Beartooth Highway
Beartooth Highway
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Spectacular high mountain road with sweeping views is a favorite scenic drive for sightseers.
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  • Rick B
    Round Rock, Texas1,402 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What an exhilarating drive!
    The Beartooth Highway starts just outside Yellowstone at Cooke City Montana. What a drive and what views! The highway leaves Cooke City and soon dips down into Wyoming through the Shoshone National Forest. At the state line when re-entering Montana a series of switchbacks takes you to the high point of the road at Beartooth Pass Summit. The 360 degree views here are amazing! The road then traverses the Beartooth plateau to the Rock Creek Vista.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 23, 2023
  • John G
    Torrance, California658 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must not miss
    Just a stunning gorgeous place. Off the beaten path for many, this drive is unbelievably stunning. There really isn't too much more to say. Drove from Red Lodge into Yellowstone and the sights were magnificent. Surprised this entire location is not a National Park. I only wish I was young and strong enough to go backpacking in these mountains.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 25, 2023
  • Carol G
    West Virginia81 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking views and heights
    Wow, absolutely recommend taking this drive for some breathtaking views, but make sure the driver can handle switchbacks at high heights. Also make sure to check the weather before driving. We knew they were planning on closing the pass that afternoon and had already planned on driving back through Yellowstone. We made a few stops along the way to stretch our legs and admire the view, then packed a picnic and ate at some picnic tables in one of the towns at the base of the mountain.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 11, 2024
  • Dblnranch
    Tampa, Florida118 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unbelievable
    We came upon this drive unexpectedly. I am so glad that we did. I have never seen such amazing scenery in my life. It is hard to put into words just how beautiful it is. I hope that I can make it back there again.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 12, 2024
  • Robert R
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Most Beautiful Road Trip in America
    Tge Beartooth Highway was one of the most scenic and beautiful drive I have ever taken. The road is a destination. Make sure to stop at as many pullout that are offered for viewing. You will not regret putting aside time for this drive. I purposely decided to travel from Indiana to Wyoming just for this beautiful drive.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 14, 2024
  • Erik K
    4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular scenery but road closure
    We were able to enter the highway from the southwest but it closed to the northeast from rain and snow in mid June. We ventured on foot at Beartooth Pass when Island Lake was closed with no trail access. That was a blessing as the climb and scenery were fantastic!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 21, 2024
  • lpittroff
    Charlotte, North Carolina88 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful drive
    Amazing drive from red lodge to west Yellowstone . The Beartooth Highway was beautiful. Views were amazing and lots of places to pull over . Signs are lacking for some of the waterfalls and pullouts . It's best if you plan ahead to know where you want to stop and take note of the mileage . The drive up to beartooth pass from red lodge definitely has some tight , hair pin turns . Take your time and enjoy the drive ! There was a dusting of fresh snow towards the top and with the wind it was in the 30s. Take layers and dress appropriately even in the summer . Check the weather forecast as it can change quickly .
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 5, 2024
  • Roger G
    21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exhilarating Beauty.
    My sons and I decided to go up Beartooth highway since we were staying in Red Lodge. I am not a big fan of heights, but had to do it. It was exhilarating, beautiful and scary all at once. Sheer drops with the illusion the guardrails would help. Hard to take in all the beauty when driving up from red lodge, as it requires your full attention. Lots of gorgeous views and places to stop on the way to Cooke City. I would say a must do if you can.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 12, 2024
  • Taunya K
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful!
    Amazing views! Highly recommend driving Beartooth Highway! Great scenery, we saw mountain goats, & the stop towards the top - Vista Point- was so cool! Chipmunks everywhere & so cute. If you can stop ahead of time & bring sunflower seeds I bet you’d be very popular.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2024
  • Rita H
    Indianapolis, Indiana1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One Awesome Highway from the back of a motorcycle
    My husband and I along with friends road Beartooth Highway in 2014. We also rode it a couple of years before that. From the back of our motorcycle the views were awesome. I think it is one of the best highways ever. The scenery was absolutely breath taking.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Mike R
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
This was the best scenic drive we have EVER taken. Beautiful, scenic, and not for the faint of heart. There was construction which caused a 30 minute delay but that was a small price to pay for this incredible drive. Not long but allow at least 3 hours to stop and enjoy the views. This is a bucket list must do drive.
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,947 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
This is a great road for panoramic views and fun driving. Unfortunately, we were in a rental Camry.

We took about three and a half hours to drive from Cooke City to Red Lodge and allowed plenty of time for stops along the way. Beartooth Lake, Long Lake, and Top of the World Store were quick but interesting.

The same can be said for Island Lake Recreation area in the Shoshone National Forrest.

Beartooth Pass Vista point is a must see. We encountered a Mountain Goat or sheep - not sure which.

Rock Creek Vista is a great stop, with restrooms and several viewing areas.

