Most of the campgrounds are in pretty good shape and have showers, cooking pits, etc, as well as sma

Hi fellow travellers. I have received so much useful information from fellow fodorites (many of whom are American!) in previous travels to Europe and Canada but now have some planning to do for the US and hope someone can offer some guidance on a very preliminary car rentals in atlanta question.
After some reading I have decided that I would like to add Yellowstone, Grand Teton (and maybe Glacier) to this itinerary and possibly Washington state where we have a friend we would like to visit if possible.
We are both 50 plus, love photography, easy hiking and don't mind a long drive now and then (we are Australian after all.) We usually stay in self catering in Europe but realise this may not suit this trip.
Finally, I AM wading car rentals in atlanta through trip reports and doing my research but so far have found lots of' 'two week' type trips typically covering some of what we want to do but not many putting car rentals in atlanta the two areas together.
Getting the exact right time of year will be a problem. I would suggest mid May to mid June - or all June - to be sure everything is open - yet you won;t hve the worst of the summer car rentals in atlanta heat and the kids will still be in school.
Can't comment on exact timing - since we have only done parts of the trip - and then not all together. But you do have an awful lot of different places listed - esp the visit to Washington, which is a real outlier.
Having been to all of the places you mention. LA would be my least favorite. car rentals in atlanta I wouldn't spend more than a day/night at Las Vegas. While the Grand Canyon offers the most "wow factor" for a first view, it really has the least to do of any park unless you want to do some serious hiking or spend 5-10 days rafting it. So, you can do it in a day.
I think you could probably do most of it in a month. You would definately need reservations at all "in park" lodging. I love the historic lodges. It would require some detailed planning, but is doable.
You have some good advice car rentals in atlanta here. I would guess that Glacier will be the outlier car rentals in atlanta if you want to do it all in a month and not have it beastly hot in the Utah parks and be mostly past snow season for Grand Teton and Yellowstone (although there will probably still be snow in spots here), car rentals in atlanta as suggested, start in late May/early June. You will also need to decide if you want mostly park time with limited city time or if you want to explore the cities for a few days too.
If you decided on a mostly car rentals in atlanta parks trip and started in late May/early June, one possible route would be to fly in to LA, drive up the coast to a little above Monterey (2.5 days for jet lag and drive), then head east to Yosemite (2.5 days for drive and hiking/photos), on to Las Vegas (1 day) then Arches(2 days for drive and hiking), Bryce(1.5 days for drive and hiking), Grand Canyon (north rim drive and hiking car rentals in atlanta 1.5 days ) then over to Moa 1 day for drive with stops for spectacular scenery) for Arches(1.5 days) and Canyonlands (1.5 days), up 191 (1 day for drive) to Grand Teton(2 days) and Yellowstone (2days). Then head for Washington (1.5 days) to visit your friend and maybe visit Olympic (1.5 days) and fly home out of Seattle.
I hope this gives you a start for a plan and does leave a few days to spend at one or another spot along the way. There will be folks who will say that you should not try to do so much, rather spend more time in fewer parks. That is not my style. I don't pack and unpack every day, just put the dirty clothes in a laundry bag, and pull out what I'll wear the next day. Do laundry in the evening when needed.
The suggestion to pick up a National Park pass at your first park is a good one. Also pick up an inexpensive cooler car rentals in atlanta and some ice and keep snacks, lunch food, drinks for those places car rentals in atlanta without facilities. Also, fill your gas tank before any long drive and any time you get to a half tank as sometimes there are no places open for miles.
As noted previously, one problem you are going to run into is that any time of the year that the weather is bearable in the desert national parks, it will be unbearable in Glacier and possibly even Yellowstone. In June, for instance, it's already car rentals in atlanta hot at the Grand Canyon, Glacier will still be covered in snow (the main road didn't open till June 19 this year), and even Yellowstone has 'iffy' weather. Any earlier will make Glacier out of the question, any later will make the deserts unbearably hot.
My suggestion is thus to make a loop of California and desert NP's, and then head north along the Pacific Coast; and to do so in May or June. Visiting places car rentals in atlanta early in the summer makes finding vacancies a LOT easier to do, thus giving you quite a bit more flexibility.
As you head north, you can see Lassen Volcanic NP, Crater Lake NP, the coast of Oregon, the Columbia River Gorge, and maybe even get into Washington State. When done, just rush down back to where you picked up your car, and remind car rentals in atlanta the clerk at the counter that you did get "unlimited" mileage.
