Getting Through Yellowstone

[Kountryguy]

Looking for advise on pulling a 40' fifth wheel from the west entrance through to exit on the east side. Are the roads suitable? Any other suggestions? I need to get to Rapid City area.

[Matt_Colie]

We never had trouble with people blocking the roadway, but we were in "Bison Jams" and something else jam that was gone by the time we got there.

Going over the Big Horn is a trip.

Matt

[Kountryguy]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will think it over and decide which way I will choose.

[kknowlton]

Re: the advice to travel very early AM or at night: the animals are more likely to try to cross roads at night - at least so it seemed to us a few years ago. I think some of them have learned there is less traffic and less hassle for them. Yellowstone has no street lights, and it's DARK out there after dark - I almost hit a deer and then later an elk driving at night (below the speed limit) from West Thumb to Lake! They just stepped out of the woods and started to cross, and we saw them just in time. So - be very, very careful if you choose this option.

Personally, I'd just plan to spend several hours (3 is not out of line) to drive from west to east in the park, take your time, enjoy the scenery, laugh at the dumb things some tourists do, etc. If you need gas, Canyon is a good place to gas up (though expensive; gas will be lower in West Yellowstone, most likely).

From Cody, if you don't want to tackle the Bighorns,you can turn north on SR 120, which becomes SR 72 in Montana; it joins US 310 and will take you to I-90. No big grades on this route, but still scenic. We've used it several times & it has worked well.

[2gypsies1]

Here's a good explanation of all the roads leading into/out of Yellowstone with a RV:

Roads coming/leaving Yellowstone

[RGar974417]

We were in Yellowstone last week.We didn't see any road work,the weather was great and there wasn't any traffic jams. But I'm sure that will change after this weekend.

[time2roll]

Easy road. Take your time and see something along the way.

[westernrvparkow]

Jim Shoe wrote:
If you go through the park, you'll have to deal with slow or stopped traffic, especially around Old Faithful, plus the ever present "buffalo jams". And you'll also have to cross the Bighorn Mountain Range, but its 100 miles shorter. If you go north to I-90 its all expressway. Your choice.

However, you can knock most of that 100 miles off if you take US212 at Garryowen to Belle Fourche and then down to I-90.

[Bumpyroad]

I went in the North entrance and out the South one. I would NOT go out one of the east ones.
bumpy

[kohldad]

Just don't use the North East exit. It's a great road to drive (Bear Tooth Hwy) in your truck, but towing a big 5er would not be any fun.

North East entrance gives you two options. The infamous Bear Tooth Hwy but also the less traveled Chief Joseph Hwy which is very doable with large rigs.

[RedRocket204]

harold1946 wrote:
No problem. Just be ready for the gridlock which happens quit often.

Yep... people see a squirrel, stop in the middle of the road, take a thousand pictures, try and feed the squirrel then realize there are 50 vehicles lined up behind them and they move on. Then you pray no one else in the line-up of 50 backed-up cars does the same thing. But you are usually praying to someone not listening.

[Ed_C]

Just don't use the North East exit. It's a great road to drive (Bear Tooth Hwy) in your truck, but towing a big 5er would not be any fun.

[TexasShadow]

using the Norris Junction route or the Old Faithful route is probably going to be the "fastest" way to go to cross the Park.

Crossing the Bighorns is not so bad if you use highway 16, through Worland over to Buffalo. The other two roads, 14 and 14A are both pretty tough climbs and descents.
There is a small RV in Ten Sleep as you first enter the village from the west. Sites are big enough to hold you.
Buffalo has two or three RV parks big enough for you.

[Jim_Shoe]

If you go through the park, you'll have to deal with slow or stopped traffic, especially around Old Faithful, plus the ever present "buffalo jams". And you'll also have to cross the Bighorn Mountain Range, but its 100 miles shorter. If you go north to I-90 its all expressway. Your choice.

[kohldad]

Problem isn't going to be through Yellowstone, it's going to be the fun climb and decent over the Big Horns.

The way through Yellowstone would be through Madison over to Canyon Area, down to Fishing Bridge and out through Cody. The southern route by Old Faithful area will have you going over at least one pass and will be longer.

The quicker way though not nearly as scenic is jut to take 191 north out of West Yellowstone to pick up I90.