Traveling across the US
 

We are driving from PA to Durango in September. We want to take a northern route there Southern back. A stop at the Harley Museum is a must in Madison Wisconsin. Anything special between there and Badlands of South Dakota. Love history and want to visit National parks. As always thanks for all your Help.

The Harley Davidson Museum is in Milwaukee, not Madison.

I thought I posted this but I like to get a print map and stick pins in it where I might like to go and basically connect the dots.

Oops my mistake. Milwaukee for Harley. Can't wait to hear what people suggest for us to see along the way.

Depending on where in PA you are coming from, you might want to spend the night in South Bend IN instead of Chicagoland.
The campus of Notre Dame is impressive.
Stop in Mitchell SD to see the Corn Palace.

Let me be sure I understand this route you are taking: you are going to the Badlands and, I ASSUME you are going on to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, is that correct, or is this one of those places you want to be informed about?

And from there you are headed down to Durango which means you'll be driving through Colorado and you want to know about "national parks" etc. there, is this correct?

Dukey1. That is correct. Info on Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills . We have traveled through Colorado before. Would it be worth going to Wyoming and Utah and then coming back to Durango. I know it is in Southern Colorado. Thanks for your help.

It is absolutely worth it to go through Wyoming and Utah. Plan a route through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson, Flaming Gorge, Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Bears Ears (a little out of the way but not much in the big picture and who knows how much longer it will be protected), Canyon of the Ancients then head towards Mesa Verde and Durango.

What is an estimate of a reasonable time to complete journey from Durango through Moab, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bandlands, Mount Rushmore? I realize that the answer could be the rest of time. LOL. Would it be reasonable in 7-10 days.
If so what would you suggest in each place to see the highlights. Places to stay and eat. I realize that we will have difficulty finding lodging in the parks but will call in case there are cancellations.
Thanks.

Have you changed your plans and making your return via northern route? When will you be driving from Durango through SD? Is the 7-10 days including time in Durango or is it your time from leaving DUR until your last stop in SD?

I live in DUR and have made the trip to Yellowstone and back to DUR in10 days and it was enough to call it a worthwhile trip but that 10 days includes no time "experiencing" DUR and my time in Moab was just a lunch stop since I can go there anytime. My driving time from Moose WY, just outside Jackson back to DUR was 10+ hours so you wouldn't need to consider that. Also, while my trip was in Sept., it was early Sept. and I was very lucky that the weather was very warm but there is also the possibility of running into snow. And the delays that might cause.

If you want to see Durango, Canyonlands, Arches, Flaming Gorge, Jackson, G.T., Yellowstone and your stops in SD in 7-10 days, I would say you will get to experience some but not all so it would be mostly a trip to see enough to know you will want to come back and spend more time.

Thanks Bailey 123 We will be going in mid September. 7-10 days is once we leave Durango. thanks for your thoughts. I agree that this will give us a taste.

If you leave Durango very early on day 1, you will arrive Moab in about 2 1/2 hours and hit Arches, spend night in Moab. Early next morning checkout Canyonlands. Another night in Moab then leave early next morning with next stop Jackson, spend the night there. Entertaining square in middle of town and several good restaurants. Jackson is southern edge of GT. Next morning maybe spend a little time in Jackson, maybe an hour or two then head north into GT, spend a day or two exploring GT. Lodging in GT includes Jenny Lake Lodge on the north boundary of G T (make reservations ASAP) and just south of Yellowstone. Other options for lodging in GT is either the town of Moose or Teton Village( the ski village for Jackson Hole), both of which are the southern end of GT. This gives you The balance of you nights to split between Yellowstone and SD. It's tight but it gives you an idea. One of the problems with the west is the large expanses you need to cover to see all of these areas. Also be aware that there is road construction around Moab until probably Nov. so may be some restrictions there. If you want lodging in NP, just keep calling; cancellations do happen but persistence is the key. You may encounter snow in WY and SD or it may be t shirt weather. You never know.