We were warned that it is a scary drive, but we were never uncomfortable. My advice is drive at a pace that is comfortable for you, and be considerate. Pull off if cars line up behind you.
Written October 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CharlesS916
Helena, MT300 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Beartooth Highway - Montana/Wyoming

This drive should not be taken lightly, novice drivers should be replaced with a more experienced driver. Another caveat is that this is NOT a highway that you should take if you are in a hurry to get somewhere; with this highway the journey is the destination. That being said, this is a bucket-list drive that should be on everyone’s list. Climbing to an altitude of 10,947 feet, the views are spectacular if you are lucky enough to be there when it is clear. If it is cloudy, realize that you will be in those clouds and won’t be able to see much. There are lots of switchbacks and steep, winding roads to keep any driver awake. The views from the pullouts are impressive. The air is thin, walk around for awhile and get short of breath. This is a great drive in either direction, but west to east is scarier.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelerO8084
103 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Couples
We drove from Red Lodge to Cooke City on our first visit to Yellowstone via the Beartooth Highway. I can not recommend this drive enough!!! The views are simply spectacular! We drove this on June 5 and saw people skiing, snow boarding and on snow mobiles at the summit! I also easily get car sick but did not feel motion sick at all on this drive. If the highway is open you don’t want to miss this!!
Written June 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rich
alaama76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
We took Chief Joseph from Cody and tied into the Beartooth toward Red Lodge. The road had been open a couple days when we did it. There are a couple construction zones on Chief Joseph, and then another one on the Beartooth that warns up to 30 minute delays. Seems they are building a bridge or parking area or something there. Anyway, we timed it pretty good and only waited about 10 minutes. The cars in front had turned off their engines - they had been there a while. Just add 30 minutes to your agenda to account for this.

The road to the summit is incredible, the summit is amazing. You can walk up to the rocky area beyond the summit but be advised, the snow can be 4+ feet deep. Wearing running shoes, or anything unsealed will yield wet socks. The altitude didn't bother us much but we had been at 8,000 feet fairly consistently for several days prior. You can buy oxygen in Cody. The road from the summit to Red Lodge is also a highlight. It's curvy, you see where rock falls trashed the road, and Red Lodge is a treat in itself. Good people are working very hard in the restaurants and stores. Please give them your business.
Written June 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael H
Omaha, NE8 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Visited Red Lodge and planned to take the Beartooth Pass to YNP. We found the trip less satisfying as the road was closed at Beartooth Lake for 'blasting' and we had to circle back 3 hours, out of our way to get to YNP. I was not as impressed with Beartooth as Trailridge Road in RMNP. There was very little traffic but not worth the gas.
Written June 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jesse o
Jackson, WY6,518 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Business
The Beartooth Pass itself and this wonderful picnic area on Beartooth Lake are in Wyoming, only the northern portion of the highway is in Montana. This road, Charles Kuralt’s favorite, is one of the more splendid highways anywhere in the US. It serves Red Lodge Montana as well as the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the least visited of that park’s five gates. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Written May 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BeartoothHighway
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
As hard as I try, I cannot paint an adequate description of this drive with words. If I were to try, I would say that driving through this area is overwhelming. The landscape is so vast, my brain had a hard time taking it all in. There were times when I came around corners and it would be dizzying - it looked like I was about to drive off of the top of the earth. Miles of mountain tops as far as the eye can see in every direction, drop-offs thousands of feet down below. It was really strange at the top of the road - there were these areas that looked like peaceful, rolling grassy fields, that after a few hundred yards, dropped precipitously thousands of feet below into the valley. Greens, greys, blues, reds, whites, yellows, etc. so many colors and textures. The scale of everything was immense, vast, enormous. The views were breathtaking, terrifying and awesome. If you are scared of heights, the portion between the summit and red lodge Montana is the worst (especially if you are on the passenger’s side!!!!!!!). I would not feel comfortable doing this drive on a day with high wind or any form of precipitation! I did it on a clear sky, warm day and that is about the only time I would like doing it (the section from Cooke city to the top of the world isn’t as bad, but I would never want to do the red lodge portion in bad weather. I know they shut the road down when it snows, but the weather can change fast… take your time and enjoy this awesome experience. It’s more than a drive, it’s a life experience to have and share with others.
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan M
Mount Dora, FL78 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
The pass had been closed due to snow just a day before we were planning to drive it, but it opened up just in time. The views were as expected - spectacular. They are building a new bridge in one tight curve so pilot cars guided us through the construction site, going one way at a time. That delayed us about 20 minutes. The pass closed 2 days later due to heavy rains in the area which caused rock slides. I hope the road opens again this summer after they are cleared. We feel very lucky we were able to experience the Pass when we did!
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jerry R
Salt Lake City, UT485 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
I stay in Red Lodge, MT for two nights as I wanted to explore and savor the Beartooth Highway. It's a stunning road, quickly getting way above the tree line to truly gorgeous mountain scenery. From Red Lodge, at 5500 feet above sea level, you can get to Beartooth Pass, as 10947 feet above sea level, in about an hour and a distance of about 35 miles.

The road switchbacks a lot, with gorgeous views of mountains and lakes. Even last week, when visibility was poor due to smoke from wildfires in CA, the views were superb.

I flew to Billings and drove the 1-1/4 hours Red Lodge, then headed up to Beartooth Pass on the first day. The second day I drove further, to Beartooth Lake, and did some hikes along the road. The third day I left Red Lodge and drove the full 68 miles to Cooke City, MT and into Yellowstone's Lamar Valley, then on to Cody, WY. I look forward to getting back and spending more time long this gorgeous road.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Beartooth Highway - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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