Wappingers Falls, Ny to Yellowstone and Glacier

Do you need help at the Falls end of the journey or the parks end? Have you searched the forum for either park?

I have been through the Badlands and Black Hills. So, I was thinking about taking 80 through Nebraska and 25 through Wyoming. This will be a 6 week trip.

We prefer route 30 between Grand Island and Ogalalla NE for no trucks and no speeding cars whizzing by. A bit slower than I80, but much more relaxing. There are a number of points of interest to see when crossing Nebraska.

The Golden Spike Tower in North Platte.

Buffalo Bill Cody's home, also in North Platte.

From Ogalalla, we drive route 26 to join with I25 just west of Guernsey WY. Route 26 follows the North Platte River, which was the route of the Oregon Trail. If you go that way, you will pass Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, Fort Laramie, plus the wagon ruts and Register Cliff at Guernsey WY.

Take I25 to Casper and then route 20 to Shoshoni. Two choices from there. Continue north on route 20 to Thermopolis, then route 120 to Cody then on to the Yellowstone East Entrance. The second route would be to take route 26 to Riverton and then on over the Togwotee Pass to Grand Teton NP and then north to the Yellowstone South Entrance.

Thank you...nice info

As far as the most direct route, my mapping program states from Wappinger Falls, NY to Glacier Nat'l Park is 2340 miles and gives this route:

I-80 west to I-90 into Wisconsin to I-94 west. Pick up Hwy 87 at Glendive, Montana to I-15 north at Great Falls, Montana up to Glacier Nat'l Park.

Of course, depending what you want to see, you can take many different secondary highways rather than the interstates. That's how we like to travel.

How much time do you have for this trip?

To go to Glacier NP, I would be rather tempted to take a more northern route than I-80/I-90/I-94. Options include cutting across Canada from Niagara Falls to Sarnia and then through the northern peninsula of Michigan, or going I-80/I-90 and cutting north through Michigan, or taking the Trans-Canada Highway most of the way across.

That's more my own preferences; there's nothing wrong with the direct route, though going around the Chicago area can be somewhat...interesting. I would avoid taking I-90/I-94 through Chicago at any rate (I-80 is a bit less crazy).

For a trip that included Yellowstone and Glacier I would make a loop, with the direction of travel depending on the time of year. For a Spring trip, I would take a southern route west and hit Yellowstone first. Then hit Glacier after the Going to the Sun road opens in late June/early July and then head back east on a northern route. For a Fall trip, take the opposite direction around the loop to see Glacier before the Going to the Sun road closes.

I-80 will work, but if you are going to do that, then plan stops at:
The RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart,
Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island,
Amana Colonies is a bit off I-80, but is a good stop,
The Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs (no rolling stock),
The Nebraska Archway Museum In Kearney, Exit 275 is new,
And that is just for starters.

Matt

Poppygu wrote:
I have been through the Badlands and Black Hills. So, I was thinking about taking 80 through Nebraska and 25 through Wyoming. This will be a 6 week trip.

6 week trip with YNP and GNP as the main focus, been to Badlands and the Black Hills so I guess that means no interest in returning ( I've been at least 6 times and can't wait for the chance to return)

I'll give you a list of way points - just put them into a mapping program and see if any of this appeals to you.

Columbus

Champaign

Hannibal

In Hannibal jump on Rt 36 to Denver, interesting drive, IMHO once you get West of the Mississippi you can get on and enjoy travel on the other roads, 36 is more interesting than you might imagine and is shorter than I-70 not nearly as boring (IMHO truck traffic is boring)

Now that we have arrived in Denver the fun begins, your signature says NC so if you have driven Rt 64 in the Mountains you will love the Rockies, lots of curves just much better roads.

Golden, if your timing is right and you are lucky enough to get a site stay in Golden Clear Creek, in town - on the Creek - and just plain GREAT. Might catch dinner in town and a tour at Coors.

Leaving Golden head over to Rt 6, follows Clear Creek all the way to it's head waters, you will go to Idaho Springs and jump on I-70, after driving in the canyon and the tunnels that welcome you to the Rockies.

Getting off of I-70 onto Rt 40 over Berthoud Pass thru Winter Park on to Steamboat (I usually try to get dinner in Steamboat - many great restaurants) we will either stay in Stagecoach SP or Yampa SP, both are on/near the water so are fun,Steam Boat Lake might be off the track but is a possibility.

Craig

Shoshoni - Almost forgot to mention Wind River Canyon -Just Beautiful with a great little CG right on the River

Thermopolis - Hot springs

Cody

YNP

GTNP

YNP

Gardiner - side trip to the Beartooth Hwy Red Lodge and Chief Joseph Hwy

Bozman

GNP

Flathead Lake

Calgary

Banff NP

Then the Trans Canadian Hwy to Winnipeg and home to NY

6 weeks will keep you moving but MAN what a TRIP!

Poppygu wrote:
Route suggestions from Wappingers Falls, NY to Yellostone and Glacier

Question might be where are you returning to?

NY or NC?

As a loop is likely the better choice on routes?

So the end location would help.

Thanks,

Busskipper