Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: General RVing Issues: Opinions on Yellowstone trip
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 > Opinions on Yellowstone trip

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dodge guy

Bartlett IL

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Posted: 02/11/23 06:37am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

fj12ryder wrote:

MFL wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

You will have mountain passes anywhere you go. Personally I would go into the park through RedLodge and over the Bear Tooth Highway. Amazing scenery and takes through Cooke City. For me this is a great way to come into the park!


While I agree with much of this, I would not want to take 212 (bear tooth highway) from Laurel, towing a heavy trailer. That road uses many switch backs, tight turns, followed by steep climbs. Again, I have ridden this highway on a motorcycle, great fun. Stayed at Red Lodge KOA (nice place) I still think best option is to enter from Cody, and a no brainer, if you are already at Ten Sleep.

These areas...weather, ya never know? You take your chances!

I towed enclosed snowmobile trailers 6 times from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. Often a challenge, sometimes a wait, while plows were doing their job. This was in Winter though!

I motorcycled through Glacier Park, late July, right after they got 14"s of snow overnight. While I was riding up highway to the sun, skiers were skiing down next to the road.

Jerry
Jerry, I think he was being facetious about coming over Bear Tooth Pass pulling a trailer when the OP was trying to avoid mountain driving. [emoticon]


I did it with my Excursion and 35ft TT. I just took it slow and used the pullouts to stop and get some pics. Yes there are a lot of switchbacks, but I’ve seen way worse.
We stayed at Perry’s RV Park in Red Lodge. The other thing one could do is stay there and do an early trip up to the top of the Beartooth and then come back down and drive around to Cody. But at that point it’s so close to get into Yellowstone I would just take 212. I wasn’t the only RV or Trailer up there that day.


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fj12ryder

Platte City, MO

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Posted: 02/11/23 07:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

dodge guy wrote:

I did it with my Excursion and 35ft TT. I just took it slow and used the pullouts to stop and get some pics. Yes there are a lot of switchbacks, but I’ve seen way worse.
We stayed at Perry’s RV Park in Red Lodge. The other thing one could do is stay there and do an early trip up to the top of the Beartooth and then come back down and drive around to Cody. But at that point it’s so close to get into Yellowstone I would just take 212. I wasn’t the only RV or Trailer up there that day.
But the whole point of this thread was suggestions on avoiding mountainous routes. [emoticon]


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Grit dog

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Posted: 02/11/23 09:01am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

bsbeedub wrote:

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?


That routes fine, no mountain passes or hairy schitt. 3 year old tires are fine. The rest of the garble about driving the bear tooth and whatever…..whatever.
Why would an experienced RVer be asking these questions is the question?
Pro tip. If you look at a map. Most any topographical road map either paper or phone or online, you can SEE mountain passes. It’s such a cool thing I learned in like 1980 when I was 8 years old and looked at a AAA roadmap of a western state for the first time. You should try it.
And also check your abilities before pulling the land yacht. These are questions and responses that indicate some lack of skill or ability is present.


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dodge guy

Bartlett IL

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Posted: 02/12/23 06:13am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

fj12ryder wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

I did it with my Excursion and 35ft TT. I just took it slow and used the pullouts to stop and get some pics. Yes there are a lot of switchbacks, but I’ve seen way worse.
We stayed at Perry’s RV Park in Red Lodge. The other thing one could do is stay there and do an early trip up to the top of the Beartooth and then come back down and drive around to Cody. But at that point it’s so close to get into Yellowstone I would just take 212. I wasn’t the only RV or Trailer up there that day.
But the whole point of this thread was suggestions on avoiding mountainous routes. [emoticon]


Yes, I know they specifically said that, but they (or anyone) miss out on so much scenery it would be a shame to avoid them. Yes the Beartooth isn’t for everyone but there are options like I mentioned on stating in Red Lodge and driving the Beartooth without the trailer. And then backtracking around to Cody.

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