O.T. Wyoming Roads

Leaving in about 3 weeks for long planned trip out West with 3 excited kids, wife and I. We're going to Yellowstone camping for 3 days then cutting it a little short. I want to go down to Walden Colorado and check out our every other year Elk hunting hideout. Then, back across Nebraska. Going to check out UP Baily Yard at North Platte and then to Ohmaha and SAC museum. Do to time constraints were staying mostly on the interstate system. Wondering about mapqwest directions to get from Yellowstone park to Rawlins Wyoming. It says to use US287/Wy789. Just wondering about conditiion of this road, safety, construction and other issues. Going to have little ones with and don't want a hair-pinned, potholed nightmare for 6-7 hours. Your thoughs-suggestions on the best route for this leg of the trip. Thanks, Tom B.

We are heading to Yellowstone from Iowa next week.

Are you camping also? I was amazed at how early the sites filled up, we called in Dec and darn near didn't get a spot. I am dreading the crowds but know the kids are going to eat up the whole experience.

I am heading out that way on the 9th of August from NW Middle Tn.

Generally speaking, Wyoming roads are in pretty good condition. Of course there will be some construction, it is summer after all. I've traveled that road, and it's not bad. Follow the link to WYDOT's website for construction information.
David
WYDOT

Nope, hotel camping.

Dave:

Sorry to everyone for coming in off topic here, but I have been trying to get in touch with WyoDave.

Dave, I was looking at your building pictures from January and wondered if you would mind if I asked you a few questions. My email should be available on the post.

Thanks.

Tom,

Just came through that way less than a month ago. Spent six nights at Yellowstone, then drove through the Grand Tetons to 287, then down to Rawlins for the night before heading home to Colorado. Not much in Rawlins unless you're just looking for a place to stop for the night. On the way up we spent the night in Casper, then up through Cody to the east entrance to Yellowstone.

If you go through Casper there's a restaurant you absolutely have to take the kids to...pretty interesting for adults, too. Let me know if you're going that way & I'll dig out some pictures & the name/location.

Coming out of the Grand Tetons there was probably 10 or 20 miles of dirt road where there's a bunch of construction going on. Road was a little rough through that stretch, but perfectly passable even with a travel trailer. They were actively working on it, so not sure how much may have changed in the last month.

We were towing a 30 ft fifth wheel trailer, which meant some slow going on the dirt. Scenery was worth the stretch of dirt road, though, and it didn't take that much time...

Left the Tetons sometime after lunch, and were in Rawlins by 6:00 or so, even with the construction and a couple stops. It's all two-lane road until you hit I-80 at Rawlins, but it's was pretty much driving the speed limit the whole way.

Only problem we had was picking up a nail in one of the trailer tires somewhere along the way between the Tetons and Rawlins.

Where are you staying in the park - hope you have reservations. We were at the Fishing Bridge RV campground because it was the only one that could accommodate a 30 ft trailer. We've had that trailer for probably 10 years, and I think this is the first time we've stayed somewhere that actually had hookups.

Three days is nowhere near enough time to see all of Yellowstone, particularly with kids. You don't say how old your kids are, but there's a bunch of kid's activities around the park. We had our 5 & 7 year old grand kids with us, and ended up spending almost a full day doing all the stuff at Old Faithful, plus there's a junior range program around the park. Ask a ranger at one of the visitor centers.

Took the kids on the boat tour of the lake, which runs out of the Bridge Bay marina several times a day. You'll probably need to get tickets the day before; you can get them at the marina or at the campground entrance wherever you're staying. The boys are still talking about that, and about going fishing even though we didn't catch anything.

The park is a LOT bigger than you'd expect from just looking at a map. We put almost 500 miles on the truck in five days of just running around inside the park itself. Be prepared to do a LOT of walking. Fuel in the park itself is expensive ($4.50/gal for diesel), so I made sure to stop & fill up before going into the park.

Doesn't sound like you'll have a lot of time on the way to the park, but Wyoming is dinosaur country and there's a bunch of places to stop with kids.

Hope this helps,

Keith

Alternate might be 191 out the south gate, thru Grand Teton Park & Jackson & down to Rock Springs, pick up I 80 there. Decent 2 lane road.
Used that route when I was driving stagecoach tours out of Minneapolis.
Willie

Reread your original post. If you can spare the time, when leaving Walden, drop down to Grandy, then through Rocky Mt park to Estes Park. Has the highest PAVED road in the world at 12000+ feet. (Pikes Peak is higher, but the top is gravel.) Then on to Fort Morgan or Sterling to pick up I 76.
Willie

I used the exact same route 3 weeks ago, it was a nice way to see the tetons without the harsh mountain driving terrain. Stop at the Mile High Pizza place for some great pizza in Jackson. Remember to keep the gas tank topped off and bring along some extra drinks in the car in case anything happens....its some pretty country but unforgiving in some places. If you are going out through Cody take the kids to the Irma (Buffalo Bills Hotel) they have a shoot out each night in front of there. The Holiday Inn Express is a nice hotel if you need lodging. Do plan on taking your time through Yellow Stone, the Gyzer pools are beautiful.

Isnt the road to MT Evans the highest paved road??