I think I would spends a few more days in the Tetons and Yellowstone and cut off the east side of the trip. Not sure how that works with you flying off for work at the end of the trip though.

More like the trip on the right.

Just reading about this trip makes me sad.

I'd recommend you decide going either west to CO/ WY or doing STL/ KC/ Dakotas.

It is more about seeing the places, not necessarily experiencing the places. I knew that there would be some against the idea of quick visits, which is why I had a preface. However, we are driving all nearly 3,000 miles away. I don't want to go visit just a handful of places when there are a couple hand fulls more nearby. Remember, this is an adventure to try and see as many NPs as possible. Some of these are going to be very quick for the reason of, "completing the task." I realize that some will lose their minds because we don't plan to hike every hiking trail available at Canyonlands, but this trip is designed to move through in a quick manner.

I will add that my 12, 15, and 18 year olds will get bored with the same location and will be ready for something new pretty quick. For example, on our last trip, we spent two days at Zion and that was enough. We did a couple trails (Overlook and another) plus the Narrows. Even though Zion was #2 (behind Carlsbad) on this trip, we were done after 2 days. Bryce and Grand could be done in 4 hours each. My point is that we plan to witness the area view a few overlooks and trails, and then move on.

The trip was edited based upon good feedback from all of you, and I appreciate it. Adding the two baseball games was great call. Mixes things up. Spending more time at Arches and Canyonlands...good call, and overall, making the day end at 6:00, rather than 9:00, allows for some sit down meals, and side adventures.

Thanks for the help!

I 100% agree! However, this has been a request made by the wife. The trip to KY is planned to meet up with our church youth group. I have been placing some encouraging words of trying to skip it. We have already been to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum twice before, but hopefully you can read between the lines...this ain't moving.

To each their own. I doubt anyone here will lose their mind over anything you do. But if your goal is just checking boxes, then good luck to you. You'll definitely get that done. Enjoy your trip.

BSD said:

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To each their own. I doubt anyone here will lose their mind over anything you do. But if your goal is just checking boxes, then good luck to you. You'll definitely get that done. Enjoy your trip.

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I think there is some value, particularly to the kids, to see a lot of places and get a taste of what is there. My wife and I have spent more than a couple vacations revisiting places one of us went as a kid and spending more time there to really enjoy it. Caleblyn doing trips like this will give his kids a lifetime list of places they really liked, and places that may have been "meh" that they can use to go back and really explore with their friends, spouses, and eventually their own kids. So I can see the value of hitting lots of places and not exploring them as deeply as other might wish.

Like I said, to each their own.

Kudos, man. And I like your style... cram as much in as you can, because you don't know if you will have another chance.

I brag about a spring break where in one week we did Phoenix, Goldfield Ghost Town, Sedona, Meteor Crater Park, Bearizona, Willams AZ and the train to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde.

The Mesa Verde stop was added "on the way home." I showed my wife that it would just add another hour to the drive... well, that was to the entrance of the park. I stopped and talked to the visitor center and she said "well you can do a half day, or a full day. We really recommend a full day to see everything...how much time do you have?"

I said 90 minutes. She said "oh, there is no way you even see anything in that time." I said "watch me."

We drive (way too fast on the winding roads) 45 minutes to the biggest cave dwelling, got out of the car and snapped a picture, and got back in and drove back out.

Not exactly a fulfilling stop on the trip but the kids still talk about how cool it was!

We did MV in about 5 hours. One of the coolest parts of our road trip was at MV when we saw a mama bear and cub. Mama seemed to be teaching the cub how to break open a rotten log because she would pound on a log and then the cub would echo.

Just cancelled the Lake Louise Cabin and Glacier Park hotel we had.

Bluecat_Aggie94 said:

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Kudos, man. And I like your style... cram as much in as you can, because you don't know if you will have another chance.

I brag about a spring break where in one week we did Phoenix, Goldfield Ghost Town, Sedona, Meteor Crater Park, Bearizona, Willams AZ and the train to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde.

The Mesa Verde stop was added "on the way home." I showed my wife that it would just add another hour to the drive... well, that was to the entrance of the park. I stopped and talked to the visitor center and she said "well you can do a half day, or a full day. We really recommend a full day to see everything...how much time do you have?"

I said 90 minutes. She said "oh, there is no way you even see anything in that time." I said "watch me."

We drive (way too fast on the winding roads) 45 minutes to the biggest cave dwelling, got out of the car and snapped a picture, and got back in and drove back out.

Not exactly a fulfilling stop on the trip but the kids still talk about how cool it was!

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It took us an hour to get to cliff palace (the largest dwelling) from ranger station in September, and not a single car was ever in front of us. Posted speed limits were 35, and it's about 30 miles to cliff palace parking lot.

Sounds like you were driving way too fast (in March when there is likely ice/snow) and putting your life as well as others' in danger. And you didn't even hike down to see the cliff dwelling.. just a picture from the overlook?
Congrats I guess? I don't know if this is something I'd brag about. Unless you are embellishing the story.

No NP visitor center says you can 'do a half day or a full day'.. national parks don't have a fee structure like this. And there are many overlooks and hiking trails all within a few miles of the entrance, so not sure why a person would tell you that you wouldn't see anything in 90 min.

