Grand canyon versus Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone
 

My husband and I want to take a trip with our 2 little kids (ages 3 & 5) this July and cannot decide what would be most appropriate. We have 1 week only, so it's either the Grand canyon and it's surrounding areas, or Yellowstone, mount Rushmore, and the stops along the way. If we choose the latter, is there anything good to do in between the 2, for the kids?
Thanks!

I'd go for Yellowstone/Rushmore, since you're talking July weather and small children; the Yellowstone wildlife should be of interest to the kids!

Between the two are the towns of Cody and Deadwood; there's Wild West shows and rodeos and such. Here's my trip report from that area to give you some ideas: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...stward-who.cfm and a picture link: http://travel.webshots.com/album/580367197StwxSN

Amy has given you some good advice. Yellowstone will have more to interest small children.

I would go with either Yellowstone/Tetons or Rushmore/Blackhills and not combine the two with just a week.

I would vote for Yellowstone too.
Maybe do the Apline Slide in Jackson(not sure of the age limits)
Drive the Beartooth HWY. Maybe go for a swim in the Firehole River or a dip in the springs that are by Mammoth area.
Definately spend a night or two at Old Faithful Inn. Maybe a night or two at Roosevelt and do the Horse ride or wagon ride bbq.

If you do Mount Rushmore, you would want to include Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, Badlands, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park

Summer in the desert southwest may be a bit too hot for most visitors -- and, strangely, that is when most visitors show up. Since the trip is in July, Yellowstone may be the best bet. I will also agree that the geysers and the wild animals of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons will be more exciting than huge canyons filled with colored rocks.

And I hope I'm preaching to the choir here, but be aware that national parks are NOT amusement parks. There is NOTHING to prevent a three year old from running into a hot pool that would scald the child to death within seconds, and the wild animals there are, well, WILD. Help your children understand the respect (NOT fear) that nature deserves. You do NOT want your children in a video like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNvTHOrTf_Y

my 2 cents. Do 1 of the three.

1. Yellowstone ( my preference)
2. Black Hills (plenty to do for 1 week)
3. Grand Canyon ( I would save GC for when the kids are older.)

I wouldn't be able to take little kids to Yellowstone because I would be so paranoid about them falling into the boiling mud pots or falling off the boardwalks. I'd have to have them on a 4 foot leash, and even then I'd be full of worry.

Go where you most want to go . They will be happy just sleeping in the hotel room with you. With kids, it's all in how you present the adventure to them and the build up to it. And, at their ages they will not remember it when they grow up and will ask to go back.;) That isn't all bad as that gives you an excuse for a return trip too. Enjoy, whatever your choice.

If you only have a week I'd stick with just Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It's well over 500 miles from Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore and that's one very long day or two shorter days that eat up a lot of time. If you have to drive back to Yellowstone for a flight it's not worth it at all!

There's plenty to do and see in Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons to use up a week easily.

We took our two boys when they were 1 1/2 and 4 1/2. You do have to be careful around the geyser and other thermal areas. We took a stroller for both of them to ride in.

Utahtea

Have been to both

El Tovar GC and visitsedona.com combo myfav
Flew into Sky Harbor carrentals.com pretty
close easy drive. Amazing spectacular geography.

Yellowstone Rushmore much more of a road trip days of driving.
Devils tower and CrazyHorse monuments where my favs in route
Rushmore ok not great.

classic.mapquest.com directions plan for a lot of driving
if you go for yellowstone distances are VAST.

Once upon a time we traveled with three youngsters...with a tent and then a trailer. So here's the thing. With kids that young it isn't exactly where to go/what to see as it is keeping kids entertained. Including the long drives. They will be happy splashing in a pool or digging in dirt (e.g. ours were also delighted with those prairie dog holes).

Anyway, Black Hills has lots to see and do...including kid's playgrounds or fantasy lands stuff. Of course Yellowstone is a major attraction. Much to see driving around with your kiddos too young to hike. Ditto Grand Canyon but maybe another time.
Bill in Boston

Without knowing all your details, I think that the chances of you being near the Grand Canyon at another time is much greater than you every being near Yellowstone. Therefore I would choose Yellowstone at this time.

There is also much more to do at Yellowstone, although if you include all of northern Arizona, then it is a tossup.

Hi - I have never been to GC (actually planning that trip now for 2012!). Also, have not bit been to Black Hills. But I would like to suggest Yellowstone. What we liked about it...we found that we didn't have to go very far from the parking areas and road to experience the beautiful sights and wildlife (and I mean lots of wildlife). (Of course there are tons of hikes that one can go on to explore more deep in the park). Our kids were 2 1/2, 7 and 9 (and grandma). I felt "safe" with the young kids and at the geyser area you just have to really watch them. But we traveled every road in Yellowstone and spent six days there. Although probably easier to stay central and the extra driving, we opted for the "backtracking" and opted for a house in West Yellowstone. We liked our space, having breakfast and setting out for that days adventure. We were usually even home by dinnertime. We couldn't at the time bare with packing it up and moving to next stop!!! And no matter where you go you will spend time in the car as with all of the big national parks. Our kids loved the buffalo and we would have contests like whoever sees the first buffalo, first elk, first moose, gets a dollar or whoever spots a bear gets $5...etc. We also got the laminated wildlife chart and had fun with that. We also added horseback riding, a local rodeo in West Yellowstone and rafting down Gallitin River (our 2 year old was too young). Good Luck with planning.