wendyallan

Hi we are driving from Minnesota to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier at the end of July 2016 into Aug. looking for nice but reasonably priced lodging and the best route please. We take a 2 week driving trip with our teens every summer so we are used to being in the car but enjoy stopping to check things out along the way. Just trying to figure out what way to drive to see the most.

Thanks

northie

We did this trip and stayed at Rapid City (visiting family ) but loved the side trips to MT Rushmore , Sturgis , the bear sanctuary and Deadwood. Our next stay was Cody - just for the night. We spent 4 nights in Jackson Hole which enabled us to visit the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone .
From Rapid city to Mankato we stopped along the way at Wall Drug ( I disliked this ) and Wounded Knee Museum (underrated and so interesting).
We had driven from Las Vegas via Carson City and Salt Lake City then Jackson hole and the rest as above . We stayed in motels but. Don't remember the names but it was a fantastic trip.

roger_cook

Hi Wendy

Some of the places mentioned in my 2011 report might hit the spot.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ne-back.cfm?18

I agree with Northie about Wall Drug, but The Badlands NP is nearby and fantastic. Enjoy

WhereAreWe

Take I-90 through South Dakota one way and I-94 through North Dakota the other way. Stop at the Badlands and Black Hills in South Dakota, and Theodore Roosevelt NP in North Dakota.

wendyallan

Wow, very impressed with the speed of the replies. thank you all so much for your answers.

tomfuller

In Mitchell SD my kids enjoyed an hour in the Corn Palace.
For the Glacier area, DW and I enjoyed the Meadow Lake Resort in Columbia Falls MT.

northie

Agree with tom re the corn palace. The bear sanctuary near Rapid City is really great for all- kids would love it

ziggypop

Hi Wendyallen, when we went to Yellowstone I drove I-94 out there and I 90 home. It is so close in miles and time that it does not matter which route you take but....I would take I 90 through the Black Hills for a singular route. There is tons of stuff to do in the Black Hills and as mentioned check out the badlands and only stop in Wall Drug if it is lunch time.
I live just west of the twin cities and I think it was 16 hours of driving time from here to Yellowstone. If you are gong through North Dakota make sure you have hotel reservations in advance if you are planning to sleep west of Bismarck.
I wrote a trip report if you wish to read it. Don't let it scare you, we went in May.