kelly622

I'm planning a family trip this summer to South Dakota, Tetons, Yellowstone & then on to Glacier. We are spending 3 days in SD - planning on seeing Rushmore, Badlands, Crazy Horse etc then on to Devils Tower. I have secured a room in Sheridan for a stop over night. I am concerned from that point it's a far drive to Jackson Hole. We were hoping to spend a night there, then I've secured a night at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Tetons then on to Yellowstone for 3 nights in the park before we make our way to Glacier. I was hoping to hit Cody on the way too, but I'm not sure how to squeeze it all in. Any suggestions on our route? The Yellowstone reservations are firm so I can't wiggle the days around too much. Also, coming from Yellowstone, how should we approach our way to Glacier? Any must dos along the way? REcommended places for a stopover? Thanks!

brookwood

You will not have much time for Cody, but then, too, Cody does not take much time.

The shortest route is through Yellowstone via the East Gate.
Continue on to the Lake and then turn south to West Thumb, and then past Lewis Lake to the South Gate.

The Tetons are a few miles down the road.

Any other way is really round about.

From Sheridan the most direct is to drive over the Big Horn mountain range. The pass on the west side is rather steep, but the views are good.

From there you pass through Cody on your way to Yellowstone.

Once you have cleared Cody, I don't think there is a single traffic light between you and Jackson Lake Lodge.

After you enter Yellowstone and start driving toward Lake Yellowstone, look for a turn off to the right. The road leads to a viewpoint that overlooks Lake Yellowstone from a nice height.

doohickey

Kelly,

It will be a long drive from Sheridan to Jackson but it is doable as long as you don't dawdle along the way. This means that you'll miss the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody - too bad.

From Yellowstone to Glacier is a very long drive. It'll be best to overnight enroute. Leave the north entrance of the Park (Gardiner) drive through the Paradise to Livingston and head west on I-90 until you get to Missoula. Go north on 93 from there through Poulson, Kalispell and Whitefish.

Stopovers enroute? Hmmm, Bozeman is 90 minutes northwest of Gardiner and the west entrance of GNP is at least 6 1/2 hrs from Bozeman so I guess Missoula will be your place to lay over. I'm not familiar at all with Mizz so perhaps someone from that town can help you out with what to do there on a layover.

Happy Travels!

-doo

kelly622

Thanks so much for your help!

brookwood

I have driven from Yellowstone to Glacier in one day, but is a long day.

I think Bozeman would make a good stopover. The Museum of the Rockies which is associated with Montana State University is a fine place to visit.

There are all kinds of interesting exhibits. The museum is the home base of famous paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner whose research has won him critical acclaim.

The museum, however, has quite a bit more to offer than just dinosaurs.

I will tell you a little personal anecdote about Dr. Horner.
He and his crew excavated a T Rex fossil that was highly complete.

They skull was in good shape and it was trucked to a huge mri machine for analysis of the inside without having to damage the skull.

I asked via email just how smart T Rex was because of its relatively large brain case. He responded that T-Rex probably had highly developed senses of smell, but s/he could not do algebra.

Also the critters arms were so short he or she could not clap.

loftymaples

We did the same trip in the summer of '07 but started at East Glacier. Spent 2 nights in East Glacier with the boat rides and hiking. Then drove over to West Glacier. My family took a 3 hour raft ride in West Glacier that we all loved.

We left West Glacier around noon, stopped at 3 quilt stores, toured a cave at Lewis and Clark State Park off I90 about 30 miles east of Butte, drove though this wonderful valley and got into West Yellowstone about 9PM. It was a long day, but my family felt the cave at Lewis and Clark was the best they have ever been in. My only regret is that we didn't have enough time to hit some of the ghost towns that are located between the cave and West Yellowstone.

When we left Yellowstone we stayed at Cody for one night. We got in late as we had spent most of the day in Yellowstone, so did nothing more than eat dinner at "The Irma" and walk around the town. Would have liked to visit the museum or see the nightly rodeo.

We drove from Cody to the Black Hills area in one day, stopping on the way at Devil's Tower. I don't recall it being a bad drive.

Which direction are you coming from? On our way to Glacier we stopped at Theddy Roosevelt National Park near Dickinson, North Dakota. It is amazing. We did both the south and north parts but if you have to choose take the south drive.

5OHS

If at all possible, I recommend a night in Cody. We stayed at "The Irma", which is no Four Seasons ... very Western, "non-chain", historic hotel on main drag in town. Nothing 'flashy', but cool in a Western town way -- coming from the "big city" (Chicago), it was awesome for the kids and a great change of pace. The nightly rodeo in Cody is another great experience, especially if you're not used to seeing rodeos routinely. The kids are called to the arena to chase the calves --- fun for everyone. All the rodeo performers (and fans) hit the A&W Drive-In afterwards for ice cream. The Cody Museum is a big draw -- several facets of the museum, so something to please/interest everyone. I.e., Western Art, Native American, Remington/Historic Firearms, "Wild Bill" memorabilia ... Live performances...i.e., cowboy poetry, native american dance, etc. We thought, "When will we be back here again?" and decided to stay the night. Cody Museum admission is good for two days -- that's how much there is to see if it interests you. Just my 2 cents worth. What a great trip you have planned!

GaryB47

The drive to Jackson Hole is long and, at this date, lodging may be difficult to find. The town of Jackson is home to some of the rich and famous and rooms are priced accordingly. You can try the Flagg Ranch between Yellowstone and Teton and hope for a cancellation. As for the trip from Yellowstone to Glacier, it's not as harrowing as it sounds.I have done it several times and I always enter Glacier from the EAST side. Exit Yellowstone through Gardiner MT and follow hiway 89 to Livingston and get on Interstate 94 west.Exit the Interstate and take hiway 287 to Helena, MT where you will get Interstate 15/Hiway287 toward Wolf Creek. Exit again onto Hiway 287 through Augusta and on to Choteau, MT. Choteau is an exellent place to buy groceries, supplies, etc. at less than resort prices. Take Hiway 89 out of Choteau and this will take you directly to the St. Mary entrance to Glacier or on to the Many Glacier area if that's where you are going. If you exit Yellowstone at 7 am you will be in St. Mary by 3:30 in the afternoon.

Hope this helps

jere1mt

Anoter option to consider would be to come from Sheriday to Billings and RedLodge and over the most beautiful pass in the country the Beartooth Pass Hwy. you could then not enter the park but take the Chief Joseph hwy back to Cody and then enter the park from Cody Make the Tetons a day trip from the park and spend the night in Cody instead of the Tetons. I am in Billings if I can answer any questions. [email protected]

Travelkitty

Can't really help you with directions since although I've been to a number of your destinations, they were usually on separate trips. However, when you're in SD, I would definitely recommend Custer State Park, and the wildlife drive. I'd pick it over Crazy Horse if I had to pick (but you should be able to do both) in addition to your other plans.