Summer family trip from NC to Yellowstone NP and back

[KMabry]

This is my first time posting but have used this forum for a few years. We are planning our cross country trip from the Piedmont of NC to Yellowstone. I've done a lot of research and planning but would love feedback from more experienced travelers. We purchased our first travel trailer this past spring and intend on getting all we can from it. My husband and I are both educators which affords us the summers off. Our 2 kids are in elementary school.
We plan on being on the road for about 4 weeks, taking our time to enjoy our country. The tentative itinerary is as follows:
Leave NC to Lexington, KY to camp at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground (our kids love horses)
-Leave Kentucky and head to St. Louis West Koa (2 days to explore area and enjoy campground)
-St. Louis to camp at Wilson Island State Park (possible 2 days so that we may visit Henry Doorly Zoo) Along the way we may stop to see Walt Disney's childhood home.
-Wilson Island State Park to Badlands NP area (possibly stay at Mystery Mountain Resort)
-Badlands NP to Cody, WY (no lodging yet)
-Cody to Grant Village Campground (5days)

After this we MAY head to Miami for family gathering so...
We want to head towards Colorado and stay at Estes Park Center (can't make reservations until April😕)
My hubby would like to visit Houston TX.

We want good family friendly lodging and attractions. I am at a loss at this point, any recommendations?

Thanks!

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA! Aha, another teacher on-board! :-)

St. Louis to camp at Wilson Island State Park (possible 2 days so that we may visit Henry Doorly Zoo) Along the way we may stop to see Walt Disney's childhood home.

The museum at Marceline is wonderful. Allow at least a couple of hours there and another hour to drive out to Walt's Barn. Now, that said....

It's about 450 miles from St Louis to Wilson Island. Towing a trailer, that's about a 9 hour drive right there. You're going to have to hit the Walt Disney Museum at just the right day of the week and time. You can check online, but it's only open Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays 1 pm to 4 pm, and it's closed on Mondays -- those were its' 2014 posted hours. There is a terrific ice cream shoppe in Marceline - I think it's called Yumeez - they make their own ice cream.

Nearby, there is the General John J Pershing State Historic Site, and also near Laclede is Pershing State Park -- with camping facilities. You could stay overnight there without trying to push on to get to Wilson Island.

We want good family friendly lodging and attractions.

Do you have a Good Sam directory? That will be a nice start for places with hookups, for your RV. If you're not so fussy about having hookups every night, Rand McNally maps/atlases have state parks noted as a "leaf", and a green triangle indicates that they have a campground available. Most of the time, the Good Sam parks are often cheaper than KOA's - and I say that as the daughter of a former KOA owner! You don't have to be a member of Good Sam to use their directories, just to ask for a discount (which can sometimes cost you more, some have told me, though we never experienced that treatment).

We always carried Good Sam/Camping World Emergency Road Service. It helped us if we needed a tow, as many AAA plans won't haul your trailer if you have trouble with your tow vehicle, or they'll only take it 7 miles.

As for family friendly attractions, you can't beat the national parks. Sign the kids up for the Junior Ranger program at the parks - it gives them a new appreciation for the parks *and* (don't tell them this on summer vacation) it's educational! If either of your elementary school children are in 4th grade, get the annual pass....free. (It's normally $80.)

Another thought - if either of your children are fans of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, your route could take you close to DeSmet, SD, the true "little house on the prairie". Or close to Mansfield, MO, where the Little House books were written. I've been to Mansfield -- wonderful place -- and DeSmet is on my list for our next trip through SD.


Donna (elementary school teacher)

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Judging from the pace you've set for yourselves on the way west, and the types of places you're planning on staying an visiting, here are some suggestions for the Yellowstone to Miami leg, with campground and {possible sites to see}.

Seminoe State Park (WY) {Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum}
John Martin Reservoir State park (CO) {Bent's Old Fort, Koshare Indian Museum and Kiva, Big Timbers Museum}
Copper Breaks State Park (TX) {Cadillac Ranch}
Fort Parker State Park (TX)
Houston
Fontainebleau State Park (LA) {New Orleans, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge}
Ochlockonee River State Park (FL) {St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge}
Hontoon Island State Park or Blue Spring State Park (FL) {Kennedy Space Center}

You can, of course, alter how far you travel each day, where you send the night, and what you see during your time on the road, but there are certainly opportunities to continue your trip in much the same vein as you have laid out from NC to Yellowstone.

AZBuck

[KMabry]

Hello fellow educator, thank you for your suggestions! Yes, we already have the "All Kids in the Park" and have the pass. That was such a great plus especially with getting the camper�� Coming from he east coast we are not used to the high elevations and don't have a gauge on how long the trip can take. We are Good Sam members as well and I do have the directory as well as AAA. We love the parks and we camp in those places.

[KMabry]

AZBuck,
A huge "THANK YOU" for all of the campgrounds and attractions. I will research those places. I will post more as I plan the eastbound trip.

[KMabry]

What would be the best rv-travel trailer route from Cody WY to Grant Village Campground? What would be the estimated travel time?

[Midwest Michael]

There's really only one logical way to get from Cody to Grant Village - that's using US-14 from Cody directly into the east entrance of Yellowstone, then continue around Yellowstone Lake until you get to GV.

It's about a 100 mile drive, and I'd give yourself about 3 hours, factoring the tow, terrain, traffic, and potential wildlife.

[KMabry]

There's really only one logical way to get from Cody to Grant Village - that's using US-14 from Cody directly into the east entrance of Yellowstone, then continue around Yellowstone Lake until you get to GV.

It's about a 100 mile drive, and I'd give yourself about 3 hours, factoring the tow, terrain, traffic, and potential wildlife.

Would this route be steep and narrow? A little nervous towing travel trailer. First time towing this far with high elevations.

[DonnaR57]

What is your tow vehicle? What size trailer? It shouldn't be a problem if you've matched the trailer to the tow vehicle well. If you are pulling more weight than your tow vehicle is supposed to pull, though, then there would be a problem.


Donna

[KMabry]

What is your tow vehicle? What size trailer? It shouldn't be a problem if you've matched the trailer to the tow vehicle well. If you are pulling more weight than your tow vehicle is supposed to pull, though, then there would be a problem.


Donna

Thanks for the reassurance, we have a Chevy Silverado 1500, 5.3 liter v8 engine, tow package. And 4 wheel drive. The trailer is 4700 lbs.