Yellowstone to Custer Battlefield
 

Planning a trip to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson, etc. Previously ask about a side trip to Mt. Rushmore, but found it's too far for this trip. How far of a drive is it from Old Faithful to Custer Battlefield if we leave the park by the north entrance and go up to Red Lodge and then over to the Battlefield? Distance and time? Is this the best route to take and is there a different route to return? Thanks.

That trip is one of the most scenic drives in America. It is called the Bear Tooth Highway and will be well worth your time. It will take a good part of the day to get all the way over to the battlefield. It would only be worth it to me if I was already passing by. <BR><BR>I would concentrate on the drive to Red Lodge and back. It is so special. You might back track to hwy 296 (Chief Joseph's Hwy) down to Cody and then back in through the east entrance. 296 is a really special drive also and Cody is a neat town to visit.

Just so you don't get lost: Little Bighorn Battlefield Nat Monument hasn't been called "Custer" for over eleven years. It took 45 years, but someone finally realized you don't normally name a battle site for the loser of the battle.

Thanks for your suggestions. My husband is a history buff and would really like to go there. Any suggestions on where to spend the night assuming we leave Old Faithful Inn early morning and drive to Red Lodge over Bear Tooth Hwy. and on to Little Bighorn Battlefield, spend the night and drive back the next day by way of Cody? We could also start out trip by flying into (Butte or maybe it's Billings, my map is not handy)and start with the Battlefield, and track our way down to Yellowstone, Grand Teton and then fly home from Jackson. Does that sound like less backtracking instead of using Old Faithful Inn as a base for all side trips? This service is invaluable for first time trip planners. Thanks.

Definitely don't backtrack. Fly into Billings and go from there. You'll be covering quite a bit of ground either way and you want time to stop and enjoy.

Sharon,<BR><BR>After visiting the Battlefield, you might consider spending the night in Buffalo, WY (I'm guessing it's about 2 hours south of the battlefield). It's a small town but seems to have a fair number of tourist amenities.<BR><BR>The next morning get up and cross the Bighorn Mountains via the Cloud Peak Skyway to Cody, visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and then return to Yellowstone.<BR><BR>* Yellowstone -&gt; Custer Battlefield: about 5 hours (via Beartooth Highway)<BR>* Custer Battlefield -&gt; Buffalo: 2 hours<BR>* Buffalo - &gt; Cody: 4 hours (via Cloud Peak Highway)<BR>* Cody -&gt; Y'stone: 2 hours<BR>About half of this would be scenic mountain driving; the other half would be either grassland or badlands (scenic or not depending on your own preference).<BR><BR>Dave

Agree with much of the above. You can easily go from Yellowstone to Little Bighorn in a single day (a long day). Be sure to take the NorthEast entrance out of the park through Beartooth Pass - extremely scenic!<BR><BR>If your really a history buff, check out some of the other battle sites south of LBH, such as the Bozeman and Wagon Fight sites. Not much there but worth a stop.<BR><BR>I highly recommend reading the book Crazy Horse and Custer by Stephen Ambrose before going on this trip. It is an exciting and informative book on the lives of these two great American warriors.<BR><BR>jpm

Thanks for all of your suggestions and ideas of places to see and routes to take. We'll probably fly into Billings and go on from there. Thanks for the book titles. Love to read and also know the history. This will help. The planning is half the fun of a trip.<BR><BR><BR>

The trip over Beartooth from Yellowstone is fantastic. Leave real early and I think you should make the battlefield and back to Red Lodge for the night. Try the Pollard Hotel in Red Lodge, it is one of the best. Return over Chief Joseph another great trip to Cody and back to Yellowstne via East Entrance. The whole trip has the "Wow" factor!! <BR><BR>If it helps last year I left Red Lodge at 10am, went over Beartooth into Yellowstone, back out via the east entrance and arrived in Cody at 4.30. We also stopped Cooke City for lunch and at several turn outs to see the sights.<BR><BR>Phil England