Planning a trip to Mt. Rushmore/Yellowstone - help needed

[novotek]

I am planning a trip with my husband to Mount Rushmore/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons in spring/summer 2016. Our friends recommended Caravan Tours. Does anyone have experience with them or have suggestions for a different tour company? Caravan seems to be pretty expensive, but I really know nothing about traveling out West, so I'm not sure whether I should go with Caravan Tours or another tour company.

All suggestions, advice, and tips are welcome and appreciated! I really know nothing about taking a tour out West. This will be our very first experience in taking an organized tour. We usually travel by ourselves, but my husband wants to take a guided bus tour because he does not want to be the driver because he would miss all the scenery.

 

[EllinK]

We would love to do this trip too.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

DH and I got married in Grand Teton NP this past summer because it is my favorite place in the world. You will love it!

That being said, I understand not wanting to miss the scenery, but I don't think I would ever take a guided tour here. I have been on guided tours in Europe and they are just so rush, rush, rush. There are amazing places in Grand Teton and Yellowstone that you won't see from a bus and I can't imagine they will take you.

After our wedding, we went straight into a 3 week road trip honeymoon out West and hit 13 national parks including Yellowstone. I am happy to talk about specifics for each of the places you want to visit since I have been to them all. It might seem like we did a lot in 3 weeks, but we had an amazing time and didn't really feel rushed. We went hiking, took bike tours, spent time at museums and stopped whenever we wanted for photos or to have a picnic lunch. It was a great mix of planned and spontaneous, which is the best type of trip. We called the shots and that is why it worked. DH and I split the driving so that we could both watch scenery and relax. We planned it out so most days we only drove a couple hours and the rest of the trip was spent doing activities.

 

[buzz2400]

We went a few years back. We drove from CT which I do not advise anyone to do since it is a very very long drive. There are many places to stop to see the scenery. There is also so much to do that when I do go back again I will fly out there and rent a car. I feel that you are more in control when you are on your own. For instance, Old Faithful erupts at certain intervals. We actually sat and waited awhile until it erupted. I don't know if a tour would allow that. We also were able to stop when we wanted to and saw what interested us, not what the tour thinks we want to see. If you do drive, check out needles highway near mount rushmore.

 

[McKelly]

I agree with the posters that said skip the tour companies. We did this trip a couple of summers ago. The parks are easy to navigate, because, there just aren't that many roads! Yellowstone is a figure eight and Grand Teton isn't very big. I would look at lodging immediately and try to get some places booked within Yellowstone. It books up fast. We went in mid-June and it snowed for 3 of the 4 days we were there - just an FYI. Bring warm clothes! If you really want tours - there are yellow bus tours that take you around in Yellowstone - but would still allow you the flexibility of having your own vehicle. Plus, I am guessing, would save you some money! If you really want a tour - don't forget Adventures by Disney does a Yellowstone tour!

 

[Imanonymous]

After our wedding, we went straight into a 3 week road trip honeymoon out West and hit 13 national parks including Yellowstone. I am happy to talk about specifics for each of the places you want to visit since I have been to them all. It might seem like we did a lot in 3 weeks, but we had an amazing time and didn't really feel rushed. We went hiking, took bike tours, spent time at museums and stopped whenever we wanted for photos or to have a picnic lunch. It was a great mix of planned and spontaneous, which is the best type of trip. We called the shots and that is why it worked. DH and I split the driving so that we could both watch scenery and relax. We planned it out so most days we only drove a couple hours and the rest of the trip was spent doing activities.

Do you have a 'schedule' to share? I'd love to know what stops you made and how many days you spent in each place.

We are planning a roadtrip for this summer and I'm worried I'm not leaving enough time in each place.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I am happy to share, I just wouldn't recommend this kind of schedule with kids. It was epic though. We took lots of amazing GoPro video.

