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Old 12-06-2016, 10:07 PM   #1
Where should we go next!
 
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Westward Bound

Well we are planning one of our longest road trips to date for the Summer of 2017. We are leaving from the Chicagoland area in our new 37' SportTrek Travel Trailer. We are making stops in this order, Little Big Horn, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, and Rocky Mountains National Park. We have just a couple of questions on a couple of the legs - just want to make sure Mapquest and our GPS is giving us the best route for pulling a 37' trailer.

When leaving Glacier we are headed to Headwaters Campground which is a Grand Teton National Park campground. It appears to be in between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (the reason for staying there). Leaving Glacier (we know about taking 464), Mapquest has showed two routes. 1). Taking basically US-89S-287S-(going through a town at one point?) then 15S/US-287S then MT-69S then MT-2E, MT 359, then US-287S THEN MT-87S then ID 87S then US-20W then ID-32 then ID-33E, then WY-22E then US191N/US-26E, then US-89N into campground. The other route Mapquest is showing (picking up from here) 2). US-287S/US 12S, then I-15 BUS S/US 12E/US 287S, then 287 N/US-287S then MT HWY 87 N/MT-87 crosses into Idaho and becomes ID-87/HWY 87 then N HWY 20/US-20W then HWY ID-47/ID-32/Main St then 32/ID-32 then becomes N HWY 32 then W HWY 33/ID-33 which crosses over into Wyoming and ID-33 becomes WY-22 then US-89N/US 26E/US 191N and follow to Campground. QUESTION: Does anyone know which is the best route? End of leg when we are definitely in the mountains, is it slow going with tight curves? Just wondering which route to take and what to expect. .

When leaving Headwaters we are heading back and stopping to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park area. Maps showing 3 different routes, 2 longer at 500 miles and 1 shorter at 439. Preferred route, because it's shorter, would be US191S/US 287S/US-89S, to US-26E/US-287S to US-287S to US-287S/WY-789S to US-286 to US-287 BYPS to I-80BL to I89E to 287S. Second route pick up from US-26E/US-286S to US-26E to WY-133N to WY-134E to US-26E TO US 20 BYPE/US 26 BYP TO I-25S/US 87S. The third route picks up from US 191S/US 287S/US 89S to US-191S/US 26W/89S to US-189S/US-191S to US 30E/I-80E/WY 430 to I-89E/US-30E to 287S. Shorter doesn't always mean faster, safer, easiest towing road. Any suggestions, insights, "don't miss" locations would be appreciated!

Thanks....
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Old 12-07-2016, 10:39 AM   #2
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Either make your way to West Yellowstone and go through the park or make your way to Jackson and then go north. Do not under any circumstances take WY highway 22 over Teton pass. Very, very steep.


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Old 12-07-2016, 01:15 PM   #3
Where should we go next!
 
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That's the kind of info we are looking for - thank you. We have never been out west, let alone with a camper, we are not familiar with the roads/area at all.
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Old 12-22-2016, 07:20 PM   #4
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If not into steep climbs or afraid of heights then I can see avoiding the Teton pass ID Hwy 33/WY 22 into Jackson, but I have seen quite a few large rigs (including MH with toads) take it with no problem; going both ways, IN THE SUMMER. (Don't try it in the winter.). For me it is a shortcut over to the Windriver range, or for a quick trip into Jackson for lunch.

In fact, headed that way Friday or Saturday if open (supposed to be a foot or more of snow falling so they might close it).

But it is a beautiful ride and has a great overlook down into WY...
.
Hazy picture due to a forest fire somewhere.

Yes, it is a 10% grade for a few miles, but most likely the fastest route.

One thing of note, is if you take this route, make sure once in Jackson, take the truck route to bypass downtown Jackson. Two blocks before the main road (Cache st). Cache street (main north/south road through Jackson) is very narrow with parking on both sides of the road. Even in just a PU it can be tight.

But Jackson is a great place to walk around, some good restaurants.
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Old 12-24-2016, 11:51 AM   #5
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Can't edit my past post. But after taking some friends from NC over Teton Pass, I guess I have a complete different view of driving over steep mountain passes. My passengers almost walked back from Jackson and believe they squeezed the assist handles in the truck so hard that they put dents in them.

I'm sure the icy roads did not help, but it dawned on my that not everyone is ok with these types of roads.

Some Teton pass info from WY...
www.wyoroad.info/Highway/Teton.pdf
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Old 02-03-2017, 03:53 PM   #6
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We also will be leaving central NC about mid May for a winding trip toward CO, WYO and MT. We want to come and go with no certain times of arrivals. Is this crazy?
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Old 02-03-2017, 04:03 PM   #7
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nope, enjoy, drive slowly, take your time - that's what I call real traveling...

when you have 'reservations', you are just going from destination to destination and miss much of the 'just stop and check this out' along the way - with no timeline you can do whatever you wish, stop for the night where ever you are, and enjoy the sites.
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Old 02-03-2017, 06:40 PM   #8
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We hope to leave eastern North Carolina on 1 May, we have a little great granddaughter and things may change. We want to go by Yellowstone and stay in the Grand Teton's for a few days and maybe Grizzly RV park. We like to go to Old Faithful and have lunch. We aren't going to make reservations as we can always find a spot somewhere. We have been quite a few times and it's always great and can't wait to go again
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Old 02-03-2017, 06:45 PM   #9
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Maybe we can hook up.
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Old 02-04-2017, 01:56 PM   #10
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recommended stop

Might I suggest since you are going that way, The Badlands in SD; Wall Drug (maybe sort of a tourist stop); The Minutman Missle site - museum near Ellsworth AFB in SD; Custer State Park in SD; MT. Rushmore: Hill City, SD; Devils Tower in WY all might be good stops on the way.
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Old 02-05-2017, 10:58 AM   #11
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Maybe we can hook up.


I sent you a pm
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