From Montana to the Dakotas: National Park Ranking and…

by Lindsay Racen

We love exploring our beautiful nation’s parks and firmly believe that you are never too old to become a junior ranger. For a summer road trip our family traveled over 4100 miles from Seattle to the Dakotas, then down and around home to California. If you are interested in a similar vacation check out our itinerary to help you start planning. This list ranks the best National Parks and Monuments from our route with a few tips along the way.

#1 – Grand Teton National Park

Travel Tip: Drive from north to south. Interestingly, if you visit Yellowstone National Park first, then drive south, you only have to pay for one park entrance. But if you drive up through Grand Teton first then you pay both park fees.

Grand Teton National Park takes our #1 spot for its drop dead gorgeous alpine scenery. You’ll find that you can circumnavigate the park easily in a day but you’ll never actually want to leave. The park will cast a spell on you that will stay with you long after your stay. The expansive valleys with snow-capped peaks practically touching heaven is a sight that can only be compared to the majestic European Alps. Unfortunately, as in many other mountain ranges, the glaciers that are nestled into the nooks are shrinking but you can still catch a glimpse of them with the help of marked placards around the park. Jenny Lake is a must-see with its mirrored waters reflecting the park’s perfect rocky slopes. For a family hike we recommend venturing on the Taggart Lake trail, a 3.7 mile loop that crosses cascading rapids, tall forestry and open valleys. Wildlife is around so keep your eyes peeled for deer and moose! It’s a moderately popular trail with a little traffic at times, but that’s just because everyone who makes it there appreciates its beauty as much as we do!

#2 – Yellowstone National Park

Travel Tip: Junior Rangers, this is one of the only parks We’ve been to that charges for the booklets. It’s not much at $3 or so, and the activities are more robust, but it’s something to keep in mind so you can bring your allowance or have mom and dad bring a few bucks.

We know what you’re thinking: Why is Yellowstone not #1 on the list? One word: Traffic! It’s popularity is so renowned that it’s honestly difficult for guests to reflect on it’s natural wonders before getting pushed to the next location. In 2017 alone 4,116,528 visited the park on their vacations. That being said, it’s still high on our list thanks to its unique character and scientific features. Make sure you check the times for Old Faithful and reserve your spot because crowding is definitely a thing there. Grand Prismatic Spring is another main draw, but keep in mind during certain times of year depending on the outside temp the steam may hinder your visibility. We went in June and although we could see the edges pretty clearly, this certainly was the case for us. Our favorite spring in the park is the Jewel of Biscuit Basin: Sapphire Pool, which is easily accessible offering a view from just a few feet away and whose colors seem to pop straight out of a pop-art painting. Wildlife is also abundant in Yellowstone with Bison roaming in packs and the occasional bear wandering around. Just look for the crowds and listen for the camera shutters to spot these them.

#3 – Badlands National Park

Travel Tip: Visit this breathtaking park in the evening or early morning if possible. There is certainly no bad view during the day, but the light from the rising or setting sun brings out more colors than you can imagine, giving the park a magical tone.

We’ve covered or leads for alpine and volcanic natural wonders but what about some red rock? Bryce Canyon is still our #1 for that category but for this trip we give Badlands National Park the award. TIP! Visit this at dawn or dusk as the vibrant colors are at their best in the low glows of the day. We ventured there just in the evening, just in time to reach the farthest junior ranger station where we were sworn in as official badge owners. The corrosive topography gives you the feeling as if you are standing in the middle of dino country. We were in awe to drive through and find a new formation around each curve that begged us to take its picture. It’s one of those places that is a photographer’s dream. Yellow Mounds stood out for us for it’s smooth rolling rocks juxtaposed against its surrounding sharp peaks. Pull out on the overlook and try to count the number of colors you see! And of course there is plenty of wildlife here, most prominently Big Horn Sheep wonder the grassy plains so keep an eye out but remember to be safe and give them space. You’re guests in their home after all.

