Cody WY to Little Big Horn MT (WY Hwy 120?)

Moved from General RVing

you may want to consider taking rt 14 to the Big Horn Mountains, there are lots of NF campgrounds there and one even has electric sites. We did this route a couple of years ago and did a day trip to Little Big Horn and all of the Custer battlefield which was incredible. Plus, The Big Horns are stunning in their own right and we like to spend a few days there to rest and prepare for our trip back home to Ohio. Be careful not to take Alt 14, it is a very steep climb and is not recommended for RV traffic. We did Rt 14 in a 24 ft TT and had no issues

We have used route 120 (which becomes route 72 in MT then routes 310 and 212 to join I90 at Laurel MT. Easy drive, no steep hills at all.

X2 on everything The Kroc said about the Bighorn mountains. Route 14 is a good climb and descent, but it's just beautiful up there. Our newest favorite Forest Service campground up there is Bald Mountain on route 14A (not the steep part). We stayed there for our visit to the Medicine Wheel in 2016.

Like Cloud Driver, we have used that state route combination. Works great! The Bighorns are beautiful, but not for the faint of heart (or for engines or brakes prone to overheating)!

Has anyone driven from Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone to Buffalo, WY, via Rts 14/16/20/16? This will be our first Yellowstone trip with a 30 ft travel trailer and would rather avoid a lot of windy, mountainous routes (though admittedly the scenic views are breathtaking!). We'll be heading back to Illinois via I-90 after Buffalo.

We used route 16 over the Bighorn Mountains once a number of years ago. We actually prefer route 14 for the scenery but route 16 is a somewhat easier route. Routes 14 to Greybull, 20 to Worland and 16 to Ten Sleep are essentially level roads. Beyond Ten Sleep at about 4,400 ft elevation route 16 begins a long climb of some 20 miles or so to the Powder River Pass at about 9,600 ft elevation. There is a similar descent on the east side to Buffalo at about 4,600 ft elevation.

Most folks on this forum recommend route 16 over the Bighorn Mountains. If you are concerned about the mountain driving involved, take the route previously described in this thread. Another possible route for your consideration would be to continue south on route 20 from Worland to Shoshoni then 20/26 to I25 in Casper to join with I80 at Cheyenne. This route is easy except for a few miles of climb in the Wind River Canyon between Thermopolis and Shoshoni.

Has anyone driven from Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone to Buffalo, WY, via Rts 14/16/20/16? This will be our first Yellowstone trip with a 30 ft travel trailer and would rather avoid a lot of windy, mountainous routes (though admittedly the scenic views are breathtaking!).

We drove it the other direction (on 14, I believe) with a small Class C and the direction you mention in a minivan pulling a popup. Had overheating in the engine on the way up & brakes on the way down. (Not much experience towing in the mountains at that point.) If you want to avoid a lot of winding mountainous roads, going over the Bighorns is not for you. However, if you have had some experience with it by then (as you will be on the return part of your trip) you could try. I'd advise 16 over 14 also.

Thanks to all who posted info about the routes between Fishing Bridge and Buffalo! I think we will follow CloudDriver's recommendation!!!

NandK28 wrote:
Thanks to all who posted info about the routes between Fishing Bridge and Buffalo! I think we will follow CloudDriver's recommendation!!!

You might consider 120 south out of Cody to 431 to 20 to 16 etc. Very little traffic down 120 and virtually none on 431. A very nice country drive.

I have driven Hiway 14A going both ways on numerous occasions with a variety of vehicles and trailers. 14A (not to be confused with 14) is steep and crooked. I have gone over 14A with everything from a Chevy Caprice pulling a 2000 pound pop up to a 6000 pound toyota motorhome with a 4 cyl, 120 hp engine.
If you go up 14A, make sure that you shift down before your rpm's drop, don't wait for the tranny to drop gears. Coming down, keep downshifting to use the engine to keep your speeds down. Come down in at least one gear less than you used going up. If you are using your brakes a lot, slow way down and get things under control. If you don't have a tach, I suggest getting one.