Travel suggestions

[3fan4life]

My buddy that was going to ride out to Inzane with me can't take vacation until August now.

Since we've been planning a trip out west together, I figure that I can postpone my trip as well.

I was originally looking at superslab to Colorado Springs and then US routes through Colorado, Idaho , Utah and Montana.

With the change in schedule we now only have 9 days to complete our trip.

This is a much tighter schedule than I'd like for such a trip, but it is still doable.


I figure on two days traveling out and two days traveling back.

That leaves us with 5 days to "Explore".

So, my question is, If you only had 5 days to loop through Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.

What are the things that you must see and what's the best way to get to them?


Here is my list of things (knowing that I probably won't get to see all of them in such a short time):

Four Corners
Million Dollar Highway
Yellowstone NP
Highway to the Sun
Mt Rushmore
Crazy Horse Monument
The Badlands NP


So, If you've been there done that and got the T-shirt help a brother out with some sound advice.

 

[carolinarider09]

Thats a good list, I'd add Beartooth and Bighorn to the list.  

There is also the Arches National Park.

Do you have a "start" for your trip, as in where you will be the evening of day two?

[Valker]

So, my question is, If you only had 5 days to loop through Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.

What are the things that you must see and what's the best way to get to them?

Here is my list of things (knowing that I probably won't get to see all of them in such a short time):

Four Corners- I'd drop this one completely. It's really not worth seeing. If you want to see it, online pics. The marker is not even in the right place-so you're NOT in 4 states.
Million Dollar Highway-Worth it.
Yellowstone NP- A REAL Time suck because of bumper to bumper slow traffic.
Highway to the Sun- I'm assuming this is "Going to The Sun" highway in Glacier NP. Great road.
Mt Rushmore- Very close to the Crazy Horse one.
Crazy Horse Monument-Close to Rushmore. Great roads in the area.
The Badlands NP-Not much here you can't get with online pictures.
So, If you've been there done that and got the T-shirt help a brother out with some sound advice.

I added some comments to your quote above.
I'd add Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway in eastern MT.
If you are going to Slab it on I-40, I'd go northwest from Tucumcari, NM on highway 104 to Las Vegas, NM (NOT Nevada). From Las Vegas to Taos on highway 518. From Taos to Durango, CO using highway 64 mostly into Pagosa Springs then Durango. Highway 550 north (Million $ Highway) to Grand Junction, CO. From there pick a route to Cody WY. From there take highway 120 to Highway 296 (Chief Joseph Highway) to Highway 212 to Red Lodge, MT. Pick about any route to The Black Hills with Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Ride the nearby roads. Head home from there. Glacier is great, but there's a LOT of miles to get there. This route is a LOT for 5 days of travel. For a realistic schedule, I'd head east at Montrose, CO on Highway 50 for a meeting with highway 149 south to Creede and South Fork, CO. East from there to home.

[msb]

Have done Yellowstone, Going to the Sun, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands. All were great, but for me Yellowstone and Going to the Sun were a one-time ride for me...just to say been there, done that. Only ridden them in the Summer months...too many people, too much traffic for my liking. The riding to, from, and around those specific spots is amazing though...rest of Glacier, Northern Idaho, and Beartooth are must rides in my book.
Badlands/Black Hills are awesome...been several times. Lots of great riding and history to see. Yes, I'm Canadian...but Mt Rushmore was just plain inspiring to see in person, as was the all the history at Little Big Horn, etc. So much to see in that area.
Good luck in planning a route as you've got lots to choose from and I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions, and have a great trip come Summer.

[Gryphon Rider]

For a nine day trip, Glacier Park (Going-to-the-Sun Road) is biting off too much to chew unless you made a beeline to and from.  I think you'd do best to choose either South Dakota and Yellowstone area, or Colorado and Utah.  There are many amazing roads to ride and things to see either way.  Doing it all would mean not being able to get off the bikes and actually see anything.  Keep in mind the parks will be busy with tourists, and travelling in mountainous regions means you could very well be sidelined for a day or two due to weather.

[¿spoom]

All above have valid points. Roads are great riding around Custer/Sturgis, likewise Devil's Tower to the west.

[Disco]

Four Corners is not much to look at and it's far from anything else.  I'd cut it from your list. 

[Oss]

If you were still going to IZ then 1700 miles in 2 days is a lot, (Moneta to Taos) especially since you dont know your weather or any issues may come up that are unanticipated.

