At 68 miles in length and climbing dramatically in elevation from 5,550’ to just under 11,000’ at the summit, the Beartooth Highway and has earned both its nickname “The Most Beautiful Road in America” and its designation as a National Scenic Byways All-American Road. It also happens to be one of our favorite stretches of the drive on any Yellowstone RV adventure. (In case you were wondering — yes, the Beartooth is a paved, well-maintained road that can be comfortably traveled by RV.)

About Those Views

There is nothing quite like the other-worldly terrain you will experience along the Beartooth Highway. Borne from ancient inland seas, powerful glaciers, and the unique geothermal pressures of the Yellowstone Caldera to the south, the Beartooth Mountains are nothing short of astonishing. Amongst the jagged peaks and endless vistas, the Beartooths are home to 400+ glaciers, nearly 1,000 turquoise lakes, acres of alpine tundra, and wildflowers that paint the valleys throughout summer.

T&T Travel Tip Remind yourself to take pictures along the way — the first time we went we were so blown away, we forgot to take photos!

Wildlife Encounters

The Beartooth Mountains span nearly a million acres of wilderness across the Montana-Wyoming border and are considered part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. You’ll find that many of the wildlife encounters people seek in the park are also possible in the Beartooths.

First and foremost, yes there are bears in the Beartooths! Both black and grizzly bears populate the area and being bear-aware is always important. We recommend taking a moment to check out this helpful bear safety information from the friendly folks at the National Park Service. In addition to the bears, you may come across deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, foxes, marmots, pikas, and many more furry friends (to watch from a safe distance, of course).

Planning Your Route

Connecting the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, the Beartooth is considered a “Gateway to Yellowstone”. We have enjoyed it equally as an exciting way to start a trip into the park, or as a cherry on top when we’re leaving. There’s no wrong way to drive it.

While it’s possible to cruise through in just 2-3 hours, it’s nearly impossible to do it justice in that amount of time. We recommend spending most of a day, or stretching it to two days and staying in one of the many campgrounds along the way so you can fully experience the vast and varied terrain, trails, and perhaps even get in a little skiing at Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area.

T&T Travel Tip The Top of the World Store at the summit is your only gas station for miles — plan accordingly!

When to Go

As you can imagine, a place that can support summer skiing gets its fair share of snow. For that reason (and weather-permitting), the Beartooth Highway is typically only open from about Memorial Day Weekend until the snows close it down again in early-mid October. Occasionally, storms or other conditions cause summer closures. We recommend calling the Beartooth Ranger District at 406-446-2103 for current conditions.

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