Hey guys.

The three of us (college students from Chicago) really want to embark on a "national park' road trip. Our number one destination is Glacier National Park since the Glacier will be gone in several years. We had this broad idea of this itinerary Chi-Colorado(Rocky Mount NP, Estes park, Garden of Gods)-Wyoming(Grand Teton-Yellowstone)-Montana(Glacier)-South Dakota(Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Devils Tower(yes I know this is in WY)). I would really not like a rushed trip... So any advice is highly encouraged. Thanks guys!!!

Lee

What type of vehicle? Yours or rental?
You can compare the costs between a road trip and taking the California Zephyr to Denver or Winter Park.
You could also take the Empire Builder to Whitefish Montana and then rent a car from there.

Our own car, Toyota corolla '12.

California zephyr??

Broadly speaking - about a week for Yellowstone/Grand Tetons, 3-4 days apiece for the other areas. Adjust based on your interests.

Personally I wouldn't drive south as far as Garden of the Gods, it isn't that amazing. If you want to see red rocks, go to Utah. I think your time is better spent elsewhere for this road trip.

I would guess that RMNP might not be quite as dramatic if you go to Glacier first, so you might want to start with RMNP and then hit Yellowstone, Glacier and South Dakota.

Sounds like a great adventure. Are you going to camp or do you plan on using motel/hotels? it is quite late to make reservations in the parks, but they do get cancellations all the time so you can try for them if you don't camp. You might even check on making reservations for camping.

You can do a loop in either direction and you might decide which to visit first based on lodging availability.

There are usually hotel/motels at exits where interstates intersect or intersect with state routes.

For Yellowstone look in West Yellowstone or Cody if you can't get in park.

Fill a cooler with snacks and take lots of water.

Have a fantastic time.

The problem with a trip such as this, whether or not you rush it is that you'll mix them all together in your mind.

You will have to end up identifying the memories thru photos.

But, have a great time. Better to go than not.

Tom is the do the train guy always.
I think this is a very doable trip--and memorable--not just through photos.
It's a nice length of time. Go for it.
If you wanted to cut something out, for me, it would be, Garden of the Gods and CO Springs. That keeps you up to the north a bit more, and much more scenic. Good luck

With your own great gas mileage car - Go for it.
For a solo trip with a rental car the train wins.
For most of the parks you mentioned, you need a car.
The Empire Builder train leaves Chicago daily passing Glacier on its way to Spokane where it splits and goes to Portland ans Seattle.
The California Zephyr leaves Chicago daily going through Denver and Salt Lake City on the way to Emeryville California with a bus over the bridge into San Francisco.
There is also a Southwest Chief train that goes from Chicago all the way to Los Angeles.
I've been riding Amtrak for 12 years now and plan on riding long distance again in December if not before.

Sounds like an incredible trip and something you will always look back on fondly! Although, I do have to agree with the comment above about Garden of the Gods - I would omit that one because of the extra driving.

Accommodations are going to be your biggest issue in Glacier National Park. The most scenic part of the park and best hiking is on the east side of the park, specifically Many Glacier. I'm also partial to Two Medicine, which has some spectacular hikes as well.

If you want some bare bones and affordable accommodations (basically camping cottages) check out Elkhorn Cabins and Campground which are located near St. Mary - a great central location to get to all the good hiking or Johnsons's of St. Mary , they also have camping cottages. Another option would be to stay in East Glacier Park where there are lots of mom and pop type motels.

Also keep in mind when you're planning your hiking in Glacier, that any trail can be closed at any time due to bear activity. So always check with the ranger station the day before your hike and have a plan B ready...and always carry bear spray!

Some of the best hikes in Glacier out of Many Glacier include Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, Swiftcurrent Pass; The Highline Trail, Hidden Lake Overlook, and Virginia Falls are off the Going to the Sun Road; Scenic Point, Dawson Pass and Pitamakan Pass are out of Two Medicine. I would also strongly recommend Cracker Lake, Ptarmigan Tunnel, and Siyeh Pass.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/glaci...-ten-hikes.htm

The drive time from Many Glacier to Two Medicine is a little over an hour and the drive time across the Going to the Sun Road from east to west can be 2.5 to 3 hours. You'll also experience construction delays on teh GTTS Road. For any hikes that start at Logan Pass Visitor's Center, be sure to get there by 9:30 AM as parking can be an issue.

In Rocky Mountain National Park, you'll be dealing with road construction on BEar Lake Road. Unless you get into that part of the park early morning, you'll have to take the park shuttle to the trailheads.

http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisi...nstruction.htm

As WhereAreWe said above, hiking isn't as spectacular in RMNP as Glacier, but the Rocky Mountains are beautiful. Some of the best hikes are Sky Pond, Chasm Lake, Bluebird Lake, Hallett Peak and Emerald Lake. Long's Peak is of course the iconic hike in RMNP, I've only made it as far as the Keyhole - I hated teh boulder field!

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...p-10-hikes.htm

The east side has the best hiking and Estes Park is just outside the park and there are tons of hotels there, but you need to book early too. The west side of the park is experiencing fires right now, so you may want to keep an eye on that as your trip gets closer.