July 30 - Drove to Grand Teton NP from Michigan
August 2 - MARRIED!
August 3 - Drove to Yellowstone and toured park - Lodging: Grant Village Lodge
August 4 - Continued to tour Yellowstone then drove to Missoula, MT - Lodging: Holiday Inn Express
August 5 - Drove to Glacier NP, hiked up to Sperry Chalet for lodging
August 6 - Guided hike to Sperry Glacier - Lodging: Sperry Chalet
August 7 - Hiked back down, Guided Glacier NP bus tour - Lodging: Many Glacier Hotel
August 8 - Redrock Falls Trail hike, then drove to Chelan, WA - Lodging: Grandview on the Lake
August 9 - Day trip to Stehekin, WA (Cascades NP), rented bikes - Lodging: Methow Tents
August 10 - Drove to Olympic NP via ferry - Lodging: Holiday Inn Express Sequim
August 11 - Toured Olympic NP then drove to Mt. Rainer NP - Lodging: Paradise Inn (Very long day!)
August 12 - Hiked Mt. Rainier Skyline Trail, drove to Portland - Lodging: Four Points Sheraton Portland East
August 13 - Portland Rose Garden, Portland Art Museum - Lodging: Four Points Sheraton Portland East
August 14 - Portland bike tour, Drove to Crater Lake NP - Lodging: The Cabins at Mazama Village
August 15 - Crater Lake NP boat tour and Wizard Island Hike, drove to Reno, NV - Lodging: Whitney Peak Hotel
August 16 - Drove to Yosemite NP (took longer than expected due to wildfire detour) Lodging: Curry Village Tent
August 17 -Bus tour of Yosemite then rented bikes and biked around valley - Lodging: Curry Village Tent
August 18 - Drove to Sequoia NP and toured park - Lodging: John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins
August 19 - Continued tour of Sequoia and King's Canyon NP, hiked to Grant Grove and Moro Rock - Lodging: John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins
August 20 - Drove to Las Vegas, walked Strip - Lodging: Hilton Grande Vacation Suites
August 21 - Shopping and lunch in Vegas, stopped at Hoover Dam on way to Grand Canyon NP - Lodging: Yavapai Lodge
August 22 - Bike tour of Grand Canyon, hiked down to first waypoint on Bright Angel Trail - Lodging: Yavapai Lodge
August 23 - Stop at Petrified Forest NP on drive to Nebraska
August 24 - Drive from Nebraska to Illinois (stay at parent's house)
August 25 - Drive home to Michigan

It was definitely intense at times but we had such an amazing time! I might have changed a few things, but overall it was an experience we will never forget. Our favorite part of the trip was spending two nights at Sperry Chalet and hiking up to Sperry Glacier. Glacier NP is just awe inspiring. It is such an amazing experience and we want to go back again in the future. We also want to go back to Portland and spend more time. We loved that city. We would also love to visit Yosemite during another season, it was really hot and super crowded so it made it harder to enjoy like the other parks. We are thinking a Fall trip would be better. We also would love to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon spending a night at Phantom Ranch for a future trip. It was a great sampler and we felt like we got a great feel for each park so we know where we would return again.

Another note: We rented a car in Illinois and left my car at my parent's house. It cost $850 to rent an SUV from July 26 - August 24. We put over 9,000 miles on that car so I think it was totally worth it.

 

[Imanonymous]

Thanks for posting! That is really helpful. We aren't planning on traveling with kids, just our dog, but I was just really worried the trip wouldn't be fun if there wasn't time to STOP at each place, and we just don't have time for that!

Sorry for the hijack OP.

 

[Moomduck1]

I am planning a trip with my husband to Mount Rushmore/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons in spring/summer 2016. Our friends recommended Caravan Tours. Does anyone have experience with them or have suggestions for a different tour company? Caravan seems to be pretty expensive, but I really know nothing about traveling out West, so I'm not sure whether I should go with Caravan Tours or another tour company.

All suggestions, advice, and tips are welcome and appreciated! I really know nothing about taking a tour out West. This will be our very first experience in taking an organized tour. We usually travel by ourselves, but my husband wants to take a guided bus tour because he does not want to be the driver because he would miss all the scenery.

