Headed to Yellowstone from Fort Worth...

[KEdenfield]

Any suggestions on route?

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I am making the same trip from Colorado in October. My last trip was about 5 years ago. I go I 25 to I 80. Get off at Rawlins, take US 287 to US 26, brings you straight into the park. While you are there, I'd stop by Jackson. The Teton park is great as well - you will probably see about as many animals there as in Yellowstone. If you make Jackson, go to the Mangy Moose in Teton Village. It's a fun stop.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Our favorite route when we lived in the FTW area was take US 287 to Lamar, CO.



At Lamar, take CO 71 to US 26 at Scottsbluff, NE. There is a nice City Park in Brush, CO with RV hookups. CO 17 is a good road with very traffic, and best of all, you miss the gridlock around Denver and the I-25 corridor.



Follow US 26 until it joins I-25 to Casper, WY. At Casper take US 26 to Moran Junction, WY which is in the Grand Teton NP. It's a beautiful drive north to Yellowstone.



We've been to the Tetons and Yellowstone over a dozen times in the last 30 years and we've taken about every route, but this one has turned out to be the best for us.



I agree with Ryan, you'll see as much or more wildlife in the Grand Teton NP as in Yellowstone.



Bill

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Well now I want to go back again. We flew the approach into Jackson Hole back in the spring with snow on the peaks on either side. The Tetons are one great place and hold the #2 spot next to Germany.



Jim

 

[KEdenfield]

Bill,

Why is that your favorite, fast easy climbs? How long did this route take?



I want to avoid gridlock since we will be traveling Labor day weekend and I'm hauling a 26' camper, but I was thinking a route that went up through west CO and WY to get the good scenery (I been in Texas all my life and don't know what mountains are). Only down side I see is potentially slow going due to the mountainous terrain. I figure we will do about 400 miles a day (got a 7 month old).

 

[wyosteve]

Just for info. There is road construction for about 10 miles on the Togwotee Pass highway between Dubois and the pass. Supposedly up to a 15 minute wait for pilot cars. Usually that means driving on dirt/gravel for a bit. As far as I know, the south route, i. e. Rock Springs, Pinedale, Hoback Jct. , Jackson is clear.

 

[Buffalo]

You mentioned that you wanted to go thru Western CO. (mountains). I would highly recommend the trip thru Durango, Silverton & Ouray. Exceptional mountain scenery with slow driving, so you see more. No problem with the trailer. I've towed my 25' thru there, many times.



If you have the time, take the train ride from Durango to Silverton, both ways. It's a beautiful trip. Steam locomotive. You will never forget it!!!



North of Ouray (Little Switzerland of the US), you can take a side trip to Telluride, CO. Also, a beautiful area. There's "no ugly" in Western CO.



If you have the time to go thru Grand Lake, Rocky Mtn. Nat'l. Park & Estes Park, CO. , you won't be "wasting your time". Beautiful area.



Yellowstone, Grand Tetons & Jackson Hole are all everyone has said about them. The mountains in the Grand Tetons are the most beautiful I've ever seen. The Banff, BC, Canadian mtns. are incredible, also.



You have an incredible trip, ahaed of you. Take your time & enjoy it. You'll never forget it.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[KEdenfield]

Oo. Can't wait to go...



We are leaving on the 1st and have until the 10th to be back. I don't doubt the sites along the drive through the mountains will be unbelivable, but I don't want to take so long getting to the Tentons/Yelowstone that we only have a few days to enjoy'em before we got to hi-tail it home.



I will be coming in from the south through Green River (got to pick up some Green River Coke). How about taking I40 from Amarillo TX to Albuquerque NM then up through Bloomfield NM and on to Silverton CO to Grand Junction CO to Rangley CO to Vemal UT to Green River. Any problems with this route and how long would it take?





BTW, why isn't my truck profile showing up?

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I can speak for the CO portion of the suggested route. South West Colorado is some of the most scenic area in the state. The downside is that you are almost exclusively on two lane roads. I'd guess that the route you suggest through Colorado would take the better part of a day. I ran it on streets and trips, and it shows about 300 miles from Bloomfield NM to Rangley, CO.

 

[MMichaels]

Yellowstone questions...

You'll have a great time in Wyo - the state is staggeringly beautiful and the residents - all 500,000 of them - are friendly. You should be aware that fuel prices are sky-high ($3. 50 per gallon last week) and that almost everything in the Grand Teton - Yellowstone area is more expensive than anywhere else in the state.

