Driving along this road is part of the experience of going to Yellowstone. As a few other reviewers have said, even though you think the distances are short, they take twice as long as you think for a few different reasons. One, people are driving slow to take in the scenery. Two, people unexpected pullover or pull out in front of you, which means you have to slow down. Three, the wildlife. I got stuck in two Bison jams going between locations and the traffic was backed up for at least a mile and barely moving. But all of that is part of the experience, since this road is the only way to get around and there is only one lane in each directions. So prepare and plan ahead for getting stuck. I’m happy I had plenty of water and some snacks in the car because it was mind numbing for a bit, but the view and the scenery more than made up for it.

If you are in Yellowstone any length of time, you will spend a lot of time on this road. The road is paved, well maintained and guard rails in some spots. Road signs are scarce and we thought somewhat confusing and forget about route numbers, you will never see one. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from one intersection to another, add in stops and you can spend 4-5 hours easily. The speed limit is mostly 45 MPH, pay attention when it changes to 35 or 25, there is a big intersection or traffic jam ahead. Then there are the Buffalo jams when traffic stops completely, if you see cars pulled over, slow down and take a peek, it may be some exciting wildlife.

It’s a great drive. We spent 3 days just driving around. We saw a lot of animals including bears, elk, deer, bison, and coyotes. No wolves this time. It can take a while to drive around in august but we love it.