Black Hills--Yellowstone--Gd Tetons--Rock Mt Natl Pk

Should have mentioned to keep in mind Sturgis biker runs are usually in the first week in August. That Sturgis and Deadwood is where they are. I love the sound of the Harleys and when we went on the Harleys it was a lot of fun. But if your going with your family it might not want to be where the bikers are? And it gets very crowded and heavy traffic. I didn't see if you mentioned when you were going.

I'm a Wyomingite. We have an uncle on the board of the museum in Thermop. It's a cool place and if a bit of dinosaurs are what you want, go there. It's a bit of a drive to UT. In Thermopolis are the hot springs. Also a cool experience. Yes, it smells like sulfur but they are pretty relaxing to soak in! I'm on my phone so I can't see all the replies, but spend sometime in the Big Horns if you can. They are truly our secret. Buffalo and Sheridan both have interesting histories. I wouldn't stay in Gillette after visiting Devils Tower but go on to Sheridan or Buffalo. Then, you gotta hit the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody. And if you spend the night there do the tourist thing and go to the rodeo or watch the gunslingers.

I think the best kept lodging secret is staying in cabins in the Grand Teton National Park. Yellowstone books fast, GTNP not so fast. Love it there!!

Here is a thought... If you really just want to see some archeology, what about hitting the Mamoth dig in Hot Springs, SD. That's pretty cool to see too.

Ask me any questions and I'll do my best. I used to lead bus tours through Wyoming.

I just reread your post. How much flexibility do you have? What are your priorities?

Here's an option... Spend the night in the Blackhills. Do what it is you have to do there. Next day, do Devil's Tower and drive to Thermopolis. The drive through Ten Sleep is beautiful. Spend the night. Get up, do the dig. Drive to either Cody (do the night rodeo) or on to Jackson (stop in Shoshoni for a shake! You have to. Mandatory.) Both drives have their plusses and minuses but you have to choose one or the other. Is your lodging in Yellowstone? Go through Cody. You'll go in the East gate and you'll see one of my most favorite spots in the world... the view from the Fishing Bridge. Ahhh, my heaven! If your lodging is in Jackson or Grand Teton NP, go through Jackson. The drive through Dubois is pretty. The Wind Rivers are equally as stunning.

If you went south from Jackson to Rock Springs through Star Valley you could easily hit Kemmerer and then you could back road it into Vernal. You'll have to map quest that but I remember doing it once as a kid.

Thanks .  I will look at the map again.  Not sure I have enough flexibility to quite do that but I will take a look.  I like that thought.  We have three nights in Rapid City.  The first night is really just us gettingbthere, hopefully having driven through Badlands.  We would go south and see as much as we can the first full day there.  If we can see the Badlands before getting there, the second day is more flexible.  Then we hsvevthe third night and the next day is waking up and we were going to go through Spearfish and see Devils Tower, spend the night somewhere in Buffalo or Sheridan, then go through the Big Horn Mountains to go north into Montana to the two nights just north of Yellowstone.  We have two nights north of Yellowstone in Montana, then one night at Roosevelt cabins at northeast end of park.  Then two nights at the northern end of Grand Tetons so we can go back up to Yellowstone as well.  Then it's deciding south or east.


 Perhaps if we took second full day in Rapid City to go to Spearfish and Devils Tower and woke up day 3 and headed toward Thermopolis, stay down there then head back up to see Big Horns and go to next night in Montana?  I will check the map.  Thanks for getting me thinking!  What do you think?