Black Hills, Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons Trip

[dixie47]

Just my opinion, but it's hard to figure out what's convenient in GTNP. There are "areas" and most have lodging, food. We drive a lot at Yellowstone and the Tetons to get to the areas we want to visit. The only place we "stay put" for awhile is Old Faithful.

While we were at GTNP, some of our group drove back to Jackson for a raft trip, others drove to Jenny Lake for that boat trip and hike, some drove to hike starting points in various parts of the park, and all of us drove around looking at the bears and other wildlife.

So it's hard to answer your question. It all depends on what you want to do.

 

[ncbyrne]

What did you especially love about Coulter Bay cabins?

 

[estherhead]

We are doing this trip this year with my parents, my dh, my 6 & 8 yr old DDs, and my 18 month old baby. We're driving from Ohio. Will you look at my itinerary? It looks busy to me, but maybe I could squeeze more in? Or take some out?

Sat: Drive 8-9 hours to Le Claire, IA: Check into hotel. Eat dinner at Sneaky Pete’s Cowboy Steaks. Everyone wear an old necktie.

Sun: Be at the Riversong by 10:00 am for a Mississippi River boat tour. Each trip is not just a "boat ride", but rather a river experience. You will see passing towboats, historic river towns, steamboats, wildlife and much much more. Drive to Mitchell, SD (7 hours). See the Corn Palace (open till 9 p.m.) & check into the hotel.

Mon: Get up, leave by 9 a.m. & drive to the Badlands, Interior, SD (3 hrs.) Get there at noon & picnic. Do the loop drive & see the prairie dogs. Should take 2 hours. End tour at Wall Drug & see the silliness (should be just an hour or so.) Drive to Mt. Rushmore. (1 hr.) See the laser light show at Crazy Horse. Check into hotel in Rapid City.

Tues: Stop by & see the Devil’s Tower. (1.5 hours) Picnic & tour for 2 hours or so. Drive to Cody, WY. (6 hours.)

Wed: Tour Wild Bill Museum. See the Cody Rodeo.

Thurs: 1.5 hour drive into the park. Tour Yellowstone. Tower Falls. Roosevelt Lodge. Wraith Falls. Mammoth Hot Springs. Albright Visitor Center. Historic Fort Yellowstone. Drive to Gardiner, MT. Yellowstone River or Village Inn.


Fri: Check into hotel/”cabin”. Tour Yellowstone

Sat: Tour Yellowstone

Sun: Check out of "cabin". Grand Tetons. Eat lunch at Jenny Lake Lodge. Take the boat across the lake. See falls. Stay in Jackson Hole.

Mon: Take an 8 a.m. Whitewater rafting trip down Snake River. Leave the baby with my parents. Drive to Cheyenne (6 hours)

Tues, August 5th: Drive to Peoria, Il. Drive 13 hours.

Wed, August 6th: Start very early (5 a.m.) & drive home. 7 hours. Home by 12-1 p.m.

We only have our Yellowstone reservations made. We're staying at the Canyon Cabins for 2 nights. It's all I could get as I started too late.

 

[Soupermom]

Mrs. Pete...

My DS10 and DD13 LOVED the Alpine Slides, as did DH and I. You can get a "pass" for 10 "rides" at a special price. That's what we did. The whole family rode twice, DD/DS rode and extra time; I think it averaged $6/ride? The whole thing took a little over an hour. Easy to find in Keystone.

The Keystone Lodge is set in a wooded area. Restaurant reminded me of something you would have seen in a 50's lodge...great food at god prices. Cabins were beautiful! You should be able to see them online. They had a little kitchenette that was nice and a porch. We saw deer, etc. in the mornings. It was an easy, scenic, 10 minute drive to Keystone/Mt. Rushmore. I'd go there again just to relax!