I would plan your trip for September (anytime after the first Monday which is Labor Day holiday) as that is when the kids are back in school, the temps in the desert parks are cooling off and you can still beat the snow in the northern parks. October would be less crowded, but you may have to dodge a snow storm in the north. I also would reverse the trip, going north first, swinging south later in the month, again for the weather.
Fly into SF, rent a car and head north to the California coast to see the coastal redwoods in Redwoods NP. Swing by Crater Lake NP in Oregon, return to the coast and head to Washington. Hit Olympic and Mt Rainier NP's and your friends home in Washington before heading across to Glacier. The Going to the Sun Road in Glacier is a highlight car rentals in atlanta of the park, so much so that if you go in the spring and you find that it is not open yet I would skip that park.
From Glacier head to Yellowstone then Grand Teton. From there drive to Mohab for Canyonlands and Arches, then head to Capital car rentals in atlanta Reef. Hop on Hwy 12 to Bryce, the north side of the Grand Canyon and then Zion on your way to Las Vegas.
All the NP's have hikes of all lengths and ability levels. Most of these parks trails are in the mountains so hiking boots would be helpful as well as a light backpack to carry your own water. Clothes wise for fall you would be fine with layers, a fleece and light rain jacket for the north would be fine.
See The Valley area in Yosemite. car rentals in atlanta Take tram up to Glacier Point and hike back down to the valley along the Panorama Trail-it connects to the Mist Trail about half way down. See Yosemite Falls and Bridal Falls.
I love The Narrows hike and Angel s Landing. car rentals in atlanta The Narrows could have to much water in May and Angel s Landing car rentals in atlanta is a pretty tough hike mentally and physically. Emerald car rentals in atlanta Trails is good and Canyon Overlook Trail is good.
Stop at Kiva Koffeehouse along the way, stop @ Gifford House in Capitol Reef for a piece of pie, see Orchards and perhaps pick fruit there in Capitol Reef. Do Not Miss Goblin Valley State Park on your way.
Day 23-25 Yellowstone. All the roads may not be open until 2nd or 3rd week of June, depending on how much snow. Stay 1 night @ Old Faithful Inn, 1 night @ Lake Hotel, and 1 night @ Roosevelt area/cabins
You can do Utah and Grand Canyon anytime in May or June. The longer you get into June the hotter it will be. Yellowstone might be completely open the last week of May, but more than likely more towards the middle of June and it could be only like 75% open then. Glacier stand a really car rentals in atlanta good chance of not being open until Late June, and is even somewhat likely not to be open then. When I say open , I mean fully open . Mount Rainier is fantastic, but would be a shame to miss the wildflowers and they come later. Probably the best time to see Yosemite would be the 1st or 2nd week of June.
Since I only spent most of 4 days in Glacier I decided to go back for a longer period next August. I believe the problem will be matching the weather (four cloudless warm days), wildlife and scenery.
I would even pick some of the non-park destinations in Utah over GC. However, I wouldn't encourage you to skip it if you haven't been. You'll want to be able to go home, tell people you saw the Grand Canyon and that you saw such great sights that the Grand Canyon rates at the bottom. Just my opinion.
Most people may not think of it but if you start in Glacier and end in California, you may want to start by arriving in Calgary. It's a major airport and only 4 hours (and a very smooth easy drive) from the Many Glacier area of Glacier park. (Be aware that Canada also has a Glacier National Park).
Suggest you go in early to mid May - and try to plan around the start of the summer season. If you are used to camping - you could buy some inexpensive gear (a couple sleeping bats, mats, tent, etc) for under $200 (see Big 5 Sporting Goods, etc) and have a lot more options car rentals in atlanta as to where to stay without having car rentals in atlanta been tied down to a lot of reservsations.
Most of the campgrounds are in pretty good shape and have showers, cooking pits, etc, as well as small stores, cafes in the area, whatnot. As suggested - get a small cooler to keep in the back seat - to act as your mobile fridge.
We have spent the last almost ten years touring National Parks for the month of September. You will find fewer crowds, car rentals in atlanta with most services still operating but at reduced hours. By the end of September in Glacier I can imagine things shutting down, but if you start in the north, then you will already be well into your trip and alot further south by the end of the month. If it works out better for you to go in the spring then I would skip Glacier and add those days elsewhere.
The idea of starting in the Canadian Rockies and then doing I assume a one way rental would only work if you can find a car company that would allow you to take the car into the US, and then not incur a huge drop off fee. The Canadian parks are stunning too.
I think you have to decide car rentals in atlanta on something early in the planning. What are the chances of another similar trip in the not to distant future? Wh