It is doable, but you will be plum tuckered out .  I was considering riding out in 3 days each way and frankly am not convinced I can or should attempt it this year.  Wild 6 would go from NW NJ to GOTF in two days and back in 2 so I know it can be done  My eyes would not allow me that pace.

A few years back I made it from Ossining NY to Charliemac's place in Grey Tn to Conway Ark which was a nice ride  Then to Valker's in Pampa the next day, also a nice ride about 650 1st day to Grey then 650 to Conway and  520 ish to Pampa.  But that was late March not as hot  (ok 1st three mornings it was about 27 when I left) and also shorter day riding (cant see squat at night)  Then to the west coast on the way to GOTF  I cant do that again in the time I did it then. I would want more time for seeing stuff I missed like the 3 sisters.

You and only you know your limitations.  That said, I would save Chief Joseph, Beartooth and Glacier in Montana (dont forget to stop for pie in St Mary's) for another trip and detour into Calgary, Canmore and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper on a 2 week jaunt  That would be well worth your time.  And those Canadians are fun to drink beer with.

[Moonshot_1]

Looking at this it is going to take you 24 hrs of just driving time (no gas stops, dinner/lunch stops, or any breaks of anykind) to get you to the closest destinations on your list. Black Hills/Badlands and the eastern slope of the Rockies (Denver, Fort Collins, Colo. Springs.

Can’t see this being made in 2 days. That is 12 hrs a day with no stops.

Factor in bad weather, (Midwest in August. You would be sure to see some fireworks at some point) so I’d plan for at least 3 days out and back. Make it quicker and that would be great but plan on 2 days and get caught up in some nasty stuff, not so great.

As to destinations. Obviously, the farther out west you go the longer it will out and back.
9 days isn’t a lot of time for a trip like this.

My first option would be the Badlands and Black Hills.

Lots of things to do. Lots of roads to ride. Lots of things to see. If you find yourself with more time while there you can expand your range.
 
Things to see: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Badlands, Wall Drug, Custer State Park, Devil’s Tower (Short hop into Wy.) and much more stuff. Needles Hwy, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon Road, and others.

For a first time visitor, you would spend a week here and not see near everything worth seeing.
Been there a number of times and yet to see everything.

Second option would be eastern slope of Colorado Rockies. From Ft. Collins to Colo. Springs.

Ride up Pikes Peak (Recommended) Ride up Mt. Evan. (Highest “paved” road of death in North America)
Rocky Mt. National Park, Air Force Academy in Colo. Springs, Garden of the Gods, the list isn’t endless but really really long.

For both options the time out and back would be pretty close to the same.

Problem with the Colorado option is Kansas. It will bore you to death if the tornadoes and heat don’t get you first. Make a note, the heat in the midwest in August can be deadly.
We were on a trip to Colorado, in June, a few years ago. When we got to Colby, Kansas, early evening,  it had finally cooled down...to 105.

It was a bit hot. My wife about lost her mind.

It can and does get pretty bad heat wise around here in the summer. Plan accordingly.
And the problem with Kansas is that there is not many places to hide from the heat while on the road.

South Dakota can get boring too but there are points now and then that break the monotony.

You could do a circle route and do both but you’d be just blowing through everything. Which would be ok if you just want to blow through everything and ride.

Things like Mt. Rushmore, or riding up Pikes Peak is worth the time.

You guys should just pick a destination, a general area, that you guys feel is worthy of such a trip, go there and enjoy it and smell the roses on the way back too.

A third option given the time restraints. Lake Superior Circle lake tour. Day and a half to get to Sault Ste Marie. 4 days to get around the lake maybe? Passport required.
The wife and I have just been up the North shore of Superior (Beautiful) and points along the South Shore. Lots of maritime history and natural beauty.  Look Up “Circle Lake Tour” to find more information.
Wish I could get up there more. In the summer of course.
You could even return through the Mississippi Valley through Wisconsin and Iowa. Very scenic. Number of iconic places along the way.
So that is my 2 bits.
Have a great time wherever you guys go.

[J.Mencalice]

If you have never seen the Grand Canyon go there.  I feel every American should visit Grand Canyon National Park in their lifetime...slowly.  It puts you in a perspective of time's passage where a person (as a tiny being) fits into the grand scheme of creation.  If you are fortunate to camp out in the desert, then you get a perspective of where the Grand Canyon (as immense as it is) fits into the expansiveness of the universe and how small that makes it in the scheme of creation.  A truly unique place that we have that people from all over the world come to experience.  It belongs to the people of our country in perpetuity and managed for all to see and wonder at.

