Where to from here? (Custer S. Dakota)
I'm in Custer with a bit of time to kill. I'm thinking of taking 90 over to Billings, then 94 back through N. Dakota, and dropping down into the Minneapolis area. From there I'm good with what to do...
Forum Discussion
Depends on how much time you have to spend. If you haven't seen Devils Tower Nat'l Monument, that's always nice. We like the campground inside the park -- no hookups but usually quiet. If it's too hot and you need AC, the KOA just outside the gate is good, as KOAs go.
If you want to see some scenery on your way to Billings and have an extra day or two, I'd leave I-90 at Buffalo and head over the Bighorns on Hwy 16, then at Worland head north to Greybull/Shell and take Hwy 14 to Dayton/Ranchester, then pick up I-90 again to the Little Bighorn Battlefield before proceeding to Billings.
Buffalo has some nice commercial campgrounds if you want hookups -- KOA and Deer Park are good, and for a great meal try the Winchester right near both of them. If you like NFS campgrounds, Tie Hack is about 15 miles up the mountain from Buffalo and usually has some sites available on weekdays if you get there by 3 or so. Sites are large, carved out of the pines. There's a nice mountain lake (reservoir) about a mile from Tie Hack, also North Fork and Middle Fork streams are both within a mile or two. Lots of NFS campgrounds along Hwy 14 in the Bighorns too, but I'm not that familiar with them. You won't need AC in the mountains.
If you have even more time, consider KarenS' suggestion, or just go to Cody for the museum if you don't have time for Yellowstone. Be advised, however, that the Beartooth Highway is true mountain driving. It's a beautiful drive -- one of the most beautiful ANYWHERE -- but it's steep and winding for a big 5er.
If you want to see some scenery on your way to Billings and have an extra day or two, I'd leave I-90 at Buffalo and head over the Bighorns on Hwy 16, then at Worland head north to Greybull/Shell and take Hwy 14 to Dayton/Ranchester, then pick up I-90 again to the Little Bighorn Battlefield before proceeding to Billings.
Buffalo has some nice commercial campgrounds if you want hookups -- KOA and Deer Park are good, and for a great meal try the Winchester right near both of them. If you like NFS campgrounds, Tie Hack is about 15 miles up the mountain from Buffalo and usually has some sites available on weekdays if you get there by 3 or so. Sites are large, carved out of the pines. There's a nice mountain lake (reservoir) about a mile from Tie Hack, also North Fork and Middle Fork streams are both within a mile or two. Lots of NFS campgrounds along Hwy 14 in the Bighorns too, but I'm not that familiar with them. You won't need AC in the mountains.
If you have even more time, consider KarenS' suggestion, or just go to Cody for the museum if you don't have time for Yellowstone. Be advised, however, that the Beartooth Highway is true mountain driving. It's a beautiful drive -- one of the most beautiful ANYWHERE -- but it's steep and winding for a big 5er.
