We're heading to Yellowstone the end of May. Trying to decide which route is best, I-80 or I-90??? We plan to drive 10 hour days on the way out there and back. Not alot of time for sightseeing on the way......just trying to get to Yellowstone and spend as much time as possible there. Thanks in advance for any help.
How many days total are you allowing for the trip? Anything in particular that you'd like to see (if you have the time) on the way? Yellowstone isn't right on either interstate, of course, so you'll be taking a detour in any case.
I-80 is the workhorse of the nation: LOTS of trucks. Both I-80 and I-90 are pretty flat between Ohio and western Wyoming. I-90 is farther away from you, but closer to Yellowstone than I-80.
I guess my answer is "it depends" - on the amount of time you're allowing for the trip, and whether you want to spend almost all your time on 4-lane roads or if driving on 2-lanes (with almost no traffic) for a day or two is ok.
Have you considered I-70 west from KC then to DEN, Cheyenne, Rock Springs, Jackson then north to Yellowstone? Or 287 and 26 to Moran Junction? The last part of that route would be more scenic and you get the benefit of seeing the Grand Teton NP also. Then when leaving Yellowstone, you could take one of the other routes. I'd avoid I-90 going west. Once you're in the Rapid City area, you may not want to leave (there's so much to do).
No matter which one you take, be prepared for hundreds of miles of rolling prarie land and wheat fields through Kansas, Nebraska or SD.
We're allowing 4 days each way to Yellowstone. Planning to drive 9 or 10 hour days. We won't have much time for stops on the way (we both still work full time so 3 weeks off was the max). So side trips on the way out is really not an issue. We're just looking for the best road......trying to avoid anything like I-20 in Alabama, which will beat you to death with the bumps.
Once at Yellowstone, we're staying 9 days at Fishing Bridge, then 3 days at Colter Bay in the Tetons.
Wow, good for you for planning such a good long stay in the parks! Haven't been on any of these roads for a couple years at least (on 90) and there are rough spots no matter which interstate you choose. 80 sees the heaviest use, and there is likely to be construction everywhere in the northern tier of states this year after our long & snowy winter, so we can't promise smooth sailing. 70 to Denver and then north might be a good option, though there is the matter of major metro area traffic there and through St Louis. For your 4-days-to-get-there timeframe, 90 will be too much out of the way, I think. Figure on 70 or 80 - your choice.
Happy Camper 89, our family did that trip back in 91 or 92, so I can't give you much help on road conditions, but will be glad to tell you the general route. We live below Birmingham, and went north to Nashville, over to Paducah, Kentucky, up to St. Louis, then west on I-70. Hit I-25 to Cheyenne up 287 thru Wyoming and into the South entrance of Yellowstone. It's well worth your time to see as much as you can, especially on the way back. We left Yellowstone thru the East entrance over the Big Horn mtns. by way of 14-16 to Rapid City area. Wish we had been able to see Devil's tower, but that will be another trip. I know you will enjoy it! Firesheep
Consider I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City, then I-29 North to NE City, then Nebraska 2 to Lincoln, then I-80 to Wyoming and up to Yellowstone. After leaving I-80 out in Western Wyoming, its pretty desolate up to Jackson Hole on a 2 lane highway. Yellowstone is North of JH. I-80 has many semis. Or go North from KC to Sioux Falls, SD and pick up I-90. That way you can stop at Wall Drug. ha ha
I really think your fastest and easiest route, if that's what you're after, would be I-90. It would NOT be out of your way at all as long as you exit at Buffalo, WY and take U.S. 16 to Yellowstone's East Entrance.
That said, I'd take a different route on your return trip just for a little change of scenery. All roads lead to Yellowstone.
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