From there, it doesn't matter where you roam around the big open of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah; it's all about easy riding.

August will be very hot in the desert.  If you are not a fan of heat, maybe consider a northern track.

[Valker]

You could add 4 days to your vacation by flying in to Denver and renting some bikes. Return them to Denver and fly home.

[sandy]

Valker's idea is the best one so far. I've traveled cross country 6 times since '03. No trip was less than 2 weeks. Nine days will get you "to" those places, but you won't enjoy any of them. Pick one area and spend time and enjoy that area.

[DirtyDan]

5 days 6 states is ....um ambitious

I would cut out South Dakota (just me)

Four Corners not really worth it

Chief Joseph is REALLY nice

Don’t overreach and enjoy what you can

Dan

[Serk]

I've taken road trips like that (In a cage) with my dad.

Don't. It's just not worth it trying to cram that much into that tight of a schedule. Reduce your destinations by at least half.

Far better to be able to actually SEE the things you're going to see then to drive by and have time to just get a quick pic of the bikes in front of the "Welcome to the Grand Canyon" sign as you're rushing off to the next place...

(And I also agree, four corners is the first thing I'd take off that list.)

[SCain]

So, my question is, If you only had 5 days to loop through Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.

What are the things that you must see and what's the best way to get to them?

Here is my list of things (knowing that I probably won't get to see all of them in such a short time):

Four Corners- I'd drop this one completely. It's really not worth seeing. If you want to see it, online pics. The marker is not even in the right place-so you're NOT in 4 states.
Million Dollar Highway-Worth it.

518 from Mora to Taos is a good riding road, skip 4 corners nothing to see there.
Yellowstone NP- A REAL Time suck because of bumper to bumper slow traffic.
Highway to the Sun- I'm assuming this is "Going to The Sun" highway in Glacier NP. Great road.
Mt Rushmore- Very close to the Crazy Horse one.
Crazy Horse Monument-Close to Rushmore. Great roads in the area.
The Badlands NP-Not much here you can't get with online pictures.
So, If you've been there done that and got the T-shirt help a brother out with some sound advice.

I added some comments to your quote above.
I'd add Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway in eastern MT.
If you are going to Slab it on I-40, I'd go northwest from Tucumcari, NM on highway 104 to Las Vegas, NM (NOT Nevada). From Las Vegas to Taos on highway 518. From Taos to Durango, CO using highway 64 mostly into Pagosa Springs then Durango. Highway 550 north (Million $ Highway) to Grand Junction, CO. From there pick a route to Cody WY. From there take highway 120 to Highway 296 (Chief Joseph Highway) to Highway 212 to Red Lodge, MT. Pick about any route to The Black Hills with Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Ride the nearby roads. Head home from there. Glacier is great, but there's a LOT of miles to get there. This route is a LOT for 5 days of travel. For a realistic schedule, I'd head east at Montrose, CO on Highway 50 for a meeting with highway 149 south to Creede and South Fork, CO. East from there to home.

518 from Mora NM to Taos is a good riding road, skip 4 corners nothing to see there.

[3fan4life]

Based on much of the advice received, I've reduced my destinations to:
 
Yellowstone NP
Mt Rushmore
Crazy Horse Monument
The Badlands NP

This makes the roundtrip from Roanoke aproximately 4k miles.

Which averages out to about 450 miles / day.

Still ambitious but not too bad.


The plan is to take I-80 to Rawlings, then head up to Yellowstone and work our way back across MT & SD.

If anyone knows of some good places to bed down for the night along the way that would be Great.

This is going to be a seat of the pants ride as far as where we wind up each night so having some pre-tested options will help. 

[Moonshot_1]

Based on much of the advice received, I've reduced my destinations to:
 
Yellowstone NP
Mt Rushmore
Crazy Horse Monument
The Badlands NP

This makes the roundtrip from Roanoke aproximately 4k miles.

Which averages out to about 450 miles / day.

Still ambitious but not too bad.


The plan is to take I-80 to Rawlings, then head up to Yellowstone and work our way back across MT & SD.

If anyone knows of some good places to bed down for the night along the way that would be Great.

This is going to be a seat of the pants ride as far as where we wind up each night so having some pre-tested options will help. 