The evening show is free, just like during the day. You have to pay to park once, but can re-enter. It begins at dusk. They play patriotic music and sometimes there are performers (school group of dancers/singers when we were there). They also have a video about the presidents--pretty interesting. Then you watch the sunset over the presidents...beautiful. Then they turn on the lights--cool! Very patriotic and moving. At the end they invite veterans and active military to help in lowering the flag. VERY moving. Lasts about 1 1/2 hours...go early for good seats. Don't forget...it's chilly in the mountains when the sun has set! We all enjoyed it! I think we were "home" by 10pm or so?

Colter Bay cabins were in a similar setting. Ours was HUGE!! two queen beds plus a twin in a really BIG room. Bathroom attached. I kind of picked this area because it was sort of "central" (as much as you can be) for GTNP; plus the others were mostly full. It was also a reasonable price. Would stay here again too.


Esterhead...I only had time for a quick glance at your itinerary...the one thing I noticed was your Sunday in GTNP...I think you have WAY too much scheduled. The "hikes" will take much longer than you think. Also, keep in mind... a "picnic" in the Badlands will be HOT!!! I think you are going in the summer, right? In June this was the HOTTEST day of our trip. Felt like 100+ in the desert while we were there; we'd get out, look around, and run back to the AC! Just something to think about , especially with little ones and "older" ones... I'll try to comment more later....

 

[estherhead]

Souper. THanks! Maybe the Badlands will be a time we eat at McDonalds!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Love, love, LOVE the Black Hills! I grew up in Nebraska, so we used to go every year, sometimes in cabins, mostly tent or RV camping. After I got married and we had a family of our own we've made multiple trips back. Usually staying in some nice vacation homes with extended family. Our last visit we stayed at a larger home with just the 4 of us. The kids thought it was great--slept in a different bed every night! LOL We'd love to get a big group to go again, the vacation homes are much more cost effective than hotels.

Anyway, lots to see and do. We'd spend a week at a time and you still don't see everything. If there are kids in your group and you stay near, or drive through Rapid City, you should stop by Storybook Island. It's a free attraction and has all kinds of nursery rhyme/story displays. Lots of fun. http://www.storybookisland.org/ We always go to Keystone, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park. I went to Crazy Horse once, now we're content to drive by and see it from the car. Hot Springs can be a fun side trip. Get a South Dakota vacation guide, there's lots of good info in there.

Man, now I want to take this trip too!! LOL

 

[Earstou]

Souper. THanks! Maybe the Badlands will be a time we eat at McDonalds!

It's been a while since I've been thru the Badlands, but I think you will have trouble finding a McDonalds! Wall Drug has lunch.
Rapid City would have McDonalds!

 

[Soupermom]

You'll need to eat BEFORE or AFTER entering the Badlands. There is nothing inside the park except ranger stations/restrooms, etc. There is a gas station/convienence store just before entering where you can get hotdogs, drinks, etc. Then there is WALL DRUG when you exit; they have a restaurant and a great soda-fountain counter.

 

[JoyG]

Oooh, this thread keeps drawing me back in.

Last fall, I started planning a Black Hills trip, then a few months ago, I decided to do WDW again, and now I think I'm leaning back towards the Black Hills trip. It just sounds like it would be soooo much fun!

We wouldn't do Yellowstone this time, just the Mt. Rushmore area. Here are the things we want to do:

1. Custer State Park Buffalo Jeep Safari
2. Chuck wagon meal/show
3. Pan for gold
4. Mt. Rushmore
5. Crazy Horse
6. Go horseback riding
7. See a rodeo
8. Devil's Tower
9. Wall Drug
10. Badlands
11. Wind or Jewel caves

Possible activities depending on time/budget:
-Mammoth site
-Evans Plunge


My guys will be 5, 7, and 7. I think they'll get a kick out of a cowboy/wild west vacation. Are there any activities in the above list that I should skip with kids this age?

Does anyone know of a cheap place to get cowboy hat souvenirs? Or should I try to find some off of ebay before we go?

