Route to Yellowstone

[RacinRay]

I'm planning a ride from Albany, NY to Yellowstone in a few weeks and I'd prefer not to take I-90 all the way (3 700+ mile days). I'm not opposed to some interstate riding and I'd like to take no more than 4 or 5 days to get there. Any suggestions for good roads, "must do" roads and other routing advice? I know what roads I want to ride while there.

 

[Spud]

I'm no help east of Wyoming, but I'd suggest getting to Sheridan or Buffalo WY then up over the Bighorns.

 

[HelzBelz]

That's pretty funny that you'd ask.

I just rode from Bozeman MT to Metuchen NJ. in 3 days flat with 3 hotel stops (2 for 9 hours, one for 10). I took a very boring I90 to I80. But it wasn't so boring that i fell asleep. I did forget to tell my zumo it was ok to take toll roads, so it put me through some pretty "nice" sections of Chicago Heights, with boatloads of traffic.

I left my bike at my buddies houes in Lido Beach NY. Gonna fly back out at the end of August, and he and I are gonna ride back in 10 days.

I would definitely suggest hot-tailing like I did, it will give you more time to enjoy some great western roads. Yellowstone is ok, if you've never seen it before. But it will be slow going and crowded (although probably not nearly as bad as Chicago heights was for me).

Here is my spotwalla just for kicks (there are some gaps in the trip where I forgot to restart my bubbler software after rebooting my phone:

https://spotwalla.com/embed.php?id=ab7953d1d4da9bb16&width=600&height=600&scale=on&zoom=default&refresh=no

I agree with Spud though, the ride from wyoming to yellowstone could be earthshattering if you've not seen much of the west This includes Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth pass, and gets you to mammoth hot springs, where you could soak in the boiling river for fun.. Very awesome.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Powell,+WY/Chief+Joseph+Hwy,+Cody,+WY/Red+Lodge,+Mt/Bear+Tooth+Pass+Hwy,+Cody,+WY+82414/Cooke+City-Silver+Gate,+Mt/44.9627972,-110.4267992/Mammoth+Hot+Springs/@44.9375071,-110.2814696,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m39!4m38!1m5!1m1!1s0x534953cc6bbe1951:0xf238135e6a851acf!2m2!1d-108.7573524!2d44.7538408!1m5!1m1!1s0x534eed632a9bfcd9:0x812ca2a455070919!2m2!1d-109.4684914!2d44.823047!1m5!1m1!1s0x534f2a19f746fcf5:0xb58a35f67520d70b!2m2!1d-109.2468211!2d45.1857782!1m5!1m1!1s0x534efabe8ddbb7d9:0xc8b3368bf27a274a!2m2!1d-109.6681487!2d44.933827!1m5!1m1!1s0x534e557daa946e29:0x777de027d2c63de1!2m2!1d-109.9165534!2d45.0160445!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x534fd441e8f27207:0x8deb6d0ce198d8e6!2m2!1d-110.7033543!2d44.9710109!3e0

 

[HelzBelz]

And by the way. I'd also find the time to get further west... EVERY STATE WEST of the Dakotas is better than NY. I recently spend two years in Plattsburgh NY, and I enjoyed NY and Vermont and Nova Scotia and Quebec etc. But only till I got back to Montana. Idaho Oregon Utah Washington and COLORADO blow everything away.

 

[Geosci]

If you've got the time and want to take a break from I-90, you could ride up through Michigan to the upper peninsula and then work your way down through Wisconsin and Minnesota before hitting I-90 again east of Sioux Falls. Take detours through Badlands National Park, Custer State Park (Hwy 16A and 87 - Needles Highway), and Hwy 14/14A through Bighorn National Forest to Cody, WY where you can pick up the Chief Joseph.

It's not fast, or direct, but it these are some great roads and fantastic scenery.

Enjoy.

 

[RacinRay]

Thanks for the input. I have 16 days available. That's why I want to take no more than 4 or 5 days out. I'd like to explore the west.

 

[Aasland]

Like others have said, just slab it out there. Don't blow good vacation time riding curvy roads close to home when you could be doing that out west.

Also, don't limit your self to Yellowstone NP. If you like hiking and the weather cooperates go north to Glacier, then along the Kookanusa reservoir, south through Idaho and back to Yellowstone ... or when you're done with Yellowstone, head south and get a couple days in Colorado and head home from there.

 

[JamesW]

Chamberlain S. Dakota has the nicest rest stop in the state, especially after droning along thru the state from either direction. Trees, lawns, exhibits, it was a nice hour break when hauling buns across country in a hurry to my dads funeral and trying to avoid go to jail tickets. This was in July and I was riding a first generation concours.

 

[Dodahdude]

Good lord man........ Hall ass to the west young man.

#1. Do not plan on sleeping. Forget it. You won't have time for it.

#2. See everything mentioned above.

#3. You have to spend 3 or 4 hours at Mt Rushmore. Every American should be required to experience it.

Be safe and enjoy every moment!

 

[Uncle Hud]

Umm, not to be a downer here, but when does Yellowstone close for the winter? I remember it being late September (30 years ago living in Idaho Falls) -- and man, those last weeks can get really crowded.

 

[Old Guy]

I'll second Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Pass. They are both a must-see if you're in that area.

If you want to save a little of your hard-earned cash while there, try to avoid the accommodations inside the park. I went a few years ago and stayed in Cooke City, Montana. Prices were good, but I had quick access to the park.

 

[RacinRay]

Thanks everyone.