Roads to Yellowstone

brooks379, My wife and I were owner/operators for a while, and I agree with much of what you said. With a couple of qualifiers: I had a friend who often said, "Common sense, ain't so &#@% Common anymore"! And, some of the worst drivers that I ever encountered were "professional truckers", see above statement. Humans generally learn thru experience, we can only hope they live thru the "training"! ;) memtb

Not being sarcastic but, IMHO I really would think if someone was spending the money for a big diesel pusher or a pickup truck and big 5'er that they would know how to operate it in any conditions and roads. I mean there are some big mountain roads with switchbacks but if driven correctly are no problem at all.

Now, if a person buys a big RV and thinks they are still driving the car like they would to Wal Mart they should probably stay in the Florida area or get some know how before hitting the open road. I drove big trucks all through the mountain west for many years and one thing is for certain, you need to know how to do it before you get there !! Free wheeling down a steep grade with hot brakes is no time to learn how to drive in the mountains. Use your gears even with an exhaust brake, stay slow, don't get going so fast that now you can't slow down and last but not least.... use all the common sense you have !! .

With our 40' MH we took 16.

This might be helpful for you when you leave Yellowstone. Coming in via Cody is good.

http://www.rvtechmag.com/travel/4_yellowstonebyrv.php

As noted below these are some pretty drives worth taking but you should use caution. I personally would not feel comfortable descending any of these in a large rig without an engine brake and/or good mountain driving skills. I do not mean to scare you here but about 15+ years ago a couple with their granddaughter from California, were coming down 14A and burned up the brakes on their motor home. The wreck resembled what you would expect from a small plane crash.
If you come down through US16, through Ten Sleep and Worland, be sure to go to Thermopolis. Hot Springs State Park is beautiful but be aware there is one LOW underpass that you cannot make with your towed rig. There is another access into the park via Broadway Street in the center of town. While you're there, only a mile or two from the park, is the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. It's one of the top ranked, privately owned dinosaur museums in the United States.
Once in Thermopolis, it's pretty much a straight shot to Cody going through Meteetsee, known for the Pitchfork Ranch where most of the Marlboro commercials were filmed. A really nice museum in downtown Meteetsee houses a very large black color phase Grizzly bear that was killed right outside of Meteetsee. And if it were later in the summer and you could access a 4x4 vehicle, you could go to Kirwin. Kirwin is an abandoned mining settlement about 20-30 (?) miles from Meteetsee where Amelia Earhart was having a cabin built at the time of her disappearance. Most of the true beauties of Wyoming are only accessible by 4x4's or off road vehicles (horse, UTV, ATV, etc).
Happy Trails!
Todd


US14 - This road is a long, steep and winding clumb up the face of the mountain to Burgess Junction. There are several hairpin turns and blind corners on this two-lane highway.

From Burgess Junction down the other side of the mountian, the road is steep and has an 8-percent grade. Again there are several hairpin turns and blind corners. Through Shell Canyon, the road is extremely narrow.

This road is not a good route for oversize or overlength loads. Unless you are experienced in mountain road driving, it is not advisable for 18-wheelers.

For tourists, this is a wonderful drive with beautiful views, trees, and wildlilfe. If you are driving a motor home, please pay attention to the above information. Use lower gears and save the dangerous possibility of burning out your brakes.

US14A - Highway 14A is extremely steep, a 10-percent grade and more, is winding, has several hairpin turns, and many blind corners. This is a challenging road during the summer season and closed during the winter.

This road is not recommended for oversize or over-length loads. Unless you are experienced in extreme mountain road driving, it is not advisable for 18-wheelers.

For tourists, it is a beautiful drive with wildlife, wonderful scenery and over 200 mile views in some areas. However, if you are driving a motor home, please pay attention to the information in the above paragraphs. Use lower gears and save the dangerous possibility of burning out your brakes.

US16 - There are sharp hairpin turns, long up-hill climbs, steep downhill runs and blind corners on this two-lane highway.

While beautiful and probably the easiest mountain drive in the northern part of Wyoming, it is not a good route for oversize and over-length loads. Unless you are experienced in mountain road driving, it is not advisable for 18-wheelers. Use lower gears and save the dangerous possibility of burning out your brakes.

For tourists, boy what a drive with some great views and wildlife. If, however, you are driving a motor home, please pay attention to the information in the above paragraphs. Use lower gears and save the dangerous possibility of burning out your brakes.

16 is the route you want to take with rigs that large.

"Some folks don't like roads like that but I always feel if it's a road on the map I will try it."

I'll try them too. Remarkable things to see off main highways.

16 is the better choice re both grades and chances of snow/ice on the road. but check the weather before you start off.

Both are scenic 2 lane roads with some hills. 14 has a big grade you pull leaving Dayton then it levels off and you drive through the Big Horn Mts. 14A is a tight little road but has some beautiful scenery !! Some folks don't like roads like that but I always feel if it's a road on the map I will try it. With an eye on the road and some common sense.....no problem. Beautiful Country for sure.