Yellowstone Area - 3 days - Questions
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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Yellowstone Area - 3 days - Questions
Planning on a West-East coast trip this year and having some 'planning issues' around the Yellowstone area.
We have 3 days planned in this area (with one day being planned as a "down day") and I'm having trouble figuring out how to "slice it".
We're coming from Seattle, probably rt90, rt93, rt28, down to Grand Tetons and up into Yellowstone.
Thinking of hotel in Rexburg, ID then riding Tetons, to Old Faithful and onto Cooke City for the night.
Then off to Beartooth highway and Cody for the next night
the next day being a 'down day' to do whatever.
Then off to Sturgis and beyond....
OR
Rexburg, ID to Tetons, to Old Faithful to Cooke City for the night
Then off to Mammoth (or just straight thru park) then thru the park to Cody for the night
Then in our "off day" we ride from Cody to Red Lodge via Beartooth highway
Then Red Lodge to Sturgis area next day...
I know these options are aggressive but we have 17 days on the road to get from San Fran to Seattle and back to Maine....
Your Thoughts/options.....
We have 3 days planned in this area (with one day being planned as a "down day") and I'm having trouble figuring out how to "slice it".
We're coming from Seattle, probably rt90, rt93, rt28, down to Grand Tetons and up into Yellowstone.
Thinking of hotel in Rexburg, ID then riding Tetons, to Old Faithful and onto Cooke City for the night.
Then off to Beartooth highway and Cody for the next night
the next day being a 'down day' to do whatever.
Then off to Sturgis and beyond....
OR
Rexburg, ID to Tetons, to Old Faithful to Cooke City for the night
Then off to Mammoth (or just straight thru park) then thru the park to Cody for the night
Then in our "off day" we ride from Cody to Red Lodge via Beartooth highway
Then Red Lodge to Sturgis area next day...
I know these options are aggressive but we have 17 days on the road to get from San Fran to Seattle and back to Maine....
Your Thoughts/options.....
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 919
Likes: 245
I'd say one of the things to consider is the day you're leaving the area. Highway 14 across Wyoming is more enjoyable than the i90 in that section of Montana. Once you hit Billings it doesn't change too much, though there is Custer Battlefield Museum on it.
Haven lived out there I drove that section of i90 to Billings a lot. Not a lot to look at, it's like Buffalo to Gillette, though very beautiful in the winter when it's iced over. You can go from Red Lodge down to Lovell to use Highway 14. It will be about an hour longer of a ride than the i90 to Billings and Highway 212 to Strugis, but that's a long boring shot and much rather see the area if I'm going to be out there. Highway 14 goes through, i90 goes around (in that area).
Leaving Cody might have less backtracking than Red Lodge, but I would leave it up to how much of what kind of riding do you want to the day before. Beartooth will take you away from Cody up to Red Lodge.
Your best bet for lunch will be Sheridan or Billings.
I'm now over in the Seattle area if you have any questions around it.
Haven lived out there I drove that section of i90 to Billings a lot. Not a lot to look at, it's like Buffalo to Gillette, though very beautiful in the winter when it's iced over. You can go from Red Lodge down to Lovell to use Highway 14. It will be about an hour longer of a ride than the i90 to Billings and Highway 212 to Strugis, but that's a long boring shot and much rather see the area if I'm going to be out there. Highway 14 goes through, i90 goes around (in that area).
Leaving Cody might have less backtracking than Red Lodge, but I would leave it up to how much of what kind of riding do you want to the day before. Beartooth will take you away from Cody up to Red Lodge.
Your best bet for lunch will be Sheridan or Billings.
I'm now over in the Seattle area if you have any questions around it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,586
Likes: 7,969
From: Long Island, New York
When we went in 2013 after Sturgis. Here is my suggestion, just do it in reverse.
After a night in Cody we road into the park, East entrance. Went across the park via Norris-Canyon Road to West Yellowstone stopping at all POS on the road.
