Little bighorn batlefield to Devils tower
 

we are leaving Jackson Lake lodge in the Teons driving through Yellowstone(non-stop-we will have already spent four days there)on Beartooth pass to Billings to Little Bighorn National Battlefield and had ariginally planned to take I-90 and spend the night in Buffalo Wyoming. The next day we would leave for Devil's Tower via I-90 on our way back o Wisconsin after a 16 day vacation so are looking for the quickest ways to see thi last few sites. I read that Hwy 212 east out of Little Bighorn Battlefield is the quikest way to the Black Hills area. Questions are 1)Is the route from the Tetons to Buffalo doable in one day stopping at the battlefield-we know it will be a long day! 2) is the route 212 quicker and still accessible to Devils Tower? 3)Any suggestions for accomodations on 212 east of the battlefield before Devils Tower?

The drive through the Beartooth Pass is very beautiful, but it is a lot more time-consuming than the distance on the map may lead you to believe because you will be traveling at a low rate of speed with switchbacks, etc. Get behind a few trucks or RVs and it can be a very long day indeed. Truthfully, I think you will be sorry if you try to do as much as you are attempting in the first day. I guess my suggestion would be to stop at Billings on the first travel day. It has sufficient choices for lodging, dining, etc. and you won't be running quite as hard to make it there (let alone trying to take in the battlefield). The next morning, hit the Little Bighorn Battlefield site, which is barely an hour out of Billings, if that. Return to I-90, rather than using 212. The drive down toward Sheridan and Buffalo with the Bighorn Mountains on your right flank is more picturesque than the rather bleak drive across the southeastern corner of Montana, where I would be hard-pressed to make lodging recommendations and pickings are certainly slim. You can easily catch Devil's Tower in the afternoon (just take the little Hwy 14 loop north near Moorecroft and you'll come out back on I-90 at Sundance). You can stay somewhere in the Black Hills that evening or even travel further if you choose -- it's easy driving all the way. You will be looking at a bit more than 800 miles back to Wisconsin from Rapid City. Typical interstate speed in South Dakata is near 80 m.p.h., so you will be making time. Quick detours to Wall Drug and the Badlands loop are worth your time, but the next notable scenery after you cross the Missouri River is probably LaCrosse! :o)

You know how slow driving through Yellowstone is and Jim told you how slow Beartooth is (and I agree). I think you may be talking six hours just to Billings.<BR><BR>I've driven from Mt. Rushmore to Bozeman via 212 and the battlefield.<BR>It is an easy drive but don't remember seeing much civilization after Belle Fourche.<BR><BR>If you take 212, Billings may be your last hotel siting for quite a while.

whoops--I meant UNTIL Belle Fourche.