Hill City, SD to Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone in mid-June

[flgator4]

Hi,
I have researched routes from Hill City to Fishing Bridge and am allowing 2 days for travel. I don't want to be rushed through the mountains. We are Floridians who have never driven through mountains with a Class A. It's gas, and we will be pulling a truck. We have not taken this RV outside of FL yet. I was thinking we should take 90 to Buffalo and then 16 to Worland, 20 to Greybull and 14 through Cody to Fishing Bridge. I would like to see the areas but really don't know what the roads are like. I do know that I want to avoid 14 through the Bighorn Forest because that looks like too much for us. I see you can also take 90 into Montana and then come down. I was looking for anyone who can help with this route. Thank you for any help.

[Kavoom]

"We would not do Hwys 14/14A."

"14A is a definite no in an RV once you get West of Bald mountain where it rapidly drops in elevation."

Ditto. I remember first time going 14A coming from Yellowstone. First thing you see is a lightning bolt down the side of a mountain and you wonder what that is and then you are driving up the lightning bolt and realize its the concrete abutments supporting the roadway/switchbacks straight up the sides. But the view from the top is amazing and that is where the Native Americans put their medicine wheel. Once up there, you will know why. There are youtube videos of people on motorcycles going down the lightning bolt... fast...

[Jim_Shoe]

Over the years, I've driven from Buffalo, WY. on 16 and 14 in a 'C' pulling a Jeep Wrangler four down. 16 is the easiest, but even 16 has pullouts to check your brakes. Not mandatory but highly recommended. Remember that going UP is just slow, but going DOWN is an adventure. If you ride your brakes, you can boil your brake fluid. Then you're a coaster. I drove 14A in just my Jeep Wrangler once to see how it was. I swear there were turns where I could see my own rear license plate through my front window. (slight exaggeration).
But I'm older and wiser, and also not in such a hurry. I now stay on I-90 all the way to Bozeman, MT, then south to the entrance at West Yellowstone, MT. and stay at Grizzly RV park during my visit. FHUs and lots of space between sites. Only a 1/2 mile to the park entrance every day. If you hit the entrance in the early morning, there's no line to get in. New arrivals don't get to the gate until later in the day. Certainly, its more expensive than inside the park, but West Yellowstone has a couple of grocery stores and gas stations that compete. You can also visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. A private operation, but that's as close to either animal than you ever want to be.

[hitchikerman]

I've done a lot of research on this route for quite awhile because the wife and I are planning a trip out west for the summer...got all our reservations in...Raftrj hill city...grizzly west yellostone...Colter bay Village and Jackson Hole. We are leaving MI and splitting off at Buffalo wy via 16. There is a video on you tube gives you a good idea what to expect...river powder pass wy...the time of the video is 9:27 mins and moosechaser put on the video...hope this helps

[flgator4]

ADOR wrote:
You will enjoy the full hook up at Fishing Bridge. We spent 6 nights there last summer. Great experience.

flgator4 wrote:
Yes, we have reservations for 7 nights. We based the rest of the trip around Yellowstone. We're staying at fishing bridge rv in the park. I've been to Yellowstone 3 times but never stayed in the park.

We're excited. The full hookups was the reason I chose it. 🙂

[ADOR]

You will enjoy the full hook up at Fishing Bridge. We spent 6 nights there last summer. Great experience.

flgator4 wrote:
Yes, we have reservations for 7 nights. We based the rest of the trip around Yellowstone. We're staying at fishing bridge rv in the park. I've been to Yellowstone 3 times but never stayed in the park.

[flgator4]

Yes, we have reservations for 7 nights. We based the rest of the trip around Yellowstone. We're staying at fishing bridge rv in the park. I've been to Yellowstone 3 times but never stayed in the park.

[kedanie]

OP stated he was going to Fishing Bridge! Fishing Bridge is pretty much reservation only as it stays full most of the season. I'm aware of all the other campgrounds but the OP states they are in a class A gas and finding a walk up site somewhere else could be quite a problem.

Keith

[2gypsies1]

kedanie wrote:
Hope you have reservations in place for Yellowstone. If not you may be out of luck this late in the game.

Keith

Not so. There are many campgrounds in Yellowstone that don't even accept reservations. You do have to stay nearby the previous night and pull in early morning when folks are leaving.

[kedanie]

Hope you have reservations in place for Yellowstone. If not you may be out of luck this late in the game.

Keith

[flgator4]

Thank you for all the responses. I appreciate it. We will be driving from South Florida to South Dakota before we do the drive mentioned. I was kind of stuck on figuring this out because I needed to make reservation for both states.

[SNOPRO711X]

X5
I have driven 14, 14A and 16. 16 is very doable in an RV. 14 is not too bad since the middle part East of Burgess Juncrion was rebuilt, but is still steeper than 16. 14A is a definite no in an RV once you get West of Bald mountain where it rapidly drops in elevation.

[lbrjet]

X4. Grades on 16 are not that steep and not as many curves as 14.

[trailerbob]

Agree with 2 gypsies. We traveled the same route last july in gas truck towing a tt with lttle problem. We are also from south florida with little mountain experince so i had the same reservations as you. I think that by tbe time you get to that area you will some pratice and will be more comfortable. Monteagle and the Vail pass bothered me more than the the Buffalo, Grey bull route did. Just remember the basics of mountain driving and relax.

[CloudDriver]

X2 on 2gypsies post. We have used route 16 once and route 14 (not 14A) twice heading eastbound and route 16 does have shallower grades. As long as you take your time and use lower gears when going down you will be OK. You will have a good climb after going through the east entrance to Yellowstone, so the climb up route 16 will be good practice.