First: We’re traveling to Yellowstone in September of 2023 and will be staying at Fishing Bridge RV Park. We got our reservations on the first available day this past September. We’ll be at Devils Tower at one point and then an overnight in Ten Sleep, WY. I want to take the least mountainous route there is and it looks like US-16 out of Ten Sleep, south on US-20 to Thermopolis then north on WY-120 up to US-14 west through Cody and into the park’s east entrance.I’ve read that north out of Ten Sleep to US-14 west is much more mountainous. For those of you that are familiar with the trip, what are your thoughts on my route choice? Second:My 5er’s tires will be a few months shy of three years old when we begin our trip. I’m wondering if I should replace them beforehand. Opinions?

It's been a while since I've been that way, but seems to me once you've gotten to Ten Sleep you're over the worst of the winding roads. From there it's a coin toss up 16 to Greybull or 120 to Cody. As far as your tires, what brand and what size are you running? If you're running Westlake in an "E" rated 16", changing them out might not be a bad idea. They don't have a stellar reputation.

Did the same route last fall...US-16 is the better route across the Big Horn Mts (vs US-14) but still a decent climb and drop. That's really the mountainous part of getting from Devils Tower to Fishing Bridge. At 10 Sleep you are past the worst, the route isn't bad at all (north to Greybull then west to Cody). No reason to go way south to Thermopolis.As far as tires, assuming there are no other issues (balding, bubbles on the sidewall, etc...), 3yrs is fine. Typically around 6-7yrs is when you start to consider tires having aged out.

after my brother in law described driving on those direct routes I decided to just take the interstate around and entered in the North entrance to Yellowstone.bumpy

Agree with both replies above.I towed snowmobile trailers in the Bighorn Mts, and there are steep climbs coming from the east. Even in Winter the road from Buffalo, over powder river pass was good, but around 10K summit. I also rode motorcycle through the Bighorns, both routes, rode/camped near Cody, road all through Yellowstone. Riding MC much more enjoyable than towing!:)Curious why you chose Ten Sleep to overnight? Not much there, should be quiet though.Jerry

The road east of Ten Sleep goes thru a high mountain pass and was very snowy when we went thru west to east last late September. Cody thru the park on 14 was also high altitude and actively snowing hard and being plowed at the time. The hot springs at Thermopolis were a major disappointment, concrete pools inside a building. So be prepared for weather in the park. Of course I have been in snowstorms there in July. The park is high altitude 9000ft more or less. Cody rolls up the sidewalks at the end of September and all the RV parks close. Be sure to visit Lamar Valley if you want to see critters.I could not believe the prices at Fishing Bridge now.

Opinions on Yellowstone trip | Good Sam Community

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 08, 2023
It's been a while since I've been that way, but seems to me once you've gotten to Ten Sleep you're over the worst of the winding roads. From there it's a coin toss up 16 to Greybull or 120 to Cody.

As far as your tires, what brand and what size are you running? If you're running Westlake in an "E" rated 16", changing them out might not be a bad idea. They don't have a stellar reputation.
valhalla360
Navigator
Feb 08, 2023
Did the same route last fall...

US-16 is the better route across the Big Horn Mts (vs US-14) but still a decent climb and drop. That's really the mountainous part of getting from Devils Tower to Fishing Bridge.

At 10 Sleep you are past the worst, the route isn't bad at all (north to Greybull then west to Cody). No reason to go way south to Thermopolis.

As far as tires, assuming there are no other issues (balding, bubbles on the sidewall, etc...), 3yrs is fine. Typically around 6-7yrs is when you start to consider tires having aged out.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 08, 2023
after my brother in law described driving on those direct routes I decided to just take the interstate around and entered in the North entrance to Yellowstone.
bumpy
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 08, 2023
Agree with both replies above.

I towed snowmobile trailers in the Bighorn Mts, and there are steep climbs coming from the east. Even in Winter the road from Buffalo, over powder river pass was good, but around 10K summit.

