CaWino

We are taking a driving "guys (three of us - all over 60) road trip" from California to Little Bighorn Battlefield which appears to be about an hours drive from Billings, Montana. I noticed that we aren't far from Yellowstone so plan to go there, too. We will end up spending more time in Yellowstone. A few questions:

1. Recommended places to stay near Little Bighorn? In or near Yellowstone?

2. About how long should we budget for tour of the battlefield etc. ? I'm thinking one-half to full day.

3. Any "shouldn't miss" places to see that are nearby? We are foodies so eating places are important, too.

4. Need lodging recommendations in and around Yellowstone.

Thanks for any suggestions. Much appreciated.

ElendilPickle

When are you traveling?

If you can, stay in Yellowstone. The park's lodging website may say all the rooms are full, depending on when you're traveling. In that case, call every day, since rooms open up and aren't always shown on the website. We stayed in cabins at Old Faithful, Mammoth, and Canyon.

Lee Ann

sylvia3

You're about 3 hours from Gardiner, which is virtually on the north border of the park and has a variety of lodging options. The food options within the park are, frankly, dismal (except for the lake hotel; nice dining with great views).

spirobulldog

Disagree about the food options being dismal. I like Mammoth Lodge Dining Room and Roosevelt Lodge Dining room too. Snow Lodge dining is ok near old faithful. I don't care much for the dining at Old Faithful Inn, but I still say is great just for the experience and history. Lake Hotel is good food. Personally, I like staying at Roosevelt and Old Faithful Inn. Be warned--most national park lodging is very rustic.
You likely won't find any rooms much for this summer. I hope your going in 2015.

I haven't been to Battle of Little Bighorn, but are planning on going there the last week of May. We plan on spending 4 hours there or so, is all. I think 1/2 a day would be plenty unless it's something your really really into.

mlm59

We spent about 1/2 day at Little Bighorn. My daughter swears it is haunted. We were there on a sunny, windy day and the wind was whistling. It was eerie. After we left the Little Bighorn we went south and then west to Cody. We drove through a really neat canyon, but can't remember the name. If you have time to visit Cody it is a really neat town.

boom_boom

Half a day is good for the Battlefield. And I second the Cody suggestion.If you keep south on the interstate after Little Bighorn and take US 14/14 Alt across the mountains into Cody, you'll have a beautiful drive.
Its been a few years, but we really enjoyed Adriano's Italian restaurant in Cody.
Also agree with idea of staying inside the park if at all possible.

dwooddon

I agree half a day is adequate for the battlefield unless you're a western history buff as I am. I spent a full day there and it was not enough. The battlefield itself is spread over about a three mile stretch of ridge line and, if you want to explore the coulees and the valley where some of the fighting and retreats occurred, you could easily use two full days.

Cowboy1968

If you decide to go to Cody from Little Bighorn via I-90S, US 14W you have the Red Gulch Dinosauer Tracksite just a few miles South of US 14 after you crossed the Bighorn mountain range.
http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_of...Tracksite.html
Just keep in mind to stay on US 14, not veer off on US 14 ALT, to get there - so the trade-off is that you'll miss the drive on 14 ALT that boom_boom mentioned.

Cowboy1968

Sorry.. did not notice that the thread was already four months old.