Yellowstone Trip

[WorkTooMuch]

Planning a trip to Yellowstone. Will be leaving out of the Houston area. Any suggestions on best route for sight seeing?

[jalichty]

Who really cares if your neighbors are close, and in the dry part of Colter Bay, that is not true. The guys is going there to see the parks and won't be spending a whole bunch of time in the campground anyway.

[Allworth]

We havs started from Florida and gone via Dallas which is sorta the same starting place as you. Suggestions

Big Bend
Guadalupe Mountains
Carlsbad Caverns
Santa Fe
I-25
Colorado Springs
Pike's Peak
Cheyenne
Lander
Grand Teton
Yellowstone
West Yellowstone for Camp Grounds

There are probably no sites within Yellowstone for this Summer (only Fishing Bridge has hookups).

Grand Teton can be recommended only if you really like being close to your neighbors.

Both are beautiful, but not for staying in except during late Spring or early Fall. There are also CGs in Gardner, just outside the North Gate/Arch, near the Springs.

[grampscamper]

Just got back from Yellowstone but drove from Toronto so can't help with route. We stayed in Colter Bay Campground for 4 nights than 3 nights in West Yellowstone at Grizzly RV Park. Both were great campgrounds to use as your base for site seeing. We enjoyed Jackson Hole & Grand Teton National Park. Go to the visitor centers. They will offer great ideas for exploring.
Enjoy the trip.

[Cajun_Bill]

"Once in Cody there is the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum. This a very interesting museum that you should definitely stop at. Plan at least a half day to go through it."

X2, great place, took us a day and a half to see it all.

[4huskers]

We live north of Ft. Worth and took US 287 to Dumas, then US 87 to Raton. I25 to Ft. Collins and then US 287 to Laramine, I80 to Rawlins and 287 through Lander and Dubois. I'd try to time it so you're going down the west side of Togwotee Pass early morning to catch one of the most beautiful views of the Tetons there is. We did it two years ago and the road were good all the way. If your navi tries to route you over to US 385 between Amarillo and Dumas stay on 287, much smoother. Feel free to PM me.

[Bighorns]

Take I25 North once you get into New Mexico or Colorado, depending on what route you take when you leave Texas. Take this all the way to Buffalo, Wyoming which is where I25 ends. Once in Buffalo take US Hwy 16 over the Big Horn Mountains to Tensleep, Wyoming on through to Worland, Wyoming, Basin Wyoming, Greybull, Wyoming and into Cody, Wyoming. Outside of Cody will take you into the East Entrance. There are quite a few places to stop for the great scenery going over the Big Horns. You might even see some moose or elk if it is the right time of day. Buffalo has a nice little museum and other historical places. Once in Cody there is the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum. This a very interesting museum that you should definitely stop at. Plan at least a half day to go through it. Cody also has a number of other summer activities for tourists. Just outside of Cody on your route to the East Entrance is the Buffalo Bill dam/ reservoir that has a nice visitors center. The scenery between Tensleep & Cody isn't all that great but it is only a 2 hr. drive. Kind of a long note here but I am kind of partial to this area since I grew up here and still live close to all of it. I spend several days in the Big Horns camping and hunting throughout the year. Private message me if you need anymore info or advice on this route. Would be glad to help or even guide you through part of it once you get to Buffalo if its the right time of the week!!
Have Fun & safe trip. 🙂

[DesertHawk]

Here's a Recent Post on Yellowstone & Wyoming Sites & Sights, maybe something in it will be of help.

At Cheyenne, I'd use I-25 up to Casper then west from there to Moran Junction in the Tetons north of Jackson (miss having to tread your way on somewhat narrow city streets of Jackson). Jackson is a town in the Jackson Hole valley of Teton County.

One could take advantage of the Overnighting Sites & Sights in the Douglas & Wheatland Area. Includes Guernsey & Fort Laramie Area found in the ^ above link.


As I mentioned the I-25 to Casper then US 20/26 to Moran in the Tetons, then up to Yellowstone. Thermopolis is off this route. One could go via Cody to Yellowstone as well & bypass the Tetons. More of a climb by going the Cody route. We entered via Cody once in the '90s. Came out that way in 2009.

We've gone by Thermopolis, WY twice to do a soak in the hot spring water at the State Bath House. Very neat. We overnighted in the Wind River Canyon in Aug '09 & at one of the Boysen State Park campgrounds by the lake some years ago. But each time, we had already gone to Yellowstone, before stopping.

thermopolis.com/todo/hot-springs-state-park/

Easiest Route would be the South entry from Rock Springs (US 191/189) & I have heard from Rawlins (US 287) is not bad, but it takes one up to US 26 which is basically like going to Casper then over. I've heard I-80 can have fierce sidewinds at times between Cheyenne & Rawlins. But have not driven it. I-25 can also have some nice winds blowing at times as well. After all it is in the plains. Lot of rolling grassland.

We have used the US 191 and/or US 189 a few times, but we were going up from farther west than Denver. Never used the up from Rawlins route. We exited from Moran to Casper, once (with a detour to the Hot Springs) & from Cody then to Casper (with a stop at the Springs) in 2009.

The Rock Springs Route wouldn't be very reasonable for someone coming up from Houston. IMHO.

Yea! Here's an older post: Houston to Yellowstone Question.

Lot of Sights & Sites in the above ^ link.

Basic Route would be to take I-45 N to US 287 N to Wichita Falls & onto Amarillo & Dumas. US 87 to Clayton, NM & on to I-25 N. Follow I-25 N to Casper.

Nice Rig TW,
Have a Great Trip.

[azdryheat]

In West Yellowstone you got to check out the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

http://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com/