We are a family of 6 (chlidren ages 21,17,15,13) planning a trip for early August 2006. I would appreciate any comments/suggestions on our proposed itinerary. I know some will think it is too much for 1 trip, but this may be the last trip all together as a family. We really don't mind the driving.

8/3- fly into Denver arrive around 10:30 am after a 3 hour flight- drive to Great Sand Dune National Park
8/4- drive to Cortez - stopping at Mesa Verde(we have 1 who will be unable to climb the ladders so we are only planning a 1/2 day here)
8/5- drive through Monument Valley to Grand Canyon South Rim - staying at Maswik Lodge(3 nights)
8/6- day hike into GC for 4 of us - 2 others will hike to bottom & spend the night
8/7- the 4 day hikers will ride mules on the 1 day trip
8/8- drive to Zion National Park
8/9- day at Zion
8/10- day at Bryce Canyon National Park
8/11- drive towards Yellowstone spending the night somewhere along the way
8/12- drive through Grand Tetons to Yellowstone National Park (4 nights at Canyon Lodge)
8/13- Yellowstone
8/14- Yellowstone - perhaps a 1/2 day whitewater rafting trip at Gardiner or Gallitan, Montana
8/15- Yellowstone
8/16- leave Yellowstone by NE entrance - driving Beartooth Pass to Sheritan or Gillette area
8/17 - stop at Devil's Tower on the way to Mt Rushmore
8/18- day around Mt Rushmore perhap a cave or Badlands
8/19 drive to Denver - our flight home leaves at 11:55 pm
I know this sounds hectic, but we like to see alot & keep moving. We have the other 50 weeks a year to rest. Thanks

Hi DC,

Since I'm one of those people who don't believe in "drive by" vacations, I won't comment further.

One important thing to be aware of regarding Mesa Verde. If you arrive there mid-day, you will probably find that the tickets for the Cliff House or Balcony House (ladders) are all sold out. I might want to call the visitors center there and ask about the chances of getting tickets during August given your plans.

Have fun!

Wow.

I like driving vacations but...

6 (basically) adults in a vehicle? Make sure you book a BIG vehicle.

I would try to do less or break it up in smaller chunks.

I've found that anything more than 500 miles in a day is asking for trouble - no matter how great your travel companions may be.

One example - your Bryce Canyon to Yellowstone is 627 miles or 10 hours+ drive time. You allow one day for starting the drive plus another day that is both the continuation of the drive and Grand Tetons. IMO way too much time driving by and too little enjoying the trip.

I'd be exhausted 2 days into the trip...and again, I LOVE driving vacations!

Whoa, Nelly! Have you calculated the driving times?

There is a lot of territory covered here. On your last day (from Mt Rushmore to Denver) you will drive for at least 7 hours, and then hop on a plane? I'd leave off Devils Tower and South Dakota, and add some more time to your other stops.

To each his own, and perhaps this is how your family likes to travel. But that much driving would not work for us.

Good luck and have fun!

"this may be the last trip all together as a family"

If you take this itinerary you'll almost guarantee this will be your last trip together. And the poor schmucks stuck in the back seats for 6, 7, 10 hours driving a day will be bat s**t crazy after a day or two.

What do you intend - to actually see and enjoy things along the way - or just tick of a list of "been there's"?

I would definitely re-think the plan - some of these sites are truly amazing and merit more than just a drive by.

Sorry if this seems rude or harsh - but IMHO and I was your 17 or 21 yo I'd stage a rebellion and refuse to go . . . . .

Utahtea ! Can they do it?

I think it would work. Most of the driving days they are only driving between 250 to 320 miles. They have a couple of nights in several locations. That last day from Mt. Rushmore area to Denver is the longest at 420 miles.

As long as they have the reservations for the mule and camping at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then they should be fine. I think it would be near impossible to get either at this late date.

When they leave Bryce, I would drive scenic hwy 12 to Torrey and make at least Salt Lake City that day.

Between Grand Canyon and Zion, if they want to stretch their legs they should do either the Upper Antelope Slots Canyon tour (1 1/2 hours) or the 3/4 mile hike to Horseshoe bend both near Page, AZ.

They will be rushed at Mesa Verde. Spruce Tree House and Long House do not involve ladders. Long House is a ranger lead hike that requires tickets.

Utahtea

I think it'll be rough on some days, but I note that you have (wisely) allowed some multi-day stops along the way, so it might work.

My wife and I took our three kids (13, 9 and 7) on a 4,500 mile, 3-week driving trip in our station wagon back in the 70's. Maybe our kids were unusual, but we all had a ball! We drove all over the eastern half of the USA, too, from CT across through Indianapolis (sat in the Speedway stadium), St. Louis (took a riverboat cruise, saw the zoo, etc.) and then down through Nashville, Memphis, over to Dallas, the Cherokee Museum in Oklahoma, lots of other things, and on up again, before coming back.

We were a LOT younger then! However, we found that driving and seeing all week left us feeling "threadbare" (my term) so we had weekends scheduled with friends, to cool our jets.

