The Wild West Adventure: 7 Cousins, 1 Camper, and 4,603 Miles of Chaos (and Fun)
Table of Contents
Full List of Posts from Wild West Adventure
- Now Travelling: Wild West Adventure Trip!
Join us for the Wild West Adventure — a family road trip spanning iconic parks and landmarks across the American West. From Yellowstone to the Badlands, we’re towing memories, laughs, and cousins in a camper packed with chaos and charm. Follow along for photos, stories, and travel tips from the trail! - Starting Out: Hiking Dunes, Honoring Lincoln, and Exploring Chicago: One Epic Midwest Adventure
First post of the Wild West Adventure Trip! From trout hatcheries and presidential history to sandy hikes and Chicago pizza—this… - Rodeo, Engine Failure and Epic Views: How the Rockies Slowed Us Down (in a Good Way)
Our family’s Wild West Adventure took us to the Rockies, with stops at Hoover’s hometown, a giant truck stop, a real rodeo, and stunning mountain hikes—plus an unforgettable breakdown at 11,000 feet. kind strangers, and epic views made it a trip to remember! - Sacajawea’s Legacy, Grand Teton Views, and Yellowstone Wonders
Our Wild West Adventure takes us from Sacajawea’s resting place on the Wind River Reservation to breathtaking stops at Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Join us for epic views, wildlife encounters, geyser eruptions, and unforgettable family moments in America’s most iconic parks! - Exploring Bighorn National Forest, Devil’s Tower, and Mount Rushmore
From Yellowstone’s scenic exit to campfires in Bighorn, Bison Sightings, Devil’s Tower legends, and a 4th of July at Mount Rushmore—our Wild West Adventure delivered unforgettable moments across Wyoming and South Dakota. Join us for epic drives, family fun, and patriotic celebrations in this stop-by-stop road trip story! - Tales from Above and Below: Wind Cave to the Badlands
From Lakota legends at Wind Cave to wild storms and fossil hunts in the Badlands, South Dakota delivered big adventure. Our kids climbed rocks, spotted wildlife, and uncovered ancient history—while we rode out 60 mph winds in the camper. A wild, wonderful chapter in our Wild West Adventure! - Final Leg of the Wild West Adventure: From Lake Manawa to Nashville’s Honky Tonks
From sunset storms on the shores of Lake Manawa to Civil War reenactments at Stones River, our Wild West Adventure wrapped up with history, music, swimming holes, and one final Junior Ranger badge. The journey home was anything but ordinary—packed with stories, surprises, and memories we’ll never forget.
Wild West Adventure: Let’s Go!
It’s Summer 2025 and… we’re back, baby. The reservations are booked, the bags are packed (well, mostly), and the fridge is full of questionable snacks that someone swears are “totally essential.” As an added twist this year, we’ve doubled down on the fun — and possibly the chaos — by bringing the cousins along for the ride. That’s right: seven humans, one camper, and zero regrets (yet).
If you’ve been following our family escapades here on Dad Can Travel, you’ll know this isn’t our first rodeo — but we are headed to one in North Platte, Nebraska. Check out our past epic journeys like the American Roadtrip, Sibling Summer Trip, Native Southwest Trip, and our deep dive into gator country with the Everglades National Park..
What’s the plan?
This year, we’re tackling the Wild West — a rugged, breathtaking, and occasionally questionable-in-the-GPS-signal kind of region. Our journey will take us through a highlight reel of national parks and American landmarks, from the legendary geysers of Yellowstone to the majestic peaks of Grand Teton and the stone-faced icons of Mount Rushmore.
Itinerary
Here’s the itinerary that’s equal parts ambition and caffeine (for Dad):
- Day 1 – Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, Kentucky [June 14]
- Day 3 – Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana [June 16]
- Day 6 – Walnut Woods State Park, Iowa [June 16]
- Day 7 – North Platte, Nebraska [June 20]
- Day 8 – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado [June 21]
- Day 10 – Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming [June 23]
- Day 13 – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming [June 26]
- Day 17 – Bighorn Lakeview, Wyoming [June 30]
- Day 19 – Mount Rushmore, South Dakota [July 2]
- Day 22 – Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota [July 5]
- Day 22 – Badlands National Park, South Dakota [July 5]
- Day 24 – Lake Manawa State Park, Iowa [July 7]
- Day 25 – Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri [July 8]
- Day 27 – Nashville, Tennessee [July 10]
Total: 6 national parks, lots of snacks, laughs, sibling squabbles, epic sights, and 4,603 miles of unforgettable memories.
What to Expect on the Blog
Throughout the trip, we’ll be posting:
- Blogs from the road (WiFi permitting)
- Reviews of our favorite sites and unexpected gems
- Cousin commentary (a.k.a. the unfiltered truth)
- Photos of majestic moose, geysers, and whatever we forgot to pack
Bookmark this page, and follow along as we hit the trail, navigate tight U-turns in national parks, and make this Wild West Adventure one for the books.
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See you out there, partners. 🤠
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Whoa…………..Looks like another great trip for the Family. With an added fun of having the cousins included….Love what you did with the Trailor captions with the Cliff and Horse and Wagon.. I’m sure you will get Driving help, so shouldn’t be that bad on the Old Man.. Have fun..
Pops