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Old 10-17-2016, 12:18 AM   #1
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Question Black Hills to Yellowstone

Planning a trip next summer. Wondering what people feel is the best route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone.

I-90 and in then US 89 in the North Entrance?

US 14 in the East Entrance from I-90 north of Sheridan?

Something else?

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Old 10-17-2016, 06:21 AM   #2
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It depends on what your definition of “best route” is. Your route to the north entrance is a lot longer but with fewer steep mountain grades. Your route to the east entrance is shorter but with some serious mountain grades to contend with. The mileage difference between the two routes is about 100 miles or so.

If you take the east entrance route don’t take hwy 14A at Burgess Junction, stay on hwy 14.
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Old 10-17-2016, 07:18 AM   #3
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Trailer and TV? And if you don't mind mountain passes, then 14A is a legitimate route. Some people like roads such as 14A.

But either will get you into Cody and onto Yellowstone.
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Old 10-17-2016, 07:27 AM   #4
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I was with a caravan of 3 rigs this past summer that drove 16 through the Black Hills and did just fine. Included 2 Georgetowns with heavy toads (4.5-5k lbs) and a gasser truck/27' TT combination. It's a slow climb at times, but the road dictates a lot of the speed anyway.
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Old 10-17-2016, 07:52 AM   #5
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I'll post this image to show the difference between hwy 14 and hwy 14A in Wyoming. Notice the brake cooling turnout and the runaway truck ramps on 14A and notice the difference in the grades. Click on the image to make it larger.

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Old 10-17-2016, 08:08 AM   #6
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As I said it depends on the person...some don't mind the steep grades, mountain passes, and know how to drive them up and down steep grades, etc., and enjoy such a drive. Some don't.

And we have no idea what is being towed or what is pulling.

If runaway truck ramps make people afraid to drive a route, better stay off I70 between Denver and Vail, I believe there are five.
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Old 10-17-2016, 09:40 AM   #7
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Doesn't matter what you are towing, avoid 14A. No one is going to 'like' towing that road.


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Old 10-17-2016, 09:48 AM   #8
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black hills to yellowstone

I ran from mt rushmore to yellowstone via Sweet 16 beautiful ride across Big Horn mtns. some grades but scenery and wildlife more than compensate.
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Old 10-17-2016, 11:28 AM   #9
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Thanks for all of the replies. I am towing a Mini Lite 2304S with a 2008 Lincoln Navigator with the tow package. Living in the Sacramento Valley; have towed a lot in the Sierras so not a concern for grades, up or down. No doubt I would avoid 14A! Looks like from Buffalo,Wy to Worland 20 to Graybull and 14 into the Park would be an option.
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Old 10-17-2016, 11:59 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnking View Post
Thanks for all of the replies. I am towing a Mini Lite 2304S with a 2008 Lincoln Navigator with the tow package. Living in the Sacramento Valley; have towed a lot in the Sierras so not a concern for grades, up or down. No doubt I would avoid 14A! Looks like from Buffalo,Wy to Worland 20 to Graybull and 14 into the Park would be an option.
That is the route we took. We encountered high gusty crosswinds on 20 between Basin and Graybull, but nothing we couldn't handle. Two of our group were rookie mountain drivers and did just fine.
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Old 10-17-2016, 01:59 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Burnking View Post
Thanks for all of the replies. I am towing a Mini Lite 2304S with a 2008 Lincoln Navigator with the tow package. Living in the Sacramento Valley; have towed a lot in the Sierras so not a concern for grades, up or down. No doubt I would avoid 14A! Looks like from Buffalo,Wy to Worland 20 to Graybull and 14 into the Park would be an option.
Another option is south from Worland to 431 then west to 120 and through Meeteetse to Cody. A little shorter and much more scenic. Meeteetse has a great chocolate shop. Once in Cody you also have the option of going north on 120 to Dead Indian and into Cooke City then into the park through the NE entrance. The Lamar valley is, in my opinion the best part of the park if you want to see wildlife especially early in the season.

