You are exactly in the same place I was the year we planned our trip to Yellowstone - although I did not start making arrangements until the winter because of uncertainty of our schedules.

You can do this - both in terms of logistics and close to your desired cost.

Airfare into Jackson is going to cost you just under $400 per person (just checked on kayak). So that is $1600.

Stay outside the Park. You can get away with 1 room that way, and doing some fast research you can get a very large multi-bedded room for under $200 in West Yellowstone and Gardiner. So if you stay 8 nights, that is another $1600. Total so far is $3200. Rental car is going to take much of the rest, but we over-estimated cost of the other 2 categories.

One thing we forget about cost of travel is that as far as food is concerned, we have to eat even if we stay at home. Each day, pack a picnic for the Park. Eat a simple breakfast at local restaurant or even in room. That leaves dinners as your expense.

Cost for entry into Park is minimal - National Park Pass is something like $50-75.

Logistics - GTNP is a long, thin Park directly south of YNP. They are continguous. Roadways in YNP are in a figure 8. Do not spend hours agonizing over what to see. Instead, get a guide book that describes sights in a linear fashion along the road - that way you can pick and choose as you drive along.

New England is nice. But as a Boston area resident I can tell you that it is certainly not cheap. You could drive and therefore save on airfare, but the cost of food and lodging would counter the financial savings.

$4000, family youth hostels/condo rentals in europe could stretch your buck and a lot more bang than staying state side.

National parks that you mention sound nice too though but hot and crowded in summer? Europe will have those problems too I guess.

Just a thought. Canada is an option too. Gaspe penninsula does not get as near as crowded as US national parks and its great, do a search here.

Sarah - checked the exchange rate for the Euro versus the dollar lately? Nothing is cheap in Europe today.

OP - what about Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon. Flights to Las Vegas can usually be had for cheaper, as can mid-week lodging there for your first/last/night.

gail, thought about GC, but we were concerned with the heat of that area for touring in June/July. (as I get "older" heat-as in flashes and air temperatures really gets to me! I think Yellowstone/GT is going to be more than what we have $ wise.

He looked online last night and thought the coast (beaches, Acadia, Bar Harbor) looked beautiful. So now we are strongly leaning toward Maine.

I may post on another thread to change the heading for itinerary help. Ya'll are the best.

Do a new post with something like Family trip to Maine next June.

Somethings to consider before you even start on this - Maine can be cool in June, certainly not swimming weather. The ocean is, in my opinion, always too cold to swim in, but my kids have been swimming in Maine and think I am a wimp.

If you go, get cheap flight on SWA from BWI to MHT (Manchester, NH). Rent car, drive up coast from there.

If you have enough time and money, take Cat ferry from either Portland or Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia (if you plan on that, check what passport regulations will be next summer - I think you may all need passports by then, an additional expense if you do not have them.)

Have a great time in Maine. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are great too.

I've never faced the cost issue when visiting Jackson Hole or Yellowstone because we always camp. Camping is really the best way to go in the West.

I've just received the new Fodors guide to the National Parks of the West. It's excellent and way over due. Now they need to do the East and Alaska and Hawaii too.