Next day (down day) road back into park, West entrance and did the Grand Loop- Mammoth road, again hitting all POS.
Last day left West Yellowstone, into park West gate and took the road to the South Gate and Tetons. Old Faithful was on the way, stopped with a packed lunch, saw the show then continued on. Saw the Tetons and got to Jackson for the night.
None of the days were big ride days and I felt we got to see a lot of the park. I agree a full week would be ideal, maybe another time.
Have fun.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/maps.htm
After a night in Cody we road into the park, East entrance. Went across the park via Norris-Canyon Road to West Yellowstone stopping at all POS on the road.
Next day (down day) road back into park, West entrance and did the Grand Loop- Mammoth road, again hitting all POS.
Last day left West Yellowstone, into park West gate and took the road to the South Gate and Tetons. Old Faithful was on the way, stopped with a packed lunch, saw the show then continued on. Saw the Tetons and got to Jackson for the night.
None of the days were big ride days and I felt we got to see a lot of the park. I agree a full week would be ideal, maybe another time.
Have fun.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 293
From: Too close, Pa
Did that a couple years back a night in Jackson Wy then into Yellowstone and out to Cody. Had a good time at the rodeo in Cody. From there we went over the Cheif Joseph Highway and up over the Beartooth pass and into Red Lodge. Then we took 308 east to north on 72 then 310 south to 14 east across the bighorn mountains. 14 is a great ride then hit 90 down to Sturgis. One thing for sure there really is some great riding out that way. Enjoy
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 46
From: Las Vegas
We didn't do a lot of stopping but, from Jackson thru Teton & Yellowstone, out north (?) gate then chief Joseph I guess down to Cody in a day. Not sure there is much accommodations up red lodge way but plenty of nice roads. Not much east of there though
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 210
From: Montana
I would get the beartooth done and head into Cody to Sturgis, not so sure I would go all the way down to Jackson hole and back up to cookcity if it was me. Don't get me wrong it's pretty down there but the ride to redlodge then over for lunch at cookcity on to Cody is a better plan on limited time in my opinion. Then from Cody to Sturgis. That takes a full day but the ride is worth it, and you have a better chance at a place to stay going this way.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
I'll add a suggestion for a little earlier in your route. If I can swing it, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to Highway 12 along the Clearwater River and over Lolo Pass. So I would set my sites on Lewiston, ID and head to Lolo, MT from there. I like your plan to take 93 to Salmon and on down to Rexburg (though I might detour into Missoula for an ice cream cone at the Big Dipper, especially if it was dinner time).
From Jackson, you could ride up into Yellowstone and spent the day tooling around there, seeing whatever you want to see, and end the day in Gardiner, Cooke City, or Cody -- whichever strikes your fancy. I think I would do Gardiner or Cooke City. From any of those cities your next day could be Beartooth to Red Lodge (lunch at Red Lodge Pizza) back over the Beartooth, and return to -- I would do Cody that night (rodeo, etc.). If you have another day, just spend it doing what you liked or missed the previous two days. Another road I really like that I think most people miss is from Columbus MT to Red Lodge. One option for that would be to ride from Gardiner up to Livingston along the Yellowstone, then down to Columbus, thence to Red Lodge.
Lots and lots of options in the area. I don't think you can pick a bad road.
From Jackson, you could ride up into Yellowstone and spent the day tooling around there, seeing whatever you want to see, and end the day in Gardiner, Cooke City, or Cody -- whichever strikes your fancy. I think I would do Gardiner or Cooke City. From any of those cities your next day could be Beartooth to Red Lodge (lunch at Red Lodge Pizza) back over the Beartooth, and return to -- I would do Cody that night (rodeo, etc.). If you have another day, just spend it doing what you liked or missed the previous two days. Another road I really like that I think most people miss is from Columbus MT to Red Lodge. One option for that would be to ride from Gardiner up to Livingston along the Yellowstone, then down to Columbus, thence to Red Lodge.
Lots and lots of options in the area. I don't think you can pick a bad road.
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