Yellowstone closed roads?

[MarkieBob]

We’re planning a trip north from Thermopolis WY around Yellowstone into Montana and west to Washington state. I’ve heard some roads are still closed from flooding around Yellowstone. My best route north?

[MarkieBob]

Thanks. It looked like 120 would be easy. Now if the snow would just realize it isn’t winter anymore!

[paulj]

Here as in Washington, if it isn't National Forest, it's going to be open range land, with relatively straight and flat roads. Google Maps terrain mode gives more details.

Most questions about the area have to do with crossing from east to Yellowstone. For that the Big Horn Mtns are the main concern, with US16 easiest, US14A hardest. And going into Yellowstone, there's climb west from Cody, and another seasonal drive NW to US212 and the NE entrance.

And south of Termopolis the highway goes through a canyon, with at least on tunnel.

Otherwise, I think wind will be more of an issue than grades or curves.

[CloudDriver]

We used route 120 from Thermopolis to Cody and then on North. 120 becomes 72 at the MT border then joins 310 and 212 up to I90 at Laurel. All good 2 lane road. No mountain driving or grades.

[MarkieBob]

thanks for your replies. We will be passing thermopolis and heading north before the month of May starts—probably around April 23-26. Since Yellowstone is closed we might go north from thermopolis through Cody up to Bridger Montana by highway 120; or north through Worland and up Highway 310 to Bridger. Are these roads ok for 32 foot motorhome and toad?

[paulj]

Are you asking about roads within Yellowstone, or state roads going around it. The big flooding news last year was on the north side of the park, the north entrance through Gardinier, US89. That was washed out in many places. I haven't kept up with repair or reroutes. Maintaining access to Gardinier and Cooke City is a winter priority.

I also recall flooding images around Red Lodge on US212, but I don't think that was severely damaged. US212 is closed for the winter, with a late opening.

The Google Maps closures in the park mention either April 5 or May 26 for opening. Other than 212, I don't see any closures outside the park.

ON the park's road conditions page the only mention I find about flood damage is

Northeast Entrance Road (Flood Recovery)
Location: East of Tower Junction between Lamar Canyon and the Northeast Entrance
Access: Expect up to 30-minute delays beginning early summer 2023 through fall 2023.
Improvements: This project includes the completion of work to address flood-damaged areas of the Northeast Entrance Road. Construction will include completion of a two-lane realignment in Lamar Canyon, paving a second lift north of the Trout Lake Trailhead, stabilization of streambanks adjacent to the road, and work in the Pebble Creek Campground and Warm Creek Picnic Area. Additionally, some guardrails, culverts, and other drainage structures will be replaced.

The rest looks like the usual winter reopening details.

[wapiticountry]

As in the previous post, check the road opening dates, it’s still winter in Montana. Also be aware if you choose to go out the North entrance the road is a temporary road to replace the road that was washed out last year. It may or may not be usable for a large RV towing. It has some steep sections and some extremely sharp corners. I wouldn’t be shocked if restrictions were to be put into place in the near future. (It only opened in October so there has been virtually no tourist traffic yet)

[enblethen]

This is the best place to get road information.Yellowstone Roads
When are you planning this trip?
After May 5 looks like north to Cody in East entrance. Then either north entrance via Norris basin or West yellowstone.