Trip to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Badlands National Parks + Mt. Rushmore - Cramming a family of 4 into a 2D Badlands - 06/16/2026-06/25/2026

[Wolfgang VTS]

Heck. Badlands National Park and Mt Rushmore are on the way to Gran Tetons and Yellowstone

We stayed in Wall SD right outside the Badlands NP which is about 8 miles south of Wall. Just plan your route and spend a couple hrs in the Badlands NP. It’s worth the stop.

As far as the Explore Tn tag. I keep thinking of blackening in the Jeep. I wish it wasn’t there but the foundation that this plate is affiliated with is worthy

Proceeds from the tag
going to the “A Soldier’s Child Foundation’s” mission in supporting children of military personnel who have lost their lives while on active duty.

The allocated funds reportedly help provide birthday celebrations for the children, payment fees for camps and college scholarships.

The proceeds from the tag are the one thing that made me struggle the most with not getting the tag. It truly is a great cause.

As far as Badlands and Mt. Rushmore go, I just don’t have the time to see them properly. I have 9 days for my trip…three out for the drive, three there and then three back home. I need more than just a drive by “oh look, a pretty” to actually appreciate them the way they’re intended. Besides, it just gives me reason to do the trip again when I have more time off work . But I appreciate the input nonetheless. Thanks.

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[Fargrim]

I’ve got the start of my patch collection. I’ll have to buy a few more states.

 

[Fastmc25]

I’ve got the start of my patch collection. I’ll have to buy a few more states.

I tag my cooler since it’s with us on our trips.

 

[Oldhippie]

The wife and I did a 3 week similar trip (from the west coast) on a motorcycle…doing it in a 2dr bronco is luxurious…many trips in our 2dr already and been planning to take our 2dr to Banff soon…get out there!

 

[Wolfgang VTS]

The wife and I did a 3 week similar trip (from the west coast) on a motorcycle…doing it in a 2dr bronco is luxurious…many trips in our 2dr already and been planning to take our 2dr to Banff soon…get out there!

Banff is absolutely stunning. There are no words to adequately describe it. Even the word 'heaven' falls ridiculously short.

 

[Valhalla]

As fellow East Tennesseans, my wife and I are actually in process of planning a very similar trip to this one next May...mainly focusing on Grand Teton, Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. Sadly, we won't have enough time to hit Badlands and Mt. Rushmore as well. Ever since I bought this Bronco all I want to do is drive it, and I figured what better way to get some windshield time than to take a road trip. Now my wife and I differed on where to go first on our first Bronco road trip. I wanted to go to Moab for Arches and Canyonlands (not the Top of the World...I'm not equipped for that...lowly Base owner) and she wanted to go to Yellowstone. So, we compromised and decided on Yellowstone . Happy wife, happy life and all. So I was happy to see your post about this trip. Now I'm more excited than before.

I did notice in your pictures that you have our lovely black "Explore TN" license plate...I too almost went with that one. The Jeep kept me from pulling the trigger on it though. People already compliment my "Jeep" enough as it is . So I'm thinking about going with this one when it's time to renew...

Anyway, I appreciate your post and love the pictures.

Depending on the time in may the south entrance may not be open yet. We stayed in Gardiner MT at the end of april start of May and much ot the park had just opened.

 

[timhood]

The Bronco
I’m driving a 2024 2D BadSAS with manual transmission. I fell in to a BadSAS because I found a good deal on this 2024 back in Sept 2025. I would not have specced SAS if I was building a Bronco myself. A strong desire for a 2D + MT + Lux interior basically locked me in to a Badlands...

Our Broncos are very similar. They would have been more alike if you had been able to get the nonSas you wanted. I have the 2D + V6 + Lux.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
We spent time exploring turnouts, the Teton Village mountain tram, and the surrounding area of Jackson. The later half of June 19 was spent driving through Grand Teton and then through Yellowstone to reach our 2nd destination in Island Park, ID.

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
Badlands National Park
It only felt right to see The Badlands while driving a Badlands.

Your trip is also very similar to our first road trip in our Bronco. We purchased from @Granger Ford and drove it home, stopping at many of the same places you went to. We happened to hit Mt. Rushmore in the late afternoon on December 2nd, and had the entire memorial to ourselves. One other couple left shortly after we arrived, and with the visitor-to-ranger ratio of 4:3, we were able to have thoughtful, in-depth conversations. December might be cooler, but the crowds are gone!

