Yellowstone

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Creeker

My advice is don't try to see too much on one trip. You end up only seeing things through the windshield of your truck. To really enjoy nature, you must be out of the truck and in it.

If you guys are in good health and able to hike a few miles each day, Yellowstone can be the most wonderful place in the US. A hike of a mile or two can get you well away from the crowds and open up a different world.

This is really good advice. Slow down enjoy the trip. This is why I suggest Union Pass and other places off the beaten path. Find places tourists don’t go. See the real west. Look for a bear or antelope or elk track in the dirt, or a marmont sunning his self on a rock, stuff you can’t see from your truck.
Lynwood

[Hblick48]

I originally had reservations at Fishing Bridge for Sept 2020. They canceled that and gave me first dibbs to make resos for Sept 2021. Made those resos and today I received email that Fishing Bridge will not be open at all in 2021. Resos cancelles.

[STIHLNTIME]

You’re referring to Headwaters Campground. Stayed there a week last year, right on the Snake River. Excellent, will accommodate big rigs. Excellent access to either GTNP or Yellowstone.

[dieselguy]

STIHLNTIME ... Fishing Bridge is inside Yellowstone Park at the north end of Yellowstone Lake. Headwaters is outside the park towards GTNP. Maybe you replied in error.

[wed]

We just got a message that are reservations have been canceled due to they are not going open this year.
FYI
ED

[phillyg]

Just saw Fishing Bridge CG is closed thru 2022.

[GEugeneS]

As an old biker, I can tell you that Sturgis can get really busy around the first few weeks of August. Sturgis is a sight unto itself and I miss it dearly, but Deadwood, Rushmore and all the surrounding areas as far away as Devils Tower will be quite crowded then.

[JABURKHOLDER]

Are you sure three weeks is enough ?

In 2017, we did a 78 day trip around the country starting/ending in Ohio. Approximately 42 days were spent in the west. So much to see, we could have stayed longer.

[azeagleye]

Flagg Ranch is still there just south of the southern Yellowstone park border. Convenient to Grand Teton and loops in Yellowstone. Plenty of room for us.

[GEugeneS]

Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER

Are you sure three weeks is enough ?

In 2017, we did a 78 day trip around the country starting/ending in Ohio. Approximately 42 days were spent in the west. So much to see, we could have stayed longer.

Ya know, I was thinking the same thing. There is so much to see and do, and there's a lot of driving days on your trip.

[Bro. Paul]

Originally Posted by RandyH

My wife and I are planning a 3 week trip this summer to Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. We will be leaving from central Arkansas and this is the longest trip we have ever planned. Our current route will take us through Kansas City Mo, Sioux Falls SD, Rapid City SD, Cody WY, Jackson WY, Salt Lake City UT, Grand Junction CO, Colorado Springs CO, Dodge City KS, Powhuska OK then home. We are looking for advise on the trip and suggestions on RV parks/campgrounds and must see sites along the way.

You will love it all. Cody is a wonderful. If you're I'd suggest the cowboy music and dinner show, I've forgotten the actual name. As someone mentioned the Winchester museum is well worth the time. Custer is one of our favorite places. We've been there 3 times. Have a great trip.

[Bro. Paul]

You will love it all. Cody is a wonderful. If you're I'd suggest the cowboy music and dinner show, I've forgotten the actual name. As someone mentioned the Winchester museum is well worth the time. Custer is one of our favorite places. We've been there 3 times. Have a great trip.

[jolley3315]

100 nites rodeo in Cody Wy. a must attend event.

[J10er]

We did a similar trip in 2016, ready to do it again. The best camp we stayed at was in Hill City, SD. The Rafter J Bar Ranch, an old stage stop is conveniently just south of Hill City, west of Rushmore and north of Sitting Bull snd Custer Park.
Cody has an awesome museum, spend a whole day there easily. Wall, Sturgis, Deadwood, the Badlands, all awesome. Side trip to Crawford, NB for some cool history, Ft. Robinson...Yellowstone, The Tetons, Jackson Hole, Devil’s Tower, Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes, CO and Glen Haven-Drake, Salt Lake, Bonneville....I want to go again!!

[mlh]

Cody actually 5 museums in one. A plains Indian museum, western art, Buffalo Bill Cody, Modern Are, and a firearms museum. Do you remember the old westerns, they have most of their real pistols. They have the largest private firearms collection in the US. The western art is fabulous as is all five.
You gotta see it. If it was on the east cost you need reservations to get in.

Short story. The first time I went to Wyoming two friends one in Dubois and one in Laramie told me I had to see the Cody museum so it thought I would spend 15 minutes to see this little museum, two days later I left. Yes it’s that good or better.
Lynwood

[Calbrewguy]

Originally Posted by RandyH

My wife and I are planning a 3 week trip this summer to Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. We will be leaving from central Arkansas and this is the longest trip we have ever planned. Our current route will take us through Kansas City Mo, Sioux Falls SD, Rapid City SD, Cody WY, Jackson WY, Salt Lake City UT, Grand Junction CO, Colorado Springs CO, Dodge City KS, Powhuska OK then home. We are looking for advise on the trip and suggestions on RV parks/campgrounds and must see sites along the way.

We highly recommend Gros Ventre campground just outside Jackson, WY. Beautiful spot next to the river with close proximity to Jackson, the Tetons and Yellowstone is about 1/2 hr. drive. Nice large sites some pull thru, some hookups, cheap. Great location for all the nearby attractions. Have fun. Take a fishing pole!

[jbailey24]

My wife loves the Tetons/Jenny Lake and Yellowstone, so we stay in Moran, WY. It offers easy access to the South Entrance of Yellowstone, Tetons NP, and Jackson Hole WY

[Slugchick]

Rapid City is so worth a 3/5 day stay. Mt. Rushmore
early when the sun rises and Custer State Park and Crazy Horse. We were there in September.. will give you goose bumps and tons of American pride. After Moab, Badlands was underwhelming for us...just our take. Enjoy the journey.

[SmallTownFireman]

We did a similar route from W TN to Rushmore. Will plan at later date to visit Yellowstone. We stayed at Heartland RV Park and Campground; 24743 SD-79, Hermosa, SD 57744.

I would also look at stopping along the route at:
Cabelas at 601 Cabela Dr, Mitchell, SD 57301

&

If you are hauling the 5’er and want to see the falls. Drive I-229 over to Smithfield Foods, Inc. 1400 N Weber Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57103.
Then to
Falls Park Farmer's Market
Sioux Falls, SD 57101
There is a railroad overpass at 10’ that my GPS wanted to route me under. But found I-229 & Smithfield was much safer.

Don’t rush, enjoy.

[Bro. Paul]

Originally Posted by Slugchick

Rapid City is so worth a 3/5 day stay. Mt. Rushmore
early when the sun rises and Custer State Park and Crazy Horse. We were there in September.. will give you goose bumps and tons of American pride. After Moab, Badlands was underwhelming for us...just our take. Enjoy the journey.

I'm easily impressed. I loved it all. Also Custer State park was great. We were in Rapid City area for a little over a month. We did have some damaged to truck and 5th wheel while there the last time.