Hello! We are brand new RV-ers, taking out Fifth Wheel on it's first trip out of state (third trip total). We want to travel from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Yellowstone National Park. Interested in best route, we want to avoid a lot of steep grades or tiny roads. We are considering going North to Casper on I-25, then NorthWest to Cody via Hwy 20/26 to 120 into Cody. Our second option is West out of Cheyenne on I-80 then 189/191 North all the way to West Yellowstone Montana. We have never been there before so best side of the park to camp is also a consideration - either Cody, Wyoming out the East Gate or West Yellowstone, Montana out the West Gate. It looks like pluses and minuses for each route, wondering what other experiences have been for anyone who's done this drive, or any tips the experienced might have for us on this route!Thank you!

if you're going now, go on west to 191 and up to Hoback Junction (26 and 89) then drop down to Alpine and take 26 over to 20 and go north to West Yellowstone. you'll have more luck finding an rv park up there and it's the closest you'll get to the Park without being inside the park.North of Pinedale WY: about 20 miles nw of town, there is a little federal campground with water and dump, good overnight stop.or west of Alpine: a few miles, just below the dam, is a federal campground.at Ririe, ID, there is a shortcut over to 20 if you don't mind a few miles of county road.Rexburg, ID has the last walmart you'll see in case you want to stock up on anything.Henry's Lake: there is a nice state park with elec, water and dump, reasonable price. or an RV park within half a mile of the park entrance road, that has a very nice laundry if you want or need that amenity, and prices are better than West Yellowstone.orgo on to West Yellowstone where you will find 3 or 4 RV parks, all decent.There are no noticeable grades on this route.But if you do this, take your return route through the park and out the east gate to Cody. Sylvan Pass is not especially tough and there is yet another federal campground about 20 miles east of the park gate, called Rex Hale, with water and elec.or:Buffalo Bill State Park is closer to Cody and has elec, water and dump.Enjoy.

All entrances of Yellowstone are RV friendly, with the exception of NE (Chief Joseph/Beartooth). Yellowstone itself is a mountain top, a volcanic caldera. Yellowstone Lake is only a 1000' or so lower than points on the rim. Cody to the east entrance is likely to be the only one (other than NE) that would remind you of a Colorado climb into the Rockies.

I agree with Texas Shadow. We drove the 191 route out of Rock Springs, WY last fall. In my opinion, the grades are less on this route than coming West thru Cody. We stayed a week at the Fishing Bridge Campground within Yellowstone National Park. You are required to have a hard-sided camper to stay at Fishing Bridge because of potential bear visits. There are also some nice campgrounds in Jackson,WY, on the way to YNP. Hope this helps some.

We stayed at Grizzlie RV park in West Yellowstone and highly recommend it. Wherever you stay, get reservations. We towed our 37' 5r all over Yellowstone with no issues.

If you do go west on I80 to pick up 191becareful of high winds on I80 west of Cheyenne. May want to fuel up in Rock Springs.

First time across Wyoming | Good Sam Community

kangaroo
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
I agree with Texas Shadow. We drove the 191 route out of Rock Springs, WY last fall. In my opinion, the grades are less on this route than coming West thru Cody. We stayed a week at the Fishing Bridge Campground within Yellowstone National Park. You are required to have a hard-sided camper to stay at Fishing Bridge because of potential bear visits. There are also some nice campgrounds in Jackson,WY, on the way to YNP. Hope this helps some.
paulj
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2013
All entrances of Yellowstone are RV friendly, with the exception of NE (Chief Joseph/Beartooth). Yellowstone itself is a mountain top, a volcanic caldera. Yellowstone Lake is only a 1000' or so lower than points on the rim. Cody to the east entrance is likely to be the only one (other than NE) that would remind you of a Colorado climb into the Rockies.
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2013
if you're going now, go on west to 191 and up to Hoback Junction (26 and 89) then drop down to Alpine and take 26 over to 20 and go north to West Yellowstone.
you'll have more luck finding an rv park up there and it's the closest you'll get to the Park without being inside the park.
North of Pinedale WY: about 20 miles nw of town, there is a little federal campground with water and dump, good overnight stop.
or west of Alpine: a few miles, just below the dam, is a federal campground.
at Ririe, ID, there is a shortcut over to 20 if you don't mind a few miles of county road.
Rexburg, ID has the last walmart you'll see in case you want to stock up on anything.
Henry's Lake: there is a nice state park with elec, water and dump, reasonable price. or an RV park within half a mile of the park entrance road, that has a very nice laundry if you want or need that amenity, and prices are better than West Yellowstone.
or
go on to West Yellowstone where you will find 3 or 4 RV parks, all decent.
There are no noticeable grades on this route.
But if you do this, take your return route through the park and out the east gate to Cody. Sylvan Pass is not especially tough and there is yet another federal campground about 20 miles east of the park gate, called Rex Hale, with water and elec.
or:
Buffalo Bill State Park is closer to Cody and has elec, water and dump.
Enjoy.

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