P67742

Hi All,

I had posted before and we are now definitely planning for next summer so we have time to book. I went thru al l he pros and cons of keeping Mt Rushmore in. Everyone (11 people in total) want to do it so here is what I managed to come up with. Everyone is a good traveller and we will probably end up renting 3 cars. We know the trip will be a lot of driving. Please help make any changes. I am most confused as to how to split up the YNP portion.

Day 1 – Rapid City, South Dakota; Travel day-arrive in AM
Day 2 – Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore; Custer State Park
Day 3-Badlands National Park (3 nights at Mt Rushmore/Rapid City Area)
Day 4-Drive to Billings; see Little Bighorn Battlefield on way (Billings-1 night)
Day 5-Cody, enter YNP, see Old Faithful (OF Inn-2 nights)
Day 6-YNP and Mammouth Springs-Upper Loop
Day 7-Lower loop (1 night Canyon or Lake Hotel)
Day 8-Drive to Grand Teton NP-full day (Roosevelt Lodge-2 nights)
Day 9-full day Sun-fly home

tomfuller

Where are you coming from? With 11 people the logistics is/are problematic. I would price 1 8 passenger van + a standard size car vs. the 3 cars.
If you rent in Rapid City and leave vehicles in Jackson the drop off fee will be bad.
Could you fly to Billings and rent and return there? Billings is 5 hours (325 mi.) via US 212 to Rapid City.
Seeing Devil's Tower on the way from Rapid City to Cody would be good.

P67742

Thanks. yes coming in from East Coast and other family from West Coast. Flying into Rapid City and then either out of Jackson or SLC (depending on cost). We can also rent 1 big van or as you suggest. I have to check what one-way rental chanrges will be but overall is this itinerary ok? Am I missing something huge?

tomfuller

See if this makes sense to you. Everyone fly to SLC. Larger airport and maybe lower airfare. The rental vehicles my even be cheaper at SLC.
Drive 2 vehicles SLC to Casper WY (417 mi. via Rawlins and Muddy Gap 6:20) Day 2 drive by way of Mt. Rushmore to Rapid City (255 mi. 4:10).
Rapid City to Billings 5 hours. Billings to Yellowstone Lake 5 hours. Make both loops in Yellowstone and see it all. Head south through Grand Teton on the way back to SLC to turn in the vehicles. Fly home from SLC. I'm quite sure that the drop off fee would be more than any extra airfare. Total distance fro the loop would be 1700 to 2000 miles depending on all the side trips.
The other option is to have everyone fly to Billings and do the smaller loop. Compare total costs air+vehicles.

nytraveler

are all of the drivers comfortable driving large vehicles? I would hate to think you had only one driver for each - you definitely need at least two:

1) so everyone gets a chance at the scenery
2) in case someone isn't felling well one day

P67742

Yes definitely enough drivers. Is the drop off fee that high. I have to look into it. We have limited time so trying to minimize driving.

P67742

i just priced out a standard (not compact or economy) for 1 week picking up in Rapid City and dropping off in Jackson and its pricing at $365 for next year. Tried other options and its not that much cheaper if I pick SLC or Billings. I guess we will figure the car situation out, but these are definitely good points to keep in mind. For now, I am assuming, car rental is going to cost approx $500.

tomfuller

Two vehicles @ $365 is $730. Is it cheaper to fly home from Jackson, Billings or Rapid City? The west coast folks could also turn in their rental at SLC to fly home for less.

tomfuller

Another thought: The west coast folks could drive a vehicle they own. SLC is only 10 hours from Los Angeles and 11 from San Francisco. Give them the option of when & where they want to meet you.

P67742

true. Yes ideally going to try to fly home from Jackson to minimize drive time and adding extra day. So I guess basic itinerary looks good then. Since I am coming in from the east to YNP, I should stay at OF Inn the first 2 nights, correct?