TAW

Please see if this itinerary seems reasonable.
We're not on a schedule, no children, and don't like to drive long days.

Visit friends & family from San Jose,CA to Salt Lake City, UT
Then…
Day 1. Drive Salt Lake City to Rapid City, SD – overnight on way.
Day 2-5. Arrive Rapid City, stay 4 nights to see the area (that gives me 3 full days and part of first day here)
Day 6. Head for Glacier NP – overnight on way.
Day 7-9. Arrive GNP, stay ? nights to see the area. Stay 2 or 3 nights? My thinking is by the time we get there the first day there’s no time to do anything so the first night is wasted.
Day 10-14. Drive to Lake Louise/Banff area, stay 5 nights.
Day 15-18. Drive to Jasper, stay 4 nights
Day 19…heading for home

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

hilda

2 nights is plenty in Glacier unless you are planning to hike. Try to take one of the Red bus tours, drive Going to the Sun road. I dont know anything about Rushmore or Lake louise

spinedoc

What are the dates for your trip? When in the Black Hills (Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood etc..) you should spend at least one night in Deadwood, Custer or Hill City. Everywhere you go in the Black Hills is done in short trips to different sights. Break up your drives by staying at least one night somewhere other than in Rapid City. If you like an easy hike look at a portion of the Mickelson trail. Make sure to drive the Needles highway! Everything in your itinerary looks good overall and I agree with hilda two days in GNP is enough.

TAW

We were planning on heading out of Salt Lake on June 5. I was planning on staying in Custer to be more centrally located to all that we want to see in that area. Will stop at Devils Tower on way in or out...same for Deadwood probably. I have the SD travel book and that area looks great to us. Lots to see there. OK then, I'll remove a day from GNP. Was planning on staying in Kalispell or Whitefish. Good idea or not? Do you think I'll need reservations at that time of year? (June 11&12). Hopefully, GTS road will be open by then. Now I have to get my reservations for Canada first and sort of work backwards. Thank you for your help with this!

spinedoc

TAW,

The only reason I asked for dates was to make sure your trip was not during the first 2 weeks in August. Sturgis Bike Rally and 500,000 people infiltrate every portion of the Black Hills. Quite a spectacle if planned on but if caught unaware not so enjoyable without your Harley.

TAW

Oh yeah, I'm definitely avoiding that!

BarbaraS

We're planning a trip from Salt Lake to South Dakota this summer as well. Where's a good place to spend the night on the way from Salt Lake to South Dakota?

tovarich

As we've visited all those places Iwould suggest following itinerary:
-SLCity -Cheyenne IS 80 all the way
-Cheyenne- Keystone.We stayed in Keystone its more peaceful than Rapid City and you see MT Rushmore from your room.(Rushmore view inn.3 nights
-Keystone-Deadwood(2 hours is more than enough.Nothing to see)-Devils tower-Custer battleground-Billings
-Billings- Kallispell
-Kalispell-Going to the sun road(do the easy hike to the hidden lake from Logan pass) then on to Waterton lakes(Canada)
Waterton lakes- Banff 3 nights
Banff-Jasper 4 nights
This will give you only two long drives. Greetings from Belgium. Paul

TAW

Thanks. Please tell me why only 3 nts Banff and more at Jasper? And is Waterton just a stop or an overnight stay in your opinion?