Best way to drive from Jackson, WY to West Yellowstone (Bozeman: stores, vacation)

[Epark2112]

Hello All,

Any advice on the best way to drive from Jackson, WY., to West Yellowstone, Mt. and then on to Cameron, MT?

Also, what are the best grocery stores in those areas?

What are the worst times for traffic in those areas?

Thanks!

[Reziac]

There isn't one. You can't get there from here.

You can either go north through the park, which is slow (more traffic, low speed limit), or around the west loop through Ashton, Driggs, and Victor. I don't recommend that route after dark, for one thing I found a total lack of open gas stations after 10pm! and that west road up from Jackson Hole is nasty. I'm not sure through the park is any better tho it's shorter, and gas will be more expensive. It's certainly more scenic, and since there's only one obvious route you can't take a wrong turn (as you can around Victor). As to grocery stores, you'll probably have a choice of one, these are all little towns.

Either way, just above West Yellowstone take 287 and you'll wind up in Cameron willy-nilly.

[NICKYP406]

I travel to Jackson alot for work and i have to tell you, I have taken both routes and would not recomend the park unless you have all day and are just out for a stroll. If you want to get to a destinaton however in less than 12 hours i would say to go thru Driggs to Ashton then to West. After West there is a town by the name of Henrys Lake flat. Take a left there toward Ennis. it takes you around the lake, it is a fairly straight, smooth, open driving road. Camron is on the way to Ennis.

[Epark2112]

NICKYP406 - thanks for the reply. I was wondering how long you think the drive takes going through Driggs and Ashton to Cameron rather than going through the park?

Thanks to everyone that responded.

[Reziac]

Maybe you should have asked "What's the WORST way to go?" -- would surely give you a list of roads to NOT take

[Joe Doer]

I assume you are in the area for vacation and maybe a little fishing. I would drive through the Park and just relax. It is well worth the drive. You would miss out on something special if you are in such a hurry to miss YNP. Give yourself an extra few hours, relax, and enjoy. Don't be one of those morons who need to pass everyone driving the speed limit.

[NICKYP406]

going through Ashton it usualy takes 3 hours, maybe 4 depending on weather, traffic and how fast you go.
I agree that if you are not in a hurry you should go though the park! beutiful!!!

[electric_lady]

Drove from Jackson to Bozeman yesterday (roughly the same as if you were to drive from Jackson to Cameron) and I went through Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks, exiting at West Yellowstone and heading north from there, which you would exit there, and head north for a tick and then head west. It took me about 5 hours, and I would assume it would be the same to Cameron. It would probably take 4 hours if you went past Ashton.
Personally, I prefer spending the extra hour to go through the park. I'm not crazy about the Teton Pass you have to go over to get from Jackson into Idaho.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by electric_lady

I'm not crazy about the Teton Pass you have to go over to get from Jackson into Idaho.

Operative words being "not crazy"

When I went over it back in '75, someone bid me observe the tangle of timbers and rocks at the bottom of the canyon -- that being various earlier incarnations of the highway, slid down to oblivion.

[markintosh]

I'm a little surprised about all the fuss about the Teton Pass and going West from Jackson. We were in Jackson last December and came back to Bozeman that way. I wouldn't recommend it if there's been a heavy snowfall recently, but it should be just fine to drive right now.