#4 – Glacier National Park

Travel Tip: Be sure to check road conditions and closures on the Glacier National Park website. Depending on the time of year the Going-to-the-Sun Road may be closed due to icy conditions. The Junior Ranger booklet is a light one, and the Visitor’s Center will often modify it if full park access is limited.

Our opa (grandpa in dutch) described this park as one of his favorites when he visited it not long ago on a father-son trip. It was the first big park on our trip and we were excited to see what all the fuss was about. It’s nice because the traffic is light, we even were able to pull off the side of the road and fly our drone for some areal shots without dodging too many cars. There are bugs though! Papa bear got eaten alive by skeeters in the few minutes he was taking video of the river and scenery. I think this park may have been bumped up a bit on the list if we had more visibility but keep in mind depending again on the season you visit fog might settle in and hide some of the tall peaks that make the landscape most recognizable. Before your visit check the road conditions in the park, particularly to see if Going-to-the-Sun Road is open, as this is the main scenic route for viewing. During our visit in June it was still closed due to winter conditions so we had to drive around the park to get to the eastern part of the park to the Two Medicine Area. Driving through it almost feels like you are in an entire different park but we loved it even more with the easy hikes and gushing waterfalls. We highly advise taking the kids to Running Eagle Falls, a super mild stroll with a big reward.

#5 – Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Travel Tip: Weather up here can be a bit unpredictable so be sure to pack an umbrella and rain coat in case of a sudden downpour.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the primary attraction in North Dakota as most of the drive you’ll see flat land for MILES. We loved this park of course because it honors the man who championed for conserving our beautiful lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing the foundation for the national park system. Today the park still extends the spirit of conservation by hosting a variety of educational programs in and around the park. There are a few ranger stations here the main one being at the start of the driving loop and the other that is on the outskirts of the park. The larger ranger station has a film you can watch and the usual resources, while the smaller station is really there to give you an expansive overlook of the badlands. We felt like storm chasers when we were there and mostly experienced the park from the safety of our car but it was still an awesome park to see. There are wild horses wondering the hills, prairie dog plains, more bison, elk and longhorn steers. Just kick back and play a little Garth Brooks, in our heads it was “The Thunder Rolls” and immerse yourself in the scenery.

#6 – Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Travel Tip: Your annual national park pass does not work here! We found this particularly irritating out of principle. They claim “admission” is free but parking is paid. They even customize the parking pass with your license plate number so you cant share the pass with any other visitors.

Extra travel tip for junior rangers: make sure you bring your own pen or pencil for the JR booklet. This is such a popular monument that they simply cannot supply enough for everyone. I mean it’s a must see right? A true American landmark! It’s a little further down on our list because we were certainly annoyed by the extra fee, especially since to be honest there is not a lot to do at this site like the larger locations. No matter how amazing your camera is, this is one of those massively photographed locations and actually looks the exact same in person than it does in pictures. There is a spot around the corner that has a pull-out area where you can see the profile perspective of the presidential faces but without going in you won’t have that iconic view. The biggest thing to note is that you may want to build a little more time into your itinerary on the way to Mount Rushmore because the surrounding area has sooo many tourist attractions from a Cosmos Mystery Spot to a Dinosaur Park you will likely get a bit distracted on the drive to the monument by trying to figure out which of the many options to choose from.

#7 – Jewel Cave National Monument

Travel Tip: This site is another rare case where your National Park Annual Pass does not work for all tour types depending on age so be prepared to fork up a little cash to experience the larger cave adventure. Parking and ranger guided nature trail is free though.

If you have the time waiting for your tour join the resident volunteer or park ranger on the short nature walk. It has some great historical, scientific and educational information about the Black Hills region. As mentioned your annual pass won’t work here depending on your family members’ ages so be sure to check the Jewel Cave national park service website for updated rates as these vary by tour type as well. The longest tour is about an hour and 20 minutes and is a moderately strenuous commitment. The shortest one which is your cheapest, most accessible (including wheelchairs) and quickest option with only family members 17 and up having to pay for admission and lasting just 20 minutes. As long as you plan ahead you’ll be able to catch a tour while still staying on schedule.

