Soooo, we're planning The Big Road Trip this summer. We've got some airline miles that we've just got to use up so here we go. The plan right now is to fly into and out of Salt Lake City, renting a car there. We'll spend the first night there and then drive down to Bryce, Zion, visit the Grand Canyon for a few days, swing over to Moab/Arches and back toward Park City (considered Dinosaur, but thought we really wouldn't have time to see it and the driving/scenery might be more interesting on the other route) then to Jackson, Grand Tetons, a few days in Yellowstone, a day or two in Idaho Falls where we have relatives and then back to SLC to fly out. I wish we had another week, but 16 days total is what we've got to work with. I'm trying to decide how much time we need in each place. I've been all the parks on the route except Arches before and the spouse has been to Yellowstone, but not the others.
We have some reservations in Grand Canyon already and a couple in Yellowstone, but our plans changed a bit, so I know we'll have to cancel/change some of those. (We were hoping to fly in one location and fly out of another, but the airline wouldn't go for it so we had to do the loop.) Right now we have 3 nights in Grand Canyon and I'm wondering if maybe one of those nights would be better used elsewhere.
So here's a brief outline. The trip will be at the end of June, beginning of July. We have two kids, 7 and 10, who are pretty good travelers. Where would you spend the time? More time in Yellowstone or elsewhere? Different route? All suggestions appreciated!
Day 1: Fly into SLC, spend night there
Day 2: Drive to Bryce/Tropic, see a little bit that afternoon, spend night there
Day 3: See more of Bryce, drive to Zion/Springdale, spend night there
Day 4: See Zion, spend night in Springdale again or Kanab
Day 5: drive to Grand Canyon (have reservations)
Day 6: Grand Canyon (have reservations)
Day 7: Grand Canyon (have reservations)
Day 8: Get up early and drive to Moab/Arches, see a bit of Arches, spend night in Moab
Day 9: See a bit more of Arches, leaving in early afternoon to drive to Park City (or elsewhere)
Day 10: Drive to Jackson arriving around 2 or so, explore Jackson in the afternoon, maybe a bit of Tetons
Day 11: Grand Tetons, drive to Yellowstone, maybe stay in West Yellowstone? (no reservation yet)
Day 12: Yellowstone
Day 13: Yellowstone
Day 14: Yellowstone (reservations in Canyon, but may change)
Day 15: Drive to Idaho Falls to see relatives.
Day 16: Drive to SLC. Flight leaves in late afternoon.
Thanks for any thoughts and recommendations!