We didn't do this trip with a tour company, we did it ourselves and had a lot of fun. The hotels inside Yellowstone book up very quickly. However, if the one you want is full, keep checking back. People do cancel. I have a friend that did a trip through Gate1 and loved it. She's even interviewed on the video on the website promoting the tour. We flew into Montana and then drove to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. My parents and sister combined it with a trip to Mount Rushmore. We did one of the yellow bus tours while in Yellowstone.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think Mt Rushmore is quite a hike from Yellowstone and the Tetons.... a few years back we flew out to Salt LAke City and drove up to that area- we took approx 9 days just at Yellowstone and Tetons- I have a few suggestions based on what we did- we had 2 teens with us- and we were trying to keep things as cheap as possible- also our goal was to spend time SEEING the park(s) not just visiting each one. We wanted to stay WITHIN the parks, to lessen the driving ,etc and to just BE there.
We drove from SLC up to the Tetons(take the main highway,not the bear lake route to save travel time,lesson learned) and stayed in a VERY basic cabin tent within the Tetons park...it was CHEAP, but it worked- 4 pull down cot/bunks,a concrete floor,and a canvas tent with a woodstove for warmth. (it was mid/late June,and in the 30's at night) the tent was... what it was, the view while eating our breakfast every morning was breathtaking. We loved it. Spent 2-3 days here hiking the simpler trails,(jenny Lake ferry,and trails are great) I LOVE the Tetons!
Then we drove up to Yellowstone for the next week, and stayed 1-2 nights in different places along the main loop road.while sightseeing around that loop. there is SO SO SO much to see in Yellowstone, it is the most amazing place on this planet,I think.
Don't rush it, stop,stay,hike,enjoy the sights. I think we stayed in Old Faithful basic cabins,right next to the geyser area/hotel. (this was our favorite place,it was magical, a wonderful cabin, and morning coffee in the woods with the bison and geysers steaming everywhere was...incredible. This made it easy to spend evening/night walking the boardwalks and listening to ranger talks, this place is beyond belief and nightfall is even cooler.
We also spent a night at Mammoth Springs, it was hot,and interesting, but only for one night,we were glad to move on. Then we stayed at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area in a basic cabin/motel room. this area surprised us- I've seen the "real" Grand Canyon too...this one was.....amazing. The colors,the scenery,the walking, the hikes....Just....amazing. Again, surprised us with how wonderful it was.
Each 'area' in Yellowstone has its little 'settlement' with camp stores, some restaurants,and good cell service. I would recommend the entire loop,and mapping out a plan of places you really want to see. the weather was anywhere from snowing (in JUNE) to 95 degrees at midnight,depending on where we stopped....
trip advisor .com is invaluable for planning.....

 

[Jerseygrl]

I am planning a trip with my husband to Mount Rushmore/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons in spring/summer 2016. Our friends recommended Caravan Tours. Does anyone have experience with them or have suggestions for a different tour company? Caravan seems to be pretty expensive, but I really know nothing about traveling out West, so I'm not sure whether I should go with Caravan Tours or another tour company.

All suggestions, advice, and tips are welcome and appreciated! I really know nothing about taking a tour out West. This will be our very first experience in taking an organized tour. We usually travel by ourselves, but my husband wants to take a guided bus tour because he does not want to be the driver because he would miss all the scenery.

We did this trip in July a few years ago with our ten year old daughter! We took a week and rented a SUV. We flew to Denver and then drove up to Mt. Rushmore. We made it in time for the night lighting of the presidents. Stayed close by in kitschy town. Went back and hiked the next day and then drove across Wyoming to Custers last stand in Montana. We stayed in Sunrise Wy. Then drove to Cody and did a rodeo. Then into Yellowstone where we stayed in Grant Village hotel one night. Switched to cabin near Old Faithful. I def recommend these cabins. We were able to walk and see the geyser at dawn and at night and as often as we liked. So much to do in Yellowstone. We then drove down to the Tetons and stayed in Jackson Hole. The town has many great restaurants and shops so worth it to stay in walking distance. I would have liked to stay at lodge in the Tetons but these places in the park fill up a year in advance. I planned our whole trip around the night we got the cabin at Yellowstone. We then drove to Salt Lake City to fly home. Basically we did 3000 miles mostly in Wyoming where the roads are beautiful to drive on. Wide and no traffic. My husband loved driving and we stopped often at lookouts. Google western trips to see other itineraries.

 

[novotek]

Thank you everyone for your responses! We decided to go with Caravan Tours because we don't have time to plan out everything ourselves. Caravan was definitely cheaper by far than other tour companies we just explored. We will be arriving in Rapid City, South Dakota a day early and will have time to drive and explore that area on our own before we join our Caravan tour in Rapid City. We are not into hiking but will be looking for pretty views and getting out of the car to enjoy them and will google things to do in the Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore area for that extra day on our own. If anyone has any tips for these two areas, I would appreciate them! Thanks again!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Thank you everyone for your responses! We decided to go with Caravan Tours because we don't have time to plan out everything ourselves. Caravan was definitely cheaper by far than other tour companies we just explored. We will be arriving in Rapid City, South Dakota a day early and will have time to drive and explore that area on our own before we join our Caravan tour in Rapid City. We are not into hiking but will be looking for pretty views and getting out of the car to enjoy them and will google things to do in the Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore area for that extra day on our own. If anyone has any tips for these two areas, I would appreciate them! Thanks again!!

