Cook City, Silver Gate, Bear Tooth Pass Sept (Billings, Red Lodge: hotel, price)

[Giesela]

I'm thinking of doing a Yellowstone trip in late Sept. Fly into Billings.
Thinking of driving 212 to the NE entrance, staying in Cooke City or Silver Gate for a night or two - )Silver Gate that is a town or just the gate to Yellowstone. Sorry - just looking at a map and not sure.)

Specific questions - recommendations on places to stay?
Is 212 drivable in late September?
How long does it take to get to Cooke City or Silver Gate ?
Can I do some Yellowstone from Silver Gate/Cooke City and return (how far is it to say, or should I try to book further in the park for my second night? (Roosevelt Lodge will be closed so it would be Canyon or Mamouth)
Thanks

[tigergal]

You may be able to get through there in late September; it depends on any snowfall they may have had. We've been told up there that if it snows after Labor Day, that the road is closed til Memorial Day. It's about a 65 mile road and takes a couple of hours to drive from Red Lodge.

Silver Gate is a town in name only really. It has a lodge (Grizzly Lodge whose owners/managers never seem to answer the phon

Cooke City is a very small town, but has a few places to stay. If you want a non-descript chain, there's the Super8. It's the most modern place in town. The proprietors are a bit unfriendly, but it gets the job done. The little bakery next door - the Bearclaw - is absolutely worth visiting. We bought breakfast there every day to eat in the park as we watched the Grizzlies and Wolves in the Lamar Valley. There's another little lodge there - the High Country - which is nice. They're very simple accommodations (as are all in Cooke City) but the owner is very friendly and they couldn't be any cleaner or better cared for. Be prepared for meals in the town to be pricey and adequate. A hamburger will run you at least $10. A plate of pasta will run about $18.

You can absolutely see a good bit of Yellowstone staying on the Cooke City side. If wildlife are your thing, the Lamar Valley is best accessed from that entrance and the wildlife are abundant there. Be sure to check ahead about staying at Canyon or Mammoth as most accommodations in the park are booked a year ahead of time. Staying at Mammoth gives you easy access to Gardiner which has a few more creature comforts in terms of dining, souvenirs, gas stations. Gas in Cooke City is higher than in the park - Gardiner is your cheapest choice. But Cooke City is absolutely doable as a place to stay for a few days. We always stay there for 2 or 3 days and then Gardiner for several days.

[nature's cathedral]

You should add Sunlight Basin and Cody to your trip. The view from the bottom of the Basin or Dead Indian Pass are well worth the time, and the Cody in Cody is likely the nicest hotel around.