Hi all,

I'm looking for a bit of direction as I plan a Ntl Park roadtrip this summer. We'll be traveling from Yellowstone to Mt Rushmore around May 18th. Does anyone know whether the Red Lodge/Beartooth route would be open for the season at that time?--I understand that it closes to auto traffic for winter. If it is open, what would you estimate the total travel time from the lodging w/in Yellowstone park to Rapid City?

Thank you in advance!
Becky

You can get travel time by using Google map and specifying the two end point of your itinerary.

I wouldn't plan on the road being open. It was closed mid-June last year. I don't consider internet maps appropriate for time on any "scenic" drive that I do. Chief Joseph HWY is what we ended up driving and it was very nice.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/

http://www.wyoroad.info/

They try to have the BT open by Memorial Day. I doesn't always work out that way. Even if it is open keep in mind there is a lot of road construction going on on top. Something else to slow you down even more.

At that time of year, you may not be able to get to either the Beartooth Hwy or the Chief Joseph Hwy. I was there in early June a few years ago and, even though they had opened it earlier, the NE exit from YNP and the highways out had been closed again due to heavy snow. I had to leave at the E gate of YNP and go to Cody enroute to the Dakotas.

Beartooh is seldom open before Memorial Day. And, much as I love that drive, I'd strongly consider Chief Joseph because if you go via Red Lodge you are adding a fair amount of driving time. Last time i went it was about 7 hours from Billings to Mt. Rushmore.

Thank you all so much for the insight. I hadn't heard of Chief Joseph Hwy, but will do more research. In the end, we'll do whatever is safest based on the weather when we travel. Oh how I love to plan, but sometimes you've gotta see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.

Thank you!