Beartooth Highway

State: Montana (also crosses into Wyoming). Type: scenic mountain highway, U.S. Route 212, connecting Red Lodge, Montana to Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance. Length: 68.3 miles. Highest point: Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet. Opened June 14, 1936. Designated an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway.

The Beartooth Highway is a 68.3-mile stretch of U.S. Route 212 that climbs from Red Lodge, Montana, over the Beartooth Plateau and into Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance, crossing between Montana and Wyoming along the way. The route follows a corridor first explored by Civil War General Philip Sheridan in 1872 and officially opened to automobile traffic on June 14, 1936. It is famous for its dramatic switchbacks and elevation gain, climbing roughly 5,747 feet over about twelve miles to Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet, one of the highest paved highway points in the northern Rockies. The late CBS journalist Charles Kuralt called it "the most beautiful drive in America," a description commonly repeated in coverage of the road. The highway passes through portions of three national forests near the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, offering close-up views of alpine plateaus, numerous mountain lakes, and high-elevation tundra that is unusual for a paved U.S. highway.

The highway runs along U.S. Route 212 between Red Lodge, Montana (in Carbon County, on the north end) and Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, Montana and Silver Gate, Montana, crossing briefly into Park County, Wyoming, along the way.

At elevations approaching 11,000 feet, the Beartooth Plateau has an alpine climate where snow and severe thunderstorms can occur even in mid-summer, per National Park Service-adjacent coverage of the route. Conditions can change quickly at altitude, so travelers should be prepared for cold, wind and sudden weather shifts regardless of season.

The road is only open seasonally, typically from around Memorial Day weekend in mid-May through Columbus Day in mid-October, depending on snowfall, so any visit must fall within that window. Mid-to-late summer offers the most reliable conditions, though visitors should still watch for afternoon thunderstorms common at high elevation.

The route follows a corridor first explored by Civil War General Philip Sheridan in 1872, and the highway itself officially opened to travelers on June 14, 1936. Since then it has become one of the best-known scenic drives in the northern Rockies, maintained jointly by the National Park Service and the Montana Department of Transportation and recognized with both All-American Road and National Scenic Byway designations.

The main activity is the scenic drive itself, with numerous pullouts for photographing switchbacks, alpine lakes and long-range mountain views. The high plateau offers opportunities for short hikes and wildlife viewing in season, and the road is popular with motorcyclists and cyclists tackling its steep grades, though sources fetched for this entry did not detail specific trailheads or outfitters along the route.

Beartooth Pass, at 10,947 feet, is the highway's signature stop, along with numerous scenic overlooks along the switchbacks below it. The route connects directly to Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance at its southern end and to the town of Red Lodge, Montana, at its northern end.

Red Lodge, Montana, at the highway's northern end, is reached via U.S. Route 212 from Billings, Montana (the nearest larger city with commercial air service). From the south, the highway connects directly to Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance near Cooke City and Silver Gate. A personal or rental vehicle is required, since this is a mountain highway with no public transit service.

The highway is generally open from around Memorial Day weekend (mid-May) to around Columbus Day (mid-October), with exact dates depending on snowfall each year; it is closed to through traffic in winter. Confirm current opening/closing status with the National Park Service or Montana Department of Transportation before traveling, since dates shift year to year.

There is no separate toll for driving the Beartooth Highway itself; however, entering Yellowstone National Park at the Northeast Entrance requires the park's standard entrance fee, which sources fetched for this entry did not specify a current amount for, so travelers should check nps.gov/yell for current pricing.

The 68.3-mile drive itself can take roughly two to three hours without stops given the mountain switchbacks and speed limits, but most visitors budget half a day or more to allow for photo stops at overlooks and pullouts.

Red Lodge, Montana, at the highway's northern end, offers a range of small-town lodging including motels, inns and vacation rentals. Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana, near the southern end close to Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance, offer smaller-scale, seasonal lodging options. Sources fetched for this entry did not name specific properties.

Red Lodge has a small-town dining scene with casual restaurants and cafes serving travelers heading onto the highway. Cooke City, near the Yellowstone end, offers limited seasonal dining options given its small, remote setting. Specific restaurant names were not confirmed from sources fetched for this entry.

Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance sits at the highway's southern end, making the park a natural extension of a Beartooth Highway trip. Red Lodge, at the northern end, is itself a small mountain town worth a stop, and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness borders much of the route.

Billings Logan International Airport, in Billings, Montana, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, with Red Lodge reached from there by a roughly hour-plus drive on U.S. 212. A car is essential, as there is no public transit along the highway.

Snow and severe thunderstorms can occur even in mid-summer at this elevation, so pack warm layers and rain gear regardless of season. The steep grades and switchbacks call for caution, particularly for larger vehicles, RVs or trailers, and travelers should check current road/weather conditions before setting out given how quickly conditions change at altitude. For emergencies, dial 911.

Warm layers, a rain jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen (UV exposure is higher at altitude) are all worth packing, since weather can shift quickly on the plateau. A full tank of gas is advisable before starting the drive, since fuel stops are limited along the route.

Check the seasonal opening/closing status before planning a trip, since the road is closed roughly seven months of the year. Start early in the day to allow time for photo stops and to avoid afternoon thunderstorms common at high elevation in summer. Combine the drive with a visit to Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance for a fuller day trip if time allows.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For current road conditions, Montana's 511 traveler information service (dial 511 within Montana) is the standard resource, though this specific number was not directly confirmed on an official Beartooth Highway page fetched for this entry.

National Park Service - Beartooth Highway (Yellowstone) - https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/beartoothhwy.htm (page returned a 404 at time of research; verify current URL on nps.gov/yell)

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.