re: You have 14 days to backpack, day hike, and explore the American west

Wow, lots of travel. Are you based in the PNW?
Why Yellowstone in May?

On a mission to hit all 50 states by the time I turn 30!

I live in Nashville, going with a couple buddies down the PCH from Seattle to SD and the Yellowstone trip just fell into my lap yesterday, friend in MN wants to do it so I said why not

Hopefully hit Idaho too while I'm out there

Mid June. I've got a pretty good itinerary figured out, and my NP pass is on the way. $80 for both of us.

Should be around 16 days.

id love to go hiking in southern Utah area. Ive heard its great

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Southern Utah on a mountain bike is the only way to go

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Just bought a mountain bike! Looking into hitch and rack

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I feel like you will see a lot, but if you have to set up and break down camp daily how much are you really seeing? A lot of these spots are so amazing you might want a few days for exploring.

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I've got a more detailed itinerary that I might post later. We can break camp in 30 minutes, and we won't be camping every night. A third to 1/2 of the trip will probably be airbnb and hotels.

That is one hell of an itinerary for just 2 weeks

If it were me, I'd cut Arizona, south CA and give yourself more time in CO and Utah

or maybe replace those with Oregon -> Idaho -> Montana

My family did long road trips through the West every summer when I was growing up (like 6-8 weeks) and we never hit as many places as you are planning

If you just want to road trip, fine, but if you want to actually do some hiking and visit some of these areas, you are going to have to trim

It was going to be a true road trip, but I've reconsidered thanks to suggestions and especially what I've just found out.

I can get two tickets to Denver for $10 total
I can get a rental car from DEN for 12 days for $393
I have two free nights at any Hyatt

I'm thinking:

1) Fly to SLC and head to Moab.
2) Drive through Arches and backpack Canyonlands or Bryce
3) Stay in Aspen or Beaver Creek Hyatt and day hike locally
4) Spend about four days in RMNP
5) Head back to Salt Lake

all for...$1,000 at the very most? Win.

Could also fly to San Fran
Backpack Yosemite
Stay two nights at Hyatt Regency at Lake Tahoe
Hit the Redwoods

That actually sounds like more fun
Decisions...

Oh my word. I just discovered the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Holy solitude. Now that's what I consider backpacking. Makes me lean CA all the way now. Will definitely have to do at least two nights in this area.

Oddly enough I ate a hamburger in Weaverville in 2009
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you should take my trip from last year.
I flew in to San Diego. From there the Zoo, which was really good, better than I thought. Then to:

LEGOLAND (just showing you as parts of the week it took)
Death Valley
Seq. National Park
Yosemite
Hwy 1 and parks along it (Redwood, coastal)

It was cheaper to fly out of Los Angeles then back to S.D.


Where are you seeing cheap rental cars / flights out of Denver? I'm going to Yellowstone in June.