Wife and I were out to Yellowstone about 3 years ago on the bikes. A heads up on a couple of things.

It's a busy place. Look for little parking and bumper to bumper traffic at scenic areas.

It's a huge place. From the East entrance to Old Faithful is 65 miles. 65 MILES! This blew my mind. The shear vastness of the place is incredible. Add to it that the Shoshone National forest, which is nearly the same size as Yellowstone, borders Yellowstone to the east, and the Teton National Park to the south.
And if I recall the max speed limit is 45. It takes a while to get anywhere. And alot of times you can't go near that fast.
 
The distances between scenic spots are kind of far apart too. I thought going in, before I really looked into it, that it would be a few miles at most between things. 20 to 40 miles or more apart is the norm
 
Lodging options can be hard to come by in and around Yellowstone. If you can, get someplace reserved ahead of time. Like 6 months ahead of time or figure staying far outside of the park. We stayed here https://www.yellowstonevalleyinn.com/riverfront-motel/ About 30 miles from the East entrance. Very nice place. Seems kind of pricey but compared to the other places in the area not bad at all.

If you are the camping types you would probably fair better around the park as opposed to regular lodging options.

Bears, Elk, Deer, and Buffalo. My opinion is to get off the road before it gets dark. One night we didn't and man, there is alot of wild life out there hanging out by the road.

One of the things we did was hire a tour package. That way you get to actually look at things and not the road. Highly recommend it. They will pick up from the area hotels. It does cost a bit but you get to see things besides the road and helps get you better oriented when you do ride through it.

It will also help with the parking fiasco as the tour van will drop you off right where you want to be which is an incredible time saver. The tour would last the better part of the day and give you a break from the riding. Win win right there.

Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth pass. Cannot stress enough that you must ride them.

The point to all this is make your way to Yellowstone, spend your available days there and just do a pass by on stuff on the route back. Maybe just drive by Rushmore. Be un-American if you didn't. But I would invest the time in Yellowstone.

Again, at the time you are going the lodging in the area is at a premium. I would nail the Yellowstone lodging down months before you go. Also be sure to check the distance from the park to where you are staying. The map is deceptive looking. The vastness of the place will blow your mind.

We will want pictures.

[Serk]

If your riding buddy annoys you, and ya'll are up for a bit of a hike, you can (Theoretically) off him with impunity in the Idaho portion of Yellowstone National Park, so keep that little bit of info in your back pocket..... ya' know, just in case...   

https://www.sciencealert.com/you-could-get-away-with-murder-in-yellowstone-national-park-zone-of-death-idaho

[Gryphon Rider]

Moonshot posted as I was typing the following, so forgive any redundancy.

Spelling it "Rawlings" threw me off, as there are a couple of Rawlings not too far from you, then I deduced it was Rawlins (no "g"), Wyoming.

Assuming you take three days to get to Wyoming, I would plan for your overnight before exploring Yellowstone be closer to the park, so you can be in the gates fairly early in the morning.  I would suggest staying in Jackson, Dubois, or someplace just as close.  If you're camping, Colter Bay Village on Jackson Lake, which I did on Fudgie's recommendation.  If you can see the Grand Tetons reflected in Jackson Lake as the sun is rising behind you, it's an awesome sight.  Plan on spending a full day riding around Yellowstone seeing the sights, and you want to start before the vacationers are up and on the road.  Speed limits are slow and tourists are slower, and adding in ten or twenty miles of riding on gravel in construction areas, and the inevitable traffic jams when bison are on or beside the road bogs things down even more.  Were I you, I would plan to finish my day in either Gardiner or Cooke City Montana.  Even if you're not staying there, if I had time I would leave the park to have supper in Gardiner.  The drive is down through the valley is very scenic, and the town has an appealing frontier feel to it.

Must-see stops in Yellowstone:
Old Faithful
Grand Prismatic Spring
Upper and Lower Falls of Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs

Take the Beartooth Highway (a must-do for every motorcyclist) from Cooke City to Red Lodge, and take the Hwy 14 Alt and Hwy 14 from Lovell to Sheridan, a spectacular mountain pass, another road not to miss.

I90 from Sheridan to Gillette is rolling and beautiful.

