The Dakotas can also be unbearably hot. While Zion may be at a lower altitude, Bryce is high enough to cool down in the evenings. If you are camping, the trick is to look for campsites that are above 5000 feet. Of course, if you decide that you want to see the Badlands, Yellowstone is closer than Rocky Mountain National Park.

Michael,
Thanks so much for the quick reply!! Actually last summer we did do Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and they were amazing. I guess we were just thinking of seeing something different this time around.
Do you really think that there isn't much of a difference temperature wise between the Utah parks and Colorado/South Dakota?
We keep putting them off because of work and school schedules which only permit summer vacations. Before we planned on Yellowstone/Grand Tetons last year, we had planned on a trip which encompassed Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, Arches, etc. and we were really excited about it. But we worried that the high temperatures would make it unbearable during the day. We won't be camping so as long as we find accommodations that are air conditioned, the evenings wouldn't be as much an issue.
Have you been to RMNP and would you say it's definitely worth the trip?
Thanks

Rocky Mountain will be cooler, but the plains often have temperatures in the high nineties, which is what the high desert usually has also.

How about Glacier National Park and Banff in Canada?

John,
Is Glacier closer to the areas in South Dakota than Colorado and the Rocky Mountain National Park? Which of these parks would you recommend and why? Which would be more scenic, especially if we have to drive from one to the other and back?
Thanks!

Glacier is twice as far as Rocky Mountain. For distance information, go to MapQuest.

I would recommend seeing Glacier Nat'l park and then go into Canada and see the Rockies. Amazing & stunning scenery and one of our favorite trips. You must go along the Icefield Parkway and get as far as Jasper and stay a few days there. We went mid-June in 2006 and did not have hot weather. In fact, some days we had on jackets. I think it would be more enjoyable and easier to do things as opposed to the heat you will most likely encounter in southern Utah. Look on the Canada section of this forum and start reading about Lake Louise, Banff, & Jasper. 'JudyinCalgary' has wonderful info as well as a few others who regularly answer questions. Have a wonderful trip whatever you choose!

When exactly next summer are you pondering? (what month or part of month) That could help decide things, perhaps, altho' any place can have the fluke heatwave/cooldown all depending.

We, too, adore the Canadian Rockies and Glacier/Waterton, but certainly found Utah's parks stunning as well.
I suppose if the trip is for later July/August, if you dread hotter weather, than Canada makes more sense.

However, if you'll be going in June...it can be somewhat 'early' for prime weather in Canada & Glacier. (wildflowers, etc.) Colorado-wise, having a brother there, I think your odds for comfortable weather (no higher than 80's) is pretty good all summer.

Oh...and meant to say that Utah's parks altho' delightful in Spring/Fall, don't necessarily have to be unbearable in summer. But odds are higher, for hot weather in them
if going later in summer.

They ARE stunning, too, however, and if you'd like an area more 'different' from the Tetons/Yellowstone, this region would fit the bill with all its dramatic red rock. (vs. more classic alpine scenery in Canada & Colorado...
albeit Colorado too clearly has 'red rock' country based on its name, even!)

Got to Bryce and Zion~~ And don't worry about the heat

We have been to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and Yosemite/SF/LA and GC/Bryce/Zion and the latter was our favorite trip of them all. Even better than our trip to Scotland and London this year (although QUITE different).

Yes, it was hot when we arrived in Zion (103 degrees) and Lake Powell area was hot....but I know I wore my fleece at GC in morning and evening and the same for Bryce. But it's not like you'll be burning up the entire time you are there.

We went in late August '04. Stayed in air conditioned rooms and had an air conditioned cars. We live in the Boston area so are not that used to heat...but it didn't bother us. Did find that we required more water than we do here.

Enjoy!

Have also been to the Canadian Rockies and they are spectacular. So basically you can't go wrong.

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions!! Now you've got me really thinking of the endless possibilities!! I came up with three options for our July/August vacation next year and wondered what you think? Going to start a new post to get some feedback from all the areas we have in mind.
Let me know what you would choose and why!
Thanks!!

Glacier is fantastic, but you have to hike to capture all the spirit...
There are some short hikes(trail of the cedars, some short nature hikes,...), but the most interesting are longer(except Avalanche Lake).So, if hiking is not your cup of tea, Glacier could not attempt your expectation.
In South Dakota, you can have a week/10 days with nice scenic drives and short hikes :
Badlands(nice drives and at least 3-4 short hikes).
Mount Rushmore.
Custer Park(a lot of small hikes) and
2 nice scenic drives, nice wild life.
Spearfish could be a nice base to explore Deadwood/Devil's tower...In Spearfish canyon, there are some nice short hikes to waterfalls,and Devil's tower worth the day trip.
So,if you are able to hike more than usual, Glacier is a terrific park(we were there for one whole week during our Montana's last summer vacation..I've written a trip report in this forum).
South Dakota is less "physic".We were there last year(2006) and there is also a trip report...
Erik.

I love the parks of Utah and Arizona. But like some of the previous respondents, I like them better in Spring and Fall than in Summer.

---

Chris Christensen
Amateur Traveler podcast
http://AmateurTraveler,com

Hi,

One of my all-time favorite "out west" itineraries was as follows. We have done it a couple of times with family members ranging in age from 10 to 87.

Black Hills, SD (include Mt Rushmore!);
the Badlands; Yellowstone (via the Bighorn Mtns) (I would consider Yellowstone an absolute MUST). With Yellowstone, you also get the Grand Tetons. If you have time, head north to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

We've done this trip in two weeks, driving from Cincinnati. The first time, we left off Glacier National, but the second time we added it on. It just depends on how much time you have.

I have been all over the west and lived in Utah for 5 years. I love Utah, but I would make the Utah parks a separate trip unless you have a month or so to squeeze it all in.

One more thing....it does get unbearably hot in the southern Utah parks during summer. May/June might be okay. Spring or fall would be more perfect based on my experiences.

The northern route I described in my earlier post would certainly be cooler during the summer (SD, Yellowstone, etc).

I'm a big fan of the Black Hills/Badlands area. I love RCMP too though it may be more similar to what you saw last year than the Utah parks would be.

In '03 we spent four nights in Summit County (farther south than RCMP), drove to Denver for an afternoon Rockies game and, after the game, took I 25 up into Wyoming. We stayed somewhere right off the interstate that night (though we had reserved ahead, this was in July). Then the next morning we headed for Devil's Tower. It was a long day, I think we got into Custer State Park around 8:00 that evening. But it was a great drive.

We then spent three nights in Custer State Park (I always recommend staying at one of the four "resorts" right in the park) and one night at Cedar Pass Lodge in the Badlands.

It was a wonderful trip!