I keep reading how awesome a drive this is - which make me want to arrive in Billings MO to be able to take this highway into the park. That is the closest airport right?

But I have a place to stay on the west side outside the park. I am trying to stay there for 3nights then pick a place in the park for 3 nights before heading down to jackson.

If I fly into Billings/drive the Beartooth - then I would either need to stay on the East side first then go to the west side and head down to jackson.

Any suggestions on how to get the Beartooth drive in and make use of my accomodations on the west side (it was only $135.00 for 3 nights)...again, I can stay in the park for 3 other days (before or after the west side).

I will be going to yellowstone Sept. 23-Oct.1. Is there a way for me to know if it will be open at that time?

I have 6 nights for Yellowstone and 2 nights for Tetons.

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Decided to add some words to hopefully have this found in searches. Wymoing, Montana, Yellowstone, Tetons.

No one can predict the WX in that area for next Sep-Oct but it would be a fairly good bet that the BearTooth will still be open. http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/ If need be you can overnight in Cooke City before traveling on to the west side. You will need to allow at least 3-4 hours for the BT Highway. It will make for a very long day trying to make the trip from Billings (arrival time ?), over the BearTooth and on to the west side of YS in one day.

I was thinking if I went to Beartooth then I would stay in the park at mammoth maybe for 3 nights then go to the west side for 3 nights then down to Tetons.

Big Question is Beartooth worth the time or should I do the drive another time. This is my first trip.

No matter which way you go into the Park it is going to take time, you are going to be on narrow mountain two lane roads, on these you do not get in any hurry. The BT is well worth the effort, click thru the pictures of the site I have in the other post. When you said the West side I assumed you were saying West Yellowstone. If you can get a place in Mammoth for a few nights then go south and stay in the park for a night or so before moving on to the Tetons/Jackson. Forget about W. Yellowstone unless you just want to stay there. That time of the year parts of the Park will be starting to close down for the winter. That is the reason for the three nights for $135, prime time and that would be the price each night. Later in the year after the closing dates are known check the National Parks site for Yellowstone and they will list all the current closing dates for the fall of 2006.

Great info, RedRock! So...when we visit in late May, our last day in the park we were pretty intent on leaving somewhat early, exiting via Beartooth, and then going north and east via I-90 to overnight in Sheridan.

I've seen several posts that indicate it will take 3-4 hrs on the Beartooth to reach Red Lodge...my question is, how much longer will it be to Sheridan? I'm assuming the "mountainous" part of the trip is pretty much over once one reaches Red Lodge, and we'll be on an interstate through Montana that we can make up some time on?

If we head out of the NE corner of Yellowstone by 3:00-ish, figure 3 hrs to Red Lodge then another 3 to Sheridan, having us arrive by 9:00-ish depending on food/gas?

Build in some stopping time along the way to Red Lodge. The Beartooth highway has marvelous scenic overlooks and you'll kick yourself if you have to rush through.

I'd be worried about leaving at 3--that seems late in the day to me. You're right, though--once you get to Red Lodge, it's a pretty quick drive to Billings and on to Sheridan.

Consider staying the night in Red Lodge--a fun fun mountain town with great little restaurants and hotels. The you could get up the next morning and have time for a stop at Custer's Battlefield on your way to Sheridan.

Mr Senor

Six hours from Cooke City to Sheridan is a bit much, the roads will not allow for for it, as Tess suggested, overnight in Red Lodge and enjoy the BearTooth. When you exit the Park the last of May be advised the BT may not be open. It will all depend on the winter snow fall and if they can get the road cleared. We went over on Memoral Day one year and it was the second day the road had been open that year. You may want to have an alternate plan in case it is still closed.

RedRock - just to clarify - do you feel that Cooke City to Sheridan cannot be done in 6 hrs, or that you think it is around 6 hrs, but that drive is too much?

Trying to hit Devil's Tower the next day, not a bad drive from Sheridan but considerably longer from Red Lodge...

BTW, thanks for the reality check with the snow - we'll have maps for heading through central Wyoming, as well (Bighorns?).

Anything is possible, I just would not want to take the ride with you from Cooke City to Sheridan in 6 hrs thru Billings consiering the roads and besides I would never want to be in that big of a hurry.

One option would be over night in Hardin and a quick stop at the Little Bighorn BNM and take US-212 and drop down to the Tower thru Hulett, that is a good road and very little traffic.

If you would decide on crossing the Bighorns you could do Red Lodge-Belfry-Bridger, drop south on US-310 and over night in Lovell and take US-14A over the 'Horns to Ranchester and on to the Tower on I-90. One note, if going this way I would not want to do 14A in the evening if it was getting dark. I have been all three ways but I was taking my time and making stops.

On September 8th 2002 we travelled from Billings-Red Lodge over the Beartooth to Cooke city (had breakfast) and the did the east side ot the upper loop and had our lodgind in West Yellowstone all in good time. No problem whatsoever. On the highest point there was snow and very cold.Paul

Redrock - I went to the link you put in here and I am sure I just can't find it, but where can I easily see that the beartooth is open? I am leaving in a week and wanted to check it out.

You will need to check locally as well. Here is the WY DOT site for road conditions.

http://www.wyoroad.info/

You can check the road conditions on this site. The Beartooth is "advertised" as open mid May to mid Oct. This may not always be the case.

The WY DOT also has a link to the MT DOT. Make sure you check this link also.

As of the time of this post the MT site was showing the 'Tooth colsed.
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" US-212 BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY - WYOMING STATE LINE TO VISTA POINT


ROAD CLOSED - SOUTHBOUND"
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Good luck on your trip.