 

[ECappleman]

You mentioned that you wanted to go thru Western CO. (mountains). I would highly recommend the trip thru Durango, Silverton & Ouray. Exceptional mountain scenery with slow driving, so you see more. No problem with the trailer. I've towed my 25' thru there, many times.



If you have the time, take the train ride from Durango to Silverton, both ways. It's a beautiful trip. Steam locomotive. You will never forget it!!!



North of Ouray (Little Switzerland of the US), you can take a side trip to Telluride, CO. Also, a beautiful area. There's "no ugly" in Western CO.

Joe F. (Buffalo)

Just got back, wonderful scenery!

Took the ole 2500 over several 4x4 trails while I was there. Imogine pass, Engineer pass and dont forget Yankee Boy basin.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill,

Why is that your favorite, fast easy climbs? How long did this route take?



I want to avoid gridlock since we will be traveling Labor day weekend and I'm hauling a 26' camper, but I was thinking a route that went up through west CO and WY to get the good scenery (I been in Texas all my life and don't know what mountains are). Only down side I see is potentially slow going due to the mountainous terrain. I figure we will do about 400 miles a day (got a 7 month old).

I like this route since there are no steep grades except for Togwotee Pass going into the Tetons and it will be easy with your 26' trailer. Not only do you miss Denver, you miss the strong headwinds on I-80 that usually blow from west to east between Laramie and Rawlins, WY.



Using this route, we can be at Coulter Bay RV Park in the Tetons by the end of the 3rd day of hard travel (keep the left door shut and the right foot down). Moran Junction, WY in the Tetons is roughly 1,400 miles from FTW and you'll have to make 500 miles a day. Three days to get there and three days back doesn't leave you much time to see the parks.



We used this route when we were working, towing a big heavy trailers, and had only limited time to travel. Now that we have retired, we take a week to get there...



If I were you and if you don't have your heart set on going to Yellowstone and spending all the time driving, not mentioning the cost, I would think about a trip to the mountains in northern NM and southern CO. You'd only be two easy days drive from home and the views are awsome. This time of year the RV parks won't be full (the Texans have gone home) and you will be able to spend more time enjoying the views. Places like Las Vegas, Tres Ritos, Taos, Eagle Nest, and Red River, NM. Colorado places could be South Fork, Creede, and Lake City, and as others have mentioned, the Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and back down through Chama, NM.



Bill

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Using this route, we can be at Coulter Bay RV Park in the Tetons



Ah, what a great place..... good choice Bill. I really like the Tent Cabins there too.



Jim

 

[KEdenfield]

Well *rap...

I don't know which way to go now. The wife and I are pretty set on Tentons and Yellowstone and I want at least 4-5 days. I think we will leave tonight! Driving 287 and up through East Co is not very scenic so we can do that at night. I figure we will get there as fast as possible and take a more leisurely route home (may have to use a few sick days )



Bill, How many rest stops are along CO 71? I figure I could make it to Limon CO by tomorrow afternoon. I would like to sleep for a few hours before heading to Is it a 2 lane road?

 

[Mactruck]

Just a quick note:

When I went to the Tetons and Yellowstone, I made sure I looped through and saw Devils tower in north east Wyoming. It's in the middle of nowhere but what a cool location!

 

[dmurdock]

FYI depending on how you go 87 from Texas line to I25 in NM is 45mph basically the whole way. Just came back from a week at Fun Valley in South Fork, CO.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

You'll have a great time in Wyo - the state is staggeringly beautiful and the residents - all 500,000 of them - are friendly

Except One!

























:-laf

 

[SHobbs]

1400 miles takes 3 days, not for me. I drove to Oregon from Ft Worth a few years back and it was 2042 miles from my house to where I set up. The trip there took 2 1/2 days, left Friday at 5pm arrived Sun at 6pm. I had a 10 day vacation and got to stay 5 days. 1400 miles should take a day and a half if you push it. I drove to Palmdale CA for g-dads funeral which was 1300 miles and it took 19 hours, 13 hours to Flagsaff stayed the night then 6 hrs to Palmdale. I would love to see the Tetons and for me I would bypass all the stops on the way and find the fastest route to get there and then enjoy the scenery, just my . 02. Incase the question is asked, yes both trips were with the 5er in tow running 70 mph on the interstate.

 

[EricBu12]

Heres a Teaser for you!!



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