Cody, Wyoming to West Yellowstone route

Pabs4 · 09-19-2021, 05:32 AM

I’m hoping someone can give us some advice. We are currently in Cody, Wyoming headed to West Yellowstone, Montana. Today our RV GPS took us from Hill City, SD to Cody, Wyoming via I-90 and Hwy 14. Big Horn was beautiful, but also very scary due to the wind and the steep grades. Tomorrow our GPS has us taking 294 north from Cody and then West and South to get to West Yellowstone. Does anyone have experience with this route? Is there a better route? Thanks for any info you can share.

Pam

Bob Nodine · 09-19-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pabs4

I’m hoping someone can give us some advice. We are currently in Cody, Wyoming headed to West Yellowstone, Montana. Today our RV GPS took us from Hill City, SD to Cody, Wyoming via I-90 and Hwy 14. Big Horn was beautiful, but also very scary due to the wind and the steep grades. Tomorrow our GPS has us taking 294 north from Cody and then West and South to get to West Yellowstone. Does anyone have experience with this route? Is there a better route? Thanks for any info you can share.

Pam

Why not just drive thru the park. We have driven a 41 foot diesel pusher towing a truck thru the park from Cody to West Yellowstone.

Bob

Judge · 09-19-2021, 11:45 AM

We are in Cody now and leaving this morning for Mount Rushmore. We were in West Yellowstone a week ago and then took the South Entrance down to the Tetons. Last Thursday we left the Tetons and headed to Cody.

We took the South Entrance of Yellowstone over to the East Entrance and Route 14 into Cody. It was a beautiful drive and I didn't think the roads or winds were bad.

The drive through Sylvan Pass is nice but the drive through the Shoshone National Forest is even better west of Cody on 14. The landscape and views are beautiful!

If you decide to take 294 north it may be trying to take you west through the Beartooth Highway (212), which you absolutley do not want to do in a coach with a toad.... in my opinion. They even advise against vehicles over 40' on the Beartooth Highway. Also once you get west of Cooke City, Route 212 takes you to north east Yellowstone and that road near Tower Falls and Mt Washburn is closed.

If your GPS takes you to Route 310 then to 212 and then I90 west to Route 89 south and the north entrance of the park..... that is way, way out of the way.

I think taking 14 West out of Cody and into the east side of the park is not a problem. It is almost 9000 feet at Sylvan Pass so there are a few steep parts and some winding parts of the road but nothing that bothered me. I'm in a Magnitude SV34 pulling a Wrangler.

**EA37TS** · 09-19-2021, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge

We are in Cody now and leaving this morning for Mount Rushmore. We were in West Yellowstone a week ago and then took the South Entrance down to the Tetons. Last Thursday we left the Tetons and headed to Cody.

We took the South Entrance of Yellowstone over to the East Entrance and Route. 14 into Cody. It was a beautiful drive and I didn't think the roads or winds were bad.

The drive through Sylvan Pass is nice but the drive through the Shoshone National Forest is even better west of Cody. The landscape and views are beautiful!

We were there in July and I agree the views and landscape are beautiful. The one thing that hit hard is other damage done by the beetles and the massive wildfire just waiting for a spark.

Pabs4 · 09-19-2021, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Nodine

Why not just drive thru the park. We have driven a 41 foot diesel pusher towing a truck thru the park from Cody to West Yellowstone.

Bob

That appears to be the fastest route, and I’ve heard it is beautiful. This helps me knowing our size won’t be an issue. Thanks so much!

Pam

Pabs4 · 09-19-2021, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge

We are in Cody now and leaving this morning for Mount Rushmore. We were in West Yellowstone a week ago and then took the South Entrance down to the Tetons. Last Thursday we left the Tetons and headed to Cody.

We took the South Entrance of Yellowstone over to the East Entrance and Route 14 into Cody. It was a beautiful drive and I didn't think the roads or winds were bad.

The drive through Sylvan Pass is nice but the drive through the Shoshone National Forest is even better west of Cody on 14. The landscape and views are beautiful!

If you decide to take 294 north it may be trying to take you west through the Beartooth Highway (212), which you absolutley do not want to do in a coach with a toad.... in my opinion. They even advise against vehicles over 40' on the Beartooth Highway. Also once you get west of Cooke City, Route 212 takes you to north east Yellowstone and that road near Tower Falls and Mt Washburn is closed.

If your GPS takes you to Route 310 then to 212 and then I90 west to Route 89 south and the north entrance of the park..... that is way, way out of the way.

I think taking 14 West out of Cody and into the east side of the park is not a problem. It is almost 9000 feet at Sylvan Pass so there are a few steep parts and some winding parts of the road but nothing that bothered me. I'm in a Magnitude SV34 pulling a Wrangler.

We really enjoyed Mt. Rushmore, and the entire area around it. We had never been before. The lighting ceremony was wonderful! I will recommend eating lunch at the Alpine Inn in Hill City. Their dinner menu is limited to 2 items, but their lunch menu has several items. Just get there right when they open at 11am or be prepared to wait a while. They do hand out pagers, so you can at least not sit inside to wait.

The wind gusts on I-90 yesterday were 40+mph. I’m so thankful we had added some Bilstein shocks and Sumo Springs before this trip. I hope the winds have calmed down for your travels today.

I’m so glad I asked this question. Our GPS did have 294 going north as the route, but Google maps said 14. As always, this forum is AWESOME!!

lwmcguire · 09-19-2021, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Nodine

Why not just drive thru the park. We have driven a 41 foot diesel pusher towing a truck thru the park from Cody to West Yellowstone.

Bob

We are over65 feet total and go right through the park with no issues

lwmcguire · 09-19-2021, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pabs4

That appears to be the fastest route, and I’ve heard it is beautiful. This helps me knowing our size won’t be an issue. Thanks so much!

Pam

Every time we have stayed between Cody and the East gate we have seen Grizzly bear near the entrance. Watch carefully as they are had to spot when driving

Three years ago we saw several and traffic was slower due to all the road construction inside the park

Pabs4 · 09-20-2021, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Every time we have stayed between Cody and the East gate we have seen Grizzly bear near the entrance. Watch carefully as they are had to spot when driving

Three years ago we saw several and traffic was slower due to all the road construction inside the park

Seeing a grizzly would be amazing!! We made it, and everyone was right about the easy drive and the beauty. The only problem we had was that we encountered heavy snow. At least it was heavy for these two born and raised Southeast Texans who have no experience driving a regular vehicle in snow, much less driving a small gas RV towing a Jeep :eek I’m serious when I say that things would be entirely shut down where we live if we had the weather we drove through today. We know how to drive through flooded streets, and soft sand even without a 4 wheel drive vehicle. This snow stuff at over 8000 feet of elevation was crazy!

Thanks again to all of you for all of the help and advice! Tomorrow we visit Old Faithful

Pam

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