nevermind

My husband and I are planning a road trip in September. We're leaving from California and the only thing set in stone, at this point, is a visit to Yellowstone. We have reservations at the Old Faithful Lodge and will revolve the trip around that. I'm just beginning my research and would like to get tips and suggestions for any "must sees", "must dos", and hidden gems that you might be able to offer. We do know we want to see Mt. Rushmore and the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

We are in our 60s and interested in photography and history. We know distances in that part of the world are great, but we're good travelers (we've been to all 7 continents and have decided it is time to better appreciate our own country!!). We did a similar trip to the South West in 2010 and are perfectly happy to drive all day long!

Time isn't really an issue for us, and we want as much flexibility as possible. We like to have a loose itinerary, then decide in the evening where we will go the next day.

Thanks, in advance, for any little hints you might be able to offer, including suggestions for great places to eat/stay as well as beautiful photo ops and interesting historical places.

tomfuller

Throw in Devil's Tower and maybe Crazy Horse, Lead or the Badlands. As long as you are close, visit Wall Drug.

Michael

On your way to Yellowstone you might want to drive through a more isolated area of Nevada, going to Jarbidge and crossing from there to Twin Falls, Idaho.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623045320911 and the next few pictures in the set.

From southern Idaho you might want to go to Yellowstone through the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623117942088 and the next few pictures in the set.

A word of warning though: lots for dirt roads.

nevermind

Thanks for the suggestions.

tomfuller, I'll take a look at the places you mentioned. It helps give me some direction.

Michael, thanks for the photo links and route suggestions. The photos make me even keener for the trip!

I'm already getting excited (must be cabin fever - we've had more snow this month than we had all winter...) and our trip is months away!!

WyomingTourism

There is a really neat itinerary for Roadtrips in Wyoming on the state's tourism site. Here is a neat one focusing on the Northwest corner of the state: http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overvi...yoming/1195205

nevermind

Wall Drug...!!! I looked it up last night. I guess we'll have to put it on our itinerary if we want to be proper tourists!! Thanks for the suggestion.

WyomingTourism, the link will be bookmarked.

owlwoman

We did a similar trip last summer, flew into Billings, drove to Red Lodge and over the Beartooth Highway to YSNP and spent two nights. From there we drove to Cody, WY (really enjoyed this town and the Buffalo Bill Museum) for one night.

Then drove across Wyoming to Deadwood, SD for two nights. Did a day trip to Devils Tower, (which I really enjoyed) and surrounding areas. Then off to the Badlands where we stayed in Wall one night at the really cute cabins right off the highway(found them on Trip Advisor), I highly recommend them. Was not impressed by Wall Drug, in fact, couldn't get away from it fast enough, it's a big tourist/shopping mecca. But, loved the Badlands.

The last night was in Keystone to see Mt. Rushmore, do the scenic drives, etc. Flew home from Rapid City.

It's a very interesting part of our country, one of my favorite trips for out West. I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.

Also sign up for the SD dept of tourism, they'll send you stuff too

Myer

You wrote you have reservations at Old Faithful. Yellowstone is gigantic. And then there's the beautiful Grand Tetons NP.

I would add some lodging around Canyon and at GTNP. Maybe Signal Mountain.

If you like photography (which you stated) you want to be near wildlife (very little near OF) early and around dusk.

In GTNP off the outer road you have Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing and more.

Barblab

I would go to NPS.gov, click on each state you will go through, and make my route by connecting as many National parks, monuments and battlefields as possible. To that I would add additional sites like Cody, WY; Custer State Park in SD (great animal viewing); Crazy Horse; and any other suggestions you get that appeal to you. Great park of the country, have fun!

nevermind

I've made a list of your suggestions and will add to it as time goes along until we have a workable itinerary. I appreciate hearing what people especially liked (or didn't like). Thank you.

