Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

acritzer wrote:
Any suggestions, advice, or experience with the suggested trip? We really want to head west early this summer. Never been that direction before. Only thing I've heard is that getting into Yellowstone from the East is "rough"?

We'll be towing a 29 foot TT.

That's not the case, the hwy from Cody WY, US Hwy 20 is fine. The NE entrance, the Beartooth Hwy, can be a problem since there are a lot of switchbacks on that road. Beartooth

Ok. So no super crazy mountain climbs?

We lived in Rapid city for a few years. There is a lot to see and do in that area. Biggest storm we ever had was in late April. You'll probably want to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell nothing like it and also Wall drug near the Blakhills also worth a stop they both have RV parking. Badlands, a lot of people drive through and don't spend to much time there. Rushmore has RV parking and can be seen in a day, Crazy Horse is also a must see and the Buffalo heard is interesting. Not a fan of Deadwood kind of ruined by the casinos just a big touristy place but worth a stop. There is no easy way to get to Yellowstone really a long steep climb. We like the Tetons better than Yellowstone, less people and just as impressive. Jackson Hole is a touristy place to visit. You won't have any problem finding things to see and do.

Go early, before it gets nasty hot in South Dakota and super crowded in Yellowstone.

All the entrances to Yellowstone are easy except US 212, Beartooth Highway. If you look at a map it's obvious why that's a problem. Only a crazy person would tow a TT across Beartooth Pass.

The entrances from Gardiner, Cody, and Jackson are easy drives.

Don't waste your time at Wall Drug. It's a glorified junk store. Do take time to visit the Minuteman Missile site nearby.

Stay inside the park at Yellowstone if possible. You will spend a lot of time driving, but staying outside the park will make it worse.

acritzer wrote:
Ok. So no super crazy mountain climbs?

Well Yellowstone is at 9000 ft or so depending on where you are in the park. So you have to gain altitude. But millions of people make the drive every year. So you should be fine.

I'll completely disagree with the above comment tho. Yellowstone is all about geothermal features. Geysers, hot pools, mud pots and so on. The Tetons are a mountain park. Totally different. I'm not saying that I don't like the Tetons because, I do but the activities are like night and day. Take the boat ride across the lake if you go there.

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"Do take time to visit the Minuteman Missile site nearby."
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There have been comments here that the tour is discontinued. That's too bad, we enjoyed taking it. But even when they were doing it, the tour was only offered a couple of times per week. So unless you were staying in the area you probably wouldn't have been there at the right time.

As for Wall Drugs, yes it is pure tourist trap, but it is the very best of that type of attraction. We always drop by when we are in the area.

rbtglove wrote:
We lived in Rapid city for a few years. There is a lot to see and do in that area. Biggest storm we ever had was in late April. You'll probably want to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell nothing like it and also Wall drug near the Blakhills also worth a stop they both have RV parking. Badlands, a lot of people drive through and don't spend to much time there. Rushmore has RV parking and can be seen in a day, Crazy Horse is also a must see and the Buffalo heard is interesting. Not a fan of Deadwood kind of ruined by the casinos just a big touristy place but worth a stop. There is no easy way to get to Yellowstone really a long steep climb. We like the Tetons better than Yellowstone, less people and just as impressive. Jackson Hole is a touristy place to visit. You won't have any problem finding things to see and do.

Easier drive into Tetons rather than Yellowstone?

its a pretty good drive from Yellowstone to the Tetons (Jackson Wy), both distance, and very slow road inside Yellowstone. VERY SLOW, lots of gawking at buffalos on the road.

I visited Yellowstone mid-June, snow was deep, air was cold. South entrance just opened, many lakes still frozen, most side-roads still closed.

It's one of those areas that have a very narrow "prime" window to visit in, it's gonna be crowded - take it easy while you're there, if possible make reservations NOW.

The Badlands was great. Lots of folks say it's boring, just a drive through, just a day trip, I dunno, I find the colors in the sandstone hills amazing - could have easily spent a week there watching the colors from the various overlooks, driving the more mild 4wd trails. The colors are amazing especially at sunrise / sunset. There's a tiny NP campground inside the park, some sites have electric, some don't.

The Black Hills are another gem. Lots of campground options, LOTS of neat lakes and trails to see, Needles Hwy is a fun drive. Rushmore personally was a disappointment, it looks cooler on TV imho

There is now a National park Minute Man Missle museum on I 90 at the junction of 240 south to Interior and the Badlands National Park. It is worth your time. They offer a guided tour of a missle site OR a tour it yourself site with handheld recording to tell you all about it.
The rv park at Badlands is ok. The restaurant at the park is very good...try the Indian Taco.
Wall is just an interesting bit of history trivia and fun to see.
Lots to see in the Black Hills. Deadwood is fun.
The Bighorn Mts in WY are pretty high, so go around them via I 90 to Billings and then you can so south to Cody or go on to Livingston and go south into Yellowstone there.
Make reservations for Yellowstone NOW.
We like Bridge Bay campground because it is sort of central to the park. No elec there, but water and dump station.

I'm glad to see that they've improved the Minute Man Missile park site:

NPS

When we were there the park consisted of a mobile home and they ran tours, which were at the silo 20 miles away, only 2 or 3 days a week.

We really enjoyed the Badlands too, the KOA south of the park at Interior is excellent. We spent 5 days there last time and had plenty to do. There is a fabulous mineral museum in Rapid City, well work a visit if that sort of thing interests you. Link

Here's a good site detailing every entrance into Yellowstone.

Millions of RVers have visited so it's really no big deal getting there. You will be traveling in the West and the West has ups and downs. :) You'll do just fine. Going downhill just gear down at the top before you start going down. Don't try it midway.

From I-90 take Hwy 16 from Buffalo then north to Cody and west into the park. (Don't take 14A - you won't like it)

Or...continue on I-90 to Bozeman and 191 south to the park.

Or... I-80 to 191 north at Rock Springs into Jackson, WY and through Teton Nat'l Park (you WERE going to visit there, weren't you?) then north into Yellowstone.

It just depends where you'll be before Yellowstone as to which route is best or if you want to add extra miles. By all means, don't give up the trip because of the driving. You have a small RV so shouldn't have any issues.

http://www.rvtechmag.com/travel/4_yellowstonebyrv.php