Trip to Yellowstone

[mannashine]

Last year we were planning a trip to Yellowstone but we had to cancel, we're planning a new trip this summer.

We'll be driving a 2004 Ford F-250 6 Ltr. Diesel, which we just spent $6,000. dollars to replace the Injectors, Turbo and EGR Cooler Valve so it should be good to go. We're pulling a 35" Sabre 5th Wheel.

We have reservations at Grizzly RV Resort in W. Yellowstone from 8/26 to 9/2/26. We'll be coming from Mount Rushmore and seeing as we're not fond of steep grades we will pass on Route 16 to Cody. We plan to stay on I-90 to Bozeman then head south on 191 to W.Yellowstone. This was a recommended route for those people like us from RV TechMag from 5/11. I was wondering, seeing as that story is 5 years old, does anyone have any recent information on that route? It looks like it goes through the valley and should be an easy drive for us but would appreciate any recent information.

[mannashine]

bstar1952, In answer to your question, we moved to Concord 5 years ago from Florida as we wanted to be closer to our children and grandchildred, who have lived here for 20 years. You are right, this place is growning much to the distain of the oldtimes who are losing the county feeling. The big Piedmont Farmers Market is on Winecoff Rd, which is where we shop for the best produce in NC. We live close to the Midland border which is growing but we still have the feeling of country.

[mannashine]

I tried a second time last night to write a long thank you to everyone of you who offerer us such wonderful advice and recommendations but again it failed to go through, have no idea why. But just thought everyone should know that we appreciate y'all taking the time to write to us as this information will help to make our trip to Yellowstone safer and more enjoyable.

[Jim_Shoe]

Wise to go to Grizzly first and park the 5er. Enter through the West gate early. After about 10AM, the line will be long due to early arrivals to the area buying their NP pass at the gate. If you buy a National Parks pass before leaving home, (I bought mine at an American Express office in Cincinnati, OH), there won't be so many other visitors buying that at the entrance. I barely had to slow down at the gate each day. I chose to visit one of the four quadrants in YNP each day for 4 days. There will be buffalo jams and gawkers making for slow travel every day. (short season).
Do not try to drive through the herd. Buffalo have thick sculls and small brains. I drove past a lady with a severely dented door complaining to a Ranger. It didn't do any good.
Crossing the Bighorns is a "Challenge". I drove 14A in my Jeep Wrangler "toad" and I swear I could see my own rear license plate through the front windshield. (Slight exaggeration). 16 is the easiest, but even it has places to pull out to check your brakes. Do it. If you boil the brake fluid by riding the brakes, you become a sled, and you can't drag your feet to stop.
Finally, head south to the Tetons after YNP. They're next to each other but completely different. Be sure to take a small detour onto the Jenny Lake loop road. There's a pullout that holds about 6 cars. Park and walk over to the edge, sit on a rock and feel your high blood pressure drop about 40 points. There has never been a gasoline boat motor on it, so you can see the bottom. Probably the most relaxed I've ever been while awake.
And if you don't take a camera, you'll be sorry. Its been years, but I still look at them from time to time. Takes me back, and its cheaper than gasoline.

[ParkCountry]

T

[mannashine]

I just finished a very long thank you to everyone and my computer,for some reason, wasn't able to send it and it got lost. Before I start again I'm sending this as a test.

[ParkCountry]

I second everything that RichardCoxID has suggested above. When you look at the distances between junctions, ON PAPER, it doesn't look far, HOWEVER, there is a 45 mph speed limit. Couple that with having to stop for whatever Bear Jam happens to be going on at ANY point, and it is quite time-consuming. Take your time, plan ahead, and enjoy yourselves.

[2gypsies1]

Kaz wrote:
We just left Yellowstone a couple days ago via West Yellowstone and one thing I'll add. At around 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., the road inbound from West Yellowstone to Madison was 14 miles of nonstop bumper-to-bumper cars and RVs creeping along at 25 mph. And the gate at West Yellowstone was three lanes wide and backed up for a long ways.

That's why we stay IN the park itself.

[Kaz]

richardcoxid wrote:
Some general information about YNP (some points apply to GTNP also). (snip, snip)

I'm not quoting the entire post above, but it's all good advice. We just left Yellowstone a couple days ago via West Yellowstone and one thing I'll add. At around 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., the road inbound from West Yellowstone to Madison was 14 miles of nonstop bumper-to-bumper cars and RVs creeping along at 25 mph. And the gate at West Yellowstone was three lanes wide and backed up for a long ways. I'm not sure if this is just normal summer traffic, or this was just an aberration, or if some times are better or worse than others, but thought I'd pass it along in case it's possible to plan around it.

Despite that (and all of the buffalo jams, gawker slowdowns, bus loads of selfie-happy tourists, and all that), Yellowstone is such a great place that all of the issues seem like just petty annoyances. I love that park.

