The Ultimate National Park Itinerary

PART 1-MIDWEST AND WESTERN US

 

“And into the forest, I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” unknown

Our National Park Tour is our most requested itinerary for U.S. summer vacations. It’s a great Bucketlist of Ideas. But we didn’t just pick one stop….we chose 12!

*Covid 19 Update: Due to closures, check before you head out. Some access may be limited or still closed. This is changing daily. 

I’ve mentioned before, the Joys usually don’t take things slow and easy! We rise with the sun and fall when we can’t go anymore. So imagine this….8 States in 9 days. We drove over 3,000 miles, explored 6 different national parks, stayed at a wolf sanctuary, chilled at a water park, and went glamping! Glamping you say? I know. It’s not REAL camping. But before this trip, I would not have considered REAL camping!! No not me! But let me just say, I fell in LOVE! The beautiful views, the fresh air, the animals. and the raging waterfalls……I could go on and on.  I did actually lose my mind and I just took it all in and I do believe I found my soul! Normally I am a little Creeped out in the woods where there are snakes, bears and all the other creatures that belong there. But the more we hiked the more I wanted to soak up every bit of the experience. Glacier National park was the one that hooked me. I have never seen the sky so blue and mountains so majestic. Even though the pictures are quite nice, they don’t even begin to describe the beauty that you can experience in person. So maybe you won’t be up for ALL of our stops but we hope this itinerary will give you a guide to pick and choose where you would like to explore. Here is a taste….

