Planning Our Summer Trip to Yellowstone. Route Help

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Poppys 5th Wheel

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We're planning a trip to Yellowstone at the end of the summer and will be coming through Coeur d'Alene and staying at Fishing Bridge. Google maps seems to want to route me all the way to the east entrance (650 miles and over 10 hours).  It was my understanding that the North entrance is open at the time of year we will be traveling (September 9th) and looks much more direct.

If I manipulate Google Maps to take me in from the North it saves a couple hours and almost 150 miles! Is there something Google Maps knows that I don't? Is the road coming in the North Entrance much worse or something? We will be pulling our 35ft 5er.

Heck, even coming down I-15 and coming in the West Entrance is shorter and quicker.

I've never been to this region so I have no clue if I should blindly follow Google Maps or my common sense.

I think I will stop in Butte or thereabouts no matter which entrance I end up taking into the Park.

Any help, suggestions and / or other feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Paul
 
Maybe because the east route is a US highway (a Google preference?) and I don't think coming in from the north using the loop is. Some of the YNP regulars know. I have been on both routes, but not in the motorhome so I cannot say if they are unsuitable for towing.
 
On google maps once you've entered your "From" and "To" and calculated a route you can click on the route and drag it to the highway you prefer.....it'll recalculate distance and time for you.
 
JCZ said:
On google maps once you've entered your "From" and "To" and calculated a route you can click on the route and drag it to the highway you prefer.....it'll recalculate distance and time for you.

Agreed, I do that all the time and did it in this case but wanted the thoughts from those here who have been there and driven those various routes.

Thanks though
 
Hi Paul...

I use Google Maps a lot but I don't think they always have the most accurate route information. Five and a half years ago we took the same route you're describing in late August (Coeur d' Alene to Fishing Bridge). The north entrance was open and the route was clear.

Kev
 
Kevin Means said:
Hi Paul...

I use Google Maps a lot but I don't think they always have the most accurate route information. Five and a half years ago we took the same route you're describing in late August (Coeur d' Alene to Fishing Bridge). The north entrance was open and the route was clear.

Kev

Great, thanks. I like to use Google Maps just to help plan. I don't use them for the actual drive. I primarily use my nav system in the truck and modify even that when I know where I want to deviate. Did you have an overnight along the way?  Butte is almost smack in the middle of the drive but I know nothing of Butte. I will do some research but wondered how you did the drive.
 
I just ran it through Microsoft Streets and Trips and it routed me right down to West Yellowstone and in the West entrance and then through the park to fishing bridge.

I traveled almost this same route when I came down from Kalispell to Dillon. I hit 90 and went east to 41 and down to Dillon. When I left Dillon went 41 up to 287 and it was good road. I hit one pretty steep hill right out of Virginia City, but if you drop off 90 onto 287 you will miss that section and the rest of the road is pretty good a few hills, but nothing really bad that I experienced and I am in an underpowered P/U hauling a 5er.

I didn't stop in Butte so can't help you there, but I saw a couple parks near the highway. You can research that! But 287 down from 90 should not be any problem.

Have fun in YNP.

Jim

 
I have been to Yellowstone several times and entered through every entrance more than once. I can not think of a good reason not to go in the North or West entrances if they are the closest for you. If you go in the North, I prefer to go from Mammoth to Norris to Canyon (33 miles) rather than Mammoth to Tower Junction to Canyon (37miles) when towing. There are ups and downs either way, but in my opinion the route to Tower Junction around Mount Washburn is not only longer but a little more intense mountain driving. Definitely a great scenic route though.
 
Thanks all. Great info.

All total we should be on the road for 6 - 8 weeks on this trip so I'm sure I will have more questions.
 
Come in through West Yellowstone, there will be some road construction this summer between Mammoth and Norris.  I work at Old Faithful and coming in via West, then to Norris, then to Canyon, south to FB is what you will want in the park. 
 
Trailer traveler said:
I have been to Yellowstone several times and entered through every entrance more than once. I can not think of a good reason not to go in the North or West entrances if they are the closest for you. If you go in the North, I prefer to go from Mammoth to Norris to Canyon (33 miles) rather than Mammoth to Tower Junction to Canyon (37miles) when towing. There are ups and downs either way, but in my opinion the route to Tower Junction around Mount Washburn is not only longer but a little more intense mountain driving. Definitely a great scenic route though.
I have been to Yellowstone many times and I completely agree with this post.
 
North entrance is nice but be aware of Bill's advice.  West would be  the entrance of choice coming from the west.  You have 2 good routes from I-90 south to the west entrance.  MT 287 goes south from just west of Three Forks and US 191 goes south from Belgrade after traveling MT 85 from Belgrade to the junction of 191 at 4 corners.  Either Three Forks or Belgrade are good fueling spots as TF has a Pilot and Belgrade has a Flying J.  Fuel cost is less than in or near the park.  Butte is another good fueling spot but is nearly 90 miles further from  the park.

Both are good  roads but 2 lane.  191 is possibly more scenic as it runs through the Gallatin River canyon, remember the movie, The River Runs through it, some of the fishing scenes were filmed on this river.  It is also a great rafting river as well a good fishing. 

287 is also scenic but more open most of the way.  It follows the Madison river which is good fishing and not so good rafting, great float fishing though!  On 287 you will come to Quake lake that was formed by an earthquake in 1959 if my memory serves me.  Interesting visitor center and documents the people who where killed when the mountain slid through the campground. 

FWIW, Bozeman has a good museum and lots of information on fossils, dinosaurs, etc.  The curator has some interesting theories and was also the technical advisor on the Jurassic park movies.  There will also be some special exhibits but I don't know what they will be this year.  The museum is a great place for the kids from 4 or 5 to over 80!

At the junction of 287 and I-90 north there is a good bakery and deli.  We drive over there, have lunch and pick up a few items, drive back to Belgrade and have exercised the MH and had a great lunch and goodies for a few more days.  G
 
PancakeBill said:
construction.  good reason to avoid mammoth to norris.

I will expand on this, in Montana summer is construction season and it runs from early spring, March if they can through and into November if they can.  Check the highway information on your telephone, 511, daily and/or when ever you are planning a route or a change during the day.

I know MT 85 will have some construction but should have paving all the way through.  They have done most of the build up of roadway and have the first coat of paving down. Most  of the construction should be adding a lane(S) and final paving of what they have ready. Gee I hope I am right!
 
We also work in Yellowstone with Bill. Coming in from the north is a twisting road uphill for several miles along narrow roads with no shoulder. It can be done but I choose not to do it in our motorhome. The west entrance is an easy drive that might save you from some anxious moments. If you are coming from Bozeman, the run up the Gallatin River Canyon is spectacular. It is a 50 mile uphill run but easy to do and provides some very nice scenery.

When you get to Yellowstone, be sure to stop in the Visitor's Education Center and say hi in the Park Store. We all work there.
 

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