The attractions of the Black Hills don't need any advertising from me, but I will say that it would be worth it to get to the Jewel Cave National Monument (12 miles west of Custer, SD) early in the day so you can book an early time to take a cave tour.  My daughter and I missed it during Spearfish Inzane because we got there mid-afternoon, after all the subsequent tours were already booked.  I had been there as a boy, and really wanted to show Emily.

[Willow]

Just outside the south gate to Yellowstone, between Yellowstone and Grand Teton, is Flagg Ranch, a pleasant place to stay the night.  Outside the east gate there are some listed but we travelled more than sixty miles to find a place to stay.

[JimC]

Two years ago we did the Tetons and Yellowstone.The ride in on 191(?) from Rawlins is boring for the first hour, then it really gets nice as you start to head up in elevation. You end up following along side the river, with the mountains rising beside you, it is really, really, nice. We were in our RV, and I kept wishing we were on the bike at that time.

We spent 3 days riding the Valkyrie through the Tetons, stayed in Colter Bay. Colter Bay has rental cottages right on Jackson Lake, extremely beautiful!

We spent 4 days riding Yellowstone from the west side (Grizzly RV Park) we rode a different section of the park each day, taking time to see the sights.

Even though as others have said, the speed limits are 45 or less, it is a great ride, and gorgeous country, but it will take time to see.

Jim

[..]

Four Corners is not much to look at and it's far from anything else.  I'd cut it from your list. 

+ 1,000 

[..]

Based on much of the advice received, I've reduced my destinations to:
 
Yellowstone NP
Mt Rushmore
Crazy Horse Monument
The Badlands NP

This makes the roundtrip from Roanoke aproximately 4k miles.

Which averages out to about 450 miles / day.

Still ambitious but not too bad.


The plan is to take I-80 to Rawlings, then head up to Yellowstone and work our way back across MT & SD.

If anyone knows of some good places to bed down for the night along the way that would be Great.

This is going to be a seat of the pants ride as far as where we wind up each night so having some pre-tested options will help. 

450 a day means you will stop for gas, food and bathrooms with not much time for actually "seeing" anything.

It's BLOODY BIG OUT THERE.

In Yellowstone the traffic can eat up your time with everyone and their mother stopping at the sight of a frickin squirrel.

A bear can stop traffic for EVAH!

Buffalo's DO NOT like bikes. Be prepared to hide behind other vehicles. You have been warned.

[..]

Have you considered flying and renting bikes to give you more sight seeing time?

[Disco]

Exciting, huh...   

[Moonshot_1]

Another heads up.

Don't know what part of August you are planning to go but the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is Aug. 2-11.

During this time expect no lodging options in the area unless they are made well in advance and the prices skyrocket too.

Area is busy a week prior and a week post rally too.

[Gryphon Rider]

Another heads up.

Don't know what part of August you are planning to go but the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is Aug. 2-11.

During this time expect no lodging options in the area unless they are made well in advance and the prices skyrocket too.

Area is busy a week prior and a week post rally too.

I went to Sturgis in 2001, the year I got my new-in-the-crate 2000 Tourer.  Riding in the Black Hills was often an exercise in frustration, waiting for a gap in the oncoming motorcycles to pass ANOTHER group of putt-putting straight-pipe Harleys.  I've mellowed a bit since then, but during Spearfish Inzane it was really difficult trying to keep my speed low enough to not risk a ticket with the unreasonably low limits.

[DIGGER]

How old are ya?.....maybe you could retire early......

[BIG Bopper]

You have a great list of must sees. Some others to consider based on timing
Zion NP, Bryce NP and the ride on US 12 the only highway to be designated as Americas Highway.
Moab UT riding in along HWY 128. Visit Dead Horse Point SP and do Canyonlands by night (you will not regret it)
Stay at Red Cliffs Lodge if timing is right and funds permit. (request cabin on the Colorado River)
Have a drink from the Love Spring on 128 just before 191 on the south side of the road (look for cars)
In Wyoming do Jackson Hole and SEE the Tetons (no other mountains more spectacular) IMHO
In yellowstone ask for critter sightings and make it a point to ride in those areas.
Wyoming/Montana ride the Bear Tooth Pass and see the end of the world
Crazy Horse is a must see along with the badlands and the eye of the needle
Stop at the east end entrance (Hwy 240) Badlands Ranch Store, spend a buck and go out back sit down and feed the Prairie Dogs
Wish I was going with you

[3fan4life]

Another heads up.

Don't know what part of August you are planning to go but the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is Aug. 2-11.

