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Chevy1's avatar
Chevy1
Explorer
Jul 31, 2021

Rapid City, SD to Yellowstone

Hello,
Planning a trip pulling our 35' 5th wheel from Indiana to Rapid City, SD then on to Yellowstone. From Yellowstone we also want to take in the Tetons and Jackson. In route planning, I am wondering about getting from Rapid City into Yellowstone. Thought about staying at West Yellowstone but curious about other entrances and campgrounds we might be able to get into from the east side. Preferred campgrounds would have at least sewer and water.
  • take 90 over to Buffalo WY and then take 16 over the Bighorns, then north and west to Cody and west to Yellowstone. Take the route across the park if you want to go to West Yellowstone. All good roads, but don't be surprised by road work in some places.
    Buffalo has a couple nice rv parks if you're ready to quit at that time
    Over the mountains, there is a nice rv park on the west side of Ten Sleep, very shady and laid out nice.
    Up at Cody, there is the Ponderosa RV park on the west side of town, just down the street from the really great Buffalo Bill Museum of the West.
    Or, out of town about 7 miles, there is Buffalo Bill State Park.
    Or, further out, there is Wapiti Campground (gov) and further on, Rex Hale campround (gov) We have stayed at all of them and have no complaints. the gov camps do not have hookups.
    Bon Voyage!
  • We have done the 16 route over the Big Horns to Cody and it is a beautiful trip coming over. Little steep in a couple of areas, especially where the switchbacks start going down into the canyon.
    We have also run I-90 to Livingston and taken 89 into the park through Gardiner. Again curvy and a bit steep as you come into the park.
    I-90 to Bozeman and down 191 into the Park at W Yellowstone is our first route ever there. We still prefer that route if we a just touring around that part of the country. Seemed to have seen more animals there (wife loves wild life) coming into the Park this way.
  • Hi All,
    Another question in regard to the Yellowstone area. We are leaving Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone heading back towards Indiana. We would like to head south on 191 ending up on I80 heading towards Cheyenne. How are the roads, specifically 191, 26, and 287? Are there places to fuel (diesel) up? Or would it be better to go back north to Bozeman and go thru Rapid City? On our way west we are going thru Rapid City to Bozeman on to West Yellowstone. Pulling a 30CK Crossroads 5th wheel with 2500HD Duramax.
    Thanks for any info you can give.
  • Chevy1, that's a good route but I think 191 to 26 to 20 to I/25 would be just as easy and cut out a lot of miles.