luvtravl

My sister and family are going to be pulling their camper from Michigan to Yellowstone in August. They have a campsite reserved at Fishing Bridge. What is the best way to enter Yellowstone pulling a 23 ft (?) camper? I visited a few years ago and we came through Cody into the East entrance but can't remember enough to know what this would be like with a camper. Any advice?

boom_boom

I probably come in via West Yellowstone or from Livington through Paradise Valley and the north entrance. The Cody route is a bit steeper than those two as I recall.

BayouGal

We haven't traveled in that area with a camper, but I'm sure experienced RVers will be able to help with specifics for you.

Where will they be coming from on the day they enter the park?

IMO, I wouldn't go in the east gate from Cody, and the northeast gate might be tough because of the connecting routes. Maybe the gates at Gardiner or West Yellowstone would be best.

bob_brown

I don't think there are any bargains ways in. The route through Cody to the East Gate is the most direct way from Michigan.

Getting to the West Gate is going around your elbow to get to your nose, however, as I will describe last, it may be the most preferable way.

The Northeast Gate is accessible, but a ways around as well. Not only that but you have to get from Roosevelt Junction to Fishing Bridge which means going over the stretch of road from Tower Falls to Canyon.

Coming in the South Gate is possible, but again a considerable detour is required to come in through the Tetons.

One other thing that you have not taken into account is the most severe of the stumbling blocks: the Bighorns in eastern Wyoming. The descent on the western side of that huge block fault is very steep. In fact, I strongly suggest avoiding Ten Sleep Canyon.

The road from Sheridan to Cody is not all that bad for an experienced driver, but it also is not a piece of cake because of the long downgrade.

One way might be to take I 90 all the way to Bozeman and them go south to West Yellowstone and come in that way. It would be longer, but it would avoid the more difficult routes of the trip.

luvtravl

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

LN

I would check with the Park Service and get their advice. We were there last fall and there was a LOT of construction going on thru the Cody entrance and IMHO I'd be leery of taking a camper through that entrance if the construction is still going on.

bob_brown

As an add on, the road from Bozeman to West Yellowstone follows river valleys most of the way. It is free from any severe up and down grades

I think a lot of how you decide to go is dependent on how well you can handle a pulled vehicle.

I 90 would provide you with Interstate driving almost all the way to Bozeman.
The road south from Bozeman to West Yellowstone is mostly 2 lane, but usually traffic moves along at a good rate.

Once you enter the park via the West Gate, you will drive first to Madison Madison Junction. Fishing Bridge is on the opposite side of the park from there. You can go south via Old Faithful, or drive north to the Norris Geyser Basin and take the connector road to Canyon, then turn south through Haydn Valley to Lake Yellowstone.

If you go by Old Faithful, you will have cross the Continental Divide a time or two, but the road has no steep inclines, although you do drop quite a few feet when you descend to the level of the lake.

The problem with the West Yellowstone route is that it is longer, so you are taking a round about way to find relatively level roads.

Both US 14 and 16 have steep places both going up and coming down.

Your post did not give the weight of the traler and what type of vehicle you were using to pull it.

I am not trying to be an alarmist, but those Big Horn passes are over 9,000 feet in elevation with a steep drop on the west side of about 4,000 feet or more in short order.

Those are the road conditions as best I can describe them. Hopefully someone else will add to this with more helpful facts.

utahtea

When we had our suburban and 24 ft. trailer we came in from Cody. It was in 1984 so I dont' remember much other than they were having road construction...I guess somethings never change! As bob_brown has mentioned, the other mountain ranges you have to cross could be more trouble. We had tire trouble the year we towed the trailer and ended up going in to Billings and then swing down to Cody. We have since done both those passes in our old motorhome.

I would go and ask over on the RV.net forums. http://www.rv.net/forum/ You will get many helpful RV fans that will have more current experience.

Also the Mountain Directory West for Truckres, RV and Motorhome Drivers is an excellent resourse to have while on the road. http://www.mountaindirectory.com/

Utahtea