Chicago to Salt Lake City 1 – This trip includes 5 anchors: the wonderful city of Chicago, and Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands (and its surroundings), Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The first half of this route leads to the least touristic, off the beaten path America – that of the small and remote towns, that of the Wild West and that of traveling through endless prairies and plains of corn and wheat – east of the Rocky Mountains. While the other half is more classic and touristic (especially in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton area). In terms of scenic beauty – Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands do not have dramatic landscapes but they have an exceptional charm, and it is also a perfect place for wildlife viewing. In contrast, in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton area (which are the icing on the cake of this trip) the views are more dramatic and the topography is more impressive (and the amount of wildlife you can expect to see is exceptional). This is a great, highly recommended Central USA route, although it should be noted that this route includes relatively long drives (especially in the first half).
Day 1 – Land in Chicago and enjoy the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: Chicago
Day 2 – Visit Chicago
Lodging location: Chicago
Day 3 – Enjoy one more day in Chicago
Lodging location: Chicago
Days 4,5 – Drive west to South Dakota, 14 hours drive divided to two days
Lodging location: first night along the way, second night Medora
Please note: it is advised not to make reservations for the first night and to decide when to stop according to how tired you are; points of interest along the way (located from east to west) are – Devil’s Lake State Park, Mirror Lake State Park, Lake Maria State Park, Maplewood State Park (see map, visiting these sites may add a few hours to the total driving time); it is also possible to add a day or two to the drive a spend them in Minneapolis (if visiting the city – don’t miss this park and this huge mall – that also has a water park and more attractions).
Day 6 – Visit the southern unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Medora
Day 7 – Drive south to South Dakota (it is possible to add to this day activities from day 14), 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
Day 8 – Visit Badlands National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
Day 9 – Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park,and/or the Black Hills (including Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway), 1-2 hours drive
Lodging location: Rapid City
Day 10 – Drive west to Montana, on the way visit Devils Tower National Monument, 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Billings
Day 11 – Drive to Yellowstone National Park through the scenic Beartooth Highway (not suitable for long RVs), 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Cooke City
Day 12 – Visit the Lamar Valley, the Tower Fall and Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 13 – Visit the Midway and Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 14 – Visit the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 15 – Drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and enjoy this canyon’s wonderful waterfalls and views, 1 hour drive
Lodging location: Canyon (or Lake Yellowstone)
Day 16 – Drive south to Grand Teton National Park through Hayden Valley and Lake Yellowstone, 3 hour drive
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 17 – Enjoy a day in southern Grand Teton National Park plus participate in outdoor activities (rafting, horseback riding etc.) near the town of Jackson, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 18 – Spend the morning in Grand Teton National Park and around the town of Jackson and then drive to Salt Lake City, 4.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Salt Lake City
Day 19 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our Central USA and Northwest USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
