Any suggestions, advice, or experience with the suggested trip? We really want to head west early this summer. Never been that direction before. Only thing I've heard is that getting into Yellowstone from the East is "rough"?We'll be towing a 29 foot TT.

acritzer wrote:Any suggestions, advice, or experience with the suggested trip? We really want to head west early this summer. Never been that direction before. Only thing I've heard is that getting into Yellowstone from the East is "rough"?We'll be towing a 29 foot TT.That's not the case, the hwy from Cody WY, US Hwy 20 is fine. The NE entrance, the Beartooth Hwy, can be a problem since there are a lot of switchbacks on that road. Beartooth

Ok. So no super crazy mountain climbs?

We lived in Rapid city for a few years. There is a lot to see and do in that area. Biggest storm we ever had was in late April. You'll probably want to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell nothing like it and also Wall drug near the Blakhills also worth a stop they both have RV parking. Badlands, a lot of people drive through and don't spend to much time there. Rushmore has RV parking and can be seen in a day, Crazy Horse is also a must see and the Buffalo heard is interesting. Not a fan of Deadwood kind of ruined by the casinos just a big touristy place but worth a stop. There is no easy way to get to Yellowstone really a long steep climb. We like the Tetons better than Yellowstone, less people and just as impressive. Jackson Hole is a touristy place to visit. You won't have any problem finding things to see and do.

Go early, before it gets nasty hot in South Dakota and super crowded in Yellowstone.All the entrances to Yellowstone are easy except US 212, Beartooth Highway. If you look at a map it's obvious why that's a problem. Only a crazy person would tow a TT across Beartooth Pass.The entrances from Gardiner, Cody, and Jackson are easy drives. Don't waste your time at Wall Drug. It's a glorified junk store. Do take time to visit the Minuteman Missile site nearby.Stay inside the park at Yellowstone if possible. You will spend a lot of time driving, but staying outside the park will make it worse.

acritzer wrote:Ok. So no super crazy mountain climbs?Well Yellowstone is at 9000 ft or so depending on where you are in the park. So you have to gain altitude. But millions of people make the drive every year. So you should be fine. I'll completely disagree with the above comment tho. Yellowstone is all about geothermal features. Geysers, hot pools, mud pots and so on. The Tetons are a mountain park. Totally different. I'm not saying that I don't like the Tetons because, I do but the activities are like night and day. Take the boat ride across the lake if you go there.----------------------------------------------"Do take time to visit the Minuteman Missile site nearby."----------------------------------------------There have been comments here that the tour is discontinued. That's too bad, we enjoyed taking it. But even when they were doing it, the tour was only offered a couple of times per week. So unless you were staying in the area you probably wouldn't have been there at the right time.As for Wall Drugs, yes it is pure tourist trap, but it is the very best of that type of attraction. We always drop by when we are in the area.

Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

rbtglove
Explorer
Dec 12, 2016
We lived in Rapid city for a few years. There is a lot to see and do in that area. Biggest storm we ever had was in late April. You'll probably want to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell nothing like it and also Wall drug near the Blakhills also worth a stop they both have RV parking. Badlands, a lot of people drive through and don't spend to much time there. Rushmore has RV parking and can be seen in a day, Crazy Horse is also a must see and the Buffalo heard is interesting. Not a fan of Deadwood kind of ruined by the casinos just a big touristy place but worth a stop. There is no easy way to get to Yellowstone really a long steep climb. We like the Tetons better than Yellowstone, less people and just as impressive. Jackson Hole is a touristy place to visit. You won't have any problem finding things to see and do.
acritzer
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2016
Ok. So no super crazy mountain climbs?
agesilaus
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2016
acritzer wrote:
Any suggestions, advice, or experience with the suggested trip? We really want to head west early this summer. Never been that direction before. Only thing I've heard is that getting into Yellowstone from the East is "rough"?

We'll be towing a 29 foot TT.

That's not the case, the hwy from Cody WY, US Hwy 20 is fine. The NE entrance, the Beartooth Hwy, can be a problem since there are a lot of switchbacks on that road. Beartooth

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Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

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