Finally, I've read some scary stuff online about the history of KKK activity in the Black Hills a long time ago. Those of you familiar with the area now, you don't think we'll have any problems out there do you? Are there certain neighborhoods, etc. that you wouldn't reccommend for our family due to "lingering issues?" We'll probably be getting a vacation rental and not staying in a hotel. Thanks!

 

[MrsPete]

We wouldn't do Yellowstone this time, just the Mt. Rushmore area. Here are the things we want to do:

1. Custer State Park Buffalo Jeep Safari
2. Chuck wagon meal/show
3. Pan for gold
4. Mt. Rushmore
5. Crazy Horse
6. Go horseback riding
7. See a rodeo
8. Devil's Tower
9. Wall Drug
10. Badlands
11. Wind or Jewel caves

Hey, have you been reading my vacation notes? That's essentially my list!

 

[CowboyCO]

Oooh, this thread keeps drawing me back in.



Finally, I've read some scary stuff online about the history of KKK activity in the Black Hills a long time ago. Those of you familiar with the area now, you don't think we'll have any problems out there do you? Are there certain neighborhoods, etc. that you wouldn't reccommend for our family due to "lingering issues?" We'll probably be getting a vacation rental and not staying in a hotel. Thanks!

Wow -- I've lived in Wyoming/Colorado my whole life and been to the Black Hills countless times and have never heard a word, EVER ,of KKK in the Black Hills, or Wyoming at all. Maybe you are thinking of the Aryan Nations Compound that was in Hayden Lake, Idaho? If so, they were sued out of existence about 5-6 years ago.

 

[JoyG]

Wow -- I've lived in Wyoming/Colorado my whole life and been to the Black Hills countless times and have never heard a word, EVER ,of KKK in the Black Hills, or Wyoming at all.

Well that's very reassuring. Thanks.

I'd actually read online that the man who created Mt. Rushmore was active in the KKK. I know that was a long time ago, but since this is our first trip out West, I thought I'd check around as to what to expect.

 

[blueangel]

You'll need to eat BEFORE or AFTER entering the Badlands. There is nothing inside the park except ranger stations/restrooms, etc. There is a gas station/convienence store just before entering where you can get hotdogs, drinks, etc. Then there is WALL DRUG when you exit; they have a restaurant and a great soda-fountain counter.

Actually, there is a restaurant in the park. We had lunch there last summer! It's at the Cedar Pass Lodge near the visitor's center at the eastern end of the main road. It wasn't anything special (I think we all had some kind of sandwich), but it was in the air conditioning, out of the sun, and made by someone else!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

Possible activities depending on time/budget:
-Mammoth site
-Evans Plunge

Hi!

We went to SD and Yellowstone 2 years ago when our girls were 8 and 10 -- we had so much fun! When we were in SD we stayed in the Hot Springs area and did both Mammoth Site and Evan's Plunge. We loved both! At Mammoth Site I signed the girls up early (before we left) for the Jr Paleontolgist progem. It is a very cool re-enacted area where the kids dig for bones.

The day we were leaving SD we spent the morning at Evan's Plunge - it was good, fun unstructured time. It is a HUGE pool with several slides and other fun things -- but if you are looking for a water park like Great Wolf Lodge, this is NOT it. It's funny because the floor of the pool is tiny pebbles and the water just flows up through it.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[ncbyrne]

Can anyone recommend guide books of the area that have daily itineraries?

 

[ncbyrne]

Still planning our cross country trip...leaving NJ Aug 25 and figuring 3 months to drive across to WA on a northern route..then down the coast to Disneyland..across the southern states to FL, then back north to home. We want to take in the Black Hills area, Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and all it has to offer, but need to figure how much time to plan for this area. We already snagged a room at Old Faithful Inn about a year ago, but need to get more serious on our planning.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Still planning our cross country trip...leaving NJ Aug 25 and figuring 3 months to drive across to WA on a northern route..then down the coast to Disneyland..across the southern states to FL, then back north to home. We want to take in the Black Hills area, Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and all it has to offer, but need to figure how much time to plan for this area. We already snagged a room at Old Faithful Inn about a year ago, but need to get more serious on our planning.