[richardcoxid]

Some general information about YNP (some points apply to GTNP also)

YNP is about 45 miles E/W and about 65 miles N/S (2.2 mil. Acres total). The figure 8 loop road inside the park is about 140 miles around. The lower loop is 96 miles and the upper loop is 70 miles around and yes, it is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

Whatever time that you think you will need to see YNP you better double it, or to say it another way is that you will see one half as much in the allotted time. The Bison think that they own the road (they do!) and will slow down the traffic to walking speed or less for 1/4 mile or more, the thermal attractions also tie up traffic and with a 5 month long summer tourist season that coincides with a 5 month long road construction season and a 45 mph radar controlled speed limit it will take about a full day to see each loop and then you will only see the main attractions. In addition to the occasional construction delays they will also sometimes close whole sections of road (for uninterrupted night construction) between 10 PM and 8 AM in the morning, if you are running late and get caught at night in the wrong area it CAN be a LONG way around to your CG! I don't mean to scare you but to inform you of reality. (The entrance stations will have current construction information or go on line.)

Then there is the elevation- YNP ranges from a low at Mammoth- 6239 ft to 7784 ft at Fishing Bridge or higher if you go hiking! Drink plenty of liquids and pace yourself when walking. And again I don't mean to scare you but rather to inform you, after all there was 4.1 million visitors in 2015 (record number)

I recommend that you get up EARLY, leave the CG and be back by 4 or 6 PM have dinner and be sitting in your recliner drinking a cool one when your neighbor drags himself back to the CG at 8-10 PM. Remember that from mid May to mid July in YNP the sun doesn't set until shortly before 10 PM.

Clothing- Especially in the early or late season it is not unusual to have a 30 or even the occasional 40 degree temperature change throughout the day. Dress with easily shed layers of clothing. Also dress in bright easily seen clothing. I am sure that we all have been to a sporting event, parade or Disney World etc. and we blink our eyes and our partner/child has disappeared. My DIL was born and raised in HI, you guessed it, every Xmas, b-day or Father's Day I receive a Hawaiian shirt. One of them is black with 4-5 inch dia. bright flowers. Not many of them in Wyoming and in YSNP, that is what I wear. If your partner has on a Violet blouse and a Orange scarf with a Pink hat I guarantee that she will be the only one within the boundaries of either NP. It can save you a few anxious moments.

Water- Now I will have to contradict myself, at the altitude of YSNP yes, drink lots of water!HOWEVER, be aware that the flush toilet restrooms are are in the major tourist areas- Mammoth, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Lake Hotel, Bridge Bay, Grant Village, Old Faithful, Madison Junction etc. The geyser basins and other thermal attractions areas have only pit toilets. I have seen the pit toilet line at the lower Geyser Basin 25 or more feet long (bless the tour busses) So be smart about drinking your water and use the major tourist area R/Rs before leaving the area!

Sun- At YSNPs altitude the sun is intense (uv) have and apply sun screen, wear that old floppy wide brim sun hat, wear sun glasses!

If your luck is like mine Old Faithful will have just erupted when you get there and you will have a hour and 10-20 minutes wait for the next one. Tour the O/F geyser basin while waiting for the next eruption. Old Faithful INN is a must see (meals are "OK" also)

We have lived about 110 miles (4739' elevation) from W. Yellowstone, MT since 1964, go there 3-4 times a summer (normally before Memorial Day and after Labor Day) and haven't seen it all of it yet!

When in the Jackson area I highly recommend seeing the Bar J Chuckwagon dinner show! If you go, MAKE RESERVATIONS and BE THERE EARLY TO PICK UP YOUR MEAL TICKETS/SEATING ASSIGNMENTS! They seat you by when you show up to get your tickets NOT by your reservation number. Tim, their fiddle player has won the "Idaho state old time fiddle contest 7 times and the US open fiddle contest twice". We day trip it there 2-4 times every summer to see them! Disclaimer- We have no financial or other interest in the Bar J only that it will be the best $$ value for your money for your trip! Check out their website.

http://www.barjchuckwagon.com

[bstar1952]

Hey Mannashine. Don't know how long you've lived in Concord, but I was raised there and went to Winecoff school (grades 1-12) back in the 60s. Went back for the first time in many years a few years ago and was sad to see it torn down. Looks like a new elementary school is there now. Couldn't believe how much the city has grown. Used to be quite a "trip" to Charlotte, now its like one big city. Cheers....

[Rangerman40]

Just went through the Bighorns on Rt 16 on the way to Yellowstone last week and they aren't that big of a deal. A couple decent pulls, but no white knuckle, edge of a cliff driving.... Just up and down. They get overly hyped up on these forums in my opinion.

[mannashine]

Sorry it took so long to get back here. Thank you GeoBoy and Corky12 for answering my question. I thought that 212 looked like an OK route but I think we'll stick with our first choice and stay on the interstate I-90, could be longer in miles but shorter in time and less stressful.

[Corky12]

I-90 is slightly longer than Hwy 212 time wise but it's interstate versus 2 lane so take your pick. There is a lot of truck traffic on both. Hwy 212 does have passing lanes on most hills. Make sure you watch your fuel gauge. It is more than a few miles between stations on both roads. We use both several times a year and have no clear preference.

[GeoBoy]

mannashine wrote:
I forgot to ask a question, does anyone have information about which is the best, easiest, safest route from Rapid City to Billings, I-90 or 212?

That's the route we took a couple of years ago, good road then.