Want to rent an RV to go from Kansas City to Yellowstone with 2 kids ages 8&12 for approx 8 days. Looking for suggestions for best routes and must-sees. Would love to go through SD and see Custer and the head West but not sure if we’d have time? Grateful for your thoughts!

I'm not a big fan of pure interstate travel. Highways 2 & 20 through the Nebraska Sandhills are attractive in a desolate sort of way. I prefer 2, as it's more rustic if that makes sense.

That wouldn't be a great idea IMO KC up to South Dakota (inc. Badlands NP and Custer SP), then to Yellowstone, and back to KC is more than 40 hours 'car time' without any stops or touring around in Yellowstone or scenic detours. So in 'real life' probably 50+ hours driving . . . in 8 days. Even if you could find campsites in/near the parks you'd still be facing 6 or 7 hours driving every day

Was posting the same time as Janisj but distance and time is a big issue and Janisj described it well.

thank you, I definitely tend to get over ambitious about plans and need someone to tell me I’m not being realistic

Welcome to Fodor's! I would choose Yellowstone over South Dakota any time. You can easily spend more than a week covering Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP's. Either fly to SLC or take trains if you don't want to fly yet. To get to Salt Lake City or Denver on the trains, you take the Southwest Chief to Galesburg IL. Wait 4-5 hours for the westbound California Zephyr. Galesburg has some railroad history and a couple of good places to eat. If you do go all the way to SLC on the Zephyr, you will arrive between 11PM and midnight and spend a night in a hotel and rent whatever vehicle you choose the next morning.

Paging Amy: Any more plans made?