Beartooth pass

Go to Red Lodge, unhitch the Grand Cherokee and drive it up to the top. That's only 25 miles. If you are comfortable with that leg, you'll be fine with the rest. Otherwise you can take the whole rig south via MT 308.

As you can see from other posts, there are strong opinions both ways. There are lots of images and videos.

Did you mean Laural, MT? Just to the north of I-90 there is a low bridge into Laural. You won't have any problems with the pass in the summer. Great Walmart in Laural. We're are abut 90 miles south in Powell.

I was hoping this was NOT what you were asking. Do not drive your 40 ft with toad over Beartooth Hwy. You may make it up to the top, which is steep & many switchbacks both sides, but you will be holding up traffic behind you; however, you may not have any brakes coming down the other side. It's 10,000 feet high. Please don't.

If you are used to mountain driving and decending steep grades it is dooable. I have been over both ways in a 35 footer with a toad. There are plety of pull outs.

Earlier thread about driving the Beartooth and Chief Highways (routes 212 and 296). I posted some pictures from our drive from Red Lodge to Yellowstone in 2007 and from Cody to Yellowstone in 2010 in our 24 ft Class C, not towing. We had no issues driving these routes. Plenty of places to pull off going up from Red Lodge. No opinion on driving a 40 ft plus toad.

I was over that road in August. It is one of the most spectacular drives you will take. You will not enjoy it towing. If your 40' rv is a gas engine, you absolutely shouldn't try this. If diesel with good engine brake, you could do it...but I wouldn't.

PS...I find many people who are far too cautious about "climbing mountain passes etc." I'm not one of them, but this is a pretty serious road.

Stay in Red Lodge and drive the toad...there are two options, and the KOA wouldn't be my first choice. Red Lodge is a great little town. Or stay in Cody and drive the toad. Cody is also a great little town.

From a practical point of view, Laurel to Cody via 212, 72 and 120 is 90 miles. Via Red Lodge its 160 miles. So it isn't a shortcut. You're already "out west" so you're in the heart of western scenery. Neither route takes you into YNP. And it can't be for the unique shopping opportunities in Red Lodge. Lots of stores in Cody. So the only thing left is a thrill ride.

don't take your rig over either of those roads. you'll have a train of cars 5 miles long behind you..all cussing you. there are several hairpin turns, no guard rails and the road is not all that wide. there aren't a lot of pull outs for you to rest and take in the scenery, so the driver won't enjoy it and the passenger will be looking down the side of a mountain.
It's an absolutely beautiful route. Take the jeep and enjoy it.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=45.04357,-109.416018&spn=0.008233,0.018196&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=45.043383,-109.416123&panoid=wxYC_dC7lHczCwJpoT_vNA&cbp=12,40.82,,0,10.93
Streetview image of one of those 'hairpin turns without guardrails'. This is tighest curve on the main zigzag climb on the Montana side.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=44.975667,-109.427261&spn=0.033212,0.072784&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=44.975623,-109.427109&panoid=FgVA-1ptLJo4kK-WJp5nlQ&cbp=12,97.51,,0,0.42
another hairpin near the top

GarySandra wrote:
I have 40 ft RV towing a Grand Cherokee.. I want to take Hwy 212 at Laura, Mt and drive Beartooth Hwy over Beartooth Pass, then south on 296 to 120 thru Cody, Wy to IH 25 at Casper, Wy. Any advise is accepted. Plans are for next year. Thanks,

It's Laurel, MT. Park the rig in Red Lodge and take the GC to the top and back. Take MT308 east to Bear Creek and Belfry, MT. Turn south on MT72/WY120 to Cody. If you want you can park the rig in Clark, WY and take the Chief Joseph byway to the top of Dead Indian Pass. Just don't take the class A over the Chief Joseph or the Beartooth. You may make it to the top, but there will be 20 po'd drivers behind you. You will have to run the jake all the way back down, while your wife screams in your ear the entire way.