I'll tell you what, back in 2006 I had 3 weeks to go from Cape Cod, MA to Vancouver BC and back (...well, actually, about 1+ week each way, because I was attending a 6 day Convention in BC) & thought I'd have plenty of time to do what I wanted. Sorry to say, not even close.... There's just so much to see & do along the way, you can't possibly do it all. As my buddy always tells me, "So many roads, so little time...." And no matter how much you plan, you can't plan on the weather or something going wrong with the bike. So, I found myself picking out things I definitely wanted to do, then also noting stuff I'd try to do if I had the time. That's why I'm glad to be getting back there this year - Spend more time at the places I thought I just plain rushed through, as well as hitting some places I missed last time. Even so, I'm sure there will be stuff I'll once again miss and have to plan for a future trip - You just can't do it all in one fell swoop. Well, I guess you could; but then you'd most likely be retired, have the money to spend, and the whole Summer to do it.

 

I was scoping out that area myself, thinking of spending a day or two around the area after leaving Billings, MT, heading through Yellowstone & Grand Teton before turning East and heading back home. Talk about sticker shock - Rooms were mostly in the $150-250 range!

And, from what I've been hearing, I guess I'd better plan on making reservations, rather than playing it by ear, like I was thinking of doing. To be honest, I usually do like making reservations in advance (...with a generous cancellation policy), because I've been burned before trying to find a place to stay at the end of the day....

 

my wife and i did that trip last year. it was FANTASTIC! lots of good info so far. my 2cents worth.skip west yellowstone. my favorite place in s.d. is the guest ranch in nemo.otherwise as others have said.chief Joseph and beartooth. the bighorns in wy. are great.

 

Are you planning in staying in Billings? not usually what vacationers do...


Avoid West. It sucks. Cute little mom-n-pop couples work every store counter ot hotel cherck-in, but the place is a nasty underworld of illegals and tweakers. Lots of DEA and other LEOs in the area.

The Bighorns are one of my favorite places to camp and fish. I like the area around Clear Creek, above Buffalo.

There are zillions of other great place in Montana near the Park besides West.

Just ask, and I'll be happy to suggest a great ride.

 

Will be in Billings for another Convention, otherwise would not be spending a lot of time there. But I can still plan some trips around the area while there. Cut across the Bighorns in 2006 - Spent the night in Buffalo, then first thing in the morning headed up to Ranchester & caught US-14 across to Lovell, then US-310 to MT-72 to MT-308 to Red Lodge, and onto US-212, the Beartooth Highway, across the mountains to Cooke City, where I spent the night. First thing the next morning I was on to Yellowstone, doing a loop past Yellowstone Lake before stopping to see Old Faithful and then continuing on my journey to Vancouver. Decided then I needed to get back to that area and spend more time both in Yellowstone & checking out other roads & scenery.

 

Billings has some fun places if you're just there for a brief time. The downtown/depot area has some nice places to eat and three brewpubs/taprooms (Montana Brewing Co., Carter's, Angry Hanks). But, I know when I go to a conference, I never get out of the hotel! YMMV.

Your '06 trip kind of hit many of the highlights for those with limited time. From Billings, you could take US-212 down to Red Lodge again. Do the Beartooth Hwy and either go down the CJ to Cody or to the Mountain Hippie Asylum---oops I mean "Cooke City" If you go to Cody, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a surprisingly good little museum (five museums, actually--the art museum is actually the Whitney's collection of Western art). Also check out the Nite Rodeo. Every night they have a PRCA rodeo, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Or, just for different roads, take I-90 from Billings to Livingston (I-90 follows the Yellowstone R.--it's a nice ride). From Livingston, go south on US 89 into Paradise Valley. You can either stay in Livingston (two *really* good steakhouses there) or stay at Chico Hot Springs down in Paradise Valley in Emigrant. Chico is a favorite place among locals--GREAT restaurant, and just generally a nice place. Or, go *real* local and stay in the Pine Creek Cabins. You'll probably like staying in Paradise Valley more than staying in Gardiner.

Either way, enter YNP at Gardiner, and go SW from Mammoth towards Norris, the biggest geyser basin in the Park. Lots of stuff to see on that side of the Park (it sounds like you didn't see that side in '06). From West Thumb, go south to Grand Tetons NP. Lots of options to either camp or get a room. Bit pricey there, but the view is well worth it. Incredible! Going all the way to Jackson, well, I'll leave that up to you. When you're done with GTNP, you go east at Moran Jct and over Togwotee Pass. Once you get to Riverton, you can work your way back to the Bighorns and I-90 or go down to I-80.

Just ideas. If I can help with more specific stuff, let me know.

 

Both Beartooth & Cody could be separate day rides from Billings, along with Bighorn & Little Bighorn. Hitting YNP via US-89 would be something different for me & seeing new stuff would be nice. Last time I came in via US-212 and essentially took the Grand Loop Road South & by Yellowstone Lake, making scenic stops along the way. If memory serves me right, I left via US-191 to connect back on I-90. Plenty of time to plan; but I guess I'll need to sort out if I'll be staying in or around Yellowstone for any length of time, or just be passing through & spending a day there. Still scoping things out....

 

I rather like US 191: it goes from the end of my street straight to YNP. Gallatin Canyon on 191 is a fun ride in the summer, and a treacherous drive in the winter.

If you go to Livingston and down Paradise Valley, that will put you into a different corner of the Park. Paradise itself is a beautiful area. (BTW, the wine cellar at Chico Hot Springs received an award from Wine Spectator magazine--really good restaurant. So is Chatham's in Livingston, and the Rib & Chop House. Also plenty of good ol' boy roadhouses in the area. The Pop Stand in Livingston is a great burger/fountain place that is a fun afternoon ride from Bozeman.)

You must be stuck in Billings for a while if you're thinking of day trips to YNP. Why not go the other direction from Billings? Go east in I-94 a ways and see Pompey's Pillar and enjoy a ride in the high plains. Nothing like it.

Whatever your convention is, man, give a little grief to the site selection committee

 

If you go west of Vernal on 40 about 35 miles turn on hwy 87, go through Altamont and the road will swing south, go to hwy 35. Go west through Tabiona and Hanna and on to Francis.(Francis is just an area with a stop sign and a biker friendly pit stop on the corner.) At Francis go north not very far to Kamas, at Kamas go Right on hwy 150 over Mirror Lake hwy to Evanston WY. I will guarantee you that you will not be disappointed with this ride. If you do take this ride I suggest that you get gas in Roosevelt. You can get gas in Altamont but the premium pump has been known to be out. Tabiona and Hanna has gas but not premium. I would be more than happy to play tour guide. I live five miles west of Altamont and work in Vernal every day.

 

I wanted to quote this with my previous reply......