Heading west on 90 to Bozeman, Montana

[mrebele]

I'm still planning my trip out West from NH in August. I have 24 days from the time I leave NH until my reservation at Henry's Lake State Park in West Yellowstone. I am using RV Trip Wizard to help with my planning. It has me following 90 but switching to 212 just north of Sturgis. It looks like I could just stay on 90 all the way to Bozeman. If you've made this trip, do you have any insight into whether 212 or 90 would be my better choice. Also, if you have any suggestions for must see things along the way. So far, we are planning to stop at Indiana Dunes for 3 nights and in the Badlands/Mt Rushmore/Custer State Park area for 5 nights. Thanks for the advice.

[Ray,IN]

The unaccounted-for 16 days would make me think about forgoing driving an interstate in favor of US and state highways, there's nothing to see driving interstates.
Driving US 2 would add miles to your trip, however there are many things to see along the route, just visit the MT visitiors bureau online to review what's along US 2 (4-lane highway). If you stop at every interesting place you'll only drive about 50-100 miles a day. One place in Havre MT not to bypass is Havre underground, this was an underground town below the sidewalks for residents during winter.

[BFlinn181]

My maps and experience don't find a '212' near Sturgis, SD. If you stay on I-90, just past Billings, MT at Laurel, MT US 212 heads south to Red Lodge and the Beartooth Hwy into the NE entrance to Yellowstone. Not the easiest way into the park, the Beartooth Hwy is great in a Toad but a bit mountainous for an RV.

To stay on I-90 all the way to Boseman is A way to get to W. Yellowstone but not one I'd choose to use. Too much 'Big Sky' country across Montana. I'd get off at Buffalo, WY and use US 16 across the Bighorn Mtns. The road isn't bad, most every upgrade has a passing lane for slower traffic. At Worland, go N on US 20/16 into Cody, WY. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a great museum and is the road to the East Entrance to Yellowstone. At Fishing Bridge head N to Canyon Village and then W across to Norris. Follow the signs to Madison and then out the West Entrance to W. Yellowstone. A much shorter and more scenic trip to West Yellowstone.

[mrebele]

BFlinn181 - You're right. I went back to RV Trip Wizard and when I looked more closely it was 34 to 212. Sorry. I'll have to look more closely from now on.

[Pepper2]

We just left Henry's Lake SP about a week ago. We followed the locals advice and took 87 to 287 to 84. It was a longer drive but most of 287 goes thru a valley and is a very easy drive. When you get to the end of 87, take a right and then go past the gas station/laundrymat/private CG then take the next right and your at Henry's Lake.

[mrebele]

Thanks Pepper2. That route looks like a good option. We'll check it out. We're all for the easiest route. We're not in a hurry and a little extra mileage isn't as important as an easy drive. We're looking forward to our week at Henry's Lake State Park.

[BFlinn181]

I've loved Yellowstone since I was a kid and got postcards from a relative who had visited YNP. I've been there over 40 times in the past 40 years and never miss a chance to drive through the park. The 40 mph speed limit means you see a lot of wildlife and of course the geology of the park is unique in the world.

On I-90 at Buffalo, WY you have to go almost 60 miles north, then west 220 miles, to Three Forks, then south over 100 miles to Henry's Lake.

On I-90, you could exit at Livingston, MT the train depot closest to Yellowstone and now a historic spot. Travel down US 89 to Gardiner and enter YNP through the Roosevelt Gate at the North Entrance.

Enjoy your trip no matter what route you take!

[Pepper2]

The view from our site at Henry's Lake SP. We pulled in nose first into a back in site so we had a beautiful view thru our windshield.

[richardcoxid]

mrebele

We must correct you on your comment (Henry’s Lake State Park IN West Yellowstone) Henry’s Lake State Park is in IDAHO and West Yellowstone is in MONTANA! Never bothered to look up the mileage but it must be about 15-18 miles point to point. Up and over Reynolds Pass (excellent road) Be sure to stop at the rest area at the pass for a drink of COLD spring branch water!

[Pepper2]

I found it interesting that you actually pass thru three states betwee Henry's Lake SP and Yellowstone. Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Pepper2

I found it interesting that you actually pass thru three states betwee Henry's Lake SP and Yellowstone. Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

That area is quite complicated with Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming all in the corner of Yellowstone NP. A legal scholar from Michigan, I believe, first suggested that the Idaho portion of YNP was a 'free fire' zone where you could commit a murder and there would be no jurisdiction to try you in court. CJ Box used the idea to great effect in his book, Free Fire.

[Sky_Boss]

212 takes you past the Little Bighorn National Monument and battlefield site. I think you would find that worth the time to visit.

That would right where you go from 212 back to I-90. There is the 7th Ranch RV Park about 12 miles south of the monument where you could spend a night or two.

[richardcoxid]

Pepper2

You are also slightly wrong, The entrance station is located about a Quarter mile East of the town of West Yellowstone, MT about 3 miles after you leave he entrance station you will enter WY (look for the sign) the state line runs straight N/S. See my next post.

[richardcoxid]

Some general information about YNP (some items apply to GTNP also)

YNP is about 45 miles E/W and about 65 miles N/S (2.2 mil. Acres total). The figure 8 loop road inside the park is about 140 miles around. The lower loop is 96 miles and the upper loop is 70 miles around and yes, it is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

Whatever time that you think you will need to see YNP you better double it, or to say it another way is that you will see one half as much as you planned on in the allotted time. The Bison think that they own the road (they do!) and will slow down the traffic to walking speed or all stop for 1/4 mile or more blocking both directions of travel, the thermal attractions also tie up traffic and with a 5 month long summer tourist season that coincides with a 5 month long road construction season and a 45 MPH radar controlled speed limit it will take about a full day to see each loop and then you will only see the main attractions. In addition to the occasional construction delays they will also sometimes close whole sections of road (for uninterrupted night construction) between 10 PM and 8 AM in the morning, if you are running late and get caught at night in the wrong area it CAN be a LONG way around to your CG! (The entrance stations will have current construction information or go on line to check it out)

Then there is the elevation- YNP ranges from a low at Mammoth- 6239 ft to 7784 ft at Fishing Bridge or higher if you go hiking and there are passes on the grand loop road that are close to 8000 ft or so! Drink plenty of liquids and pace yourself when walking.