Linda_Anglin

Paradise Valley from Gardiner at the North Gate to Yellowstone to Livingston is a beautiful drive along the Yellowstone river and views of the Gallatin and Absaroka Mountains. A good central location to stay is Yellowstone Valley Lodge, a small grouping of cabins on the Yellowstone River with a casual fine dining restaurant.

kathieAHPlanner

Two things I haven't seen mentioned - Needles Highway is a scenic drive south of Mt Rushmore - where you have a good chance of seeing some bison http://www.blackhillstouristinfo.com/drives.htm

And the hot springs in Thermopolis Wyoming smack in the middle of the state.

ladyrambler

I did a roadtrip from Texas to Montana in 2010 and passed through Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota and saw so many great things - and a lot I missed that I'd like to go back to!

Yellowstone is breathtaking and you will probably want to spend several days there. Driving through the park is not something you can rush, and the wildlife and scenery are incredible. If you enjoy photography, this is a great destination.

Cody, WY is an interesting stop, especially if you enjoy history. The Irma Hotel in Cody, built by Buffalo Bill Cody and named after his daughter, is a quirky place to stay or have a meal.

Montana has some beautiful scenery, especially the western part of the state north of Yellowstone. Bozeman is a lively, scenic town to stay in if you are passing through that area. The food and brew at Montana Ale Works in Bozeman are both good. It may be slightly out of your way, but Sir Scott's Oasis in Manhatten, MT has a steak dinner with salad, potato, and ice cream Sunday for about $20 and worth eating if you're in that area. A local tipped me off to this place - it looks like a total dive from the outside but I've eaten there twice and had good experiences.

I'd also recommend a stop at Little Bighorn. Walking the battle site is very poignant. http://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm

South Dakota, other that Deadwood and Mt. Rushmore, did not have much to interest me. Wall Drug was a welcome diversion in the middle of the state, but after the spectacular sights in Wyoming and Montana, I felt that SD was a little anticlimactic.

Enjoy your trip - sounds like a fantastic itinerary!

luvroadtripsmb

I agree that after doing WY and MT, SD is a little anticlimactic, but nevertheless, the Black Hills is very pretty with wonderful scenic drives. Again this year, we'll have to do WY and MT first and then SD on the way home. But we love the Black Hills so this is fine with us. Besides, it's kind of a wind-down period for us as we head home to flat Manitoba, lol.

wave725

I didn't see any mention of Glacier National Park in Montana. The Going To the Sun Road which links the west side to the east side of the park is one of the most scenic drives in the country. For photographers, Glacier is a must! Goose Island, The Highline Trail, Many Glacier Hotel, are just some of the most photographed areas of the park. To get more detailed information about the park, check this site out:
http://www.hikinginglacier.com/about...ional-park.htm
If you do go, I would strongly recommend staying on the east side of the park, the Many Glacier area if you can get reservations. East Glacier is a pretty cool town and the Two Medicine part of the park is one of my favorite. But a lot of people don't like the hour drive to Many Glacier, which is the premier part of the park.

tomfuller

DW and I will be headed for the east side of Glacier NP on June 1.
If we can't make it over Logan Pass we will check out Many Glacier.
I also want to see the goat lick spot along US 2 near the SW corner of Glacier NP. We'll see how much snow is on the GTTS road.

nevermind

I just checked back in and am delighted to see more suggestions!! A somewhat belated thank you for the recommendations and comments that have come in!

BaxterEnnis1

Just got back from trip to Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.
A couple of things that are worthwhile--aside from the most obvious.
Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody--a good half day visit.
Little Big horn battlefield
Crazy Horse Monument--very inspirational-don't miss this
Mt. Rushmore
Devil's Tower
and Custer State Park--amazing wildlife--stay a night in one of their cabins.

Gretchen

For a photography buff--and seeing the west and the Indian nations, do read Timothy Egan's Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher. And if you don't want to read it all, read the part about Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
It is the biography of Edward Curtis who wanted to preserve the memory of the rapidly declining native populations of the US at the turn of the century. It is a wonderful book.