Honeymoon roadtrip - Seattle to Chicago

[clintosdebrave]

Hi all,

My future wife and I have decided to go on a roadtrip for our honeymoon this June. We are both from the small island of Malta (pop: 400K), and it will be our first time visiting the states. We have been on several roadtrips in Europe so decided to venture into the great USA for this very special occasion.

Any suggestions regarding places of interest, motorway advice, accommodation, activities, itineraries and general advice to follow, will be greatly appreciated. From the initial research we have done (which wasnt much), we were considering the below, however we are very open to suggestions:

JUNE
17th - 19th: Seattle
19th: Missuola
20th - 23rd: Yellowstone National Park
24th: Cheyenne
25th: Lincoln
26th: Iowa City
27th - 29th: Chicago

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Clint & Andy

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

What was your though process on heading down to Cheyenne and then across Nebraska and Iowa? It's not necessarily a bad choice, but it's not the most popular one.

Most people making this trip would leave Yellowstone to the east, either checking out Cody or going over Beartooth Pass, on their way to South Dakota. Going that way would take you through the Black Hills, with places like Devil's Tower, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Jewel and Wind Caves, and then the Badlands.

Like I said, going across Nebraska and Iowa isn't necessarily a bad choice, but that's another option for you to consider as you do a bit more research and planning.

[clintosdebrave]

Hi Michael!

Thanks for your reply. We will definitely look into all the places you have mentioned. We just searched on google maps how to get from Seattle to Chicago, then researched some areas based off this trajectory. As I said we are still early into our planning stage so any information such as your post will be really helpful for us.

Our only consideration is that we need to be in Chicago by latest the 28th June as we fly back on the 29th.

Thanks again for your reply :)

[Southwest Dave]

Once you have decided I would get onto finding lodgings in or around Yellowstone as a matter of priority, it's a very popular place. It's also a very large place and you might want to consider lodging in two different areas. You could also spend a day in the Grand Tetons just to the south of Yellowstone.

[clintosdebrave]

Once you have decided I would get onto finding lodgings in or around Yellowstone as a matter of priority, it's a very popular place. It's also a very large place and you might want to consider lodging in two different areas. You could also spend a day in the Grand Tetons just to the south of Yellowstone.

Will make booking accommodation at Yellowstone a priority.

Any suggestions re the areas you mentioned?

[glc]

There are 9 lodges within the park at Yellowstone. Outside the park, the best selection of hotels and motels are in the town of West Yellowstone. I've stayed in the Evergreen Motel, which is one of the least expensive options in town and it's a charming little place.

[clintosdebrave]

There are 9 lodges within the park at Yellowstone. Outside the park, the best selection of hotels and motels are in the town of West Yellowstone. I've stayed in the Evergreen Motel, which is one of the least expensive options in town and it's a charming little place.

Are the lodges within the park nice?

I checked the rates and most are approximately $135 per night. The description of the rooms is quite basic and no images of the actual room is made available.

Does having a room in the park itself make a difference to the experience?

[Southwest Dave]

I much prefer to stay in the park as there is nothing quite like being 'there' and it saves on drive times in and out. You do pay above the going rate because of the location but for me it's worth it. Plus you do pay a bit more in the nearby towns anyway. On a recent trip we stayed in a cabin at Canyon which was basic and small but clean and cosy, and also a room in Grant village which was not big, but very well maintained and nicely furnished. I would expect the other lodgings to offer similar conditions. Our trip report which includes Yellowstone and the Tetons can be found in the roadtrip field report section.

[Lifemagician]

We just searched on google maps how to get from Seattle to Chicago,

Since this trip is still months away, it would pay you to get hold of some good detailed maps of the area. If these are not available locally, you can order a Rand McNally road atlas here. You will have it in a week or two.

Good maps show natural, historical and touristy attractions, as well as the scenic routes and much more. It will be a great help to your planning, and essential to have with you on the road.

Lifey

[clintosdebrave]

I much prefer to stay in the park as there is nothing quite like being 'there' and it saves on drive times in and out. You do pay above the going rate because of the location but for me it's worth it. Plus you do pay a bit more in the nearby towns anyway. On a recent trip we stayed in a cabin at Canyon which was basic and small but clean and cosy, and also a room in Grant village which was not big, but very well maintained and nicely furnished. I would expect the other lodgings to offer similar conditions. Our trip report which includes Yellowstone and the Tetons can be found in the roadtrip field report section.

Thats a very valid point. Thanks for your feedback. Will look into your trip report.

Thanks again.