I would recommend the previously mentioned Needles Highway. Very scenic & not bus friendly, so unlikely to be part of your tour. Plan to spend most of the day on this despite the low mileage. Get lunch at the Lodge in Custer State Park. It's quite good.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Thank you everyone for your responses! We decided to go with Caravan Tours because we don't have time to plan out everything ourselves. Caravan was definitely cheaper by far than other tour companies we just explored. We will be arriving in Rapid City, South Dakota a day early and will have time to drive and explore that area on our own before we join our Caravan tour in Rapid City. We are not into hiking but will be looking for pretty views and getting out of the car to enjoy them and will google things to do in the Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore area for that extra day on our own. If anyone has any tips for these two areas, I would appreciate them! Thanks again!!

The tours seem very reasonable. Please come back and post a review of the tour/tour company!

 

[novotek]

I would recommend the previously mentioned Needles Highway. Very scenic & not bus friendly, so unlikely to be part of your tour. Plan to spend most of the day on this despite the low mileage. Get lunch at the Lodge in Custer State Park. It's quite good.

Thank you so very much!! We will explore the Needles Highway and have lunch at your recommendation!

 

[aprilgail]

My 15 year old daughter and I just did those as part of our 6 week road trip this past summer. One of our favorite places near Rushmore was Badlands National park. We drove so didn't have to go by any tour schedule, we did take a one day tour at Rushmore with Mt. Rushmore Tours, it took us to Mt. Rushmore, Needles, Custer State park, sylvan lake and crazy horse. That was well worth the 100.00 for the 10 hour day!
Try to stay in Yellowstone, its a long drive in and out each day if you don't! We stayed at Grant village which we liked and then one night at old faithful cabins-which we did not care for AT ALL. The cabins are broken into 2 smaller cabins and the people on the other side of the wall snored SO loud I didn't get any sleep-I would stay in the lodge if I went there again. It was an awesome 6 weeks for us- we drove from NY across the top of the US we went to:
NJ,PA,OH,IN,IL,WI,SD,WY,MT,ID,WA,OR,CA,NV,UT,AZ,NM,TX,AR,TN,KY,WV- what a trip it was!!! Over 10,000 miles and 6 weeks long!

 

[PlutoPony]

Old Faithful Inn is such a classic hotel and a great location for walking the Geyser Basin at different times of the day. Just be aware that there is NO A/C and no TV at any of the lodging in Yellowstone (same at Jackson Lake Lodge in Teton too). One of our visits was during a heat spell of 90+ degrees although it did cool down at night. The Inn had fans in each room that helped but it was warm.

 

[DVCcurious]

Just be aware that there is NO A/C and no TV

NO TV!!!!

 

[sdjen]

Thank you everyone for your responses! We decided to go with Caravan Tours because we don't have time to plan out everything ourselves. Caravan was definitely cheaper by far than other tour companies we just explored. We will be arriving in Rapid City, South Dakota a day early and will have time to drive and explore that area on our own before we join our Caravan tour in Rapid City. We are not into hiking but will be looking for pretty views and getting out of the car to enjoy them and will google things to do in the Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore area for that extra day on our own. If anyone has any tips for these two areas, I would appreciate them! Thanks again!!

I live in Rapid City so if you need hotel recommendations, just let me know. Since you only have one day on your own, I would second the suggestion of driving through Custer State Park - don't miss Sylvan Lake for a beautiful place to stop and see the scenery. Or, if that is part of your bus tour itinerary, another option would be to head up to Deadwood and through Spearfish Canyon. If you let me know where your stops on the bus tour will be in this area, I can maybe help more.

Hope you have a wonderful time! It is a beautiful place and there is lots to see and explore!

 

[jedijill]

Thanks for posting! That is really helpful. We aren't planning on traveling with kids, just our dog, but I was just really worried the trip wouldn't be fun if there wasn't time to STOP at each place, and we just don't have time for that!

Sorry for the hijack OP.

Your dog won't be allowed in the National Parks..just a heads up!

Jill in CO