I agree that staying away from 14A from Burgess Junction to Lovell is wise. 14 is a lot steeper overall than 16 with a very narrow road toward the bottom on the west side.
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Old 10-17-2016, 02:52 PM   #12
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You didn't mention exactly when you're planning to go next summer. We've been stuck in in Cody in late June due to the pass being closed due to heavy snow. Its not like that every year, but bear in mind that you may be delayed by weather. Lots to do in Cody, so a delay there isn't all bad.
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Old 10-17-2016, 03:40 PM   #13
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We will be going around the middle of June. What is the pass you go through from Cody to the Park?

Regarding the NE entrance. Probably won't go that way. We went out the NE about 20 years ago. Made the mistake of going 212 instead of 120!! Luckily no TT, just a mini van. Driven in the mountains a lot but that road is something else, very scenic! Had two high school seniors with us. From then on they said, "Don't take the scenic route'!!!!
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Old 10-17-2016, 04:07 PM   #14
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The east entrance into park from Cody is fairly easy. We base camped in Cody and traveled into the park from there. The Beartooth highway is 212 from Red Lodge to Cooke City, 120 is Chief Joseph highway and is the shorter way to Lamar Valley. A good day trip from Cody is chief Joseph to Lamar/Roosevelt/Grand Canyonand and out the east entrance.


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Old 10-17-2016, 05:09 PM   #15
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You didn't mention exactly when you're planning to go next summer. We've been stuck in in Cody in late June due to the pass being closed due to heavy snow. Its not like that every year, but bear in mind that you may be delayed by weather. Lots to do in Cody, so a delay there isn't all bad.
....and the Shoshone River between Cody and YS has superb trout fishing.....
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Old 10-17-2016, 05:29 PM   #16
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Trailer and TV? And if you don't mind mountain passes, then 14A is a legitimate route. Some people like roads such as 14A.

But either will get you into Cody and onto Yellowstone.
We've taken both 14 and 14A west toward Cody with our 24' Solera and had no problems or issues. Both are beautiful drives, but depends on what kinds of roads you like.
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Old 10-17-2016, 06:18 PM   #17
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I wish I had time for fishing, etc. on this trip!! Off from CA to pick-up up the grand daughter near Chicago. 7 days going. Then to Black Hills, Yellowstone and Great Basin NP and back to CA in 10 days. She is visiting her dad and we're trying to get her some sightseeing instead of flying both ways also a plus for us.
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Old 10-17-2016, 08:45 PM   #18
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Read the article at Road to Yellowstone that discusses the different routes to the park. It gives better advice than I can.

We traveled from the Black Hills to Grand Teton NP then to Yellowstone NP last June. We booked reservations at Colter Bay in Grand Tetons and Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone. Both of these campgrounds have full hookups. Book your reservations as soon as possible because both of these campgrounds are filled all summer. Some sites along the way you might consider are, Devil's Tower NP in Wyoming and the Little Bighorn Battlefield (off of I-90) in Montana (or visit them as day trips from the Black Hills).
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Old 10-17-2016, 09:09 PM   #19
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Hey 16

The Hwy 16 route from The Black Hills is my very favorite road any where. The scenery is beyond belief. I have spent a few nights in Buffalo Wyoming and it would be a sin not to spend a few days in Cody. Some of the don't miss things are the night rodeo and the Buffalo Bill Museum. Then take your toad and do The Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy and The Beartooth Hwy. You can take the Beartooth and go into Red Lodge Montana or into the north east entrance into Yellowstone. WARNING, The Beartooth Is a very high winding and narrow road not fit for big rigs or towing. I have seen fivers on the road and I have to say they have great big b___s. The scenery is well worth the drive.
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Old 10-17-2016, 10:49 PM   #20
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We did this trip 3 weeks ago. We did Hwy. 14, some steep up and down grades, but we have done worse. We did the east entrance. Spent 4 days in Yellowstone and departed through the south entrance into Grand Tetons. Any way you enter Yellowstone there will be big grades, so the highway is only a little worse. Enjoy, hope you are going either spring or fall so you are not fighting the crowds.
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