During this time expect no lodging options in the area unless they are made well in advance and the prices skyrocket too.

Area is busy a week prior and a week post rally too.

Thanks for the heads up.

That is the exact dates of our trip.

I'll have to plan accordingly.

I wouldn't mind passing through Sturgis to see the mayhem and grab a T-Shirt, but I have no desire to hang around.

[fudgie]

You can spend the whole trip around the black hills. If anything hit Iron Mntn Rd/ Needles hwy. Its like the dragon, only better. Dragon on steroids.    Stay off 90 in SD & WY. Take 212 out of Bel Fourche SD to the Little bighorn. Spend the night in Billings and do Beartooth Pass. Spend 2 nights in Cooke City MT. Its 5 miles from the NE entrance to Yellowstone. Its easy in and easy out. CC is biker friendly. Stayed there a lot. Get bear spray, its grizzly country. You can come out the east entrance and go to Cody or just outside of CC is Chief Joseph HWY. I like it better then Beartooth.
If you stay in the Sturgis area (100 mile radius) you can prob find a room on the fly. Expect $300/ night tho.

Maybe we will see you on the road. We will be leaving Utah about the same time as your trip. Not sure our route home yet but it does include a night in Dodge City.

[ridingron]

   
I wouldn't mind passing through Sturgis to see the mayhem and grab a T-Shirt, but I have no desire to hang around. 

You really want to see it?  Ever been to bike week in Daytona? Around here you can buy a bike week shirt and not get within 50 miles of Daytona. Probably more like 100 miles.

[MarkT]

YoursTruly leading the group following Buffy in Yellowstone.  Note the traffic behind us. 



All good points above.  We've been to all the places in your first list, multiple times.  Not possible to do it in your time constraints, IMHO.  Chief Joseph & Beartooth are both close to Yellowstone & not to be missed.  If you make it to Colorado instead, Hwy 149 S of 50 thru Lake City and Creede has lots of history and Slumgullion Pass south of Lake City is perhaps the best twisty road in Colorado.  Just S of Lake City near the road is the location of Alferd Packer's cannibal feast when stranded with his repaste buddies in the winter of 1874.



Thia is interesting, read this.  Go down to the quote from the judge who sentenced him - funny!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alferd_Packer

The student union at U of CO in Boulder is named after him.  Also in Lake City, you can stop at the Packer Saloon and Cannibal Grill and have a cannibal sandwich!


 The Million Dollar Higway is not to be missed if you get to the San Juans in SW Colorado.  You could take a day, stay in Durango and ride the Durango Silverton NGRR - the PREMIER steam excursion train in North America - in mine and many other's opinions. Expensive and needs advance reservations.  I've ridden it 4 times, round trip one way is 45 miles while the train goes 15mph.  Silverton very historic and the train goes through the Needle Mountains Wilderness along the Rio de Los Animas Perdidas - the River of Lost Souls (How Romantic!)   It's like the train is a time machine and you step into 1886.

A view of the Highline Grade:



So much to see and do!  I would try to add some time or reduce the list.  Agree with the 4-Corners comments - pretty bogus and just a tourist trap with Navajo selling crap in a circle of shacks around the marker.  Nearby however is the Anasazi Cliff House at Mesa Verde - and it's worth a visit. 



I'll shut up now.  Or I would go on until I get writer's cramp!

[Cracker Jack]

 The Million Dollar Higway is not to be missed if you get to the San Juans in SW Colorado.  You could take a day, stay in Durango and ride the Durango Silverton NGRR - the PREMIER steam excursion train in North America - in mine and many other's opinions. Expensive and needs advance reservations.  I've ridden it 4 times, [color=yellow]round trip one way is 45 miles[/color] while the train goes 15mph.  Silverton very historic and the train goes through the Needle Mountains Wilderness along the Rio de Los Animas Perdidas - the River of Lost Souls (How Romantic!)   It's like the train is a time machine and you step into 1886.


"round trip one way is 45 miles"??
A loop?

[3fan4life]

Thanks for the ideas. 

I have revised the intended route based on them.

Our dates are now 8/1-8/11/19

I'm looking to get to Yellowstone via Grand Junction, CO.

