Beartooth Highway: Things To Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips

Beartooth Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the United States, climbing to nearly 11,000 feet while passing alpine lakes, mountain passes, and sweeping views on the way to Yellowstone National Park. Connecting Red Lodge, Montana, with Cooke City near Yellowstone’s northeast entrance, this unforgettable road trip is often called the most beautiful drive in America.

We have driven many of America’s most scenic mountain roads, including Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park and Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Beartooth Highway ranks among our favorites.

In this guide, learn how to drive Beartooth Highway, the best stops along the route, how long the drive takes, when the road opens, and how to add it to your Yellowstone itinerary.

Many visitors drive Beartooth Highway while visiting Yellowstone National Park. If you are planning your trip, start with our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide or see our Yellowstone itinerary for ideas on how to include this drive.

Beartooth Highway: The Essentials

DISTANCE | 68 miles

DRIVE TIME | Roughly 3 hours (longer with stops)

HIGHEST ELEVATION | 10,947 feet (Beartooth Pass)

START | Red Lodge, Montana

END | Cooke City/Yellowstone NE Entrance

BEST DIRECTION | Red Lodge → Yellowstone

OPEN | Late May to early October

TIME NEEDED | Half to a full day

Table of Contents

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• Is Beartooth Highway Worth It?
• Map of Beartooth Highway
• How Long Does It Take to Drive Beartooth Highway?
• Which Direction Should You Drive Beartooth Highway?
• When is Beartooth Highway Open?
• When is the Best Time to Drive Beartooth Highway?
• Driving Beartooth Highway: Important Tips Before You Go
  • Road Conditions & Driving Difficulty
  • Check Weather and Road Status
  • Fuel Up Before the Drive
  • Altitude Awareness
  • Can RVs and Large Vehicles Drive Beartooth Highway?
  • Allow Plenty of Time
• Things to Do on Beartooth Highway
  • Overview of the Drive: Red Lodge to Yellowstone
  • Red Lodge, Montana
  • Beartooth Scenic Byway Welcome Sign
  • Beartooth Highway Switchbacks
  • Rock Creek Vista
  • 45th Parallel
  • Beartooth Basin
  • Gardner Lake Pullout
  • Bear’s Tooth (Na Piet Say)
  • Beartooth Pass
  • Alpine Lakes
  • Top of the World Store
  • Beartooth Ravine
  • Clay Butte Fire Lookout Tower
  • Pilot and Index Peaks Overlook
  • Clark’s Fork Overlook
  • Lake Creek Falls
  • Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
  • Cooke City – Silver Gate
• Is Beartooth Highway Dangerous?
• Our Experience Driving Beartooth Highway
• How to Add Beartooth Highway onto Your Visit to Yellowstone
  • Driving Beartooth Highway When Entering Yellowstone
  • Driving Beartooth Highway as a Day Trip from Yellowstone
• Plan Your Yellowstone Trip