Where did all the people go?

Too bad you missed out on Yellowstone Playhouse while you were in Island Park. Drew and his team and cast work hard put on a great fun family show, and the food is great, too (hint: get the prime rib--it's an amazing value, and you won't go hungry!). The next time you are in the West Yellowstone area, plan a visit.

Speaking of trip planning, feel free to ask the group about ideas when planning your next trip. The kids might have enjoyed a stretch break playing around the dinosaurs in Rapid City, SD. And you wouldn't have missed that prairie dog.

Other thoughts if you head that way again: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Devil's Tower, Wall Drug, Virginia City, MT.

A major reason I wanted to make this post is because I hear a lot about how the 2D Bronco is not practical for a family. Of course, 4 doors does give you more space both in the rear seats and the trunk, I won’t deny that. However, we had no trouble packing all of our stuff in the trunk of the 2D. I have 2 kids, 5 and 8, who are both in booster seats and can buckle themselves...

As for driving, it was way easier and more comfortable than I assumed. I love the Bronco but I had serious concerns about long road trips and this trip has assuaged them all for me. Beyond crosswinds, noise was manageable, ride was smooth, mileage was above highway EPA rating, and the adaptive cruise + lane keeping allowed me to crush double digit hours driving for multiple days.

Our trip was three adults and one child. My wife can Tetris stuff into the back of a car like no one else, so we had no problems fitting everything we needed for the entire trip. Each adult took time in all seat locations. At 6', I was comfortable in the back with enough leg room, and like you, found the Bronco to be quite comfortable over the duration of the trip. Adaptive Cruise is a road trip game-changer. Cross winds in South Dakota can be pretty strong, so if you were fine with those, you'll probably be fine with just about anything.

Here's to many more memory-making road trips for you and your family!

 

[Felix808]

Awesome trip & recap. Thanks for bringing us along

 

[Sparkie]

My family and I went on our first major road trip last week and I wanted to share some of my experiences since I’m probably driving a less than ideal Bronco for this sort of trip.

Thanks for reading and get that 2 Door if you really want it! Don’t let your dreams be dreams!

Awesome road trip, but honestly, you had me at "2 door MT".
BTW, you should sign up for Ford's Bronco Off-Roadeo before your eligibility expires. It's well worth another road trip.

 

[Fargrim]

Awesome road trip, but honestly, you had me at "2 door MT".
BTW, you should sign up for Ford's Bronco Off-Roadeo before your eligibility expires. It's well worth another road trip.

I wanted to but with this trip lining up with my eligibility window ending, I couldn’t make both work. My eligibility ended yesterday. Unfortunately I bought a new 2024 at the tail end of 2025 so I had very little time to work out a long weekend trip, probably to Tennessee, for the off-roadeo.

 

[timhood]

I wanted to but with this trip lining up with my eligibility window ending, I couldn’t make both work. My eligibility ended yesterday. Unfortunately I bought a new 2024 at the tail end of 2025 so I had very little time to work out a long weekend trip, probably to Tennessee, for the off-roadeo.

I thought you get 1 year from purchase, not the MY of the Bronco.

 

[Sparkie]

I wanted to but with this trip lining up with my eligibility window ending, I couldn’t make both work. My eligibility ended yesterday. Unfortunately I bought a new 2024 at the tail end of 2025 so I had very little time to work out a long weekend trip, probably to Tennessee, for the off-roadeo.

I did a road trip to Tennessee for my Off-Roadeo.

 

[Fargrim]

I thought you get 1 year from purchase, not the MY of the Bronco.

Unfortunately it is based on model year.

 

[timhood]

Unfortunately it is based on model year.

Oh, that sucks. I wonder if they changed the way it worked or I just remembered it wrong. Considering how there can be MY leftovers, that doesn't feel very flexible. I wonder if you reached out, if they'd give you an extension. But if you couldn't do it in the next few months, It probably wouldn't matter, since the extension, if they even gave one, probably wouldn't be a very long time.

 

[Fargrim]

Oh, that sucks. I wonder if they changed the way it worked or I just remembered it wrong. Considering how there can be MY leftovers, that doesn't feel very flexible. I wonder if you reached out, if they'd give you an extension. But if you couldn't do it in the next few months, It probably wouldn't matter, since the extension, if they even gave one, probably wouldn't be a very long time.

I should definitely ask. I could probably swing a long weekend to TN in the near future. It’s about 10 hours in the car to get to the Smokies.

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