOL...that was a bumper sticker plastered on every car within 100 miles of the place the first time I was there in the 60's! Guess I'm dating myself, but I know many of you remember.

[trailertraveler]

X2 on the Great Platte River Road Archway Museum. Also in Kearney is Fort Kearney which has a campground. There is also a Cabela's in Kearney that likely allows overnights. The Cabela's in Sidney, NE is I believe the original and has a campground. Cabela's have impressive displays of taxidermy mounts that a child might find interesting. Going through Thermopolis was mentioned. If your 4 year old likes dinosaurs, the Wyoming Dinosaur Museum is in Thermopolis. Cody has the Buffalo Bill Historic Center and nightly rodeo.

Hope you have a Great Trip!

[tatest]

Living History Farm in DesMoines would be great for a four year old. Takes up most of a day to visit.

[travel4family]

Roadside America is a great suggestion - we found a lot of things to just see driving by. The statue of Mary at the Nebraska Wyoming border was impressive.
Also, checkout "letterboxing." Best website is Atlasquest. Will keep them hoppping and there's always one near where you are. I print the clues out before we leave on trips and we hit the ones that are convenient or when we need a break. Message me if any questions 🙂

[shoe777]

brirene wrote:

GizmosMom wrote:
When I was eight years old my family traveled from Michigan to Yellowstone. We stopped at the Mitchel Corn Palace, The Harold Warp Museum in ? Nebraska and Wall Drug. We loved every minute of those stops.

Times are different now but just in case...check them out!

"Where in the he$$ is Wall Drug?" 😄 Sorry, couldn't resist.

Wall Drug
:h
Texas Shadow is right. I was thinking about 90.

[TexasShadow]

some of these folks are getting I 90 confused with I 80.
I don't have much to suggest for a 4 year old. Most 4 yr olds are happy just getting out of the confinement of seat belts, etc and running around. Take a soccer ball to kick around in city parks. NE towns all have a city park of one kind or another, some with swimming pools and kids' playground stuff. These will be better than the interstate rest areas and are usually easy to find.

[brirene]

GizmosMom wrote:
When I was eight years old my family traveled from Michigan to Yellowstone. We stopped at the Mitchel Corn Palace, The Harold Warp Museum in ? Nebraska and Wall Drug. We loved every minute of those stops.

Times are different now but just in case...check them out!

"Where in the he$$ is Wall Drug?" 😄 Sorry, couldn't resist.

[GizmosMom]

When I was eight years old my family traveled from Michigan to Yellowstone. We stopped at the Mitchel Corn Palace, The Harold Warp Museum in ? Nebraska and Wall Drug. We loved every minute of those stops.

Times are different now but just in case...check them out!

[jalichty]

Why go to Rock Springs when you can turn off at Rawlins, go north to Lander and then on to Dubois and up to Grand Teton on the way to Yellowstone. Or, get off at Cheyenne, go through Casper to Shoshoni and turn right to Thermopolis through the Wind River Canyon, up to Cody and over Sylvan Pass into the east entrance to Yellowstone. Lots to see once you get off I-80 once you get up to Dubois and over Togwotee Pass, where you first see the Tetons, which are majestic, and then up the John D. Rockefeller Parkway to the south entrance of Yellowstone and then only about 10-15 miles to Lewis Lake, just past Lewis Canyon. Then to Grant Village to the start of the loops. Right takes you to Yellowstone Lake and up to Canyon and over to Norris Junction and back to Old Faithful. If you keep going past Canyon over Dunraven Pass up to Mammoth and then back down to Norris, etc, Lots to see and keep youngsters interested.

[WyoTraveler]

bass n bob wrote:
We will be traveling next summer from NY State to Yellowstone on RT 80. We will have our 4 year old grandchild who is a terrific traveler. Would appreciate any recommendations for things that would interest a 4 year old along the way, particularly west of Chicago.
Thanks .

Absolutely. Once you pass Rock Springs there is a place called Little America at about exit 66 or 68. Can't miss it. Great 50 cent tasty freeze cones. Every time we come through we park in that front lot over night and enjoy the ice cream amongst the moon scape scenery. Not much to see on I-80. Their burgers are pretty good. Fuel up in Rock Springs exit though The Pilot station will be about the cheapest. In Rawlins you can visit the old Wyoming prison.

[Sue_Bee]

How far are you going to take 80? Will you be going up to 90 to catch Mt Rushmore, etc?

[shoe777]

Deadwood
Might be something here?

[gbopp]

Check Roadside America, maybe they will have something that will interest or amuse a 4 year old.
Enjoy your trip.

[katleman]

Seem to recall my 5 year old enjoyed our stop at Great Platte River Road Archway in Nebraska 8 years ago.

Its in Kearney, directly over I80, can't miss it.

Henry Doorly zoo in Omaha is world class.

If your grandchild likes planes, there is Strategic Air and Space Museum just west of Omaha, right along I80, same exit as Mahoney State park, great place to overnight.

Wouldn't bother with Rushmore, a 4 year old won't care.