2016 road trip
 

We are planning our summer National Park road trip. Looking for anything we might have missed or need to include. We are starting in Portland OR.
Day1 drive to Coeur d' Alene
Day 2 West Glacier (staying at the Village of Apgar)
Day 3 East Glacier
Day 4 Helena Mt. Tour of State Capital (we do this in every capital city)
Day 5 Sheridan Wy just a stopping town
Day 6-9 Custer SD with plans to visit Badlands, Blackhills, Custer NP, Wall, Mt. Rushmore, wind Cave etc... Driving to Cheyene via Alliance NE to stop at Carhenge
Day 10 - 11 Cheyene WY
Day 12 Rock Springs another stop over town
Day 13-14 Jackson WY
Day 15 Old Faithful Lodge
Day 16-17 Cody WY
Day 18 West Yellowstone
Day 19 Idaho Falls
Day 20 Boise
Day 21 return home

While we have all of our lodging confirmed we are just beginning to figure out what we need to see and do. Please let us know the must do and not to be missed attractions.

Between day 2 and day 3 you should visit Many Glacier which IMHO is the most scenic and best hikes in the park.

Thank you for your suggestion. We will add this to our drive along the going to the sun road on way through.

Just added 2 extra nights in Yellowstone at canyon lodge. Now we can be in Cody on the 4th of Juky and have more time in Yellowstone.

You added 2 nights in Yellowstone - what did that replace?

My first thought was: why 2 nights in Cheyenne? Second thought was: why do you need a stopover at Rock Springs? Just drive straight to Jackson. Third thought: Not nearly enough time in Yellowstone.

Spend an extra day in Yellowstone. Skip Idaho Falls and stay in Twin Falls or Burley. You can easily get back to Portland from Twin Falls in one day.
I've driven from Bend on US 20 all the way to Idaho Falls in one day.

Wherearewe We didn't replace anything from our plans simply extended trip by 2 days to allow more time in Yellowstone. We are staying in Idaho Falls simply because we will be stopping in Rexburg to visit a friend's daughter who goes to BYU Idaho and then going to Craters of the Moon.

When you drive through Chadron, Nebraska, stop at the Museum of the Fur Trade (http://www.furtrade.org/) and at Fort Robinson, an old army fort built to protect against Indians. If you're interested in geology, you will be traveling more or less along the Fossil Freeway (http://www.fossilfreeway.net/sites.php).

It doesn't take very long to see Carhenge, but it's quirky and fun.

Concur with happytourist's rec of Chadron and also Fort Robinson--lots of history and very scenic also.

How much of this is still valid?
If you still want to start at Portland, you could take the train (Empire Builder) to Spokane and spend the night before heading to Coeur d' Alene. ID