Hi.

We are really excited about our mid-June visit to YNP and for us driving the Beartooth is a must! We're from CT and though I'd like to think this will be the first of many trips to YNP for us - who knows, right?

I'm looking for a little advice on the best route and town to stay in. We will have stayed in Mammoth the night before so I'm thinking we would head out the northeast gate of YNP and our return would be to Canyon Lodge in the park.

We like to see a lot, get out and view a lot and cover alot of ground so we'll stay overnight somewhere for this part of our trip. Ideally would like to drive the beartooth day 1 out of the park - get into a town in the late afternoon - check into hotel, walk around town, have dinner, chill and plan a leisurely return back to the park on the next day - sightseeing along the way.

Any thoughts on the best route and town to stay in for that scenario?

Thanks so much!

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2281/travel.html
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2168/travel.html

check out these two websites for good mapping info. We drove both Chief Joseph & Beartooth out of Cody and back in a day. Long, but a beautiful drive!

I would stay in Red Lodge. Nice town lots of shops and restaurants. Another option would be Cody from there go into the east gate of the park.

Thanks TAW for those maps and mmouse for the recommendation. I guess I'm trying to figure out how to do it without back tracking. Is that possible or do most people take the Beartooth up to Red Lodge then turn around and come back down either heading back toward Cooke or Cody?

Hi Zoom,

I go to Yellowstone frequently, but had never driven the Beartooth. Last summer I finally made it. I went out the Silvergate entrance and drove to Red Lodge and stayed overnight. Really enjoyed Red Lodge!

From there I cut over northwest to meet Interstate 90 (I think it was), past Billings and down through the gorgeous Paradise Valley to Gardner, WY.

The Cody alternative would also be great. Awesome museum there Buffalo Bill Cody museum of the west.

Have fun!

We left Mammonth Hot Springs at about 7:30 a.m. and departed through the NE exit at Cooke City and drove over the Beartooth Highway (Rte 212) to Red Lodge. We stopped several times on "top of the World". It is a facinating drive and going mid Jun, you should have more snow left on top of the mountain than we had the middle of September. Well worth the drive....We stopped for lunch at the "Bridge Creek Backcounty Grill(Kitchen) on the main road through Red Lodge. They have an excelled grilled burger...

We departed Red Lodge on Montana state Highway 308 east to Belfry and then south on Highway 72/120 to Cody, Wy. This is also an interesting drive, though not as scenic as the Beartooth or Saint Joseph Highways. (You might need to get a Montana state map to see state highway 308 on the map from Red Lodge to Belfry)

We arrived in Cody at about 5:00 p.m. We spent the night and visited the Buffalo Bill Cody museum the next morning. (a must see IMO). If you have the time and the Rodeo is in town, you might want to spend another evening in Cody to see the Rodeo.

From Cody you can either take scenic highway 14/16/20 west back to the East entrance to YNP or head back up Highway 120 and take the Saint Joseph highway back into Cooke City and the NE entrance. Either route should be a very easy and scenic drive back to Canyon Lodge and can be easily done after visiting the museum.

We took this route to Cody on our way to the Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore area.

Have a great vacation.

I CANNOT wait for this trip!! This drive does sound fascinating - boyfriend only wishes we were doing it by motorcycle! But I think I would likely be a nervous wreck doing that! The rental car will be just fine....with a nice cooler fully stocked with snacks and drinks!

Sounds like we will do the Red Lodge/Belfry/Cody leg heading back into YNP so that we are doing a full circle.

LBev - do you recall your Red Lodge to Cody? I read we need to plan a pretty full day (8a - 4p) to travel Red Lodge to YNP east entrance to our lodging that night in Canyon.

One other question - any tips needed on where to gas up on the drive back?

Thanks so much everyone!

I don't recall much about the drive from Red Lodge to Cody, except, it was a nice easy drive, especially afer coming down from the Beartooth county. We got into Red Lodge about 1:00 p.m and left after a slow lunch and rest stop at about 3 p.m and got into Cody a little before 5 p.m.
If you are staying overnight in Red Lodge, the drive from Red Lodge to Cody to Canyon Lodge should be an easy 8 hours with plenty of scenic and rest stops on the way.
Seems like you are planning a great vacation. Have fun and think of the rest of us while you are throwing snowballs on "top of the world" in the middle of June.

Zoom... Hubby & I did this ride on a motorcycle, will be going bake to YNP for the 3rd time this summer, all by bike. You'll still be amazed in a car.

Zoom,

You will see lots of motorcyles on the Beartooth! It's a favorite ride. Hope your hubby doesn't get too jealous.

Besides the scenery, one really impressive thing I saw - as I reached the summit and stopped for photos, a bicyclist reached to summit coming up from Red Lodge. This is something like a 4,000 - 5,000 ft. altitude climb! Needless to say, he had a bod like Lance.