We will be in Yellowstone several days then heading to Cody for Museums.
Lodge at Canyon Lodge Western Cabin.
I want to drive thru Tower/Roosevelt area and then Cooke City and out on Beartooth Highway for one hour in direction of Red Lodge. Stopping a few times briefly for pics.
Then turnaround and backtrack and go down Chief Joseph Highway to Cody.
Check in at Cody and next day go to museums.
Is this route too long for a day drive? any other ideas-
Should I just take Beartooth to Cooke and go south down Chief Joseph
without trying to go further out on Beartooth-is it worth extra driving time?
Also what is a Switchback? I am from Florida and have not driven in mountains
before. Husband has little bit of mountain driving-I keep seeing reference to that?
Thanks in advance for help-will be there week after Labor Day.

A switchback is a part of a road in the mountains used to traverse a very steep section. Instead of a road going straight up the sheer face of a cliff, it zig-zags up the face, going back and forth; i.e., switching from one direction to another. It is slow going, but as long as the driver keeps his/her eyes on the road and uses scenic overlooks to view the vistas, it's not particularly difficult. You flatlanders will be fine!

Where in or around Yellowstone you will be departing from will have some bearing on your decision. Starting from one of the northern lodges in the park will be faster than if you are starting from a southeastern lodge or from West Yellowstone. If you have the time, I'd recommend your side trip out the Bear Tooth Hwy.

Either way, when you're on the Chief Joseph Trail, stop at the top of the grade at Dead Indian Point and look back along the way you came. It is spectacular.

When people refer negatively to switchbacks it is often because of fear of heights - some mountain roads are quite narrow and winding - necessary to navigate the mountain and narrow because I imagine it is not all that easy to build a road on the side of a mountain. There are not siderails on the drop-off side everywhere - that would be impossible. As long as everyone drives slowly on roadways that are narrow, everyone is safe.

I am not familiar with much of the route you are describing by as one of those height-fearful people, there was nothing at Yellowstone that made me uncomfortable. (But don't get me started about Denali)

The first picture on this link will give you an idea of what a switchback is: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications...s/06jul/03.cfm

We took this trip one week ago. It is beautiful.

If you have the time, I urge you to spend the night in Red Lodge at Rocky Fork Inn. The rooms are large and comfortable with TV, deck, and breakfast included. Kathy will clue you in on the two good restaurants in town.

The museum in Cody is overwhelming. Go refreshed--not after a long day of driving. The ticket is for two days. Take a break. The firearms part of the museum is amazing even if you aren't into firearms (and I'm not).

HTTY

A switchback is also known as a hairpin turn--it has its shape.

Thank you for the info on switchbacks and Cody. Appreciated.

Don't let the switchbacks scare you. Just take your time and you will be fine.

We drove from Devils Tower to Cody via Billings, MT (with a stop at Little Big Horn) specificially because we wanted to drive Beartooth Pass. We did not rush at all, stopped for lunch, etc., and with all our stops, it got dark just about an hour before we got to Cody. But we had plenty of light for all of Beartooth and for nearly all of Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. The latter is also very scenic, but not nearly as "scary" as Beartooth ... and I don't really mean "scary", but I would NOT want to drive through it at night!

For some reason I get freaked out on those steep, curvy highways. Don't come towards me because I straddle the yellow line.

Rt 12 in Utah had me going very slowly and the road on either side of Mt Washburn in Yellowstone had me going 20mph.

I'll be back on Rt 12 in Utah with my daughter in a little more than a week. Hopefully the side west of Lower Calf Creek Falls is the tame side. I don't remember.