I copied this from one of my posts on another thread, but it definitely applies to your trip as well. I wrote it for a trailer, but feel free to adapt it to your type of RV:
You might want to park the trailer in either Cooke City or Red Lodge, MT. Then you can take one of the most scenic loop drives in the Lower 48. US 212 goes over Beartooth Pass from Red Lodge to Cooke City, then you can loop back to the start via WY 296 and 120 and MT 72. It is 115 miles RT from Red Lodge and is slow, with wicked curves and grades, so it is NOT a 60-mph drive. If you are up to driving on mountain roads and like photography, it's hard to beat!
Just look up "Beartooth highway" on the Web and read the comments. Here are just a couple of reviews of US 212 that I pulled off the Web:
"We randomly decided to take a day and drive this road during our three week trip to Montana and Wyoming. I shudder to think that we almost didn't do this drive. It was AMAZING. AMAZING. Absolutely one of the highlights of our long trip. Worth taking the time, worth leaving Yellowstone, worth any amount of trouble or effort to do........ this drive was one of the best of my globe-trotting life. You won't see more lovely scenery anywhere."
"We just stumbled upon this drive after deciding to take the NE route out of Yellowstone toward Billings. Amazing sights all the way up, and at the crest, we wondered what would be on the other side, and as the stunning views of the canyon appeared we stopped to take it all in, and take some photographs, but pictures, even movies could not capture the experience."
fanrgs wrote: I copied this from one of my posts on another thread, but it definitely applies to your trip as well. I wrote it for a trailer, but feel free to adapt it to your type of RV:
You might want to park the trailer in either Cooke City or Red Lodge, MT. Then you can take one of the most scenic loop drives in the Lower 48. US 212 goes over Beartooth Pass from Red Lodge to Cooke City, then you can loop back to the start via WY 296 and 120 and MT 72. It is 115 miles RT from Red Lodge and is slow, with wicked curves and grades, so it is NOT a 60-mph drive. If you are up to driving on mountain roads and like photography, it's hard to beat!
Just look up "Beartooth highway" on the Web and read the comments. Here are just a couple of reviews of US 212 that I pulled off the Web:
"We randomly decided to take a day and drive this road during our three week trip to Montana and Wyoming. I shudder to think that we almost didn't do this drive. It was AMAZING. AMAZING. Absolutely one of the highlights of our long trip. Worth taking the time, worth leaving Yellowstone, worth any amount of trouble or effort to do........ this drive was one of the best of my globe-trotting life. You won't see more lovely scenery anywhere."
"We just stumbled upon this drive after deciding to take the NE route out of Yellowstone toward Billings. Amazing sights all the way up, and at the crest, we wondered what would be on the other side, and as the stunning views of the canyon appeared we stopped to take it all in, and take some photographs, but pictures, even movies could not capture the experience."
Have a great trip, regardless of the route!
Drove it on a motorcycle in July of 2010. Man, what a ride!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you go through there, watch out for the motorcycles, they are usually moving pretty quickly on all the curvy roads.
Keith
Keith, Gloria & Charlie(Spoiled Rotten Boston Terrier)
2010 Damon Astoria 3470
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
USAF 1968-1976 Viet Nam Veteran
Whatever you skip, don't let it be Yellowstone!! It is awesome for you AND the kids. You can do most of it in 3 days, though. We always stay at Fishing Bridge which is right in the middle and you can take a different route each day with your toad. to see all the wonders of that route. Then the last day pack up and head south to the Tetons and enjoy the wonderful hiking and float trips for a couple of days. Cody is a good overnighter to see the museums and old town. Make sure to take the drive in your toad over Beartooth Highway!
2007 Jayco 23B
2009 E350 Ford Club Wagon 5.4 w/ tow pkg
Equalizer hitch, Prodigy P3 brake controller
Buddy 125 Scooter-FUN!
1997 Coleman Sunridge- Served us well for 11 years!
HTT to be? wrote: Did you make any reservations for YS yet??
Yes I did but didn't get them for the time period we wanted. Ya'-snooze-ya'-looze..
So far I have July 18-22 at the Colter Bay RV resort to explore the Grand Teton area (4 full days). Pack up and head two hours N for the 23-28th at Yellowstone's Fishing Bridge park (4 full days).
Now I have to figure out the before's and after's. Still trying to figure this out and give myself some wiggle room.
I just don't think I can get 600 miles a day pulling that 40' beast @ 60MPH with all the "pottie" breaks, he(or)she is touching me smackdowns, fubar'd back, etc..
I hate to say it I just don't think there will be enough time to get to Glacier NP..
* This post was
edited 02/14/12 01:11pm by Aahhyes68 *
2009 Cardinal 38BHQSLE
2008 GMC 3500/CC/D/A
DW,DD & two DS's. Life is good
Were you still hoping for more days at YS? Keep checking as they often have cancellations, or do a few days w/o hookups at one of the other great campgrounds in YS. It will cut down on your driving around. Or, if you just gotta have hookups, spend a few nights in West Yellowstone or Gardiner. Yor original post said 7-9 days for YS.
4 days for the Tetons at Colter Bay is perfect. Beautiful park, and campground.If your up for a raft trip, take a Barker Ewing senic trip in the morning. It floats the Snake right at the base of the Mountains and is a great trip for kids as well. Or, if you like the whitewater action, they have a trip out of Jackson that is a blast! You get soaked, but it is a ton of FUN!
Jackson has a Rodeo that is fairly cheap. Last year they had a family deal for $22. They have a shootout in the square as well. We always spend a day in town, starts with a raft trip, walk around/shop, shootout and then the Rodeo. A full day, but then we are done with town and enjoy the park the rest of the time.
Depart MI July, 12 @ 06:00:
7/12 travel 4-500 miles, find someplace to camp.
7/13 "Ditto"
7/14 travel 2-300 miles to destination in Hill City, ND. Relax and drink heavily.
7/15,16 & 17 See Sights Yet To Be Determined. Alternate Beatings Between Children.
7/18 travel 500 miles to destination: Colter Bay/Grand Tetons, WY.
7/19-22 See Sights Yet To Be Determined. Alternate Beatings Between Children.
7/23 travel >100 miles to Yellowstone, Fishing Bridge.
7/24-27 See Sights Yet To Be Determined. Alternate Beatings Between Children.
7/28 travel N to E I-94, 4-500 through MT,ND, find someplace to camp.
7/29-8/1 keep heading E returning to MI through the UP. MAYBE, find a camp and relax for a day somewhere during these days.
8/2 Whew.....
I guess if the opportunity presents itself we could stay an extra day in Yellowstone but...... we will see.
Now....... I have to come up with options of things that we have/want to do at each of the three destinations. I'm getting a headache.. LOL...
7/18 trip from Hill City SD to Colter Bay- that will be a LONG day. This is slow going and think you would be wise to have an overnight in perhaps Cody, or maybe you are heading South and going thru Riverton? Don't get me wrong, it can be done in a day, but it will be slower than the interstate, and even slower going once you enter YS. You had better clean up camp the night before so as to get on the road quicker in the AM.
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