US tour - west & midwest states, 2014

Originally posted by GlennZippy The Sand Dunes area is fun as well, but know that you are WAY out there so going for food, ice or groceries is not your ordinary milk run. Plan on cooking for yourself, and grab groceries before you get there.

And make sure your gas tank is FULL before going in.
The sand is there because a pretty strong wind pushes it in there where it gets trapped.
When I went I noticed we used say a 1/4 tank of gas going in and 1/2 tank coming out against that wind!

Actually very little fast food.  Our rule is anything but fast food on camping or touring trips.  Last year's trip (almost as long as this trip) we only ate fast food twice, and one of those was because our daughter insisted on eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken while we were in KY, lol.  Later that day we just happened to go past the birthplace of KFC so we stopped there too, but only for pics.  We'll keep groceries in the pod for breakfast and lunches, and some dinners.  Other dinners we'll eat somewhere with local flavor.  We still chuckle because we had great Tex-Mex in central Texas and my one daughter ordered.... spaghetti.

The Canyon area is on of my favorite areas of Yellowstone. I haven't stayed at the campground, but based on other Xantera sites, you should be good to go.

Make sure you visit the Canyon Visitor's center. It's fairly new (4? years old I think) and is a great space. even as an adult I loved it! i personally think 3 nights is just about right if you've been to the park before. knowing you're going to also be heading to Grand Teton I can say you will love it.

We're heading out the week before July 4 and staying in Bridge Bay campground. I had a small panic attack when I looked at my reservations and found the wrong dates. Fortunately, I must have found that before since when I called them they gave the correct dates!

We've had mixed results with the Canyon restaurant though. Some times it's been fabulous, other times, not so much. Every time has been pricy though: Captive audiences breed high prices!

Where you staying in the Black Hills? If you haven't got a place, I stayed at Horse Thief Campground last year and I'd definitely go back!
Also out of curiosity where you gunna be in Yellowstone? I'm gunna be working there this summer and living in my 178. I guess my 12 trips out last summer didn't get me enough use of it so now I get to live in it for 3 months.

We just came back from a 11 day trip (sadly pod-less) out to Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.  There's definitely a lot to do there if you like hiking and outdoorsy stuff :)