TravelGuides

(TGA) - I am planning a trip to the Rockies for May/ June 2010 & am looking for advice on one section of our tour.
We will be travelling from South Dakota via Montana and onto YSP.
So far I have booked for 30th may in Savoy -SD and for 1st June in Cody-WY.This leaves a one night stay between these two stops.
I am hoping to travel from Savoy with relaxed stops at Devils Tower and also at the Big Horn battlefield site.
My question is would I be putting too much pressure on ourselves by trying to get to Red Lodge as our next stop before travelling Beartooth Pass or should I concentrate on staying in Billings on the night of the 31st May ?.
Any advice on this topic would be greately appreciated.
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Beartooth Pass is historically scheduled to be opened by Memorial Day Weekend which this year is May 29-31. If it is closed you can still get to Cody easily from Billings and/or Red Lodge. I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility. Right now the snow levels are below average in the mountains so an opening on time looks good. However, you can never predict the weather around here 100% so depending on late spring snowstorms who knows what will happen in the next 3 months.
The Montana Road Travel state website will have up-to-date progress reports of the plowing and opening of Beartooth Pass starting in May. Their address is:
http://mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/
Savoy, SD to Billings via Interstate 90 is abou 340 miles. Add another 60 miles to get to Red Lodge from Billings. It is doable, if you don't mind a long day with your stops at Devil's Tower and Big Horn Battlefield. I would recommend staying in Red Lodge. You could make reservations at a motel that has a cancellation policy if you call by mid-afternoon. If you find that you are running late, stay in Billings. Billings has enough hotels next to the interstate. You wouldn't have a problem getting a room without a reservation.
Deb
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Thanks Deb that was a quick reply .Yes I did read about the opening dates for the pass & hopefully no late snowstorms .Its one of the scenic routes that I am really looking forward to.Thanks for the link so I can keep a check on roads.
Good idea on the Red Lodge booking ,it would be my preference to get there but I dont want to rush the sites ,glad to hear its doable & mabey a 6-7am start from Savoy is best option .
Thanks again for your help
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If you can get up and get going, and don't mind a lot of car time that day, the drive to Red Lodge is doable.
Try to get there before it is dark. The easy way is to turn off to Joliet at Laurel, but the prettier way is to turn off at Columbus to Absarokee. Both are good quality roads. If you are not super tired, I'd go via Absarokee. You can stop at the Grizzly Bar in Roscoe. Red Lodge has decent grocery stores as does Cody so there is no real reason to stop in Billings.
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Red Lodge also has Red Lodge Ales brewery if you are at all into beers that is an good place to sample some as well as eat. Brand new facility where you can view the brewery equipment from the saloon part through the big windows.
Just a hunch but driving the Beartooth at sunrise could be very cool...making for deeper shadows and more landform contrast...especially when driving westward.
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Thanks ainwa ,the extra push via Columbus shouldnt be too difficult & a good steak in the Grizzly should be welcome at that stage.
Sequim I do enjoy my beer so a visit to the brewery sounds like a good idea but it might put a damper on a sunrise start !!
Thanks for all your advice.
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I once did a sunrise start on the Beartooth from Cooke City. When I started out I worried about driving into the rising sun but the road curves enough that there was very little of that on the route.
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The Columbus to Red Lodge road is a very scenic road and while it only adds maybe another 30 miles onto the trip, I don't know if I would recommend driving it late in the evening especially if you're unfamiliar to the area. I drive that road a couple of times each summer to go hiking on the Stillwater River canyon. The road is in good condition but it is a narrower 2 lane highway with lots of curves and hills. The speed you'll be able to safely drive will be lower because of the curves/hills. The road from Laurel to Red Lodge is a wider 2 lane road with views of the Beartooths and Pryor Mountains and the ability to travel a little faster.
If you're able to get to Billings by late afternoon and your reservations are made for Red Lodge, going the Columbus route to get to Red Lodge is doable. If you want to be able to spend some time in Red Lodge (it is a neat little town) with some great restaurants you might want to just go directly there. No matter which way you choose, you'll have a great time.
Deb
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Red Lodge is a great little town at the foot of the Beartooth drive and a fantastic drive that makes and as well on Chief Joseph towards Cody.
But it will be a long day from Savoy. Count on 6 hours without stops and add 2 hours for the Devils Tower detour and 2 hours for Little Big Horn Battlefield so I'm afraid the Absarokee detour will be too much.
Tet
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