Western US Itinerary Help

[wtmtnhiker]

Hi all,
Planning a months long trip out west from NH starting in March next year. Looking to visit Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and giving that at least two weeks. Also we'd like to visit Custer State Park possibly Mount Rushmore. Planning to get to Yellowstone late May/Early June knowing that there might be weather issues with snow. Likely we'll be making our way up from Texas Panhandle. Any ideas on itinerary or places to make sure we see on the way from Texas would be appreciated. We'll have plenty of time. Also any recommendations on RV campgrounds near Grand Teton N.P. would be helpful.

[bukhrn]

Lwiddis wrote:
You didn't mention the Little Big Horn Battlefield. Very sobering experience.

I thought of it, but didn't really know what the OP was looking to see, I agree, it's a place that should be seen by all, you'll learn a lot that you never saw on TV.

[Lwiddis]

You didn't mention the Little Big Horn Battlefield. Very sobering experience.

[bukhrn]

if doing Custer State park, I would absolutely do Mount Rushmore, it's like right next door, I would also do the Badlands and the rest of the Black Hills area, then up for a quick tour of Devils Tower, then over to Cody, good for a few days, then on into the east entrance of Yellowstone.

[dedmiston]

Sorry to turn this into a Book Club, but another amazing book if you're visiting Yellowstone is "Death In Yellowstone". It's a non-fiction account of all the ways dumb people have met their ends in the park, with each chapter dedicated to a specific manner of death. It's a gruesome topic, but loaded with teachable moments.

[dedmiston]

That sounds like a fun trip. Just a warning though that winter goes very late into the year in Wyoming. My kids went to university there and it snowed every year during finals week. We got completely snowed in with closed highways when we were there for graduation in May. It was already in the 90s at home, but Wyoming didn't care. I'm convinced that somehow I made Wyoming mad and the state is trying to kill me (kidding). Last fall we got caught in some heavy wind and it blew a window out of our bedroom. We had to finish the trip with plastic duct taped where the window used to be. It's a gorgeous state, but full of surprises.

It wouldn't hurt to have a strong Plan B in case the weather doesn't cooperate at all. I don't know if you've spent much time in the west, but I highly recommend visiting the Indian country based in the Four Corners area. There's so much to see and most Americans don't know much at all about our ancient civilizations. Between Mesa Verde, Taos, Chaco, Monument Valley, and Canyon De Chelly, there's more than enough to keep yourself busy and fascinated on a trip like that. The weather will be more forgiving further south too.

I don't know if you're a reader or if you listen to audiobooks, but we've always loved reading stories set in areas before/while we visit. If you're going to Wyoming, check out C.J. Box's Joe Picket detective series. Picket is a Wyoming game warden and the stories are pretty good.

Likewise, if you're visiting the Southwest, check out Tony Hillerman's old detective stories. It's fun to picture the stories set in the towns and POIs that you're driving through.

[Dick_B]

Look at the Adventure Caravans itineraries for their western tours

[enblethen]

We stay at Gros Ventre. Electric on some sites. Close to many activities.
You didn't say what kind of campground features.
I would not be too concerned over weather. Just change routing or stay an extra day!