We drove the northern route to WA, lived there for 3 years, then drove the southern route back to NC. We didn't stop in DL this time because we had just been there recently. We drove down the strip in Las Vegas, stopped at the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. We drove a good portion of Route 66 (that was soo interesting) and we stood "on the corner in Winslow, Arizona". However, after Arizona we didn't really see anything because a hurricane hit TX and LA so we had to take a more northern route than we had originally planned. I was very disappointed because I wanted to stop in San Antonio and New Orleans, but it was best for our safety. This was around the second week of Sept. so be prepared with alternate plans just in case this happens to you.

 

[MontanaZoo]

Just saw this thread...I'm in Montana and lived for 10 years in Bozeman (which is 90 miles north of Yellowstone) and we've been there a ton. I'll watch this thread if anyone has specific questions or feel free to PM me.

I will say for Yellowstone you need to decide what type of experiences you want. It is huge and you can spend all of your time frustratingly driving around or you can concentrate on certain areas. I've seen the geyser basins enough that they aren't high on my list, but definitely for first timers. We tend to head to the quieter side of the loops by Hayden and Lamar Valleys and the lake to photograph wildlife.

And, as I always do on YNP threads - be careful, the wildlife is not at all tame, don't approach and don't assume they won't approach you. Bison may look big and lumbering but they can move incredibly quickly if they want to. Every time I go to Yellowstone, I see incredibly crazy behavior by tourists.

One story that a consultant was telling us when I was working at MSU in Bozeman - he flew into town and went to Yellowstone for the day. He and the other consultant decided to hike and saw a herd of bison near by, when they came back, the bison were stamping their feet but they figured they couldn't be dangerous or the rangers wouldn't let you hike in the park. I think all of us locals had our jaws just about hit the floor. They were so lucky they didn't get charged.

 

[fun4me]

And, as I always do on YNP threads - be careful, the wildlife is not at all tame, don't approach and don't assume they won't approach you. Bison may look big and lumbering but they can move incredibly quickly if they want to. Every time I go to Yellowstone, I see incredibly crazy behavior by tourists.

When we were in Yellowstone two years ago some lady was trying to get her picture taken w/ an elk. The crazy lady crossed the ditch and kept slowly side stepping closer to the elk to get the picture. My fil started hollaring at her--telling her it was a wild animal and could kill her. She just kept inching closer before she raised her hand as if to say Okay. Luckily for her the elk just kept standing there. The last thing we wanted to see on vacation was a lady killed by an elk.

I am also extremely cautious when it comes to the canyons and hot springs. Dh had a death grip on my 3 year old when we were in those areas. I had a serious discussions w/ my older boys about safety too.

 

[MontanaZoo]

When we were in Yellowstone two years ago some lady was trying to get her picture taken w/ an elk. The crazy lady crossed the ditch and kept slowly side stepping closer to the elk to get the picture. My fil started hollaring at her--telling her it was a wild animal and could kill her. She just kept inching closer before she raised her hand as if to say Okay. Luckily for her the elk just kept standing there. The last thing we wanted to see on vacation was a lady killed by an elk.

I am also extremely cautious when it comes to the canyons and hot springs. Dh had a death grip on my 3 year old when we were in those areas. I had a serious discussions w/ my older boys about safety too.

Someone is usually killed by the hot springs every year. Sometimes it's been staff hot potting or something and thinking they know where it's safe to walk. The geothermals change all of the time. A couple of years ago when we went, I saw a man get out of his car, walk over to a geyser hole, stand on the crust and look in. He didn't get hurt but he had no way of knowing if that was safe.