eganders

I am planning a road trip in mid-May that will take in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Rocky Mountain National Park (Estes Park) and the Grand Canyon. The trip is about 3300 miles and is about 18 days. Six days are just driving locally (less than 100 miles). Most of the driving days are 150 to 300 miles. There are two days that are almost 400 miles. One of these 400 mile days is from Rapid City, SD to Estes Park, CO which concerns me somewhat.
Although none of the driving days have overwhelming miles in themselves, I am concerned about the total of 3300 miles in 18 days. I would like some thoughts on this,

Also, we are looking for interesting places to stay. I am OK on Las Vegas. I am planning on staying at the following locations:
Ruby's Inn (Bryce Canyon)
Antler Inn (Grand Tetons)
Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone)
Country Inns & Suites (Mount Rushmore) (any more interesting suggestions?)
Pine Haven (Estes Park )
Cascade Resort & Spa (Vail) (any more interesting suggestions?)
Ramada (Arches National Park/Moab)
Hampton Inn (Monument Valley area)
Bright Angel Lodge (Grand Canyon)

I would like any alternative suggestions.

Any other thoughts about this area, how long to stay at each location and any other suggestion would be appreciated.

utahtea

That's a lot of places and miles to cover in a short period of time. How long you spend in each area will depend on what you want and like to do. Are you a hiker?

Bryce one full day, even if you only do short walks. Two if you like hiking.
Grand Tetons, part of a day, a couple of days if you want to hike
Yellowstone, minimum 3 days and 4 or 5 would be better...there's a lot more to this park than just old faithful.
Mt. Rushmore, a couple of hours
Rocky Mountain National Park 1 or 2 days at the miniumm
Arches one full day but nearby Moab is also Canyonlands National Park. Moab is worth 2 - 3 days if you had the time.
Monument Valley can be done in 1/2 a day
Grand Canyon 1 to 2 full days depending on how much hiking you like to do.

The day between Rapid City and Estes Park shouldn't be a problem. You won't be hitting any real mountain driving. The day you have to worry about will be the day from Old Faithful to Rapid City. There is a lot of mountain driving in that little over 500 mile day.

I would cut out Mt. Rushmore and Rocky Mountain National Park. It will give you more time to concentrate on the places you do visit.

Utahtea

Pat_in_Mich

Near Mt. Rushmore we stayed here:
http://www.kbarslodge.com/

emalloy

eganders, utahtea has it right, if you don't go up to Rushmore/Rapid City, you will cut your driving time. Rushmore is very small and only takes a short time to visit but a long time to get there and you could save it for another trip and combine it with some of the other places in the area, like the Custer parks, Badlands NP, Jewel Cave, Crazy Horse etc.

We have done several trips of 2000 miles in a week to 10 days and find that if you get up early, hike and tour the park, drive for 3 or 4 hours, get to the next place, hike, tour and stay in or close to the park the driving doesn't seem too bad. Also driving in the west is fun, there is a view in every direction.

Have a great trip.

texasbookworm

Last summer we drove many more miles in less days so don't be put off by the "numbers." Here's my TR if you are interested. http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-710-2509.cfm

You say you plan to stay in these places; I'd make reservations in Parks immediately, if there are still rooms.

We loved the Mt. Rushmore area, including some time in Custer State Park. If you want to see it, go. And between Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore there is Devils Tower side trip too!

You don't say how many people are going; if you're driving alone, then yes you will have long days but that's probably ok.

I hope you have at least 4 days in Yellowstone.

We liked Bryce more than Zion but you're going to be so near Zion it might be worth trying to see.

So--there are so many things to see that people here are going to tell you to add and subtract from your plan! But only you know what is most appealing to you (and any travel companions). Just be sure you make reservations really soon.

eganders

Thanks ever so much for your input. My plan has one full day at Mt. Rushmore preceeded and succeeded by 400 mile days. If we found that Mt. Rushmore could be done in less than a day, possibly we could cut the 400 mile day down either before or after visiting Mt. Rushmore. Any suggested place between Billings (Yellowstone) and Rapid City (Mt. Rushmore or from Rapid City to Estes Park that would cut one of those days down by about 1/2 and be worthwhile as a partial day stop?

My wife really wants to see Mt. Rushmore.

Gardyloo

I would only note that mid-May is pretty early in parts of the high country, so you should be prepared for all sorts of weather and driving conditions.

eganders

Made my first reservations for our Western road trip at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone (2 days). Talked to Bob there and he highly recommended Cody and the Buffalo Bill Museum. I did not have Cody on my list. I would like to cut one or two of the following stops: Cody, Wy, Billings, Mt or MT. Rushmore. What are your recommendations?

Gardyloo

I actually like the Mt. Rushmore/Black Hills area a lot, especially Deadwood and Lead, which are historic and fairly fun places. I'd recommend visiting the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood to see Wild Bill Hickok's and Calamity Jane's side-by-side graves.

