I'm looking at traveling through Yellowstone in July or August. My route will take me from Cooke City to Gardiner MT. What kind of traffic can I expect.

 

We did the same route in reverse first week of August, because you are in the most northern part of the park it's actually not that bad, except if there's wildlife then all bets are off...we actually saw mamma bear with 2 cubs right on the culvert of the road not more than 10 feet away from the bikes......traffic stopped but that was it..

 

Spent a week riding around Yellowstone and the Tetons in 2014. Several times we got stuck in traffic stalled by people who stopped in the middle of the road to take pics/video of animals near the road. Sometimes we were stopped for 15-30 minutes. I understand stopping for animals in the road, but lots of people just stopped on the road to see animals 50-100 yards away.

Spectacular place, amazing geysers, awesome animals, and too many stupid humans.

 

Entrance fees are going to 70.00 per car. Interesting to see the effect on traffic.

 

Be prepared for traffic jams.

 

Get to the entrances early to avoid lines and be prepared to get stuck behind a rented motor home being driven by someone who has never driven a motorhome before!! Even if you get caught up in slow traffic, the scenery makes up for the delay. BTW, the guards at the gates let us use 2 bikes on the pass as opposed to 1 car per pass....Heading back in Sept, WHOO HOO!!!!!

 

if there's as much as a squirrel near the road, expect a total traffic stand still.

 

You did not mention if you will be 4 or 2 wheels. 4 wheels will be an issue as mentioned above, anything considered wildlife will bring it all to a full stop and pulling into a parking area is a total cluster F. But on 2 wheels I take the needed liberties and rarely "stop" just go around people when possible and get where I gotta go. Not exactly white lining, you are just going around people at 5-10 MPH while they are stopped. Parking same thing, pull in and look for a zebra striped corner and get off the bike. National Parks are about 100% better on the bike anyway regardless of the traffic. Good luck.

PS on 2 wheels I would not not be concerned about the traffic.

 

I have a buddy who lives in Jackson hole, when ever we ride out that way he will lead us though park!! he is a pro at navigating though the tourists.. I learned from him real fast just go around the cars that stop for deer and antelope just keep on moving or you will get caught for long periods.

stay to the middle and keep rolling slowly

 

I checked for hotels in June all around that area, even 100 miles away, lot of them are already booked, and expensive too