Class C from Parshall, Co to Yellowstone best Route & Stops?

[John_S2]

Planning to drive our Class C from Parshall, CO to Yellowstone in July but would like to break the drive up into reasonable segments and see things along the way. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Figure on trying to limit driving times to no more than 5-6 hours per day if possible.

Any great campgrounds along the way? Are reservations needed?

Any suggestions from folks as to where to stop and what to see along the way would be appreciated. Once we reach Yellowstone I know to check out the Geysers, etc. but what should we take in before getting there? Our adult daughter and her two kids will be with us.

TIA, John S

[fanrgs]

For suggestions on routes, sights, and campsites for the Colorado portion of your trip, take a look at my blog HERE .

Personally, I love the CO 125 route through Walden, Encampment, and Saratoga. If you then get on US 287, you will be following part of the Oregon Trail and could stop to visit South Pass City. My favorite route into Yellowstone is from the Coulter Bay campground/RV park on Jackson Lake through the South Entrance (US287/191).

[John_S2]

Many thanks for the suggestions on possible routes and things to see and do.
Appreciate the assistance.

Happy Trails,

John S

[Isaac-1]

A lot depends on if you want scenic, or if you want easy driving through vast areas of somewhat flat nothingness. For scenic I would suggest the route up to Saratoga WY spend night there, and maybe soak in the free public hot springs pool, then 30 up to Medicine Bow, and on to Casper on 487, then up Thermopolis (another good place to stop for a night) on 20 & 26 through wind river canyon (rivals any highway view in Wyoming). Take 120 from Thermopolis to Cody (it is a fairly good road we took it in our 28 ft coach last summer, though there is NOTHING on the road so start with a full tank of gas), in Cody you MUST go to the Museum of the West (ample RV parking around on the back / side), one could spend a week here and not even come close to seeing everything, it is overwhelming as a part day stop, just to walk the whole thing without stopping to look at anything might take over half a day. Heading west from Cody just after you pass through the tunnel on Hwy 14 stop at the Buffalo Bill Lake dam visitors center (they usually have shuttle golf carts running to the parking lot), it is interesting as this was one of the first concrete dams to be built in the US. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bill_Dam You may consider camping out at the nearby state park if you can get reservations, this is about the last place to stay outside the park on the east side.

[kknowlton]

John, you will need reservations in/around Yellowstone in July. That's the height of the season.

[Busskipper]

John S wrote:
Planning to drive our Class C from Parshall, CO to Yellowstone in July but would like to break the drive up into reasonable segments and see things along the way. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Figure on trying to limit driving times to no more than 5-6 hours per day if possible.

Any great campgrounds along the way? Are reservations needed?

Any suggestions from folks as to where to stop and what to see along the way would be appreciated. Once we reach Yellowstone I know to check out the Geysers, etc. but what should we take in before getting there? Our adult daughter and her two kids will be with us.

TIA, John S

Not to argue with Thom as he Knows the area well, But another option might be Map 1 or Map 2

Easy road - easy drive with a stop or two along the way - Just play with the map between Aerial and Map views you will see a lot of the options available.

Wind River Canyon is our personal favorite - but as you can see on the maps there is a lot to do on the drive to Cody then do the YNP figure 8 the Beartooth and the Tetons before heading south to Jackson then on Out through Flaming Gorge and Dino NM.

Makes for a Great drive and lets you see way more than Most.

So Many Options - Never enough TIME.

Hope this helps,

[Thom02099]

A lot depends on what you want to see... Presuming, since you're going to Yellowstone, that nature/extraordinary views would be toward the top of your list.

I'd suggest taking US 40 EAST through Hot Sulphur Springs and on to Granby. Right off the bat, there's Hot Sulphur Springs if you'd like to stop and soak for a bit.

If not, on to Granby. There, you could detour up US 36 to Grand Lake and take in the sights there. Plenty of camping areas around Grand Lake. Notable is the Timber Creek CG inside RMNP. All first come/first served, so no reservations needed. If you have a towed, you could also go up into RMNP. If you don't, you'd be hard pressed to find places to pull over and see the sites with a class C. There's a car rental place in Granby, perhaps consider that for a tour into RMNP without the C. You'll enjoy it a lot more that way, trust me!

Going back to Granby, take CO 125 to Walden CO. Up and over Willow Creek Pass, barely noticeable by CO pass standards. Take your time from the top of the pass into Walden. Depending on the time of day, there's a good possibility of moose sightings along CO 125.

From Walden, continue north on CO 125, which becomes WY 230 when you cross the state line. At Riverside, it bcomes WY 130, which takes you north to Saratoga Springs. Again...a great place for a soak in the hot springs there. Take a walk around the downtown, funky little shops in town.

WY 230 up to I-80 then west to US 287 north to the Grand Teton/Yellowstone area. Other folks can chime in with things to see/do on that leg. But you can certainly take more than a few days just getting out of Colorado!