#8 – Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

Travel Tip: This was a spur of the moment addition to our trip since it was literally right off the freeway, but it may take a little time to walk to the actual site from the visitor’s center.

Pompey’s Pillar National Monument is mainly a drive by stamp opp for your passport, located right off the 94 highway. Its a perfect opportunity for you to incorporate a little learning into your trip because its significant stems from the fact that William Clarke of Lewis and Clarke left his mark as he passed through the area on July 25, 1806 as he explored the region. It’s worth a quick stop if you have the time.

10 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Junior Park Rangers…

by Lindsay Racen

Road Trip! Pile in Junior Rangers and Let’s Go!

Whether you are 9 or 95, we believe you’re never too old to become a National Park Service Junior Ranger, and this road trip offers some spectacular badge and stamp opportunities for family friendly adventures. This summer we set off on the ultimate road trip to explore the wild west, venturing as far as the Dakotas. Along the way we found out not all of Washington is covered in the cliche Pacific Northwest greenery, that there are towns out there that post “population 15” and that Nebraska still has fiddle competitions. Explore this brief overview of our itinerary to help you plan your next family road trip! Clickthrough to the related content for in-depth reviews, tips and travelogue tales.

By the Numbers

10 Days
11 States
8 National Parks and Monuments
4 Junior Ranger Badges (More Available)
4100+ Miles

The Itinerary: An Overview

Day 1: Seattle, Washington

Suspension Bridge Mount Rainier — Grove of the Patriarchs Suspension Bridge

Nearby National Parks: Mount Rainier and Olympic

The beautiful Pacific Northwest the view is hard to beat at times, weather permitting. Seattle specifically can be considered a playground for both parents and kids alike complete with multiple museums and attractions at the Seattle Center and the original Starbucks store conveniently located at 1st and Pikes the gateway to the city’s famous Pikes Place Market. Take a walk through the market and see fish flying, flowers in bloom, uniquely crafted items, taste seasoned jerky, and get your touristy swag to start your trip. Both Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks are stunning sights to see but they are in two opposite directions and both take a day or more to fully take in depending on your adventure goals.

Days 2-4: Somers, Montana

Nearby National Park: Glacier

This is where the actual calculation of miles starts to expand a bit if you notice the 4100+ miles compared to the 3100 that is listed on the mapped out snapshot. We did not include all of the driving we did throughout all the parks into that map which adds a good amount of mileage to your trip. Somers, Montana is an absolutely gorgeous destination and home of Flathead Lake which is the largest natural freshwater lake by surface area that is west of the Mississippi River. Framed by tall mountainous scenery it is an ideal location to create amazing memories just be careful of the unpredictable weather and don’t get caught out on the water in inclement weather. Glacier National Park is a short 40 minute or less drive away depending on your location and offers some beautiful lake views as well with the unique turquoise tint of glacial runoff. Check for road closures as the Road to the Sun may not open until mid-year based on winter conditions.

Montana PIT STOPs!

Don’t forget to build in a little buffer time for some pit stops! There are a good amount of rest stops available since this is trucker country but you may want to consider some of the side-trips if you have the time. A few gems we found along the way included:

5000 Silver Dollar Bar (Lincoln) – Quick stop with chochkies and bar that features silver dollars along the walls, even buy your own silver $ with your name engraved that will be hung forever for all to see.
Old Montana Prison (Deer Lodge) – This small-town gem looks like an old-timey castle which is cool for a simple drive-by. Or you can venture inside the gates for to access five museums from classic cars to yesterdays playthings.
Lewis and Clark Caverns (Whitehall) – This requires some planning as cavern tours are 2 hours in length. The drive there was a scenic loop that runs along a winding river that alone is worth a quick side-trip.
Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman) – Planetarium, full dinosaur fossil displays, and live crocodiles! Event walk inside an authentic homestead from 1890 and learn about how which is free to all who visit.

