Yellowstone Trip
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 354
Likes: 18
From: Maryland
Yellowstone Trip
Planning a trip out west for 2022. Input would be appreciated. Looking at 14- 16 days off. Head from Maryland on a Friday. Arriving in Sturgis Saturday afternoon for end of rally. Leave there Tuesday morning and head to Red Lodge. Stay one night at Red Lodge Inn and leave the trailer and vehicle there at a storage place I'm arranging. Wednesday morning head to Bear Tooth Pass, Chief Joseph Scenic Highway for day. Spend Wednesday and Thursday night in Cody, Wyoming at the Western Rose. Friday morning head out to Yellowstone for 4 or 5 days. Thinking of staying in West Yellowstone at the Alpine Inn. Upon completing the southern loop of the park I wanna head down to the Grand Tetons and spend a night or more in Jacksonhole, Wyoming.
Is one day enough with pics and dealers to do Bear Tooth & Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and make it to Cody not late in day? Should I plan on extra time for Cody?
Is one night enough in Jacksonhole, Wyoming?
The North & South Loops of Yellowstone and any other stuff to see around there, is 4-5 days enough or to much with pics etc?
Should I spend some time in Cooke City?
Enter the East Gate of Park or the NE Gate?
Clockwise through the loops of Park or doesn't matter?
Is one day enough with pics and dealers to do Bear Tooth & Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and make it to Cody not late in day? Should I plan on extra time for Cody?
Is one night enough in Jacksonhole, Wyoming?
The North & South Loops of Yellowstone and any other stuff to see around there, is 4-5 days enough or to much with pics etc?
Should I spend some time in Cooke City?
Enter the East Gate of Park or the NE Gate?
Clockwise through the loops of Park or doesn't matter?
Last edited by Brian MD.; Dec 11, 2020 at 07:11 AM.
I would enter the east gate once and NE gate once. For me, it's a 3 day minimum to see all or most of the park, especially if you get off the paved roads and walk any of the trails. Lots of cool stuff to see that's not at a point of interest that only the tourists see.
Also, leave Sturgis and go up through Custer battlefield then over to Medicine Wheel then on into Cody.
Also, leave Sturgis and go up through Custer battlefield then over to Medicine Wheel then on into Cody.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,591
Likes: 1,152
From: Brandon,Fl
If you are in Cody, the eastern entrance is the way to go.
There is nothing in Cooke City other than a place to eat or get gas.
From Red Lodge over Beartooth and Chief Joseph Hwy to Cody is only a few hrs, it all depends on how many stops you make.
My advice is to be at the gates into Yellowstone as early as possible as to not get behind the RV's being driven by folks that have never driven an RV before.
Find a map of the park online and see where everything is at, it is really a big loop and easy to get around.
The ride from the park down to Jackson Hole is stunning!!!
There is nothing in Cooke City other than a place to eat or get gas.
From Red Lodge over Beartooth and Chief Joseph Hwy to Cody is only a few hrs, it all depends on how many stops you make.
My advice is to be at the gates into Yellowstone as early as possible as to not get behind the RV's being driven by folks that have never driven an RV before.
Find a map of the park online and see where everything is at, it is really a big loop and easy to get around.
The ride from the park down to Jackson Hole is stunning!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,737
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
When I was last in Cooke City, there was a guy in drag at the sandwich shop. That was a sight.
He's probably gone now, and the northeast entrance will likely be less crowded. Once you're past Cooke City and Silver Gate, you're pretty much IN the park.
He's probably gone now, and the northeast entrance will likely be less crowded. Once you're past Cooke City and Silver Gate, you're pretty much IN the park.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,237
Likes: 6,173
From: Black Hills
FWIW, the vendors were packing up and leaving the Sturgis Rally on Thursday this year in the central hills. It seemed like Tuesday was busy, Wednesday it slacked off and Thursday was just a typical summer day. Not sure what part of the Rally you want to see but we saw a dramatic drop in activity after Wednesday.
If you're coming to the Black Hills and not the Rally you'll not be disappointed.
If you're coming to the Black Hills and not the Rally you'll not be disappointed.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
I think three days would be good. I usually spend two days and ride a loop each direction each day. At the north gate you can get in the river (Gallatin I think) and hot springs. That is pretty cool. There is a bathroom to change in.
The ride from Cody to the east entrance is beautiful. Once you enter the park, the ride is so so. It takes two hours from Cody to the south loop (hour to the gate and hour to the loop). The ride from the NE entrance is a nice ride. Usually lots of wildlife.
While in Cody go to the rodeo one night. There is also the gunfight at the Irma Motel in the afternoon. The museum is really good. Like four or five museums in one.
I think I am going to go this year.
The ride from Cody to the east entrance is beautiful. Once you enter the park, the ride is so so. It takes two hours from Cody to the south loop (hour to the gate and hour to the loop). The ride from the NE entrance is a nice ride. Usually lots of wildlife.
While in Cody go to the rodeo one night. There is also the gunfight at the Irma Motel in the afternoon. The museum is really good. Like four or five museums in one.
I think I am going to go this year.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 382
Likes: 36
From: Tennessee
i did 21 Day trip in 2019 from NY. Rode to Sturgis 1 week before rally stayed at Chris camp rented a cabin. After that went to Red Lodge and overnighted at Alpine Lodge Biker friendly place with bike wash station, full breakfast is included with reservation great place. We Left motel at 9 headed towards Bear tooth Pass. Continued onto Chief Joe Highway and onto Cody WY. We took quite a few stops for scenic overlooks and still got to Cody for a late lunch. We then continued into Yellowstone east entrance . We had made reservations inside the park at Grant Village. The rate were only a little bit higher than staying outside the park so it was worth the extra to stay inside the park and avoid the ride in and out over and over. That made getting starting each day more efficient by getting to most popular places before the crowds did. After 3 days in Yellowstone we went to Jackson stayed in Cowboy village and could walk to town. They have nice cabins to rent. Continued south into Utah and over into Colorado stayed at the Meeker Hotel in Meeker. then went down into Aspen back up to Leadville to the Silver Dollar Saloon for Lunch. Cool place with tons of History, Doc Holiday was a usual there and lived across the street in his last years and frequented the saloon. we overnighted in Georgetown Colorado not to much father off of I-90. Then went to Grand Lake and took trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain Park, This was in July and it was freezing rain and sleeting up top at the 11-12 k foot level. I did spin out but managed to not go down, it sure keeps you on high alert. After that we hot the super slab I-70 back home great trip it was and I'm planning another one. hope this helps in your planning
Also in Jackson, check out Mormon row before you enter town, Very scenic and history of the Mormons settlements there.
Also in Jackson, check out Mormon row before you enter town, Very scenic and history of the Mormons settlements there.
Last edited by hdman6; Dec 19, 2020 at 02:21 PM. Reason: addition
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Head from Maryland on a Friday. Arriving in Sturgis Saturday afternoon for end of rally
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 354
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From: Maryland
Unless your trailering or have a really good crank connection that's a bit unrealistic for a bike ride on anything. You may find yourself there sometime Sunday at best if the weather doesn't dick you over, gets seriously hot in the midwest and thunderstorms can be showstopper unlike where your coming from. Just a heads up.
Gonna trailer out to there. Day and a half
Thanks