hsingh

I am planning a last minute trip from Chicago to LA to be completed in 6-7 days. I have heard that taking the north route via Yellowstone would make for a great drive. Unfortunately, I have little idea about where to stop and how to pace myself especially given that people spend days on end at Yellowstone!

Can someone help me with the must sees in Yellowstone and how to pace my trip, where to stop etc so that I can make it to LA in 6-7 days and make the most of the drive? Thanks a lot.

utahtea

Chicago to L.A. via Yellowstone is about 2,500 miles. How many miles per day do you think you would want to drive? How many drivers will there be? Do you mind driving at night?

If you want to spend 2 days in Yellowstone then you will have to drive 500 miles per day for 5 days. If you only want to spend one day in Yellowstone then you will have to drive 410 miles per day for 6 days. On the other hand if you can drive 625 miles per day it could be done in 4 days and that would give you 2 - 3 days in Yellowstone. I would suggest at least one day in the Old Faithful & Norris Geyser areas. If you have two days then I'd say the Canyon, Lake, Mudpots, & West Thumb area.

BTW, adding Yellowstone to your route adds about 500 miles and at least 8 hours of driving. Have you considered going though Denver? Interstate 70 in Colorado and Utah is very scenic. This route will save you a days driving and near Denver is Rocky Mountain National Park and in Utah you could easily drive by Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion National Parks.

Utahtea

placeu2

Utahtea makes a great point. I do not think the extra day of driving to see Yellowstone is worth it. Spend your time at some or all of the Utah parks that she suggested. It may be nice to see the Grand Canyon...either major rim..if you have never been.

In either case the first 20 or so hours of the drive are nothing special. I would exert myself in the vehicle as much as possible to reach the Rockies.

jimdrew

Sweet sweet corn fields for the first 12 or so. The mountains will be a nice change.

hsingh

Thanks for the tips guys. Here is what I am thinking of doing:
Day 1. Drive ~600 miles to Pipestone, MN and spend the night.
Day 2. Drive ~400 miles to Mt. Rushmore and see crazy horse and may be even Badlands. Sleep at some motel on the way.
Day 3. Drive ~500 miles from Mt. Rushmore to lake Lodge Cabins entering Yellowstone from the east entrance.
Day 4. Go see Old Faithful and drive around during the day ending somewhere west of the Yellowstone. Other suggestions for things to see while driving? Where can I spend the night on the west side of Yellowstone or just outside?
Day 5 and 6. Still not sure how I will be getting to LA. Don't think I have enough time to go up to Seattle and see Mt Rainier. But I could go via Utah and may be stop by Las Vegas. Any suggestions for Day 5 and Day 6 so that I can end up in LA on Day 7?

Thanks.

rkkwan

Jackson, WY to Seattle is 875 miles; Seattle to LA is 1,145. You don't have to do that unless all you want is drive 700 miles a day and see everything through the windshield.

rkkwan

Sorry, I mean you don't have time to do Seattle.

patg

Your first destination is - Pipestone, MN?

This is already going out of the way if you really want to get to Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. Rapid City, the closest town to Mt. Rushmore, is right off of I-90. Drive to Tomah, Wisconsin, and head west on the same road for hundreds of miles. It's a very boring drive. You are foolish to do this without at least two drivers.

placeu2

Perhaps hsingh knows someone in Pipestone, it's not that far off the expressway.

But...Have you ever done 500 miles in a day or for a couple of days in a row? Granted that you can make great time on I-90 but there are serious trucks and speedy drivers on that route as well.

I have been to Crazy Horse and it is kind of neat but it's no Mt. Rushmore. Also you will come to the Badlands before you get to the Black Hills. There are some small motels in Wall which is right there. I stopped there without a reservation. If you are going to stop in the Wall area, there is no real need to push that hard the first day. Sioux Falls to Wall is about 300 miles. It is easy to average 70mph on that stretch, even with a potty stop.

Do stop at the first SD tourist info rest area that you come to near the MN border. Get the tape set on the history of SD. It pretty much matches your pace as you cross the state. It is excellent. I think it's $5 or so plus a CC for deposit. You drop it off on the Western part of the state or you can mail it in.

I love driving trips so I am a bit jealous of you. Have fun!

hsingh

Thanks for the tape suggestion. I will certainly pick one up as I cross in to SD. BTW, both me and my g/f will be driving... so doing 500 or so miles wont be a big issue everyday. I chose Pipestone MN based on doing <600 miles from Evanston IL (my starting point).

Currently my itin is as follows:
Day 1: drive to Pipestone (600 miles) and have a rest stop.
Day 2: Drive 500 miles to Hot Springs, SD doing the Badlands loop (highway 240) and seeing Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse on the way. At night soke in the hot springs pool in the city!
Day 3: Drive to Yellow stone and stay in the park at Lake Lodge ( I know it doesnt have great reviews.. but oh well).
Day 4: Drive around Yellowstone and see Mammoth springs, Old Faithful, Yellowstone lake and get out of the south entrance driving off to Jackson. Stay at some motel there.
Day 5: Drive on highway 15 doing as much as we can and stop by close to Cedar city or so.
Day 6: Drive to LA and party at night!
Day 7: Have a large buffet on the strip and make it to LA by evening.

How does that sound?