donnajo53

We are flying into SLC in July and travelling to the Teton's for two nights (Signal Mtn. Lodge), then off to Yellowstone for 5 nights, ending up by the North entrance of Yellowstone. We are then travelling to Mount Rushmore and then back to SLC.
We are not sure about the travel times once we leave Yellowstone or places to stop when we leave Rapid City and go to SLC. What are places of interest that we night see along the way? Does this sound like too much travelling for a 13 day trip?
Thanks for any advice or iinput concerning our itinerary.

obxgirl

Hi donna, Both of your messages, this and the other one titled "yellowstone," are pretty recent posts. Sunday evening can be slow on this board. Give it some time and you'll get some response, hopefully, to this post which has a more descriptive title.

Can't help you on the trip from Rapid City to SLC, but , FWIW, on our 10 trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, we flew in and out of Denver because we got a great rate coming from the east coast. If and when I do it again, I'll fly into one destination and out another more convenient one.

Seeing the park sights involved a lot of car travel, ALL worth it, but still a lot of time in a car going from place to place. The final haul from Cody, WY to Denver for the trip home was longer on the psyche than the road miles would indicate.

richbutnot

You should take the Northeast entrance out of Yellowstone and travel the Beartooth highway. One of the most scenic highways in the country. That will take 4 or 5 hours to get to Red Lodge, including many stops. We made it to Sheridan Wy the day we made this trip, but it was a long day of driving. We split the next day between Devils Tower and Mt Rushmore.

FWIW, I don't think it's worth the long drive there and back to see Mt Rushmore. It's really just a 1 or 2 hours stop unless you plan other activities in the area. Also, this will be a major downer after 5 days in Yellowstone.

Bewteen Mt Rushmore and SLC I would recommend Moab or Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, I think either or both of these places would be better than Mt Rushmore.

RedRock

There is much more to see in the Black Hills than just Mt Rushmore. If Rushmore is all you are interested in seeing in the BH then as the other post mentioned its not worth the trip.

However on the other hand if you have several days to explore the area then by all means do make the trip. There are meny things of interest in the area.



http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/go.asp?ID=161

If you decide to leave YS thru the NE gate and do the drive over the BearTooth highway this may be of some interest. This is the BearTooth pass going down to the town of Red Lodge.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/image...oth_182_lg.jpg

vgronek

my suggestion:
-signal mtn.-2 nights(its awesome and ensure you go to the top of signal mtn for sunset view like no other!)also check out the old west town of jackson hole while your there
-4 nights in yellowstone
-take beartooth scenic byway out of yellowstone and catch the site of custers last stand on your way to sheridan for the night.
-hit devils tower,mt.rushmore,badlands,
wind cave np and crazy horse monument all in 1 day with ease.stay 1 nightin the area.
-drive from rapid city to estes park which is on the fringe of rocky mountain np. stay the night.
-take trail ridge road to what seems like the top of the world-its so underrated and you'll see great herds of elk up there as well(its a safe road)i promise- you will be glad you did it.
-drive back to slc.

this still leaves you time for another day somewhere or to keep the 5 days in yellowstone.places i would not miss on this trip-signal mtn. sunset,jenny lake,jackson hole,rocky mtn. np,beartooth s.h.,artist point in yellowstone,old faithful area including the lunch/dinner at the inn.
hope this helps..

donnajo53

Thanks to everyone for the information. I appreciate all of your advice. Anymore info, stops or sights, hotels etc. that you might have would still be appreciated.
Thanks again,
Donnna

laurieb_nyny

With all due respect to vgronek, the following is NOT doable in one day:

-hit devils tower,mt.rushmore,badlands,
wind cave np and crazy horse monument all in 1 day with ease.stay 1 nightin the area

If you want to do all these worthwhile sites, break it up into more days especially if you want to stop in Deadwood.

vgronek

nyny-unless shes planning to finish chiseling the crazy horse monument with a butterknife this is very do-able if you've been to these places.

RedRock

I have been to all the places many times and I am with nyny, its not do-able! That is if you plan on slowing down.

Dayle

Dear Donna,

I live in Utah. Moab would be far out of your way.

laurieb_nyny

I stand by my previous answer & I HAVE been to this area -- twice.

JUST DRIVING from Sheridan, WY to the entrance of Badlands, NP is 360 miles & you haven't even stopped the car or seen anything yet.

I broke this section of my trip last summer into 6 days including scenic drives, city stays, & actually spending time in the National & State Parks, not just driving past.

Perhaps it is VG who has never really been there.

pollyvw

Taking an escorted tour, we left Sheridan in the morning and (unfortunately) bypassed Devil's Tower (sigh!). Then
*Mount Rushmore
*Crazy Horse Monument
*Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park

followed by overnight. We were not rushed or exhausted after this leg of the trip. It can be done.

pollyvw

laurieb: I just checked mapquest. Distance from Sheridan to Rapid City is 243.59 miles.

RedRock

Exit I190, Rapid City is #57, Wall #110, Catctus Flats is #131.

Are we there yet!

laurieb_nyny

Thank you, Polly, but Badlands NP is not IN Rapid City. It is 87 miles eastbound.

utahtea

*Mount Rushmore
*Crazy Horse Monument
*Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park

could all be done in one day from Sheridan, but you will need longer if you want to do Devils Tower and Badlands National Park.

Utahtea

RetiredVermonter

We've reserved flights into and out of Billings, Montana, and we'll be headed out there May 23rd for 2 weeks. We'll drive a rental car all around Montana, Wyoming and into South Dakota to see Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore.

We're pumped!

utahtea

RetiredVermonter,

We're headed out that way a week later. Not sure if we'll hit Dinosaur National Monument in northern Utah or Yellowstone first...we were going to check weather conditions for Yellowstone before deciding which direction we were going to go first...I just the freedom of a motorhome!

Utahtea

RetiredVermonter

Utahtea:

You've offered much good advice, and I thank you for it. I hope your trip is wonderful!

Maybe you'll see us: a 60ish, gray-bearded guy and his smiling wife, looking excited and happy, as we tool around out there! We arrive in Billings May 23rd, drive to Livingston, and from there head on to Yellowstone (and will pick up our Golden Eagle Pass -- a good deal for 62+ folks!); from there to the Tetons, and then back up to Missoula and surroundings, eventually heading down to Cody and Sheriden, Wyoming (to see Devil's Tower and other places), and an excursion to Mt. Rushmore, before heading back to Billings for the return on June 6.

When we reserved our car yesterday in Billings, she said it had hit 80 degrees! Amazing, since it was frosty here the night before.

Enjoy!!!! May we both have good weather!

Vermonter

utahtea

Vermonter,

LOL...everytime I see a a 60ish, gray-bearded guy and his smiling wife, looking excited and happy I will think of you...and there will probably be one or two of those around!

Everytime you see a new Allegro Motorhome with California plates you can think of me.

We will probably just miss each other. I figure the earliest we could possibly make Yellowstone if we go there first would be May 31st.

Have a good trip and see ya around on TMF.

Utahtea