Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rushmore? From Cincinnati

If you come across I-90 through Minnesota, take a slight northern detour to Pipestone National Monument. From I-90 head north on US 75 27.8 miles to Pipestone, MN. Travelling I-90 you'll also pass in close proximity to the Laura Ingalls-Wilder Museum in SW Minnesota, which is another nice heritage site. From I-90 head north on US 71, then head West on US 14 into Walnut Grove, MN (61.7 mi. from I-90) :)

acritzer wrote:
I can't remember if I confirmed this plan with anyone from this forum.

Coming west on 90...I think I read somewhere that I should avoid 14 heading through the Bighorn National Forest? It's better to head south on 16, catch 20N and then join back up with 14W.
Can anyone second that plan?

That's the way I went! I'm from Dayton btw!!

Red Eagle wrote:
From I-90, take hwy l6 from Buffalo to Worland, then hwy l6-20 to Greybull, then hwy14-20 to Cody and continue to the east entrance to Yellowstone.

This is the easiest route from Buffalo.

I can't remember if I confirmed this plan with anyone from this forum.

Coming west on 90...I think I read somewhere that I should avoid 14 heading through the Bighorn National Forest? It's better to head south on 16, catch 20N and then join back up with 14W.
Can anyone second that plan?

RGar974417 wrote:
We were just in Yellowstone in May.I would head to Yellowstone first. We took I-70 to I 72 and then I-74 to Missouri Rt36. This is a great alternative to I-70 across Missuori. It's 4 lane and 65mph. We stayed at Pershing State Park which is right off Rt36. It has electric hookups and was $19 a night. From 36 we hit I-29 north to I-80. The next night we stayed at Lake Olagalla Recreation area. This is a beautiful campground under tall trees on a lake with electric hookups.The showers need some work but the park itself was nice.$18 with electric. The next day we got off I -80 at Rawlins and headed up 287/26. That night we stayed in Dubois at the Longhorn Ranch and RV Park. $49 a night for full hookups. Very nice campground on the Wind River. The bath rooms were about the nicest we ever saw. Each one was like your bathroom at home with toilet,sink and shower. From there we stayed at Madison in Yellowstone. It's nice and centrally located but no hookups. We spent 4 days in the park. We should have spent 2 more. Yellowstone is huge and you will do alot of driving.The Inn at Old Faithful is beautiful. We ate dinner there. Good food and the prices weren't bad.From Yellowstone I would head out the Cody entrance and work my way over to I-90 which will take you into South Dakota. We stayed Rafter J campground. Very nice full hookup. But if I did it again, I would stay in Custer State Park.They now have electric hookups and there is so much to see in the park. While there hit Mt Rushmore. We also liked the Cosmos and Bear Country USA. Then head east to the badlands and Wall Drug. Bandlands has a campground with electric hookups. From there head back to I-29 and retrace your route back home.

Did you seriously drive right through the Grand Tetons and not stop for a stay?

Relax. don;t over plan. At first the West is all new and different. Yellowstone is your only "must see." Don't get anxious about trying not to miss something. It takes a lifetime and multiple trips just to get the highlights.

We were just in Yellowstone in May.I would head to Yellowstone first. We took I-70 to I 72 and then I-74 to Missouri Rt36. This is a great alternative to I-70 across Missuori. It's 4 lane and 65mph. We stayed at Pershing State Park which is right off Rt36. It has electric hookups and was $19 a night. From 36 we hit I-29 north to I-80. The next night we stayed at Lake Olagalla Recreation area. This is a beautiful campground under tall trees on a lake with electric hookups.The showers need some work but the park itself was nice.$18 with electric. The next day we got off I -80 at Rawlins and headed up 287/26. That night we stayed in Dubois at the Longhorn Ranch and RV Park. $49 a night for full hookups. Very nice campground on the Wind River. The bath rooms were about the nicest we ever saw. Each one was like your bathroom at home with toilet,sink and shower. From there we stayed at Madison in Yellowstone. It's nice and centrally located but no hookups. We spent 4 days in the park. We should have spent 2 more. Yellowstone is huge and you will do alot of driving.The Inn at Old Faithful is beautiful. We ate dinner there. Good food and the prices weren't bad.From Yellowstone I would head out the Cody entrance and work my way over to I-90 which will take you into South Dakota. We stayed Rafter J campground. Very nice full hookup. But if I did it again, I would stay in Custer State Park.They now have electric hookups and there is so much to see in the park. While there hit Mt Rushmore. We also liked the Cosmos and Bear Country USA. Then head east to the badlands and Wall Drug. Bandlands has a campground with electric hookups. From there head back to I-29 and retrace your route back home.

Agree with 2Gypsies. From I-90, take hwy l6 from Buffalo to Worland, then hwy l6-20 to Greybull, then hwy14-20 to Cody and continue to the east entrance to Yellowstone. Last year, we stayed several days in Gardiner & visited the northern part of Yellowston, then stayed several days in West Yellowstone to visit the southern part of Yellowstone. Both locations are just outside the park. We camped at Jackson Lake campground to visit Grand Teton N.P. Reservations are definitely needed early if you want to stay within the park. MANY things to see in Yellowstone. Have a great trip.

Hi,
We had an amazing time doing that trip this summer (except coming from SW MO). There's so much to see. I've been blogging about our trip. You can find links to my posts with lots of photos, campground reviews, and suggestions here: Road Trip. I haven't covered Yellowstone yet, but I will be doing it soon.

We did enter Yellowstone at the east entrance. If you are going into Cody, WY, the part of the trip that you need to pay attention to is through the Big Horns. There are 3 routes--one isn't recommended for RVs, one is adventurous but doable, and one is relatively easy (that's the one we took--Highway 16). The part from Cody into Yellowstone is no problem at all.

Have fun trip planning!

2gypsies wrote:

Rangerman40 wrote:


That second day was a bit of a bear. I think I drove like 14hrs that day with two kids under 5.... unfortunately I only get so much vacation a year so I had to make the drive count.

It's the kids I feel sorry for! Wow!! We've taken 2-week vacations but the kids were older so they could remember the trip. This is a case where the wife should know how to drive to relieve you if you feel you need to cover that many hours on the road.

14hrs driving is nothing for me. We stopped plenty to walk around and take breaks. The kids had plenty of entertainment to keep them occupied. Believe me, you don't want my wife pulling our fiver lol.