I also rode motorcycle through the Bighorns, both routes, rode/camped near Cody, road all through Yellowstone. Riding MC much more enjoyable than towing!:)

Curious why you chose Ten Sleep to overnight? Not much there, should be quiet though.

Jerry
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 08, 2023
The road east of Ten Sleep goes thru a high mountain pass and was very snowy when we went thru west to east last late September. Cody thru the park on 14 was also high altitude and actively snowing hard and being plowed at the time. The hot springs at Thermopolis were a major disappointment, concrete pools inside a building.
So be prepared for weather in the park. Of course I have been in snowstorms there in July. The park is high altitude 9000ft more or less. Cody rolls up the sidewalks at the end of September and all the RV parks close. Be sure to visit Lamar Valley if you want to see critters.
I could not believe the prices at Fishing Bridge now.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 08, 2023
MFL wrote:
Agree with both replies above.

I towed snowmobile trailers in the Bighorn Mts, and there are steep climbs coming from the east. Even in Winter the road from Buffalo, over powder river pass was good, but around 10K summit.

I also rode motorcycle through the Bighorns, both routes, rode/camped near Cody, road all through Yellowstone. Riding MC much more enjoyable than towing!:)

Curious why you chose Ten Sleep to overnight? Not much there, should be quiet though.

Jerry
Jerry, you're right, those are some great motorcycle roads. The first time I went over to Cody, around 1976, 14-Alt. was still open and WOW!! what a ride. Took a short side trip to the Indian Medicine Wheel too.

A couple years ago we did a northern trip and I finally got to make it over Red Mountain Pass. Great ride even though cold.

Okay, sorry for the hijack.
bsbeedub
Explorer
Feb 08, 2023
valhalla360 wrote:
Did the same route last fall...

US-16 is the better route across the Big Horn Mts (vs US-14) but still a decent climb and drop. That's really the mountainous part of getting from Devils Tower to Fishing Bridge.

At 10 Sleep you are past the worst, the route isn't bad at all (north to Greybull then west to Cody). No reason to go way south to Thermopolis.

As far as tires, assuming there are no other issues (balding, bubbles on the sidewall, etc...), 3yrs is fine. Typically around 6-7yrs is when you start to consider tires having aged out.

Thermopolis looks like a cool little town. We thought the spring itself might be something interesting to see. Going through there is a bit longer but it is also something else to see on our trip.
bsbeedub
Explorer
Feb 08, 2023
agesilaus wrote:
The road east of Ten Sleep goes thru a high mountain pass and was very snowy when we went thru west to east last late September. Cody thru the park on 14 was also high altitude and actively snowing hard and being plowed at the time. The hot springs at Thermopolis were a major disappointment, concrete pools inside a building.
So be prepared for weather in the park. Of course I have been in snowstorms there in July. The park is high altitude 9000ft more or less. Cody rolls up the sidewalks at the end of September and all the RV parks close. Be sure to visit Lamar Valley if you want to see critters.
I could not believe the prices at Fishing Bridge now.

I didn’t know the weather could be so severe in late September. Now you’ve got me wondering!

The actual spring is what we want to see, not the concrete pools like you describe.

I realize Fishing Bridge is in the park but I was shocked to see the price: $99 a night! Wow!
Rocky2
Explorer
Feb 08, 2023
There are several commercial camps around Thermopolis. I wished I could remember the name of the one we stayed at. It was old school and the hot springs were scattered along the river. We went to the state park also which was just ok.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 08, 2023
I didn’t know the weather could be so severe in late September. Now you’ve got me wondering!

The weather in all these high altitude parks is very unpredictable. But the fact that the Cody RV parks close down then, makes me think it isn't all that unusual for that time of the year. The Park cg close down at the end of Sept too I believe. At least the Tetons cg do and Fishing Bridge was empty when we drove by on the way out.