Buffalo WY to West Yellowstone in one day

STinner

STinner

Retired
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
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121
Age
70
Location
Northern Ohio
Bike
2016 Goldwing
2025 Miles
000713
Hey everyone!
Like the title requests, has anyone ridden from Buffalo WY to West Yellowstone in one day and included Beartooth in their ride?
My route includes 90 to Billings and follow 212 down through Red Lodge, Beartooth, enter Yellowstone and ride through the park to West Yellowstone.
I was thinking of riding 14 over to 310 and up to Red Lodge and then down through BT, into the park and then to West Yellowstone but its at least another hour or so.
Any opinions and/or advise with be carefully evaluated.
Thanks

Dave
 
I did the 14/310 option. Then Beartooth, Chief Joseph and and back to 14. Really enjoyed the zig-zag through the Bighorns. (16..14..14A). A VERY nice days ride. . . . Bighorn Nat Rec Area to Shell.
 
I've ridden in those areas a few times. I think either route is doable. Although riding through Yellowstone can be slow going.
 
I am in the greater Yellowstone area now. We've been seeing delays of up to two hours and more at the entry points, between the hours of 9 a.m. and about 1 p.m. If you hit the park between those hours you will want to factor that in to your calculations.

That may also change depending on when (what time of year) you come through.
 
That's fair amount miles for a day in that area. You won't make good time on those roads/passes/Yellowstone Park. Lots of looky,looky time. I would ditch going to Billings.
 
ibike2havefun said:
I am in the greater Yellowstone area now. We've been seeing delays of up to two hours and more at the entry points, between the hours of 9 a.m. and about 1 p.m. If you hit the park between those hours you will want to factor that in to your calculations.

That may also change depending on when (what time of year) you come through.
Click to expand...

That's good to know. Dave and I will be riding through Yellowstone on August 22nd. Not sure what time we can get there coming from Idaho Falls, going through Jackson.
 
ibike2havefun said:
I am in the greater Yellowstone area now. We've been seeing delays of up to two hours and more at the entry points, between the hours of 9 a.m. and about 1 p.m. If you hit the park between those hours you will want to factor that in to your calculations.

That may also change depending on when (what time of year) you come through.
Click to expand...
Thats what I needed to know. Am leaving Buffalo WY Aug 17th-wednesday. Plan on taking 16 then 14 across to 191 and up to West Yellowstone. I just might miss the delays at the gates but hopefully won't get stranded behind all the lookies.
 
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Dave, lots of good advice above. That's too long of a day unless you're up very early and plan to ride late. Skip Billings. Plan at MOST 40mph moving average that day, more likely 30 mph.

Enjoy the ride! :)
 
I would say depends where you're headed after West Yellowstone..... I'd take 2 days and no Billings...... Buffalo, 90-87-14 to Dayton, 14 to Cody, Chief Joseph, Beartooth, Red Lodge, stay overnight. Next day Red Lodge, Beartooth, Yellowstone, West Yellowstone, perhaps beyond... 287 to Dillon if you don't get bogged down in Yellowstone.
 
Ha! 191 is closed as of today because of fire east of West Yellowstone. Probably open in 3 weeks from now. Been relying on Google maps for my mileage and traveling times.
now after reading you guys info especially BakerBoy, I'm bummin' because I've planned my routes with Google in mind. I'm on a time schedule to get to Washington so it looks like
I'll take 90 around and come back to Yellowstone and Beartooth another day.
 
Lots of good info here. My wife and I travel to Yellowstone early, May or early June, to beat the crowds and the heat. We keep up with the National Weather Service reports on temperature and snow....the transition period is far from clear cut. Also we check the park status with an eye out for road closures within the Park.
This trip we arrived the last week of May. There was still snow on the ground, just under freezing at night and 50-70 degree highs, depending on where in the park we went. Best of all, the crowds were tolerable and there were campsites available.

Last year, there was a late season snow storm the day after we left. Kind of hard to find our sweet spot weather-wise. Neither of us care for crowd...kind of defeats the purpose of getting away from it all.
 
STinner said:
Ha! 191 is closed as of today because of fire east of West Yellowstone. Probably open in 3 weeks from now. Been relying on Google maps for my mileage and traveling times.
now after reading you guys info especially BakerBoy, I'm bummin' because I've planned my routes with Google in mind. I'm on a time schedule to get to Washington so it looks like
I'll take 90 around and come back to Yellowstone and Beartooth another day.
Click to expand...
don,t have to hit 191-- Try this red lodge to cooke city except about 15-20 miles from cooke take the Dead Indian Hill Road down to cody then 14 west to Yellowstone at the lake take the grand loop road north, nowhere near 191
 
I did that route in two days. I was particularly frustrated with the Yellowstone traffic in late June. It's the second year in a row where I have found traffic at a standstill in the park. It was a two-lane Edens Expressway during rush hour.

I absolutely loved Beartooth, traffic was actually fairly light there. Once in the Park, the world changed in a hurry. Personally, I won't visit Yellowstone again unless it's May or September, assuming weather is good. Just my 2 cents.

Best ok luck, hope you enjoy the trip..!
 
Al st1100 said:
don,t have to hit 191-- Try this red lodge to cooke city except about 15-20 miles from cooke take the Dead Indian Hill Road down to cody then 14 west to Yellowstone at the lake take the grand loop road north, nowhere near 191
Click to expand...
This is good advice to enjoy the area without actually going through the park. Great rides.

I just got back from this area. The Park was a zoo.

There is a great place to stay in Red Lodge called the Alpine Lodge. Guy name Larry owns it. Really caters to riders like us. Clean, relaxing, good breakfast. Close to eats and gas.

Another good but short day ride is out to Nye. Go to the very end of the road Beyond a very small section of construction near the mine. Dead ends into a park and you can hike about a half-mile to a waterfall.

Enjoy!







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I just got back from this area. The Park was a zoo.

There is a great place to stay in Red Lodge called the Alpine Lodge. Guy name Larry owns it. Really caters to riders like us. Clean, relaxing, good breakfast. Close to eats and gas.

Another good but short day ride is out to Nye. Go to the very end of the road Beyond a very small section of construction near the mine. Dead ends into a park and you can hike about a half-mile to a waterfall.

Enjoy!
I going in September and I will look into your suggestions...:) Thanks Al






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