I recommend that you get up EARLY, leave the CG and be back by 4 or 6 PM have dinner and be sitting in your recliner drinking a cool one when your neighbor drags himself back to the CG at 8-10 PM. Remember that from mid May to mid July in YNP the sun doesn't set until about 9:30- 9:45 PM then there is a long twilight.

Cell Phone Service- Only at the major visitor centers, otherwise spotty to non-existent!

Clothing- Especially in the early or late season it is not unusual to have a 30 or even the occasional 40 degree temperature change throughout the day. Dress with easily shed layers of clothing. Also dress in bright easily seen clothing. I am sure that we all have been to a sporting event, parade or Disney World etc. and we blink our eyes and our partner/child has disappeared. My DIL was born and raised in HI, you guessed it, every Xmas, b-day or Father's Day I receive a Hawaiian shirt. One of them is shiny black with 4-5 inch dia. bright flowers. Not many of them in Wyoming and in YSNP, that is what I wear. If your partner has on a Violet blouse and a Orange scarf with a Pink hat I guarantee that she will be the only one within the boundaries of either NP. It can save you a few anxious moments.

Water- Now I will have to contradict myself, at the altitude of YNP yes, drink lots of water! HOWEVER, be aware that the flush toilet restrooms are are in the major tourist areas- Mammoth, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Lake Hotel, Bridge Bay, Grant Village, Old Faithful, Madison Junction etc. The geyser basins and other thermal attractions areas only have pit toilets. I have seen the pit toilet line (2 rest rooms) at the lower Geyser Basin 25 or more feet long (bless the tour buses) So be smart about drinking your water and use the major tourist area R/Rs before leaving the area! I.e. “Never pass up a flush toilet!”

Sun- At YSNP altitude the Sun is intense (uv)have and apply sunscreen, wear that old floppy wide brim sun hat, wear Sunglasses!

If your luck is like mine Old Faithful will have just erupted when you get there and you will have up to a hour and 10 to 15 minutes wait for the next one. Tour tour the O/F Geyser basin while waiting. O/F INN is a must see, reportedly the largest LOG building in the U.S. (Meals in the O/F dinning room are “OK” also.

We have lived about 110 miles from West Yellowstone, MT since 1964, go to YSNP 3-4 times a summer (normally before Memorial Day and after Labor Day) and haven't seen it all yet! So don’t be discouraged that you didn’t have the time to see all of it. Just plan on coming back another time!

I honestly don’t mean to scare or discourage you but to give you a heads up as to what to expect! After all there was 4.1 million visitors in 2015! As far as I know we didn’t lose one of them. Except those who by their own stupidity step off the board walks into BOILING HOT water and ignoring the warnings about the WILD ANIMALS! That is called purifying the gene pool!Early in the summer of 2017 a foreign visitor stepped off a boardwalk into just a few inches of hot water. He walked about 100 yards (according to the newspaper) broke thru the crust and parboiled himself. The park service decided not to try to retrieve the body! Between the temperature of the water and the acidity of it the body would just fall apart when retrieving it, as well as being dangerous to the rangers. Of course a few Bison fall in every winter also.

Note I have seen on this blog and others about folks “day tripping” from YSNP to GTNP, it is done all the time (myself included) however remember this is BIG country and with the speed limits, animals and thermal attractions you will NOT come close to a 60- 65 MPH average. From the West Thumb Area, Grant Village Visitor Center (extreme S/E corner of the lower loop road) to Jackson, WY is about 80 miles with Coulter Bay being about 1/2 way then from Grant Village you have to add the distance to your CG it will be a Long days trip!

A point of Coulter Bay (in GTNP) clarification- there are two (2) CG’s at Coulter Bay, One, the “Coulter Bay RV Park” a full service “RV Park” with FHU’S that takes reservations. The other is the “Coulter Bay Campground “ has no hookups and doesn’t take reservations. Both have about 300 sites and are located basically across the road from each other.

Also in GTNP be sure to see Jenny Lake, the water is swimming pool clear! You almost feel like you are in space when you are on the boat dock and you can see the rental boat shadows on the bottom of the lake!

When in the Jackson area I highly recommend seeing the Bar J Chuckwagon dinner show! If you go, MAKE RESERVATIONS and BE THERE EARLY TO PICK UP YOUR MEAL TICKETS/ TABLE SEATING ASSIGNMENTS! They seat you by when you show up to get your tickets NOT by your reservation number. Tim, their fiddle player has won the "Idaho state old time fiddle contest 7 times and the US open fiddle championship twice". If you decide to go you will sit at picnic type of bench seats/table, they get pretty hard, I recommend that you take along a blanket/pads to sit on. We day trip it there 2-4 times every summer just to see them! Disclaimer- We have no financial or other interest in the Bar J only that it will be the best $$ value for your money for your trip! Check out their website.

Bar J Chuckwagon

Also in Jackson check out the “COWBOY” bar, the bar stools are saddles and check out the # of Silver Dollars imbedded in the bar. The Wort Hotel Bar (just around the corner from the Cowboy Bar) also has Silver Dollars imbedded in the Bar