Planning a trip out west leaving June 12 and returning to Ct in late Aug. Want to find the easiest route from Custer state park stopping at Coulter bay in the Tetons first then on into south entrance to YNP. Was thinking about 89 out of Black Hills to 18 to 25 then 26 into Tetons. Is this a good Rt to avoid 14 through the Big Horns? also wanted to hit Tetons first then YNP then north to Glacier NP. Did rt 14 3 years ago and wife does not do well over long mtn passes especially on descents.

Why? Either the north or NW entrences would be closer. You could then leave by the south entrence which would be closer to I80

US 26 will take you over Togwotee Pass at 9,658 feet. It's just hard to get there without going over the mountains.

Togwotee Pass (Toe ga tee) is not bad. They rebuilt it several years back, but then again my "not bad" is due to having to go over any kind of mountain pass even just for local camping, where we live. I checked your route and other than going way north up and around southern Montana, your route is probably best.

26/287 is a great road and a easy climb up to the pass and a little steeper going down...manually gear down to hold your speed down. It's our favorite way to get to the Tetons.

donn0128 wrote:Why? Either the north or NW entrences would be closer. You could then leave by the south entrence which would be closer to I80 The north or NE entrances would be farther away if I want to go to the Tetons first then head north to Glacier I would end up backtracking.

Custer State park to south entrance to Yellow stone NP

Germania
Explorer
Jun 01, 2017
I believe its 16A, don't take your rig on it, lots of tight turns a few tunnels, as you come out of one of the tunnels you can see Mt Rushmore in the distance.Great photo op.As I remember there was quite a bit of signage for Iron Mountain Road
garyp4951
Explorer III
May 31, 2017
Just got back from YS, and went up 287/26 to Colter Bay, great drive, and saw first grizzly bear just inside Teton Wilderness on 26.
Colter Bay was one of my favorite campgrounds, and Jackson is great too.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 31, 2017
Thanks for all the suggestions.
ReneeG
Explorer
May 31, 2017
Gjac wrote:
Thanks everyone for the quick responses. Does anyone have a good CG somewhere between Wind Cave NP and Tetons along that route. It looks to be about 400 miles and too far for a days drive for me.

The only places we've stayed along that route is the KOA in Dubois, WY. Pretty clean place with different sites to select from. Our favorite though is Falls CG on Togwotee Pass. Heading west, the turn off will be on your left. There are two loops - one with electricity and one without.

Dubois KOA site we had. It backed up to the creek. Not a very good representation of the KOA though.

Falls CG off of Togwotee Pass
Gjac
Explorer III
May 31, 2017
Germania wrote:
Don't miss Iron Mountain Road on your way into Custer ST Pk
What RT number is that?
Germania
Explorer
May 31, 2017
Don't miss Iron Mountain Road on your way into Custer ST Pk
CloudDriver
Explorer
May 30, 2017
I plugged Custer to Colter Bay into Google Maps and the route you listed comes up as 475 miles. I know that there is a KOA at Douglas and a couple of campgrounds in Casper. We have used Sleeping Bear RV Park in Lander a few times. Lander is 356 miles from Custer and adds just 22 miles to the entire trip length to Colter Bay. If you go to Lander, consider a quick visit to Sinks Canyon State Park.

We have done the drive over the Togwotee Pass a number of times, most recently last June. Beyond Dubois it's a gradual climb to the top of the pass an a somewhat steeper descent going down the west side. Lots of beautiful scenery all the way and great views of the Tetons on the west side.

Enjoy your trip!
Braces
Explorer
May 30, 2017
Look at going a little south then through Thermopolis to Cody for a nite or 2,plenty of campgrounds. Great place to see with the "western Smithsonian of museums" and nite rodeo. Still a pretty long drive but not terrible. Leaving Cody go through YNP only about 50 miles from Cody then south to Colter Bay another 40-50 miles or so. Not a bad mtn. pass from Cody to YNP and you would not be back tracking but a few miles.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 30, 2017
Thanks everyone for the quick responses. Does anyone have a good CG somewhere between Wind Cave NP and Tetons along that route. It looks to be about 400 miles and too far for a days drive for me.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 30, 2017
donn0128 wrote:
Why? Either the north or NW entrences would be closer. You could then leave by the south entrence which would be closer to I80
The north or NE entrances would be farther away if I want to go to the Tetons first then head north to Glacier I would end up backtracking.