As you can tell there is not just one single must-go to pit stop through Montana there are many. Near the western portion of the state you will also find excursions that you can book from ropes courses and zip lining to white water rafting.

Days 5-6: Flagg Ranch, Wyoming

Nearby National Parks: Grand Tetons and Yellowstone

The drive from Somers to Flagg Ranch is lengthy but beautiful. If you get up early enough you may even get to extend your time in Yellowstone National Park, which you pass right through on your way to Flagg Ranch if you choose to stay in the Headwaters Lodge and Cabins. It offers fresh drinking water to fill up your containers, RV hookups, formal lodge rooms, a restaurant, small convenience store, and one-room cabins. Ours had a bunk bed with a twin on top and a full on bottom but other options are available. This campsite and lodge is literally the only destination between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (Our TOP PICK for Best National Park) but offers an easy drive to Yellowstone’s neighbor to the south and allows you to save a little cash by bypassing a park entrance fee which we found quite interesting. If you come up from this direction, passing through Grand Tetons, then you will have to pay both park fees.

Day 7: Dickinson, North Dakota

Nearby National Park: Theodore Roosevelt and its Painted Canyon

There are only two national park service locations in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, dedicated to the great president and nature-enthusiast who led the charge to inspire conservation, and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site a little farther north. The national park offers scenic driving routes throughout the park with expansive views of a rugged system of buttes and canyons. You can even see badlands from various viewpoints. There are hikes and small walks all around the park including those leading to a petrified tree and dino fossils. We learned on our trip that the weather in the Dakotas can be unpredictable so keep tabs on the forecast and an eye out for lightening if you get caught in a storm! We recommend staying at the Comfort Inn in Dickinson for an epic indoor water park complete with a water slide for kids of all ages.

Day 8: Rapid City, South Dakota

Nearby National Parks: Badlands, Jewel and Wind Caves, Mount Rushmore

The southwest region of South Dakota that is home to a cluster of national parks and monuments is so incredibly family friendly that its near impossible to pack into a travel brief. Badlands is by far one of our favorites for its amazing mix of prairie grass and eroded canyon displays, Jewel Cave has more diverse cavern features than Wind Cave that has mostly box work. There are so many attractions lining the road to Rushmore that you’ll definitely need to pick and choose in order to pack everything into one day. Mount Rushmore is just as majestic as it is in all the postcards and pictures you’ll find online, but be prepared for more crowds than at other parks and unfortunately your annual park pass will not work and you will have to pay to park.

Day 9: Salt Lake City, Utah

Nearby National Monuments and Historic Sites: Timpanogos Cave and Golden Spike

The drive from Rapid City to our chosen destination, Salt Lake City, was the longest leg of the trip at 10 hours. By the end of any long trip we were feeling the effects of car-lag and ready to be home so it’s not surprising that our commentary here is a little lean. During the winter, the activities are pretty self-explanatory with slopes just outside the city, but in the springtime we warn you, it can be HOT! When we arrived in early June it was a sweltering 100 degrees! There is of course the Great Salt Lake which to this day brings back memories of making learning to float so easy due to the salinity of the lake being far higher than the ocean. It is ironic that I have those memories though because although you can swim in it, many choose not to because of the amount of shrimp and flies buzzing around. I’d still say its worth a look though. If you head south I highly recommend stopping by the many other national parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon for some added adventure.

Day 10: Sunny Southern California

Nearby National Park and Monument: Joshua Tree and Cabrillo

Although it may not be your home base it is ours, and for the sake of your traveling pleasure there are a million places and things to see in sunny southern California that are family friendly. Joshua Tree National Park is our local weekend getaway located about two hours east of Orange County with ideal desert landscape and of course its namesake trees. Cabrillo National Monument is a bit more south in the San Diego region and an easy stop for any SoCal family adventure. Then of course the list goes on to the happiest place on earth in Anaheim and Legoland in Carlsbad. This is just a snapshot of the many things SoCal offers families, as you’ll hear from many others Sunny Southern California can very well constitute a dedicated vacation to maximize your experience.

Category: Montana