My family and I (2 boys - 9 and 14) and parents (late 60s) will be taking a 10 day vacation in which we will be driving from the upper peninsula of Michigan to Yellowston/Grand Teton area. This is our first visit to the area.

We will be leaving on Friday July 10, 2015 out of Michigan and should make it to Yellowstone/Grand Teton around lunch on Sunday July 12 (any suggestions for sites to see on the way, i would love to hear them).

We will be staying at Canyon campground Sunday July 12 through Thursday July 16. Grand Teton was a suggestion that came after so that may change. My parents are not campers and will be staying in West Yellowstone.

Sometime on Thursday we will be heading east out of either Yellowstone or Grand Teton back home and be stopping at Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and possibly the Badlands on the way.

I am looking for some help in planning the Yellowstone/Grand Teton porton of the trip in which we will have Sunday afternoon/evening, full 3 days (Monday - Wednesday) and some porton of Thursday. I will need 3.5 days or so to head home (plan to be back late Sunday July 19) and see Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and Badlands.

Obviosuly we want to see the major sites and attractions of Yellowstone/Grand Teton and possibly get in some hiking as well.

Any help would be appreciated in any area of the trip.

Quick update to the post as decided to add a few days to the trip.

Eevening of July 10 - Evening July 12 - Travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton (traveling through MI, WI, MN, ND, MT)

Evening July 12 - July 16 - Yellowstone (staying Canyon Campground though Parents be in West Yellowstone)

July 17 - Grand Teton

July 18-20 - Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Badlads

July 21-22 - Travel back home (through SD, MN, WI, MI)

This will give us a full 4 days in Yellowstone, a day in Grand Teton and 2 days for Devils Tower, Mount Rusmore, and the Badlands (obviously with all the travel in between).

Thanks for all the help!

Quick question. Will you be driving in two vehicles or will you have to deliver and pick up your parents in West Yellowstone?

Even if you have two vehicles, why not stay at Madison Campground which would only be 14 miles verse 40 miles. Yellowstone roads are not know for their speed. Yellowstone is very easy to change camping reservations too. Just call and they will take care of you.

Utahtea

Four days will be just about right for Yellowstone, although back country hikers could spend four weeks there.

I assume you'll be heading west on I-90. This makes the question of what road you'll take to get into Yellowstone: US 14 from Sheridan and through Cody; US 212 from Billings and through Red Lodge; or US 191 south from Bozeman direct to West Yellowstone. I personally recommend the third choice, simply to allow the parents to get to their motel and relax a bit before hitting the Park -- but there are a dozen reasons to choose the first two, so this is a personal choice.

Sunday Night: see the Lower Falls from one or two Canyon overlooks during twilight, as this is a treat that a lot of visitors miss out on.

Check with the Rangers on when to expect major geyser eruptions, but understand that these are NOT predictions. If you can get to a geyser region a couple hours before an expected eruption of a major geyser, you can wander around while you wait (and hope!) to be there when a major eruption occurs.

Monday & Tuesday: All of the hydro-geothermal sites on the lower loop of the Park are worth a visit.
www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/noldfaith.htm
www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/nmadison.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisi...at-highs-2.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisi...at-highs-3.htm
www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/nnorris.htm
Don't miss Old Faithful, as it's the law that you have to see this one erupt.

Wednesday & Thursday: The terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Falls are the only must-sees on the upper loop, so this would be a good time to see as many waterfalls as you can. Some of these will involve hikes a couple hours, but all of the falls are great to see. Try to see Yellowstone Canyon at various times of the day, as different lighting produces different colors.

Friday: quick stop at Lewis Falls, then drive down at least to Jenny Lake, stopping at any point of beauty (there'll be plenty). Make a stop at Jackson Lake Lodge just to get one of the most magnificent window views you can imagine.

Saturday: Devil's Tower, then begin to head back east on I-90. You might be able to see Mount Rushmore that night, but don't push yourself.

Sunday: Mount Rushmore & Badlands. Get free ice water at Wall Drugs!

PaulRabe says, "Get free ice water at Wall Drugs!"

I'll add that you don't pass up the maple donuts. Smells of heaven. Yum!

Thanks for the replies.

We will driving in 2 cars. II looked at Madison, however my wife was adamant about having showers nearby, so we chose Canyon over Madison.

We will be coming in west on 94 and the original plan was to come in 89 out of Livingston. Not sure what time we will be getting in Sunday so hopefulyl site see a little in the park before they head to the hotel.

Madison Campground does not have showers. Be aware that the showers at Canyon are not really within walking distance of most of the campsites.

Well at least if you are at Canyon you might be able to get cell service so you can keep in contact with the parents, which you wouldn't be able to do at Madison.

Utahtea

If you end up with just one day in the Tetons, you could spend an entire day seeing the sights along the two roads that run through the park. Some must-sees are Jenny Lake and String Lake - both you can walk right up to from the parking lots or hike as far as you like and turn around. Both lakes are spectacular!

http://www.tetonhikingtrails.com/

Be sure to stop at the Oxbow Bend pull-out, it may be of the most photographed places in the park. It's supposedly a great place to see the trumpeter swans in the park, but we never saw one during our stay last summer.

Both Signal mountain Lodge and Jackson Lake Lodge would be a great spot to stop for lunch - both have outdoor balconies with great views.

If you enjoy historical structures, you can visit Cunningham Cabin and the Menor's Ferry District. Neither of these require any hiking.

http://www.tetonhikingtrails.com/cunningham-cabin.htm

http://www.tetonhikingtrails.com/menors-ferry.htm

Of course you can't visit the Tetons without stopping at Dornan's in Moose. Their general store serves up some great sandwiches to take on the trail.

https://www.dornans.com/