Summer trip to Rapid City to Grand Canyon
We're driving a Ford F250 6lt Diesel and pulling a 35 ft. 5th wheel trailer. We're a young at heart older couple and this will be our first big trip. Planning a July & August trip from NC to Mount R...
Forum Discussion
You are planning to spend several nights in/around Yellowstone, right? I sure hope so. It would be a shame to just drive through the park - you'd miss almost all the highlights.
That said, if you don't want grades, don't go over the Bighorns to Cody, but go around. You could take 90 to Laurel MT, then south on a combination of US & state routes to Cody from there; nice easy drive and pleasant scenery. (US 212 to US310, MT 72 to WY 120) You will encounter some grades & winding road from Cody to YNP, but nothing extreme. The driver just has to forego ogling the scenery. :)
Red Lodge would not be a good base camp to visit YNP - you'd have a long mountainous drive to get in & out of the park each day. IMO, the best base camp if you aren't camping inside the park is West Yellowstone - easiest way in & out of the park and a wide choice of CGs there. DO make reservations; July is peak season in the park. I recommend spending a minimum of 3 nights in West Yellowstone or in the park itself (if you need hookups, your only option in the park is Fishing Bridge RV Park.)
That said, if you don't want grades, don't go over the Bighorns to Cody, but go around. You could take 90 to Laurel MT, then south on a combination of US & state routes to Cody from there; nice easy drive and pleasant scenery. (US 212 to US310, MT 72 to WY 120) You will encounter some grades & winding road from Cody to YNP, but nothing extreme. The driver just has to forego ogling the scenery. :)
Red Lodge would not be a good base camp to visit YNP - you'd have a long mountainous drive to get in & out of the park each day. IMO, the best base camp if you aren't camping inside the park is West Yellowstone - easiest way in & out of the park and a wide choice of CGs there. DO make reservations; July is peak season in the park. I recommend spending a minimum of 3 nights in West Yellowstone or in the park itself (if you need hookups, your only option in the park is Fishing Bridge RV Park.)
