We are travelling to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in early August and staying six nights at a house we've rented in West Yellowstone for the Yellowstone portion of our trip. I've been told that it is well worth seeing Cody as well as the highway drive to Cody, but wondered if it is doable in a day?? I know it means a lot of driving and time in the car, but we really want to see it so we're willing to put in a long, long day if it is at all possible.

How long is the actual drive time from West Yellowstone to Cody in August? I understand that you have to cross the entire park to get to the eastern entrance and wondered how many miles and how much time it will take to do that. I know traffic will be at its worst at that time of the year, but what is the actual distance from west to east both in miles and travel time??

My friend also told me that the Chief Joseph Highway is the same as Beartooth, but I thought they were two different drives?? Which is the more scenic drive and can we do it if we leave early and return late to West Yellowstone??

Thanks for all the help!

If you use Maquest you can plan your trip. They give 132,74 miles and driving time of 3 hours 23 min. for W.yellowstone to Cody. We stayed in W. Yellowstone in 2002 and drove to Cody ,visited the wonderful Buffalo bill museums and stayed in Cody for the night as we were continuing are tour further south. Paul

There is construction going on around the East Gate which leads to Cody. And if it is normal there will other construction slow downs all thru the park that will not be announced. There will also be animal jams. Travel in the park is always slow.

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/roadmap.htm

Paul's directions are the most direct from West YS to Cody but this route doesn't go via the Beartooth or Chief Joseph Hways.

We did a one way from West YS to Cody a couple of years ago. Left YS at the NE entrance (Cooke City), travelled on the Beartooth Hway (Rte 212) for a while before dropping SE on the Chief Joseph Hway (Rte 296) to Cody. I've been told the most beautiful parts of the Beartooth are AFTER the turn off to Cody. Many of the views from the Chief Joseph were breathtaking. The trip took us about 6 hours with stops to admire the landscape.

If you had stayed on US-212 to Red Lodge you would have been on the Bear Tooth Highway. Cheif Joseph (WY296) is a beautiful drive but does not compare to the BT. This is the Bear Tooth Pass dropping down before you get to Red Lodge.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/image...oth_182_lg.jpg

>>If you had stayed on US-212 to Red Lodge...<

Wish we could have! Your photo was spectacular. I knew we missed the best. But this was the end of our holiday with an overnight in Cody before flying out of Denver.

I'd love to go back.

Meant to add for the OP:

I think it sounds like too long of a trip to accomplish in one day as it's not just the drive and back again but also the time visiting Cody. Obviously, your (stamina) mileage may vary!

Best of luck whichever you choose. It's a gorgeous part of the world.

obxgirl--don't "wish" you could go back, make it a point to do so! (yes, that's easy to say, and flippant--but I need a Yellowstone "fix" every now and then, and each and every time it is different and wonderful, regardless of which highway or which season). Now that I think of it, I've avoided summertime for years--maybe it's time!

sylvia3, I said "wish" only because we were out of travel time. We'll definitely be back! Agree that it's a wonderful place with more than anyone can see in a single visit.

It sure is sounding like we might have to reconsider visiting Cody. I really do want to see the Beartooth Highway though and am willing to spend all day driving to do it. Is that a more feasible destination? How far up the Beartooth must someone travel (all the way to Red Lodge) to enjoy its best views? Any tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks for all the posts, guys!

It is not necessary to go all the way to Red Lodge when going over the BT unless you want to. Since the trip would be a driving, looking stopping day if you get an early start out of W. YS you could make a loop. Have lunch in Red Lodge, take MT 308 to Belfry, drop south on MT/WY 72 and return via the Chief Joseph Highway and Dead Indian Pass (WY 296)..... This would be a little easier than the drive to Cody and trying to spend hours there seeing all that there is to see and then driving back to WYS. Either way it will be a long drive and a long day.

get up early (i.e.-6am) take the beartooth . easily do-able in a day especially when your already prepared for the long drive. personally i've always enjoyed jackson hole far more than cody. cody is nice but does not approach jackson hole for the old west feeling.