1. Denver, CO– Colorado Rockies are no joke. They call to you the minute you see them.  With the cool fresh mountain air, and with the altitude, you might get a little winded from a short walk. It was just a quick stop but this is a good starting point. We knew that we would have other occasions to come back to Denver. But during our short stay there we decided to catch a Rockies game. We had never been to a baseball game where they sell Elk Dogs. So of course, we had to try one! Oh and we may have had some of the best sushi ever at Sushi Den. It was delish and my little chef had to try the Wagu steak he cooked on a salt block! It was “melt in your mouth” good!  Food to check out, Sushi Den 1487 pearl st.  https://www.sushiden.net
2. Chimney Rock, NE. Windmills and rattlesnakes! Wide-open spaces. The first settlers passed by in the mid-1800s  going to Oregon, California and the Mormon Trail.  The spire rises 325 feet from the core base. It’s made up of layers of volcanic ash and clay.  Opens at 9 am Closes at 5 pm. Located 1.5 miles south of Hwy 92 on Chimney Rock rd. Near the town of Bayard in Morrill County. $5 entrance fee. https://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/chimney-rock.htm
3. Badlands National Park, SD   Approx 3.5 hrs from Chimney Rock. –The pictures don’t really do this justice. With the pastels of windblown design, you feel as if you are the only one here. Every once in a while you can spot the wildlife on the top looking down at you. It’s very peaceful and breathtaking.  Rich fossil beds, ancient mammals roamed here. Some marine fossils from 75 million years ago. 400 different plant species that survive extreme temps. It’s an amazing stop! $20 entrance fee. National park pass Free. Open 24 hours. If you are a History buff, The Battle of Wounded Knee Memorial is close by. It’s so worth the visit and a great way to Support the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm
4. Mt. Rushmore National Park, SD Approx 1.5 hours from Badlands. Sculpted faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln surrounded by the Black Hills of South Dakota. Walk the Presidental Trail and Sculptors studio. Open 5am-11:30 pm. The Lighting Ceremony at 9 pm is supposed to be great but we missed it because the kids wanted to do the waterpark at our hotel that evening. We had been driving so much it was a nice break. Tip*So if you want a hotel with a waterpark check out the La Quinta in Rapid City. https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm
5. Teddy Roosevelt National Park, ND– Approx 4.5 hrs from Mt. Rushmore. Be sure to do the Scenic View Drive loop and the Painted Canyon Overlook. Huge Bison patties. Watch out for the Bison they are out there! Deep hikes in the valley. Blue skies. Peaceful. But very hot! Take lots of water.  Open range. Free to access from the I-94 Rest Stop. *For a fun eating experience try out the Pitch Fork Steak Fondue. In Modera ND. They have these huge pitchforks loaded with steaks. They fondue them and serve them up with a ton of food. Beautiful views. You have to buy a ticket. It was a fun touristy experience. But we had never done anything like that so it was a hit. https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm
6. Glacier National Park, MT -LONG DRIVE approx.9hrs and 40 mins. You can drive forever without seeing another car. Many times we lost signal so have directions and a map handy. Gas up!  Glacier is known as the Crown Jewel. I will have to say I fell in love with this place. It is so majestic and just beautiful. Don’t miss this one. I hope to go back one day. We needed more time here for sure. There are over 700 miles of trails! *TIPS: Check the weather and be prepared for all things. We were there in shorts and a storm blew in and we were freezing. Be sure to check out Virginia Falls, Lake Mcdonald, Avalanche gorge, rainbow falls. Trail of cedars, Going to the Sun Road was unfortunately closed when we were there. But it is a Must-Do if open! Oh, Don’t forget your Bear Spray!!! Its’a must! You can rent it at the gift shop or rangers stations. Check hours here before you go. One of our favorite places that we stayed was Under the Canvas Glacier. It’s a glamping experience. It was so much fun. Our kids loved it. We loved it. We will totally do that again. https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm
7. Howlers Inn Wolf Sanctuary, Bozeman, MT appox 5 hour drive.. A real treat. Our son had seen a story about this wolf sanctuary on tv. When he found out we were heading to Montana he was so excited. He wanted to go to stay there. I was like I doubt that’s possible but I would check into it. So after some investigating, i found that they had rooms available and they were very reasonable. The location was beautiful, the owners were very accommodating and helpful. The Wolves were the attraction and they did not disappoint. Tip –ask for Western Room.https://www.howlersinn.com Check out the website. It is a beautiful location and the Wolves are the highlight. 
8. Yellowstone National Park, WY  approx 1 hr away. We were so excited to get to Yellowstone. It lives up to the Hype for sure. Old faithful, grand prismatic spring, and so much more. It gets crowded. If you want to stay in the park at one of the lodges you have to make reservations a year in advance. So plan ahead. Take your time here there is a lot to cover. Lots of Animals. Be prepared for the Bison and keep your distance. Bear spray here is a must also. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/app.htm
9. Grand Teton National Park, WY approx 3 hrs. Native Americans were first here after the glaciers receded. Another amazing view. *be sure to take the famous pictures at Schwabacher Landing, Moulton’s Barn on Mormon Row, Lake Jenny, and the Chapel of the Transfiguation. https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/news/newsreleases.htm
10. Craters of the Moon, ID approx 5 hr drive. 400 sq miles of lava fields, size of Rhode Island, beautiful night sky but we didn’t see. Cinder, pumice, and lava. Calvin Coolidge made it a monument in 1924. Paleo Indians visited 12,000 years ago. It’s a very interesting place, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Open 8-6 during the summer. $20 entrance fee.https://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/caving-at-crmo.htm
11. Shoshone Falls, ID Apprrox 3 hour drive. It’s known as Niagra of the west $3.00 per car. 212 ft higher than Niagra. Walk or Drive across the Peririe Bridge 500 ft drop. Famous for Bungie. Snake River Canyon, water flow high due to snowmelt. Formed by catastrophic outburst flooding during Pleistoscen Ice age. Important fishing for Native Americans. https://visitsouthidaho.com/adventure/shoshone-falls/
12.  Salt Lake City, UT approx 3hr drive. We were pretty worn out by this point. So we just walked around Downtown Salt Lake, toured the Mormon Tabernacle and then walked around a garden before heading out to the airport. 

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We hope you enjoyed PART ONE this journey with us. Part two, Coming up later in July for Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. We can’t wait to share it with you. If you found this helpful please subscribe for more Itineraries, tips, and adventures. Don’t forget to put on your Bear Bells and carry that Bear Spray!

Joys On A Journey