Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

[acritzer]

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.

[Rangerman40]

acritzer wrote:
Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

That's the place!! I saw a few Brown Bears in the vicinity when we were there!! It really is the most convenient campground for Yellowstone. Lots of people will tell you to stay in West Yellowstone, but the amount of driving in and out every day is just not worth it. When planning your trip realize it takes a good 5 days to properly explore the Black Hills area, and I'd say a minimum of 4 just to hit all the hot spots and complete the loop in Yellowstone.

[ppine]

I have always liked the east entrance to Ystone. It is quieter and follows the Shoshone River. For years I always found moose in there. Now it is tougher since the wolf introduction.Cody is one of the great western towns and right n the way.

[Busskipper]

Check out the WEB CAMS in the park to give you an idea of current conditions.

Old Faithful is cold Now and you can watch this and other sites in the park just to give you the feel.

Last thought is you might come in from Colorado - allowing Dinosaur NM and Flaming Gorge to be on the itinerary. Then on up to Alpine and then up to Tetons.

Just one of many options,

BOL,

[acritzer]

Rangerman40 wrote:
I did this exact trip from Dayton, OH this summer. We stayed at Custer State Park and from there visited Wind Cave National Park, Mt Rushmore, The Badlands, Minutemam Missile Site, Mammoth Site, Needles Highway, Devils Tower and a few other odds and ends. From there we headed west to Yellowstone. Take 16 through the southern portion of the Bighorn Mountains to RT 20 north and then hop back on 14 to Cody. There are a couple decent pulls but nothing too crazy. You'll see more RVs on that road than you've ever seen in Ohio. Once you get to Cody you are an hour from the gate to the park, and once you hit the gate you are another hour to the loop. I recommend staying at Fishing Bridge in the park. It's basically a glorified parking lot in the woods but it's the only campground with full hookups in the park. After a solid 4 days or so in Yellowstone drop on down to The Tetons for a couple days and stay at Colter Bay in the park. The trip back to Ohio from there starts taking my you southeast though Wyoming through the Wind River Indian Reservation until you run into I-80 and head East.


I forgot to mention...... as far as weather goes it's a complete **** shoot. We had weather in the upper 80s in SD, and it snowed on us in Yellowstone..... On July, 11.

Is Fishing Bridge the site that says "no soft side camping"...because of the bears? I teased my wife about that detail!

[Rangerman40]

I did this exact trip from Dayton, OH this summer. We stayed at Custer State Park and from there visited Wind Cave National Park, Mt Rushmore, The Badlands, Minutemam Missile Site, Mammoth Site, Needles Highway, Devils Tower and a few other odds and ends. From there we headed west to Yellowstone. Take 16 through the southern portion of the Bighorn Mountains to RT 20 north and then hop back on 14 to Cody. There are a couple decent pulls but nothing too crazy. You'll see more RVs on that road than you've ever seen in Ohio. Once you get to Cody you are an hour from the gate to the park, and once you hit the gate you are another hour to the loop. I recommend staying at Fishing Bridge in the park. It's basically a glorified parking lot in the woods but it's the only campground with full hookups in the park. After a solid 4 days or so in Yellowstone drop on down to The Tetons for a couple days and stay at Colter Bay in the park. The trip back to Ohio from there starts taking my you southeast though Wyoming through the Wind River Indian Reservation until you run into I-80 and head East.


I forgot to mention...... as far as weather goes it's a complete **** shoot. We had weather in the upper 80s in SD, and it snowed on us in Yellowstone..... On July, 11.

[ksg5000]

Made similar trip from St Louis to Portland Or - don't recall anything major. Depending on "how early" weather can be an issue - but that varies yr-yr ... so far this yr sizes up as nasty.

[Murphsmom]

Don't forget to include at least a day or two for Cody WY. The museum itself can take the better part of two days, and the admission fee covers two days.

[acritzer]

Thanks everyone. This information helps a lot. We're going to try and get planning soon...so many options!

[Dick_B]

Get Mountain Directory West prior and read the book `Tracking the Spirit of Yellowstone' prior to your trip.

[2gypsies1]

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

[agesilaus]

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

[TexasShadow]

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.

[GordonThree]

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

[acritzer]

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?

[agesilaus]

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.