Yellowstone from Sheridan, Wyoming

Yellowstone's East Entrance is about 4 hours from Sheridan via Cody — one of the most scenic approaches in the park system. Base in Sheridan or the Bighorn foothills, drive in over the mountains, and you get Yellowstone without gateway-town prices or crowds. Better yet, make it an overnight loop.

• Yellowstone National Park (East / Cody entrance)WY

  ~200 mi · ~4 hr to the East Entrance (via Cody)

  The big one. The East Entrance via Cody is one of the most scenic approaches in the system. Doable as a long day to the Lamar Valley/NE via Beartooth, but far better as an overnight — and Sheridan is the crowd-free, better-value place everyone else drives past on the way. Ask us about routing over the Bighorns and through Cody.

  Yellowstone without Yellowstone prices — base in the Bighorns and drive in.

• Beartooth Highway (US-212)MT/WY

  ~180 mi · ~3.5 hr to Red Lodge

  Called the most beautiful drive in America — a switchbacking climb to nearly 11,000 feet on the way to Yellowstone's NE entrance. Open summer only (roughly late May–early Oct). An epic full-day drive-and-return, or the scenic route into the park.

  Take the most beautiful road in America into Yellowstone — from a Sheridan basecamp.

• CodyWY

  148 mi · ~3 hr (over the Bighorns via Greybull)

  The east gateway to Yellowstone (53 mi from the East Entrance) and home of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West — a Smithsonian Affiliate with five museums under one roof. Nightly summer rodeo, the historic Irma Hotel, and one of America's great scenic drives into the park. A perfect long-day trip from Sheridan, or the far end of a Bighorns loop. Base with us and skip Cody's peak-season room rates.

  Do Cody + Yellowstone as day trips from a Wyo Stays cabin — better value, fewer crowds.

• Old Faithful & Upper Geyser BasinWY

  ~265 mi · ~5 hr one way

  The most famous geyser on earth sits in a basin packed with more geysers and hot springs, all connected by boardwalks. Eruptions are posted at the visitor center, so plan your walk around the next predicted time. Most park roads close to regular vehicles from early November to late April, so this one is a spring-through-fall trip.

  Make it the anchor of a two-day Yellowstone loop, then come home to the Bighorns.

• Grand Prismatic Spring & Midway Geyser BasinWY

  ~270 mi · ~5 hr one way

  The biggest hot spring in the park glows in rings of orange, yellow and blue, and a boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin gets you close to the steam. For the postcard view from above, hike the short Grand Prismatic Overlook trail, which starts near the Fairy Falls trailhead. Go early or late to beat the crowds; the colors read best on a sunny day.

  Pair it with Old Faithful on the same day and plan a night on the road.

• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Artist Point & Lower FallsWY

  ~240 mi · ~4.5 hr one way

  Artist Point is the classic view down the golden canyon to Lower Falls, and the Lower Falls themselves are a short drive or walk from the rim trails. Plan a couple of hours for the overlooks on both rims. Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late April, so check conditions before you leave.

  A long day from Sheridan via Cody; better as an overnight with a stop in Cody on the way back to a Bighorns base.

• Lamar ValleyWY

  ~240 mi · ~4.5 hr one way

  Known as the best place in the park for wolves and bison, the broad valley is best at dawn and dusk with binoculars or a spotting scope. Pull off only at designated spots and give animals plenty of room. The road through it, between the North and Northeast Entrances, is generally open year-round to regular vehicles.

  The Beartooth side makes a scenic route in summer, but give it a full weekend.

• Mammoth Hot Springs TerracesWY

  ~305 mi · ~4.25 hr one way

  Travertine terraces step down a hillside in white and rust, with boardwalks winding through them. Elk often wander through the historic Mammoth village. The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner through to Cooke City is the one route generally open year-round to regular vehicles.

  Combine with Lamar Valley and the Roosevelt Arch for a northern Yellowstone loop.

• Chief Joseph Scenic Byway & Dead Indian PassWY

  ~175 mi · ~3 hr one way

  WY-296 runs about 46 miles through the Absaroka Range between the Beartooth Highway and WY-120 north of Cody, climbing over Dead Indian Pass. The byway follows the 1877 route of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. The upper end can close in winter, so check WYDOT road conditions first.

  Make it a loop with Cody and a night on the road.

Good to know

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