Wyoming Highways - Info Needed by Midwest Flatlander

Thom02099 wrote:
Others have provided good input for alternatives. Just to add...

US 16 Cody to Buffalo is a good drive with diverse scenery. You won't encounter major climbing until you get to Ten Sleep (a funky little town worth a stop to see the town). From Ten Sleep heading east you'll climb to Powder River Pass, which tops out just shy of 9700 feet -- not overly high by Rocky Mountain standards. It's not a difficult climb, but be aware that it's a favourite of motorcycle riders so there may be a goodly amount of MC traffic. Once you get to the top, it's a beautiful, meandering drive down to Buffalo, and it's not steep at all on the east side of the pass. You'll go past a lot of ranching land, several dude ranches in that area between the pass and Buffalo, and IIRC, some of them have sites for RVs if you might be interested in stopping there. OR you could stop in Buffalo, several good RV parks there. You can also grab I-90 in Buffalo and take it over to Devil's Tower.

i just came back from the ten sleep hill on 14 it is a 6% grade so drive careful it will be a slow pull for you with a gas engine but doable there are several pull outs use them to let traffic by also near the top they are working on the bridge that crosses the tensleep river so it is one lane for about 100 feet or so with a stop light in there have fun and drive safe

If you really want to get away from climbing, go from Cody to Thermopolis, through Wind River Canyon, turn left at Shoshoni to Casper, take I25 north to Midwest and over to Wright, turn left and go to Gillette and then over toward Devils Tower. Almost no hills and not very pretty. Best route would over Tensleep pass, which you would access by going towards Thermopolis and going to Tensleep and over the pass. I have done it a number of times pulling our boat and have had no problems, although the boat isn't a 26'TT and I have a diesel pickup to pull it with.

Thanks. Does anyone know anything about the road that goes from Manderson to Ten Sleep (State Hwy 31 then into County Rd 43/TenSleep-Manderson Rd/Lower Nowood Road)? It shows on the highway map as being all paved, and as it follows the river, doesn't seem like it would have much elevation. It would cut several miles off following US 16 down to Worland and then across to 16.
Thanks.

Others have provided good input for alternatives. Just to add...

US 16 Cody to Buffalo is a good drive with diverse scenery. You won't encounter major climbing until you get to Ten Sleep (a funky little town worth a stop to see the town). From Ten Sleep heading east you'll climb to Powder River Pass, which tops out just shy of 9700 feet -- not overly high by Rocky Mountain standards. It's not a difficult climb, but be aware that it's a favourite of motorcycle riders so there may be a goodly amount of MC traffic. Once you get to the top, it's a beautiful, meandering drive down to Buffalo, and it's not steep at all on the east side of the pass. You'll go past a lot of ranching land, several dude ranches in that area between the pass and Buffalo, and IIRC, some of them have sites for RVs if you might be interested in stopping there. OR you could stop in Buffalo, several good RV parks there. You can also grab I-90 in Buffalo and take it over to Devil's Tower.

I recommend going in on I 90 to 89 south in Livingston to Yellowstone National Park from the north, much easier way to get into the park. We stayed at Yellowstone's Edge RV Park 3502 U.S. 89 Livingston, Mt 59047.
You probably can’t get a place in the park if you don't already have reservations. There are few places to park when towing in the park. You will want to do your sightseeing in your truck. I was glad to have my toad with me.
That means the easy way to Devils tower is back on I90 to 14 to 24 that will take you into Devils tower area.
The road into Yellowstone from Cody is a lot more climbing and there was a lot of road work going on.
When you go to the Little Bighorn site take the tour offered by the Indians they will give a different perspective.
Hope you enjoy your trip I know I did.
Bill

A hitch and hop wrote:
If you have the time, a nice route would be to go north on 120, 72 to Billings and follow I-90 east to Devils tower. On the way, I would suggest stopping at Hardin and look at Little Big Horn National Monument. There are several guided tours starting around 10:00 AM. The hidden treasure is Big Horn County Museum at Hardin. They have about 36 acres with old buildings and many antiques. Great family museum with lots of things to touch. There is a nice KOA at Hardin. We just came east on I-90 pulling a 25 ft FW with a 1/2 ton GMC with no problems. The biggest hill will be on Hwy 14 when you turn off I-90 to go up to Devils Tower and then back to I-90. I-90 into Rapid City is fairly low grades. There is a RV park outside Devils tower. ( no facilities) It is about 400 miles that route.

I HIGHLY recommend both these stops, they are WONDERFUL. The Little Big Horn Monument is beautiful and historically fascinating. The Big Horn County Museum is fascinating---it is truly a hidden gem.

Another great hidden treasure is the museum in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Thermopolis is a quirky little town with all kinds of hot springs and this great little museum.

Otherwise---go down a grade in the same gear you went up, usually second or third. Keep your foot off the brakes as much as possible. Get up a good speed (as much as is safe) before you hit the uphill climb. Just take your time. You have a good amount of truck for your size trailer, you will be fine.

The southern route, Hwy 16 east from Cody and over Powder River Pass, would be recommendation for the most direct and scenic. The road is better than Hwy 14, and has ample passing lanes on the assent. The scenery is spectacular, just relax and enjoy, no hurry. Much easier towing than the roads inside YNP, IMO.

Thanks everyone. I will pull out the map and look at the routes suggested.

Bumpyroad wrote:
when I went to Yellowstone, I went across on I-90 and dropped down to the North entrance. nice and easy drive, no white knuckles, etc.
bumpy

White knuckles? Quite the contrary. I think it's fun driving through the mountains. Keeps me engaged. Driving down the interstate can get quite boring. I did 4900 miles of towing while we were on vacation last month, mostly on the interstates. The scenic/mountain roads were awesome and fun.

An easy route would be go north 14A to the Badger Basin road (294). Left turn on 294 and go westward to 120. Right turn and take 120 until it ends at the "T". Left and enter Bridger. Best fuel stop is Maverik station just north of town. Go north until ends in another "T". Right turn to Laurel. Pick up I90 and then east. Watch your speeds through little towns. Their only source of income is tickets.

On that route you will miss most of steep hills. Across the badger basin look out for antelope on road. North you will go through mostly farm country. East of Billings check out little big horn I90 pretty much an easy drive. We drive that route every week or so to Billings.