We will be leaving Estes Park Wednesday, July 16 and have reservations in Yellowstone (Mammoth) Monday, July 21. Trying to maximize our experience, here is what I%26#39;m thinking (w/ 13 AND 17 YR. OLDS):
Wed. p.m.: see Mt. Rushmore lighting at 9pm
laser show at Crazy Horse. Stay in Custer
Thur.: drive Custer state park (HELP PLAN ROUTE THRU
WIDLIFE LOOP, NEEDLES HWY, IRON ROAD, SYLVAN
LAKE) Stay in Rapid City
Fri.: Drive to Wall, drive Badlands (HELP WITH BEST
ROUTE). p.m. visit President Alpine slide/
tramway (dine at top) and go to Black Hills
Maze (WORTHWHILE?) Stay in Rapid City
Sat.: HELP WITH DRIVE TO CODY (visit Devil%26#39;s Tower,
Sheridan?, Bighorn Canyon Rec Area in Lovell
(see wild horses?) STAY IN CODY OR SOMEWHERE
ALONG ROUTE???
Sun.: Cody (HELP WITH WHAT TO DO)Attend rodeo
Mond.: drive to Mammoth in Yellowstone (HELP W/
BEST ROUTE)
THANK YOU FOR ANY ADVISE!!!
Custer to Yellowstone: 4-day itinerary helpOk .. most of your plans are good. You are missing some things that I think teens would enjoy.
Day 1 Drive from Estes Park to Custer SD Plan on 6 hours. Visit Mt Rushmore and do the evening program. I don%26#39;t think you will have time for the Laser Show at Crazy Horse this night. Stay in Custer.
Day 2 Custer State Park. Also plan a visit to either Jewel Cave Nat Mon or Wind Cave Nat Park. A cave tour is awesome, we liked Jewel better. You will be seeing tons more wildlife in Yellowstone, so planning a shorter visit at Custer State Park would be ok. Take some time for a hike or 2. I would just stay in Custer the entire time. Do the laser show at Crazy Horse.
Day 3 Badlands then back to Black Hills. Not sure about the maze, alpine slides are always fun. Stay again in Custer.
Day 4 Drive to Sheriday or Lovell WY, via Devils Tower. Stay in either place and the next day see the wild horse place and on to Cody
Day 5 Lovell to Cody, the museums are great. Horseback riding possibly and the rodeo.
Day 6 Cody to Mammoth ... I guess depends on how much time you will have in YS park. If you don%26#39;t have at least 3 days inside the park other than this day, then I would drive from Cody through the East Entrance to Tower and on to Mammoth. IF you have more time in YS, then drive north from Cody to Cooke City and then into the park via the NE Entrance
Custer to Yellowstone: 4-day itinerary helpThanks for the input...will plan to stay in Lovell on way to Cody. Any suggestions for lodging? We%26#39;ve been to the Mammoth Cave National Park--Is Jewel Cave worth it for us???
Have not been to Mammoth Cave, but have been to Carlsbad Caverns, and we really liked Jewel Cave, almost better than Carlsbad!! It is one of the longest caves in the country (not sure what number). It is all walking, very little water. Worth a visit, especially during the heat of the day!!!!
Enjoy your trip.
We did the Yellowstone trip with a stop in Cody. We stayed at the Beartooth Inn. It was a decent hotel-no pool-just a hot tub if I remember correctly. We did the Buffalo Bill Museum during the day and the rodeo at night.
Fourcalls,
I have visited both Mammoth %26amp; Jewel Caves. You really can%26#39;t compare the two. Both are extrememly worthwhile, imo.
Mammoth is the longest cave in the world, and I believe Jewel is the 3rd longest. Mammoth is not known for extensive formations; its main draw is its size. As you know, some of the rooms are huge! Jewel is a very open cave with many lovely formations. Lots of popcorn, stalactities/stalagmites, and a very impressive piece of cave bacon. I probably enjoyed Jewel even more than Mammoth becuase of the lovely formations
I agree with Casa that you really can%26#39;t do both the lighting ceremony at Rushmore and the laser show at Crazy Horse the same day.
Casa...I haven%26#39;t been to Carlsbad yet! I am impressed that you enjoyed Jewel almost as much as Carlsbad. I have seen pics of Carlsbad, and they look amazing! Someday we will get there! Of the caves I have seen so far, Jewel is one of my favorites too.
Carlsbad Caverns is incredible and we always hike in the Natural Entrance. Hopefully you can visit someday.
Okay, I%26#39;m convinced...we will include Jewel cave in our Custer stay. If the day is hot, this could be a welcomed break!
Thanks for all the input!
Be sure to drive through Custer National Park in the morning. The buffalo %26amp; other wildlife are more active then. A park ranger can be very helpful in finding the herds. We saw 100%26#39;s of buffalo. It was an awesome experience! Have a great trip!
Why, thank you for your post. My husband has a degree in fisheries and wildlife and is so looking forward to observing all of God%26#39;s creatures!
Our trip was one, huge worship service! You will see God everywhere you look.
By the way, we are originally from Royal Oak, MI. We still LOVE the Wolverines!
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