Yellowstone Trip

[Ranger_Smith]

Going out to Yellowstone in June. Have reservations for a week outside of west entrance. After there going to Cody out through East entrance then over to Devils Tower and then Mt. Rushmore for the 4th of July. Then going east on 90 to visit kids in Massachusetts.

Best route out of Cody is supposedly Rte. 14 to 30 to 20 to 16 to 90.

Anyone ever done this route and comments and suggestions appreciated.

Seems the route through Yellowstone out to the East is fairly easy.

We'll be in our 40' Itasca Meridian with our toad following faithfully.

[ppine]

The Bighorns are a little tougher route, but one of the great mountain ranges in America. Don't miss it.

[Jack_Spratt]

TexasShadow wrote:
if you have time, take a day drive out of Cody and drive the Chief Joseph scenic highway up to Bear Tooth Pass and down to Red Lodge MT and back to Cody. Great drive!!!! not for pulling a trailer or motorhome!
Cody to Ten Sleep to Buffalo and 90 on to Devil's tower. Crossing on 16 is the easiest of the three routes, but not a piece of cake, either. Going up out of Ten Sleep is not a hard climb. Going down to Buffalo is a lonnnnng descent, so watch your brakes. Other than that, it's a gorgeous drive, and there is water and a dump station up near the top of the pass.

We did the route in the other direction, ie north through the park and south on the
Chief Joseph Trail and felt that it was a lot easier on the brakes, very scenic either way.

Going through the Bighorn Tetons on the southern route with a class c towing a Jeep was not intimidating, but all ten cylinders were churning.
It would not be a good route to drive at night, as sheep or deer crossing the road
are tough enough to deal with in daylight.

Mid September it was 80 in Cody and snowing on the way into
the park.

[PartyOf_Five]

Buffalo bill state park has some nice sites by the river

[TexasShadow]

if you have time, take a day drive out of Cody and drive the Chief Joseph scenic highway up to Bear Tooth Pass and down to Red Lodge MT and back to Cody. Great drive!!!! not for pulling a trailer or motorhome!
Cody to Ten Sleep to Buffalo and 90 on to Devil's tower. Crossing on 16 is the easiest of the three routes, but not a piece of cake, either. Going up out of Ten Sleep is not a hard climb. Going down to Buffalo is a lonnnnng descent, so watch your brakes. Other than that, it's a gorgeous drive, and there is water and a dump station up near the top of the pass.

[jkwilson]

vjstangelo wrote:
We did that route 1 time. It is a steep, mountainous, twisting set of switchbacks going up and then down to Sheridan. I have never done it again because we nearly burned up the transmission on the climb (burning smell came through the ventilation and we quickly pulled over to cool off the rig).

It you have done this type of road and are comfortable doing it, it is doable with great care.

Are you talking about the Burgess route or OPs southern route?

[vjstangelo]

We did that route 1 time. It is a steep, mountainous, twisting set of switchbacks going up and then down to Sheridan. I have never done it again because we nearly burned up the transmission on the climb (burning smell came through the ventilation and we quickly pulled over to cool off the rig).

It you have done this type of road and are comfortable doing it, it is doable with great care.

[Ranger_Smith]

TechWriter wrote:
We stayed at the Yellowstone West Entrance last September. You'll love it.

Suggest you sign up for a Yellowstone tour and let someone else do the driving as it's a huge park.

Kool . . . Last time we were there was in 1998 and drove to Old Faithful on the Harley. It got really cold and we actually were in some snow flurries then.We did not need reservations then and stayed at Fishing Bridge Campground there.

[TechWriter]

We stayed at the Yellowstone West Entrance last September. You'll love it.

Suggest you sign up for a Yellowstone tour and let someone else do the driving as it's a huge park.

[hornet28]

BarabooBob wrote:
I personally love going over the Bighorn Mtn on 14a but agree that for most people it is not a good idea. I don't mind the extreme nature of 14a. I have gone over it in both directions with a variety of vehicle combinations.

I have also gone over on 16 and would highly recommend it to most people. You will still be doing some steep and twisted roads.

I feel the same way about 14 & 14A

[KLYoung]

We took that route last September pulling 26' trailer. Loved it going that way.

[BarabooBob]

I personally love going over the Bighorn Mtn on 14a but agree that for most people it is not a good idea. I don't mind the extreme nature of 14a. I have gone over it in both directions with a variety of vehicle combinations.

I have also gone over on 16 and would highly recommend it to most people. You will still be doing some steep and twisted roads.

[Ranger_Smith]

We were planning to stay in Cody for 2 days to see the sites there

[westernrvparkow]

That route takes you over the Bighorn Mountains. Doable, but steep in spots. If your plans include staying a day or two in Cody (Buffalo Bill Historical Center is AMAZING!), it's the best route. Whatever you do, do not take 14A to Burgess Junction. The Southern route you have planned , (over the Bighorns thru Ten Sleep and in to Buffalo) is the best route.
If you don't intend to stop in Cody and are just looking for the best route from Yellowstone to the Black Hills, just leave West Yellowstone and go north on 191 to Bozeman and pick up I-90 there. It will be a few miles longer, but a couple of hours shorter, especially if you take 212 from Garryowen (site of Little Bighorn Battle) over to Belle Fourche, SD then down to Sturgis.

[ppine]

Yellowstone is mostly a large Plateau. The east gate route takes you through the Shoshone River Valley. My favorite place to see moose. No that hard, but you to keep your eyes on the road.