Cody, WY to Gardiner, MT

[mittshel]

Looking at a route from Cody to Gardiner and Google maps wants me to go up to 90 and down. Why not 120 to 296? Thank you. Betsy.

[mittshel]

Good tip. Thank you.

[BarabooBob]

When you use Google Maps, there is a "LEAVE NOW" option in the directions area. Go to "DEPART AT" and set a time during the summer when you know the roads will be open. It is a pain but it keeps people from trying to drive over the Beartooth in the middle of the winter.

[mittshel]

Thanks for all the good info. We will be there in June.

[CloudDriver]

We have used 120/296 (the Chief Joseph Highway) three times between Cooke City and Cody. It is a beautiful drive, IMO one of the best in the west and the shortest way to get from Cody to Gardiner. Traveling from Cody, the switchbacks mentioned by paulj will be on the downhill side, and lower gears will be needed. If you go this way, stop at the pull outs at Dead Indian Pass and Sunlight Bridge for spectacular views. See pictures on Google maps for these locations for a preview (You may need to zoom in the get the photo icon to appear).

This comment assumes you will be traveling after these roads are cleared of winter snow.

[southernsky]

We plan on travel from Cody to Gardiner too. Our route is going to be 120-72-310-212-421-78-I90-89. Looks to be about a 4 hr. trip.

[paulj]

Google Maps routing through Yellowstone is tricky right now. GM knows that most roads in the park are closed (due to snow), so it won't route that way. If you change the depart/arrive times to sometime in June, you should see some routes through the park.

US14 to the east entrance is a good choice - for most people.

120 to the NE entrance has a more serious climb - look at the zigzags over Dead Indian Hill. Turn on terrain mode, or sat view and zoom.

It joins US212 and goes into the park. 212 to the NE (toward Red Lodge) is too challenging for most RVs. That's the Beartooth Pass that most recommend against.