Help with Route

Hi

We are coming into Denver from the Uk and will drive to Loveland, Colorado for an overnight. My husband then wants to drive to Little Bighorn Battlefield in one go, have a quick look around and then drive straight to Red Lodge for another overnight stay. The next day we would then drive to Cooke City en-route to Yellowstone. Can you please advice if this is doable - we keep changing our minds about routes, but this way we will be able to do the Beartooth Highway, which I understand is wonderful.

Any advice or suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Help with Route

Sorry, meant to say this will be during the summer.

Thanks

Help with Route

It would be a rather long day%26#39;s drive, but completely feasible. I%26#39;ve driven longer on poorer roads. I%26#39;ve not driven that entire route but I don%26#39;t believe there are any mountains to cross and it is all interstate highway so you can drive relatively fast. Most of this route will be in the arid part which isn%26#39;t particularly scenic in my mind, but makes for fast travel.

The Beartooth highway is expected to open about the end of May but could be closed for a short time after that as there could be snowstorms. Usually they open it again in a day or so. I thought that the most scenic part of the Beartooth was the part between Red Lodge and the turn off to the Chief Joseph highway (hioghway 296) and if you want to add more mountain driving, I%26#39;d take that route through to Cody, Wyoming before turning toward Yellowstone to enter the east entrance instead of the northeast entrance by Cooke City, Montana. If you are short on time, follow the Beartooth all the way to Cooke City and into Yellowstone.

Considering that it%26#39;s nearly 600 miles from Loveland, Colorado,to Red Lodge,Montana, plus whatever time you were to spend at The Battlefield, that would make for quite a long day, but of course it%26#39;s possible. The run from Red Lodge down to Yellowstone is a definite ';must see.'; They normally try to have that Beartooth pass open by Memorial Day weekend.... the end of May. However, this year it never opened permanently until June 16th. due to the exceptionally long winter season. If you are planning to visit in the summer, late June, July or August though, that should not be a problem.

As for your route into Yellowstone, that rather depends on where you intend on staying once you arrive. Although all points within the park are accessible by good paved roads, Yellowstone is huge, and we like Cooke City as a base for it%26#39;s close proximity to Lamar Valley and the northern range, but it%26#39;s not for everyone. You can check here on TA for reviews on dinning and lodging options, as well as several past posts.

Thanks so much for your replies - it is going to be a long day... we are getting so confused about where to stay overnight. Should we push on to stop at Red Lodge and take in the Battlefields en-route or would it be better to possibly stay in the Bighorn/Dayton area of Wyoming overnight before carrying on to the Battlefields and then to Beartooth Highway. Thanks - appreciate any advice!!

Sorry, forgot to say we are staying at Shoshone Lodge near east entrance of Yellowstone, but we are quite happy to come into Yellowstone from the north as you can%26#39;t check in until later. Thanks

What time are you flying into Denver? Is there a reason why you%26#39;re staying overnight at Loveland or can you drive farther the first day?

I live in Billings, Mt which is just 60 miles from Red Lodge and the Beartooth Pass. After you go through the Little Big Horn Battlefield you drive northwest to Billings and then southwest to Red Lodge. I%26#39;ve driven to Denver a few times and its about a 10 hour drive with minimal stops. If you stopped at the Battlefield and then drove on to Red Lodge it would make for one long day. I wouldn%26#39;t recommend staying overnight at Hardin (the town just north of the battlefield).

Deb

Hi Deb

We are coming from the Uk and don%26#39;t land at Denver until 6.30 in the evening, so we feel Loveland is as far as we can go that day. Thanks

Arriving that late in the day you%26#39;re wise to stay overnight in Loveland. Like a previous poster said, driving from Loveland to Red Lodge is doable but be prepared for a very long day. You will have interstate all the way until you get past Billings and start going southwest to Red Lodge which is a 2 lane highway. It%26#39;s a well maintained highway so its easy to drive. My daughter, grandson and I go up over Beartooth Pass quite often in the summer to go hiking so we drive the highway a lot.

You%26#39;ll have an awesome time and will love Beartooth Pass and Yellowstone National Park.

Deb

Thank you - appreciate all the help, can%26#39;t wait to go!!!

Hello again!!

Can I ask how far it is from Cooke City to the 295 turn off onto Chief Joseph Highway. Thanks

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