Denver to Yellowstone

I agree 287 from Fort Collins to Laramie is a nice drive and no real steep grades. From there if you want the direct shot get on the interstate I-80 to Rawlins, if you have time for a scenic drive with lower speed limits and a little more pulling power to climb a steeper pass take hwy 130 across and spend a night or more in or around Saratoga WY. There is an RV campground on 130 lower elevations on the west side of the pass. We were there last summer at the end of June and there was still snow on the ground in patches around the pass. We stayed at copperline lodge in Saratoga,it had a new owner (Dan) who was busily fixing up the place in rustic fashion and was in the process of adding some RV hook ups last summer (web site says they have 3 pull through sites now). Having said this if your vehicle is marginal you will want to stay on I-80 as there are no steep grades, it is so relatively flat it is hard t even call it a pass, more of a gap in the mountain range.

If you stop off in Saratoga take the time to do a float trip down the North Platte river, it takes about 3-4 hours for the half day trip, we went with Hacks Tackle and outfitters which is next to the river on Hwy 130, price was $135 for 1 people and a private guide who does all the rowing in a hard bottom fiberglass boat. We had a great guide, I forget his name (Jason?), but he had just moved back to town after 8 years of working as a store manager in one of the Wyoming cities, and was enjoying being back out in nature. When we were there in late June the float trip was rather peaceful but swift as the river was at just the right stage, earlier or later in the season we were told it could be much rougher along the way we saw a few wrecked canoes from earlier in the season when the water was running 3-4 feet higher up the banks.

enblethen wrote:
Cheyenne, Wy , then over to Rawlins US 287 then US 26 would be my route.

Or...rather than going up to Cheyenne on I-25, at Fort Collins, you could take US 287 to Laramie WY. Saves some time and is a beautiful drive. Very good roadway, while it's rolling hills and some ups/downs, nothing that you probably haven't driven before, and there's lots of 3 lane sections for climbing.

Also,be aware of wind in Wyoming. Always. Never ends...

NHDad wrote:
My family is going to fly into Denver, I'll be driving our trailer from NH and meeting them there to start our Yellowstone/Grand Tetons adventure this July. We'll have a day or 2 before we need to be at Fishing Bridge, recommendations on a place to stay north of Denver or maybe someplace between the 2 locations? I'm not tied to staying in CO, just hadn't figured to have time between the 2 locations. Boys are 15, 12, 10.

Drive into Golden and take Rt6 to I-70 this will get everyone into the mood of being in the "Mountains" beautiful drive coming out in Idaho Springs drive through the Eisenhower Tunnel to Rifle SP - then on to Dinosaur NM, then around Flaming Gorge to Alpine through Jackson and on to the Tetons and Yellowstone.

Might not be able to really do more than drive by all these places but will help for future trips.

Go out through Cody and down to Thermopolis - Wind River Canyon to Shoshoni - on to Craig, CO possible Yampa SP or Steamboat Lake SP or Stagecoach SP then on to Grand Lake possibly over Trail Ridge and then out through Estes -Lyons and on to the Airport. While in YNP try to Catch the Beartooth in the TV.

Lot to see and do in this area.

Best of Luck,

Good luck with the whole driving the trailer thing, it might be a challenge!!

Cheyenne, Wy , then over to Rawlins US 287 then US 26 would be my route.

I very much agree with this recommendation. Last September we stayed at Lander, WY at the Sleeping Bear RV, but we have also stayed at Dubose. There is a fine park there.

The view of the Tetons from Togwotee Pass is not to be missed. There is a nice parking area adequate for big rigs. We had lunch there in September. Even if you don't stop in the Tetons, it is a great drive on into Yellowstone. As for us we stopped this time at Colter Bay. We did drive into Yellowstone for a day trip, but Colter Bay was our destination this time.

We have stayed in Rawlins, but coming from Denver you could easily make it to Lander or even Dubose.

A lot depends on how much you want to travel in a day. It is about 550+ miles to Yellowstone from Denver by US287. That is about the shortest route. If you go thru Buffalo WY it will add another 125 miles. It would be a long day either way as the roads are not flat or straight. An overnight stop would make it a lot easier.
With 2 nights for stops I'd recommend Denver to Cody by way of US20 and Wy120 from Casper. Stop in Shoshoni or Thermopolis the first night and it is an easy run to Cody with time to see the museum, which I'm sure you all will like. Spend the night there and it is a short drive into Yellowstone. Lots of great scenery all along this route from Casper.

ditto to LaTriker's suggestion. Great Museum of the West in Cody, and a spectacular scenic drive, day trip, called the Chief Joseph Highway. Don't pull your trailer up this one.
X2 to Buffalo Bill state park.

if you want to stop at Ten Sleep, WY, there is a good little rv park on the west side of town, not fancy, but nice and quiet. if you want to stop sooner, at Buffalo, there are two rv parks in town.

Go up I25 to US 16 at Buffalo, WY. Go west to Cody, WY. Spend your extra time there. Enter Yellowstone on US 14. Buffalo Bill State Park east of Cody is a good place to stay.

You are not going to have much tourist time between Denver and Fishing Bridge.
Cheyenne, Wy , then over to Rawlins US 287 then US 26 would be my route. You may want to stay in Rawlins. It will be a long day from Rawlins to Fishing Bridge entering from South entrance.
Not sure what route YOU have chosen so locations would be hard to figure for you.