My husband and I are planning a US road trip for next June. We’re planning to fly into LA and drive to Chicago, then drop off the car there and take a plane to New York. At first we thought about doing Route 66, but I really really want to see Yellowstone, so we’re probably going to do LA - Salt Lake - Yellowstone - Minneapolis - Chicago over the course of about two weeks. Any recommendations about where we should stop and what we should do along the way would be great. At the moment the only thing I’m sure of is that we want to spend about three days in Yellowstone. Also visit an amusement park. Maybe Knotts Berry Farm or Universal Studios while we’re in LA.
Lots of spectacular scenery and interesting stuff on that route- choosing what to see and what to skip would be the hardest part for me! Of course there’s Las Vegas and all it offers. Outdoorsy stuff in the Vegas area includes Red Rock Canyon, Valley Fire State Park, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. The way you’re going you could also stop at the less-visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The various National Parks of southern Utah- Zion, Bryce Canyon, etc.- are all worth a visit. When you leave the Salt Lake City area you could head east and stop at Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah/Colorado border, then go through the nearby Flaming Gorge Nat’l. Rec. Area on the Utah/Wyoming border.
From there you’d head north towards Yellowstone, passing the Grand Tetons (well worth a stop). When you leave Yellowstone you could visit the Black Hills in the Rapid City SD area. There you’ll find Mt. Rushmore, the Chief Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave.
Sounds like a great vacation. A person could spend weeks, months or a lifetime exploring it all!
Along your route - especially the western 2/3 of it - you’ll find enough to keep you interested for many weeks.
A piece of general advice is to see a limited number of places well - the “We saw five National Parks in 4 days” approach is both common and unsatisfying.
You’ve chosen a time of year when popular spots tend to be crowded. If you’re willing to walk 15 minutes down a trail, you leave 95% of the crowd behind.
If you’ll be traveling I-15 (the obvious route) to Salt Lake City, I’d second the recommendation for a stop at Zion Park - truly a gem.
At Yellowstone, consider the drive out the northeast entrance of the park and to Red Lodge MT, via the Beartooth Highway - quite impressive.
Knott’s Berry Farm is my favorite California amusement park that I’ve been to, I certainly liked it better than Universal in LA. (Caveat: I’ve never been to Disneyland, but my understanding is that it’s essentially like Disney World Orlando’s Magic Kingdom. While that’s certainly enjoyable, I think I like Knott’s better than that. I love Disney Orlando, but mainly for the other parks, not for Magic Kingdom.)
Leaving Yellowstone heading east, you’ll be able to catch the Cody Night Rodeo, I recommend it highly. Assuming you’re taking US-16 into South Dakota, the Black Hills can be a ton of fun. Mount Rushmore is awesome, the Black Hills Reptile Gardens is fantastic, Custer State Park is picturesque with a lot of wildlife (but maybe Yellowstone is a hard act to follow in that regard), there’s Deadwood, old gold mines, and more. Then, if you leave the Black Hills via I-90, you’ll get to Badlands National Park, which has unique scenery that I wouldn’t recommend missing.
If you like amusement parks, the one in the Mall of America in Minnesota is very good. Between Minneapolis and Chicago comes Wisconsin, which is one of my favorite states to visit. Wisconsin Dells is a great tourist-trap area, and I highly recommend seeing the Tommy Bartlett Show. Near the Dells is Baraboo, where I recommend the Circus World Museum. If you have the time to detour, a unique and enjoyable experience is Scheer’s Lumberjack Show, in two locations up north, near Lake Superior. Appleton has a museum dedicated to the legendary Harry Houdini.
Happy Road-Tripping! I’m sure you’ll have a blast!
Thanks for all the recommendations everyone! We definitely want to stop and linger at a few places rather than rushing through everything. I’d forgotten that Mt. Rushmore is in that area as well - will definitely have to stop by and see it.
I asked my husband what he was interested in seeing in the US (he’s from Northern Ireland, never been to the US) and he said he’d always wanted to see a WalMart and a gun show. 
Actually I have another question - it is worth stopping in Vegas for a day if neither of us are particularly interested in gambling?
It’s absolutely worth it even if you don’t gamble in my opinion. My friend and I went this year and spent maybe fifty dollars on gambling. The rest of the time we were scouring the casinos, going to shows, shopping and generally drinking in the atmosphere. The casinos are spectacular, we stayed one night at Mandalay Bay which was pure luxury for us!
I would go again - there was so much to do that we couldn’t achieve in the few days we were there.
I definitely recommend stopping in Las Vegas. You don’t have to gamble or “party” to enjoy it. Great shows, surprisingly great food, and amazing hotels for a lot less than you’d pay for the same in a lot of cities. Good outlet shopping too.
You can also take a day trip to the Grand Canyon and fly over by plane or helicopter. You can really get pampered and have a great relaxing day or 2 before you spend all that time in the car, if that’s something you’re looking for.
Now is a good time to book for Vegas, btw.
I’d also like to recommend target field in Minneapolis if you’re considering a baseball game. It’s a better experience than either park in Chicago, if you ask me. I know that’s a controversial statement.
On the other hand, if you’re considering an amusement park, id like to recommend Great America in Gurnee, IL. You will definitely get a lot of the Walmart experience there as well 
Yeah, on Zion, if you are planning on another park. Amazing.
The Stratosphere in Las Vegas has several thrill rides on (not in) the 1,000+ ft. tower.
Bumbershoot, did you go on them? I did and found them terrifying!and I love rollercoasters. But I’m old. I didn’t do the spinning one.
No, I haven’t been on any of them. The last time I was in Las Vegas they only had the roller coaster (apparently now closed) and the Big Shot. But heights don’t bother me; I wouldn’t have a problem with any of the rides (I love that kind of thing). Maybe I should plan a trip to Las Vegas and do them all!
And I’m 58, by the way.
Yeah, Great America and Great Adventure seem to be the two best Six Flag parks according to the internet. Great America is really close to Chicago so we might go there.
Again, thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
You mention Yellowstone so you are interested in outdoor vistas, right? Then definitely Southern Utah. Go to the North Rim if time permits. Take the Northeast exit out of Yellowstone, toward Cody, stop often and look back when leaving the park. Don’t read the historical markers if you are prone to weeping.