Dirt in my Shoes has been a big help. I made some hotel changes. Here is a revised itinerary and hotel info. I bought three itineraries from Ash, and one is for a one-day trip to Rocky Mtn NP, so I decided to get a hotel nearby the park and perhaps we can spend some time there on our way to Colorado.
Day 1 August 3rd
Antigo --> Sioux Falls, SD - 7.5 hours
Passing by Pepin which supposedly has some Little House on the Prairie stuff. Look into this. There are other things nearby that we can see in relation to LHotP.
Day 2 & 3 August 4th, 5th
Sioux Falls, SD --> Rapid City, SD - 5 hours
Hotel: Canyon Lake Resort
This is just east of Black Hills. The Black Hills has all the stuff, including Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave. Devil's Tower is just northwest of this. We will plan to stay two nights. RESERVED
Day 4 August 6th
Rapid City, SD --> Cody, WY - 6 hours
Hotel: AmericInn by Wyndham Cody
We would like to see the Rodeo. Apparently, this is a happening place. It is one hour from the east entrance of YNP. It is a three-hour drive to Gardiner. RESERVED
Day 5 & 6 August 7th, 8th
Cody, WY --> Gardiner, MT - 3 hours
Hotel: Absaroka Lodge
We will enter YNP through the East Entrance on Day 7 in the morning and end up at our hotel in Gardiner (North entrance) later that day. Staying two nights at the same hotel in Gardiner. RESERVED
Day 7 & 8 August 9th, 10th
Gardiner, MT --> Signal Mountain, WY - 4 hours
Hotel: Signal Mountain Lodge
We will stay two nights in Signal Mountain Lodge in GTNP. It is about one hour from West Thumb Lake, which is our last stop in Yellowstone. (Need to study more about GTNP entrances and so on.) RESERVED
Day 9 August 11th
Signal Mountain, WY --> Saratoga, WY - 5 hours
Hotel: Copperline Lodge
We will drive SE and stay in Saratoga, WY, just north of the Colorado border. This small town is located between the Sierra Madre, and it is on the way to Rocky Mtn NP. RESERVED
Day 10, 11 August 12th, 13th
Saratoga, WY --> Colorado Springs, CO - 4-5 hours
I would like to drive through the park for most of the way and perhaps can try some of the hikes.
We will stay in CO Springs for three nights to visit Shannon. Jill plans to come and meet us there as well. We can stay at Shannon's house as she says she has plenty of space.
It might be better to skedaddle by Sunday afternoon because Shannon's kids' first day of school and stuff will likely be the very next day. She probably would appreciate if we left them on Sunday afternoon.
Day 12 August 14th
Colorado Springs, CO --> Salina, Kansas - 6 hours
Somewhere in Kansas. It does not have to be Hays. It is just that it is a halfway point. Caravaning or riding with Jill.
Day 13 August 15th
Salina, Kansas --> Columbia, MO - 4.5 hours
We will stay at Jill's house, depending on her space. On the way there, we can stop and see some stuff.
Day 14 August 16th
Columbia, MO --> Springfield, IL --> Madison, WI - 3 hours - Leave early to get there by lunchtime.
We will stop here because it is the hometown of Lincoln. Look into Library, museum and log house. Make sure they are open on Wednesdays or Thursdays. We will only stay for lunch and sightseeing. Get on the road by 3 or 4.
We will strive to spend the night in Madison. LaQuinta here we come. I love LaQuinta.
Day 15 August 17th
Madison, WI or Evansville, WI --> Antigo 3 hours
I still want to stop and see Betsy and Jim if possible. I'll ask Dad what he thinks closer to that time.
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