[JRTJH]

^^^ Totally agree !!!

We did the same trip from northern Michigan (add 500 miles round trip to Chicago) and it took us 7 weeks. We were "rushed" to get it all in and only got to spend 3 days in Yellowstone. Just Devil's Tower is a one day trip, provided you don't slow down going past the prairie dog town on the way into the parking lot. If you stop to take pictures of the prairie dogs, add 2 or 3 hours to your DT trip. Then there's the Vore Buffalo Jump you'll see on the side of I-90, half way between Sturgis and Devil's Tower. Great to see if you're interested in Indian history, but certainly no time to stop if you're "pushing past at 70 MPH to stay on schedule".... There's so many things that you'd "wish you had time to see" along the way, and most of them are worth the time, but if there's no time.......

Yellowstone is a "destination in itself" and a week is barely enough time to take in the "major highlights". Trying to do it "on the fly" between Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore, well, you'll miss the "needles highway, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, the walking tour of presidential statues in downtown Rapid City. There's so much more that you'll have to "close your eyes as you fly past" that honestly, once you're back home, you'll wonder why the heck you even tried to cram in so much in such a short time.

Even if you break it down to 3 two week trips, you'll still be rushed to get it all in. Trying to do it in a single trip???? You'll get home exhausted with an empty wallet and not much but a bunch of plans to go back "when we can slow down".....