We're taking off to Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota in a couple of weeks (flying out and driving around) on a long-awaited, self-planned "tout", but it'll just be we two this time. At our age, we've planned for usually no more than 125 miles or so most days, with a couple of 250-mile jaunts, followed by 2 days in one place.

I hope your teens get along well? I, too, suggest renting a roomy vehicle!

Good luck -- and enjoy!

Vermonter

Thank you everyone for your comments. We do have the mule ride reservations & backcountry permit. We got them about 2 weeks ago. We also have the Grand Canyon & Yellowstone reservations. We couldn't get reservations in Zion or Bryce. We will keep checking for cancellations. If not, any recommendations?
My original plans were for 2 days at Grand Tetons after Yellowstone (I still have the reservations for a cabin at Colter Bay). The info I received indicated some water activities may not be available this summer due to low rainfall. That is when I started thinking about adding South Dakota. Also I couldn't find much of interest between Grand Teton & Denver (2 of my kids will be spending time at Rocky Mtn. National Park in July). If I go back to this option, any suggestions.
As to the length of trip... we did 2 week vacations in 2002 & 2003 ( one in the southwest & the other more northerly) - only slightly shorter durations. All agree these were great trips. When I asked for suggestions all wanted to go back to Yellowstone & some wanted to go back to Grand Canyon. I wanted to see Zion & Bryce and Denver was the least expensive gateway...hence the itinerary. Thanks for your help.

How about flying home from Rapid City, South Dakota? We did a three-week trip last year and managed to get in 3 national parks, Mount Rushmore, Badlands, etc. and had a super great time. We did go to Devil's Tower--arrived there around noon--but, after driving around and around, we could not find a place to park. We did feel as though we had seen it, though, because you are right under it while looking for a parking place. Would I take the time to go see again--probably not unless I new I could get a parking spot.

One of the greatest things we did, but I don't think you'll be near there, is the hike to the Medicine Wheel in the Big Horn Mountains. We took the scenic route rather than I-90. I thought this was awesome.

Devils Tower is good for an hour or so. Mount Rushmore is also good for a couple of hours. Given that they are a long drive, through mostly dull areas, from Yellowstone I would leave them off. Instead, after Yellowstone,I would go back through Colorado and see Rocky Mountain Park

If you do decide do see the Black Hills, I would see Jewel Cave before the Badlands. Jewel Cave is in the "same" area, whereas the Badlands are 3-4 more hours further east.

I can't really comment on your itinerary, as that is way more driving than I would ever want to do (and I love road trips as well), but you should definitely look into open-jaw flights. As mentioned above, fly into Denver and out of, say, Rapid City or Omaha or something like that. That would save a backtracking.

Tracy

That's no vacation, that is two weeks of torture. That may well be more than I drive this year. Thanks for contributing to the continued demise of the ozone layer...lol. WOW !!

Can someone conservatively figure the mileage on this adventure ? Just curious. I know this is way beyond my tolerance limits, even w/people I like...

I'm not sure what the big fuss is about, I've had my share of these kinds of road trips with my DH and two sons.

The decmerl family are looking at about 3,500 miles total in a 17 day time period and they won't be traveling every day.

Utahtea

From Mt. Rushmore to Denver, I prefer taking the route south through Scottsbluff, NE to Ft. Morgan, CO and catching I-76 into Denver. This route is slightly more scenic, with bluffs and grasslands, than eastern Wyoming. You would probably have time to tour Wind Cave National Park in the morning before you head toward Denver.

Depending on your route from Devil's Tower you could do Jewel Cave as you enter the Mt. Rushmore area. For your full day you might want to visit Mt. Rushmore in the morning and then spend the rest of the day in Custer State Park. The scenery is gorgeous. Have fun!

Back when one of the big gasoline companies still had a travel planning service, I stopped in for maps and routing and the counterperson told me what we wanted to do couldn't be done.
(Always the spur under my saddle!) But in two weeks, we did make a r/t driving tour from Chicago, covering the Tetons (blanketed in clouds and fog), Yellowstone, Reno, San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Colorado Springs and home. It was a great trip, though it was just the two of us - no kids. Bottom line - if you want to do it, you can do it!

I think that the idea of visiting that area with your family is wonderful, and ther is so much to see there that it is hard to cross things off your itinerary, but think of your main goal, is it to see as much as you can or is it really to spend some relaxing quality time with those you love? Sometimes seeing less sites gives you the opportunity to connect with each other more. Imagine having the time to chat while watching a desert sunset without worrying about what time you have to get back on the road. Take time to breathe, and time to ponder, and time to really look at things, and time to talk to each other. Those precious times are what you'll all remember long after the trip is finished.

Can I come?

It is a pretty good pace but doable.

I'd only suggest skipping the Devil's Tower & Mt. Rushmore and add that time to Mesa Verde instead. After the wonders you'll have seen earlier in the trip, the DT and MR will seem less than inpressive.

Have a great time...ya gotta love the Great American Highway. I'd wager you'll be back to some of your destinations for a more "in depth" visit but this will be a great introduction.