Wyoming & Montana driving

[Nick.]

Want to do this route in jan, how bad of an idea is it?

what highways are usually opened/closed?

 

[Legs Akimbo]

It depends on the weather (doh). The roads are cleared. With winter tyres everything is OK. Without them don't bother. Sometimes passes are closed for a while.

 

[Summit]

Pretty sure you can't drive north - south through Yellowstone NP in January.

Gardiner is just outside the north west entrance and Cooke City is just outside the north east entrance.

• "Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April when the park switches to oversnow travel (snowmobiles and snowcoaches).
• The only road open year-round to automobiles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction)."

Park Roads - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The most up-to-date source of information for roads in Yellowstone.

www.nps.gov

 

[Legs Akimbo]

Pretty sure you can't drive north - south through Yellowstone NP in January.

Gardiner is just outside the north west entrance and Cooke City is just outside the north east entrance.

• "Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April when the park switches to oversnow travel (snowmobiles and snowcoaches).
• The only road open year-round to automobiles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction)."

Park Roads - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The most up-to-date source of information for roads in Yellowstone.

www.nps.gov

That route does not go through Yellowstone (I think)

 

[dawooduck]

That is a cracker of a drive via West Yellowstone, Driggs, Jackson, Rock Springs, Steamboat, Wolcott, Vail.

Doesn't go through Yellowstone Park so open all year. Flattish a lot of the way, gets snowy and feels quite remote but decent road with Teton Pass to climb and beautiful high winding road country through Bondurant.

Hwy 20-32-33-191-80-789-70

Done it twice in winter in a VW van (2003) and a $400 Merc Cougar 2 door (1985).

 

[Summit]

That route does not go through Yellowstone (I think)

Oh yeah, a closer look and Nick's route goes through eastern Idaho.

 

[Zeroz]

That's a lot of driving. I've done most of the segments on ski trips without any problems

- You're on highways and major roads in areas that are adept at keeping roads open. Snow clearing is kinda their thing.
- But JH to Driggs over Teton Pass is always weather dependent as it's 8400 ft so a storm closes it. May have to wait for clearing.
- You go on the edge of YP via West Yellowstone. Bitterly cold town, 7k ft, roads iced over, driveable, locals using snowmobiles to get around
- Assume this is a ski trip so minor shift is via Kalispell to ski Whitefish and then on to ski Fernie, before Calgary.

 

[dawooduck]

Could also include Big Sky and Grand Targee.

The stretch south of West Yellowstone is cold and long but that is part of the adventure. The area is a huge summer rec area but come winter ..... not so much.

 

[CarveMan]

Could also include Big Sky and Grand Targee.

The stretch south of West Yellowstone is cold and long but that is part of the adventure. The area is a huge summer rec area but come winter ..... not so much.

Yep kinda blew my mind on my first trip to Jackson that half the motels were closed for winter.

 

[dawooduck]

Yep kinda blew my mind on my first trip to Jackson that half the motels were closed for winter.

1985 .... dusk is setting in, me n the gf in the 2 door Cougar, Steamboat to Whistler, tyres start slipping as the road freezes up, will we make West Yellowstone, look a light on in the forest, fishing lodge, 3 sledders in the bar and the caretaker, a fun aussie girl, jukebox, shots for all .... stay calm, check the exits it's -12 outside and there are bears in the woods

Fun times in America

Probably a Marriot there now

 

[MarzNC]

When there is blowing snow, may have to take a longer route in Idaho to Bozeman. In good driving weather, can go north on RT32 and skip Rexburg to get to US20. The section of US20 south of West Yellowstone closes fairly often due to low visibility because of blowing snow, even when there isn't an active snowstorm.

Reason I know is that in Feb 2019 my ski buddy picked me up at SLC airport and we went to Driggs to ski Grand Targhee before heading to Bozeman. Had to take RT87 to US287. On the way back to SLC from Big Sky, we decided to take I-15 after going through Virginia City and Twin Bridges.

There was a SkiTalk Gathering at Big Sky that week. A friend (from Washington DC) and his son drove from SLC (son lives in SLC). They ran straight into a snowstorm driving up I-15. Never made it that day. Had to stop in some motel along the way.

 

[CarveMan]

When there is blowing snow, may have to take a longer route in Idaho to Bozeman. In good driving weather, can go north on RT32 and skip Rexburg to get to US20. The section of US20 south of West Yellowstone closes fairly often due to low visibility because of blowing snow, even when there isn't an active snowstorm.

Reason I know is that in Feb 2019 my ski buddy picked me up at SLC airport and we went to Driggs to ski Grand Targhee before heading to Bozeman. Had to take RT87 to US287. On the way back to SLC from Big Sky, we decided to take I-15 after going through Virginia City and Twin Bridges.

There was a SkiTalk Gathering at Big Sky that week. A friend (from Washington DC) and his son drove from SLC (son lives in SLC). They ran straight into a snowstorm driving up I-15. Never made it that day. Had to stop in some motel along the way.

I got stuck on the wrong side of Teton Pass due to blowing snow one time when driving up from Tahoe. Had to spend the night in Idaho Falls.

 

[MarzNC]

If you do drive to West Yellowstone on US20, keep an eye out for bison. They can park themselves right on the side of the road. Close enough that it pays to give them some extra space as you pass by.

 

[Nick.]

Cheers for the responses