Figuring 2.5 days to Grand Junction (1775 miles)

1 day from Grand Junction, CO to Jackson, WY (428 miles)

1 day to pass through Yellowstone and make it to Billings, MT (338 miles)

1 day to make it from Billings, MT to Spearfish, SD hopefully getting there in time to check out Mt. Rushmore that day.
(274 miles to Spearfish then 160 mile loop for Mt. Rushmore)

1 day to make it from Spearfish, SD to Sioux Falls, SD checking out the Badlands along the way. (391 miles)

1 day to make it from Sioux Falls, SD to Dubuque, IA (415 miles)

2 days to make it from Dubuque, IA to Roanoke, VA  (918 miles)

This itenerary allows for a one day cushion in case it doesn't go as planned.


I'm thinking of this as more of a scouting trip for future excursions out west. So, I'm perfectly happy with just passing through an area or checking it out "quickly".

I think that some of the road suggestions (Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Hwy) are a part of my planned route. But it would help if I had some route #'s to go along with the names.

The only places that I haved booked a room are Jackson, WY and Spearfish, SD.

I figure that lets the dates and exact destinations be a little more fluid if necessary.


I'm trying to talk my riding buddy into taking a sick day so that we can swing up to Michigan for the Yooper Ride before we come home.

But, he isn't on board yet.

[Gryphon Rider]

Beartooth Highway is US 212 between Cooke City, MT and Red Lodge, MT.  Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is Wyoming Hwy. 296.  Both are found in the NE corner of Yellowstone Park.

Rather than going through Billings, instead take US Alt 14 through Bighorn National Forest for spectacular riding.  It'll only add an hour, but it's well worth it.

[..]

Thanks for the ideas. 

I have revised the intended route based on them.

Our dates are now 8/1-8/11/19

I'm looking to get to Yellowstone via Grand Junction, CO.

Figuring 2.5 days to Grand Junction (1775 miles)

1 day from Grand Junction, CO to Jackson, WY (428 miles)

1 day to pass through Yellowstone and make it to Billings, MT (338 miles)

1 day to make it from Billings, MT to Spearfish, SD hopefully getting there in time to check out Mt. Rushmore that day.
(274 miles to Spearfish then 160 mile loop for Mt. Rushmore)

1 day to make it from Spearfish, SD to Sioux Falls, SD checking out the Badlands along the way. (391 miles)

1 day to make it from Sioux Falls, SD to Dubuque, IA (415 miles)

2 days to make it from Dubuque, IA to Roanoke, VA  (918 miles)

This itenerary allows for a one day cushion in case it doesn't go as planned.


I'm thinking of this as more of a scouting trip for future excursions out west. So, I'm perfectly happy with just passing through an area or checking it out "quickly".

I think that some of the road suggestions (Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Hwy) are a part of my planned route. But it would help if I had some route #'s to go along with the names.

The only places that I haved booked a room are Jackson, WY and Spearfish, SD.

I figure that lets the dates and exact destinations be a little more fluid if necessary.


I'm trying to talk my riding buddy into taking a sick day so that we can swing up to Michigan for the Yooper Ride before we come home.

But, he isn't on board yet.

Don't forget life happens and disrupts plans. I would try to see less whilst seeing more.

Grasshopper.

[Oss]

There is a small green sign that points you to Chief Joseph from just east of downtown Cody (such as it is)  Easy to miss, I did so lol  Without looking I think it was 212 to 296 but someone is bound to remember better than I do

Nothing you can do about the tar snakes on a clear hot day but stay sharp.  Gas up and top off in Cody and that is a good rule of thumb when you see gas anyway out west

When you come to scenic pull offs do think about it especially near the top of Beartooth, also stop at the store about 5 miles before the top and buy your sticker.  We stayed in Red Lodge  had a great time and buffalo burgers (yummy.)  At the T intersection I turned RIGHT to go to Red Lodge  Turn left for Yellowstone

Take an extra day for the needles highway, Deadwood etc as the Black Hills is wonderful, Rushmore is just a rock with faces IMHO but the view from the back roads is really nice.  Keystone is not a bad place to spend a night but check prices first  Deadwood may be cheaper that time of year

[Moonshot_1]

Thanks for the ideas. 

I have revised the intended route based on them.

Our dates are now 8/1-8/11/19

I'm looking to get to Yellowstone via Grand Junction, CO.

