Trip with a 9 year old.

[marpel]

This year we are having a visit from our 9 year old grand-daughter (we live in SW British Columbia, she lives in Denver Co). She will be escorted up here the beginning of June by her father who will leave her with us while he returns home. She will stay with us until mid June when we will transport her back in our Travel Trailer. We plan on stopping along the way. We only have two weeks for the trailer trip, including return travel.

Pre-Covid we took her to an RV park in Colorado Springs and she was fascinated by the caverns. It is my intention to hit some caves enroute to Denver and I am thinking Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. She also has been collecting Ranger badges, so Yellowstone is also likely. So the, preliminary, route will be I-5 to I-90 then east to the Whitehall Montana area, then south through Yellowstone and onward.

Keeping the above in mind, I am asking for input on the following:

- Is Lewis and Clark State Park campgrounds a good place to RV a couple days, or is there a preferred place within easy distance of the caverns? We usually stay in private RV parks that are above average, clean and well maintained (even though we have a small-ish shower, we usually use the shower facilities within the park).
- any suggestions for other interesting places to stay and/or visit along this general route?

Due to the distance between our respective homes, we only get to be together a few, or less, times a year, so I am wanting this trip to be the best we can make it.

All info/advice is much appreciated,

Marv

[4runnerguy]

Kids usually have a different perspective on what they like than we adults might appreciate. I know I wasn't a fan of looking at sites from the seat of a car and could only wait until we got somewhere that I could get out and play. While watching a few geysers erupt or visiting some of the thermal features in Yellowstone is something everyone should experience while young, don't miss out on finding ways to view the wildlife (from a safe distance of course). In Yellowstone, there are various places to observe elk, buffalo and even the occasional moose. Go to Fishing Bridge to see the trout swimming. Heck, a picnic on the lake shore is also something kids really like.

For some other caves to visit, how about the Black Hills? Both Jewel Cave and Wind Cave are interesting for young kids and there are buffalo herds at Custer State Park. Of course Mt. Rushmore is worth some time also. Head from there south to Denver.

Wherever you stay, make reservations NOW as popular destinations are already mostly booked for the summer.

[cruising_spud]

When we traveled with our grandkids, we went to AAA, and my daughter and her husband and my husband and myself, signed papers allowing us to take the kids to the hospital and get treatment, just in case we needed too. Now, we had a situation where the kids live in another country, so we were afraid me might run into issues. Probably overkill, but it gave me peace of mind. It only took about twenty minutes to do.

[Sjm9911]

Agreed, not much help in the trip area, but pack snacks, there will be frequent bathroom stops, especially right after you stop and get back on the road, lol. Dvds, or downloads a must, rain gear for the kido, and make sure your first aid kit is updated. Kids by definition will scrape something and need a bandaid that has some animal on it. Otherwise have fun, and I second the idea of a campgeound with a pool/ lake, even for a one nighter. Also, make sure the kido is cool showering in the confert stations. Mine at 9 and 10 just started using them. Before that she would never go shower in the confert station. Another, good idea, is battery powered glow sticks, for nighttime.

[marpel]

Thanks all, for the replies.

Marv

[Dick_B]

I seem to remember taking our kids, about that age, on vacation and the most fun they had was staying at the Holiday Inn with a pool where they splashed their hearts out. Hint, hint.

[Crowe]

Just a word of advice-try not to make it too "perfect". That only sets you up for failure. Be prepared to have plans B & C on top of Plan A. You'd be surprised at how little it sometimes takes to keep a child that age happy. My fondest memory of my dad is him taking me to feed the ducks after my eye dr. appointments. Don't try to do too much-take some time to stop and smell the roses. if she likes caves I'd go to Wind Cave in SD, possibly Badlands, and Bear Country USA. You need to make reservations ASAP. Many campgrounds are already booked solid for the season.

[ReneeG]

We stayed at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park several years back. There are hookups and showers. If I remember correctly the restrooms and showers were clean and well maintained, but we didn't shower there. Not far from there is Missouri Headwaters State Park. The history is fascinating. If she likes caves, she may like this area. There is a campground there, but we didn't stay because we drove up from L&C Caverns.

If you continue south on 287 to Ennis, then West to Virginia City, that is a fascinating area that any child would find interesting. There is a nice RV park in Ennis that we stayed at, Ennis RV Village.

[Lwiddis]

Keep your hours of travel time per day down. Make frequent stops for exercise. IMO the trip of a lifetime!

[midnightsadie]

sounds like a trip she,ll remember for a life time.

[cruising_spud]

A fair amount of campgrounds in the west have poor internet and no cable tv connection. So, I would download some movies that your granddaughter would like. Also, take some dvds. Also, some card games that one of you can play with your granddaughter while the other person is driving. And, I agree with RedRollingRoadblock-try to get into Fishing Bridges. It provides easy access to all of the attractions in Yellowstone (which I think your granddaughter would love).

[theoldwizard1]

Make sure she has some computer games that do not require a network connection.

A laptop with a DVD player and a handful of movies is also a good idea.

[RedRollingRoadb]

Start looking for reservations in Yellowstone NOW! I would try for Fishing Bridge as it is central in the park. Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone and hit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center a few blocks away, it is worth a stop.
There is also a few other campgrounds in the park so start researching. Enjoy!

EDIT: If you got a smart phone download the Just Ahead app https://www.justahead.com/ for the Park. We used it and really enjoyed it. Had three grands and played it over the radio and we would kinda take a poll to see if anyone wanted to stop. There is a couple of other apps like it so you might look around. The $20 (?) cost was worth it for us first time visitors.