But I'm not here to argue your story. If it's true, then slow the F down when in a NP. Especially one with winding roads with large elevation changes.

Quote:

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But I'm not here to argue your story.

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Really? It would seem to be that you are!

We were in and out in less than two hours. It was not my goal, it's a funny anecdote, dude. And no one was allowed to go down into the caves. They closed them to that a few years ago, at least they did when we were there.

Bluecat_Aggie94 said:

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Quote:

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But I'm not here to argue your story.

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Really? It would seem to be that you are!

We were in and out in less than two hours. It was not my goal, it's a funny anecdote, dude. And no one was allowed to go down into the caves. They closed them to that a few years ago, at least they did when we were there.

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To enter most dwellings you must be on a ticketed tour with a ranger and the tour season is May-Sept.

I just figured something out. We will drive through Omaha during the CWS!

caleblyn said:

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I just figured something out. We will drive through Omaha during the CWS!

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Now you really need to cut off the eastern quarter of the trip.

caleblyn said:

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Ok, here is the update.

Day 1
Leave Baton Rouge at 1:00 and drive

Day 2
Great Sand Dunes NP
Stay with some friends

Day 3
Denver
Colorado Rockies Game
Stay the night in Denver

Day 4
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
Travel to Moab

Day 5
Canyonlands NP

Day 6
Arches NP

Day 7
Golden Spike (Transcontinental Railroad Meeting Point)

Day 8
Grand Tetons NP

Day 9
South Yellowstone

Day 10
North Yellowstone

Day 11
Little Bighorn National Monument

Day 12
Theodore Roosevelt NP
Devils Tower NM

Day 13
Wind Cave NP
Mount Rushmore

Day 14
Badlands NP
Drive towards KC

Day 15
Kansas City
National WWI Museum

Day 16
St. Louis
Cardinals Game
Gateway Arch

Day 17
I leave the family via airplane to go home for work. Family resumes.

Day 18
Kentucky
Ark Encounter

Day 19
Creation Museum

Day 20
Travel Home


6,441 miles

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Look, I understand the comment you made on another reply about "seeing things," but that more describes a trip where the journey is the attraction. I did that in 2021 where we drove the Pacific Coast from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington to San Diego. We did that in 10 days, and kept our driving down to about 200 miles per day, max, but it was still a lot of driving. I would have loved to have 20 days to do the same trip.

For your trip, driving the entire way is going to be a beating. Are you leaving Baton Rouge at 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 a.m.? If the former, you'll be passing through Wichita Falls about 9:00 p.m., so I'll be sure to waive at you. Are you planning to spend the night somewhere? Trying to go from Baton Rouge to Great Sand Dunes in one day is nuts. If I were trying to cover the national parks on your itinerary, I'd fly to Denver, pick up a rental car, and start there, then probably return there to fly home (or, for you, flying to your work appointment) on Day 17. That would give you a couple more days to add somewhere, like Yellowstone or Grand Teton,

I want an UPDATE and TRIP REPORT

We are in St Louis. I leave today to go home. Unfortunately, my 15 year old seems to have come down with strep and at the doctor with him.

Anyhow, the trip has been amazing. We have hit the highlights of all of the mentioned parks. We were able to do much more than expected at Tetons and Yellowstone. I will give a better update later but the highlight…

While in Yellowstone, we left Old Faithful and drive north, on the west side of the loop hitting a few trails. About half way to Mammoth Hot Springs we were stopped. I figured it was construction but noticed a park ranger truck heading towards me in the opposite lane. Trailing the truck was a parade of bison. My video shows 52 bison and I probably kissed about 10. This was crazy. They were right outside my vehicle just strolling to another area as if the road was the way to go. Probably 20 babies. It was awesome.

Almost all of our lodging was good, except for the Tetons. We stayed at a place about 12 miles east, Togwotee lodge. Not the nicest place. Lots of whining from the family. Other than that, everything was great.

We are at 5,600 miles on the minivan, which by the way needed a water pump replaced during the trip. Thankfully, it was while we were near Mt. Rushmore where we were not traveling much and had time to get it repaired.

Like I said, I'll give a better report later.

I'm sure kissed is an autocorrect typo for missed.

We have friends that visited the lower 48 over four summers. Four 3 week trips. What you are doing is practically a truck driver version of travel, but with kids. Yikes but hope you had fun.

LOL! I did NOT kiss any bison. I can say that there was an idiot I. Front of us who jumped out the back of their small bus to take pics. He about got got when one momma bison charged at him.

Final rankings by the family,

1. Yellowstone
2. Tetons
3. Arches
4. Canyonlands
5. Badlands
6. Gateway Arch
7. Black Canyon of Gunnison
8. Theodore Roosevelt
9. Great Sand Dunes
10. Wind Cave (note - the cave was closed due to an elevator malfunction)

Our last trip was south Utah and Arizona. That trip had Zion #1 and Carlsbad #2 and Bryce #3. I asked and Yellowstone would be #2, behind Zion.

caleblyn said:

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LOL! I did NOT kiss any bison. I can say that there was an idiot I. Front of us who jumped out the back of their small bus to take pics. He about got got when one momma bison charged at him.

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Would have made a great Tourons of Yellowstone video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsPW96RvBZv/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I don't know how to embed instagrams...