Billings I would skip in a heartbeat. It's bad enough to transit the burg on the freeway. However, the road (I-90) between Rapid City/Deadwood/Lead/Sturgis to Billings passes through some pretty great country, in particular the Little Big Horn Battlefield (MT) and Devil's Tower (WY) - the latter made (more) famous by friendly aliens in big glowing spaceships.

utahtea

I like Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Deadwood, & Devil's Tower National Monument too, but if eganders keeps adding more places to his list of places to see and go, it's going to be a very whirlwind trip.

Utahtea

spirobulldog

I think you stand a really good chance for half of the roads in Yellowstone being closed in Mid-May.

I wouldn't go to Rushmore unless I could see Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and Badlands. Your talking 3 or 4 days for all of these.

Have you been to Utah before?
You don't mention Zion, Capitol Reef. There are some really good State Parks, like Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley. We spent an entire day @ Goblin Valley. Have you been to Mesa Verde before?

I always say experience the Parks rather than just check them off your list. You may have seen a brief part of them, but I like to really "do them". I have been to most of the places you mention and stayed at most of them 3 or 4 days each. The one place that I would stay for 1 night would be Grand Canyon, unless you plan to do a lot of hiking.

Do you like to hike or any other outdoor activities?

I think you would be better off doing Utah/Colorado or Rushmore/Yellowstone. I would have serious concerns about snow in Yellowstone in May. On June 12, 2008 the roads were closed and they had a lot of snow the day before. We were there. Luckily, the roads opened a day or two later.

fmpden

Trail Ridge Road through RMNP (from Estes to the western side) is not open until Memorial Day weekend and sometimes later - never earlier.

Toucan2

As far as lodging suggestions, I'd like to suggest you check out either staying at Gouldings Trading Post or The View at Monument Valley. It is really magical to wake to sunrise over the monoliths.

www.monumentvalleyview.com and www.gouldings.com

We just stayed at the Bright Angel Lodge Cabins and I really like waking up and being right there in the park.

eganders

I am concerned about the comments on Yellowstone roads being closed. I am staying at the Old Faithful Inn. If I am just doing that area of the Park (near Old Faithful). It looks like we will be entering the park on the South entrance (US191/287). Should we have any problems with that entrance by May 16?

Gardyloo

Have a look here - http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisi...CP_JUMP_127493

A road being open does not mean that it can't snow or become hazardous. Just be careful and don't plan too much back country hiking etc. I once was hiking (not too far from Old Faithful) in late August and found myself in a near-whiteout. Fortunately I was only 1/2 mile from the road, so no biggie.

bratsandbeer

http://www.custerresorts.com/sylvan-...e-park-resort/
Sylvan Lake Lodge was always a neat place to stay around the Rapid City area. Not sure how it is now. They had separate cabins.

spirobulldog

eganders,

You don't plan on seeing the Canyon area of Yellowstone? You are driving 200 miles each day to see the Buffalo Bill Museum, but not interested in Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Lamar or Hayden Valley? I am just trying to get a grasp on what you intend on seeing at each place from your original post.

I think around Old Faithful, the roads will most likely be ok, but a lot of the other areas was what I was concerned about.

NorthwestMale

Yes, do Mt. Rushmore... and it won't take a day... when I went there, I lucked out and it was Easter Sunday, so everything was quiet, but open!

But if you prioritize your wife's idea, that saves you from having to come up with one!!

Anyway, my experience was that the driving around Rapid City was BORING... and you probably won't have much trouble wanting to get through it quickly.

If Mt. Rushmore takes more than two hours, I'd be somewhat surprised, and I think the reward for you, to come later, will be having made such a priority out of what your wife wanted to see.

HOPEFULLY your "local driving days (less than 100 miles)" are spaced suitably among your 18 day trip.

IF so, then I think that you'll be able to handle them reasonably well.

I don't think that you are pushing the envelope in scheduling all of that.

We don't know where you're from... but if by chance you're used to driving in a populated area, then the miles you cover throughout much of the western USA/mountain region... will go much faster than you're used to. You'll find yourself wanting to stop ONLY about as often as would keep you comfortable during the long hours in the car.

One note: While "Vail" is nice to see, I always wish I'd have taken the time to go to Aspen, which requires a short side trip from I-70, west of Denver. You might consider that for a night instead of Vail.

Melinda2360

Definitely check out Grand Lake, Colorado at the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Grand Lake is Colorado's largest natural lake which is located in the heart of the Village of Grand Lake where you will find lodging, restaurants and shops. While Estes Park is bigger and more touristy, Grand Lake is a quaint historic village surrounded by mountain vistas. We always stay on the lake and only get into our car when we drive into the park as there are hiking trails heads accessible from the village with the lake for your view.

jfawp

My husband and I did a trip similar to yours in Oct. you can check out my very long trip report. Are you flying into Las Vegas and why Salt Lake City? We visited all 5 parks in Utah and loved every one of them, plus Mesa Verde is a MUST if you are in that area. If you are flying, unless your tickets are already purchased, I would look into flying into Denver and doing a loop from there.

We stayed at Boulder Brook on Falls River in Estes Park and absolutely loved it. Since the roads in some areas will be iffy, have a "Plan B" in place. Have fun planning and going