Figuring 2.5 days to Grand Junction (1775 miles)

1 day from Grand Junction, CO to Jackson, WY (428 miles)

1 day to pass through Yellowstone and make it to Billings, MT (338 miles)

1 day to make it from Billings, MT to Spearfish, SD hopefully getting there in time to check out Mt. Rushmore that day.
(274 miles to Spearfish then 160 mile loop for Mt. Rushmore)

1 day to make it from Spearfish, SD to Sioux Falls, SD checking out the Badlands along the way. (391 miles)

1 day to make it from Sioux Falls, SD to Dubuque, IA (415 miles)

2 days to make it from Dubuque, IA to Roanoke, VA  (918 miles)

This itenerary allows for a one day cushion in case it doesn't go as planned.


I'm thinking of this as more of a scouting trip for future excursions out west. So, I'm perfectly happy with just passing through an area or checking it out "quickly".

I think that some of the road suggestions (Beartooth Pass, Chief Joseph Hwy) are a part of my planned route. But it would help if I had some route #'s to go along with the names.

The only places that I haved booked a room are Jackson, WY and Spearfish, SD.

I figure that lets the dates and exact destinations be a little more fluid if necessary.


I'm trying to talk my riding buddy into taking a sick day so that we can swing up to Michigan for the Yooper Ride before we come home.

But, he isn't on board yet.

The following is just my opinion. You are going to have a lot invested in this trip so this is how I see your schedule.

You need to add 4 more days. Minimum.

2.5 days to Grand Junction equates to two 600+ mile days and one 300. Your route will take you through Louisville, St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver. Major metro areas. You hit them at the right time you will spend hours getting through them. And Denver rush hour on a motorcycle really really sucks.

You will be traveling through the Midwest in August. It will be hot, it will be humid and the storms will likely be plenty. I live here. It's pretty common in the summer to dodge storms.

I don't think 2.5 days is near enough. 4 days is about 450 miles a day. It is what I'd allow for and try to make it in the 2.5 if you can.  The good news is that your route keeps you out of Nebraska. They took an incredible beating with the flooding. They will be under construction for years.


Grand Junction to Jackson leg looks good to me.

Your Yellowstone leg does not.

Yellowstone is not a linear style park. Your route will not get you to any of the major scenic areas except the lake maybe.

The park is split into two LARGE loops. The Southern loop and the Northern loop. Our tour of the Southern loop a couple years ago took 10 hours. We weren't lollygaging around either. The time listed  for the Northern loop was similar.

I mentioned it before but the distance from the East Gate to Old Faithful is 65 miles. At an average speed of 30 mph it is a 2 hour plus run just for that.  The place is huge and you got to slow roll  through most of it.

You can plan to pass through it but you won't really see any of it.
 
The mileage from Jackson to Billings is about 338 miles. You will average 30mph (45 mph max) through the park if you are lucky. That is about 9 hours just straight away to Billings (we're talking from Jackson) That does not include Beartooth Pass or Chief Joseph Highway. Those right there can take the better part of the day themselves.

You need the 4 extra days just for this. And you will be doing this during the Prime Tourist Season.
The place will be packed. Every day. All day.

In the normal course of events your leg from Billings to Spearfish would not be an issue.
But it is the Sturgis Rally and you'd be passing through the thick of it. You will have difficulty seeing Mt. Rushmore and passing through the Badlands  the next day just due to traffic.
I've never been to the rally but know many who do go. I have never heard of any story that started out, "It was like we were the only ones there".
i'd avoid this fiasco at all cost as it will have a terrible impact on your timeline. But that is just me.

I'll let others who have been there weigh in further on this leg.

Spearfish to Sioux Falls with a pass through the Badlands. Again, in normal times, easy peasy. But it is the Sturgis Rally and the place will be busy and slow.

Sioux Falls to Dubuque. No issue there. Hwy. 20 through Iowa is mostly brand new 4 lane River to river. (My neighborhood) Nice road. Number of places to grab a bite or a drink too. Little traffic till you get past I 35 going eastbound. Pretty much flat too. State suggested speed is 70 mph.
The State and I have differing opinions on that.

Dubuque to Roanoke is less that 500 miles a day. No worries.

Anyway, take it for what it is worth.

4 extra days would be worth it. Beg, borrow or steal to get'em if you can. It's worth it. Really.

[scooperhsd]

Mo will be hot and humid, Ks will be just HOT - think Hell. The areas that might be worse are in the Desert SW and Death Valley. Over 100 is common in August - 110 is not unknown. You will be looking forwards to rain so you can cool down (if you get any).

People are generally friendly out here. Plan your fuel stops - gas stations can get scarce.