📷 Photo by Nate Foong on UnsplashGrand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway
Mountain reflections, geysers, and then a climb to nearly 11,000 feet on the way out.
- Distance
- 339 km (210 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 46 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 8
- States
- WY, MT
- Updated
- July 4, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 339 km (210 mi) with 8 stops, from Jackson to Red Lodge. About 3 h 46 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Wyoming, Montana · More road trips from Jackson
Route description
From Jackson, US-191 runs north through Grand Teton National Park with the Teton Range rising to the west. Stop at Oxbow Bend near Moran, where Mount Moran is reflected in a still bend of the Snake River and moose and otters are most active at dawn. The road then follows the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway to Yellowstone’s south entrance.
Old Faithful erupts roughly every 60 to 110 minutes, and rangers post the predicted time in the visitor center, so you can explore the 1904 Old Faithful Inn, with its seven-story log lobby, while you wait and watch from its porch. A few miles north, Grand Prismatic Spring is best seen from the overlook on the Fairy Falls trail, where its orange and yellow rings show clearly. Madison Campground, beside the Madison River, is a central base for geyser country, with bison and elk wandering through camp.
Leave the park across the Lamar Valley, often good for bison and wolves, and exit at the northeast entrance near Cooke City. US-212 then climbs a series of switchbacks to Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet, where snow walls can line the road into July, before dropping to Red Lodge, Montana. The Beartooth Highway is usually open only from late May to mid-October and can close at short notice in bad weather, and Yellowstone’s campgrounds and lodges book up months ahead for summer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Jackson
WY - 255 km
Oxbow Bend
ViewsMoran, WYMount Moran reflected in a still bend of the Snake River. Moose and otters show up at dawn.
- 384 km
Old Faithful
NatureYellowstone, WYErupts roughly every 60 to 110 minutes. Rangers post the predicted time in the visitor center.
- 40 km
Old Faithful Inn
StaysYellowstone, WYA 1904 log lodge with a seven-story lobby and a stone fireplace. You can see the geyser from the porch.
- 59 km
Grand Prismatic Spring
NatureYellowstone, WYA hot spring bigger than a football field, ringed with orange and yellow microbial mats. See it from the Fairy Falls trail overlook.
- 616 km
Madison Campground
CampingYellowstone, WYBeside the Madison River, where bison and elk wander through camp. It is central for geyser country.
- 7138 km
Beartooth Pass
ViewsRed Lodge, WYUS-212 climbs switchbacks to 10,947 feet between Red Lodge and Yellowstone. There can be snow walls into July.
- 836 km
Red Lodge
MT
Suggested stages and overnight stops
5 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Jackson → Oxbow Bend · 34 mi · 0 h 37 minOvernight nearby, for example: Signal Mountain Campground (4 mi); Colter Bay Campground (6 mi).
- Day 2: Oxbow Bend → Old Faithful · 52 mi · 0 h 56 minOvernight nearby, for example: Grant Village Campground (14 mi); Lewis Lake Campground (16 mi).
- Day 3: Old Faithful → Madison Campground · 16 mi · 0 h 17 minOn the way: Old Faithful Inn, Grand Prismatic Spring.Overnight at the campsite itself.
- Day 4: Madison Campground → Beartooth Pass · 86 mi · 1 h 32 minOvernight nearby, for example: Palisades Campground (16 mi); M-K Campground (5 mi).
- Day 5: Beartooth Pass → Red Lodge · 22 mi · 0 h 24 minOvernight nearby, for example: Palisades Campground (3 mi); Parkside Campground (12 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July. Cold, short days in November–March. Mountain passes on this route are usually open June–September. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Beartooth Highway (3,337 m). Usually open June–September; outside that window the road can be closed by snow. Alternative: Go round via Cody and the Chief Joseph Highway (WY-296).
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway?
5-day road trip of about 339 km (210 mi) with 8 stops, from Jackson to Red Lodge. About 3 h 46 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway?
We suggest 5 days: about 3 h 46 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway start and end?
It starts in Jackson and ends in Red Lodge.
Which states does Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway pass through?
Wyoming and Montana.
Where can you camp along Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway?
OpenStreetMap lists 73 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Headwaters Campground, Signal Mountain Campground and Colter Bay Campground.
When is the best time for Grand Teton, Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway?
The most pleasant months are usually June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
More like this
© Hardy008 · CC BY-SA 4.0Grand Teton loop: Mormon Row, Signal Mountain and Jenny Lake
© Brenton Cooper from North Ogden, USA · CC BY 2.0Mesa Falls to Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, Hayden Valley and Cody
© Paul Hermans · CC BY-SA 4.0