Hello. I will start a new post. My other post is National Parks but several people mentioned non-National Park places so maybe our plans will change. Next summer our family (6 total) will be leaving MO and making a 14-16 day loop of the West to see what we can. We will be driving and hopefully tenting. Likely states: CO,AZ, UT,CA,MT,WY. So what are your must see places? Thank you for your time.

Yellowstone national park.

Yellowstone national park.

He lls Canyon Idaho
Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Wy
Wind River Range Wy
Bryce Canyon Ut
Capital Reef Wy
Glacier NP Montana
Maroon Bells Co
Redwoods in Ca
Trappers Museum Neb
Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore SD

If I was gona be short on time, I'd rather go to HC in Id and Glacier in Mt than anything in Ca....so I'd skip Ca to see Id and Glacier.

You should Google "Scenic drives" in each state.......like Utah Scenic Drives.......watch what comes up

Oregon trail and pony express routes

Time of year your going can affect the trip

As stated in your other post Custer State Park

Stanley, ID. Camping available there too

You did not mention SD but I highly recommend Badlands National Park.

Ive been in every western state and most places that have been mentioned. To me highway 101 down the coast is one of the most scenic routes in the western US. We went all the way down into California and it was a great trip. We went over at Sisters Oregon and that is a beautiful little town as well. Plus you have the chance to see wolverine in northern california, a friend did.

Dave, do you mean 101 or 1 ? PCH is 1

101 is a lot of freeway these days

I was JUST thinking Stanley when I saw your thought !

Remember that the western states are a vast territory . Lots of driving . So figure that into your trip...leave time to stay longer enjoying a place if wanted. Not a rigid schedule of having to get from A to B every day. Leave time for improvisation .

Definitely Bryce Canyon, UT. My opinion prettier than the Grand canyon. Also in California you want to see the sequoia trees, also highway 1 from Monterey bay down through big Sur along the coast absolutely beautiful.

If you go to Northern CA... head north on 101 for Klamath . Just before you get there take highway 199 north along the Smith River . Beautiful country. You will want to fish. Big redwoods on the southern end of 199

Two roads in Montana , out of many, that are spectacular drives , Going To the Sun road in Glacier Park , in the northern part of the state , and the Beartooth Pass in the southern part of the state. Beartooth Pass is on the way to and from many pretty parks as a drive. Again, lots of distance between the two areas. You are on top of the world in both those areas, on the Divide with big mountain ranges as far as you can see.

Definitely northern CA, redwoods and sequoias , as mentioned.

That would be Klamath Ca, Klamath Falls is in the high desert South East of Crater Lake.

You might pick an area to focus on as trying to hit too many things while driving between places can eat up a bunch of time, Also Fyi I would be a little leery about camping in most places in Ca unless its in a national park or well away from cities and towns

Thank you all for the advise and keep it coming. So 3 of the 4 of us that have opinions on the trip wanted Yosemite as their number one destination based on a couple of TV shows we have seen. So give me the information I need to persuade them NOT to go to Yosemite. Thanks again for your time.

Yes thank you !
I just realized my mistake.

Thanks NV !!

If they see Glacier Park they will not see anything as gorgeous for mountains, except Alaska and Idaho .

Maybe there won't be the amount of people in Yosemite as usual, but in normal years there are.

It can be really crowded, lots of exhaust fumes from all the vehicles ( or "vechiles" ). and you are herded around on buses once you are there

Lake Tahoe , CA
Redwoods , CA

Virginia city , NV

Crater lake , OR
Rouge river , OR
Anywhere on the Oregon coast
Multnomah falls and Columbia River gorge , OR
Snake River he lls canyon , OR / ID