Driving from North Idaho to Buffalo (Sheridan, Green River: hotel, price, food)

[Clark Fork Fantast]

We've decided to go to the Longmire Days in Buffalo this year! We'll be driving from our place in North Idaho (Clark Fork, on Highway 200), and we're trying to decide on a route we haven't gone before. So we probably won't want to do I-90 the whole way, unless we need to make good time. And we've gone through Yellowstone and Cody before, and over the Big Horns on 14 (although we may want to do that again; great route). I was looking at the map, and it looks like Grand Loop Road connects 89 south of Gardiner with 212 at Tower Junction--is GLR a reasonably well-maintained road? We have a Subaru Forester, so we can handle dirt roads, but not really any true off-roading.

And if we go east on Beartooth Hwy (212), can we veer south and wiggle our way on 296 (Dead Indian Hill Rd) south to Cody? Decent road? We will have max. 2 days to drive from North Idaho to Buffalo, and we'd rather not be stuck in the mountains and miss the Longmire Days. I know much depends on the condition of the road, potential fires or slides in the area, and so forth.

Any other interesting route you'd recommend to get us from North Idaho to Buffalo in 2 days?

Also, which part of the Beartooth Hwy is the most spectacular? We might want to save that trip for some summer where we don't have a schedule to keep.

Thanks!

[Froggie Legs]

I'm envious... last time I was through northern Idaho I was 17 and plugged into Motley Crue on my walkman :P

Enjoy your trip!

[GregW]

Sometimes when I am planning a new trip I take a map with both places on it and draw a straight line between. then take the roads closest to the line. As you want to male some good time stick to the state and federal roads. We took Rt 14 through the Beartooth mountains last year and enjoyed the scenery. We also enjoyed lunch in the sheriff's favorite diner.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Where's the diner? We may need it!

[GregW]

ON the west side of Maine Street next to the Creek. It is called the Busy Bee and there was a Reelect Longmire sticker on the door. Good food as well even if I did not order "the usual".

[sipes23]

I can vouch for the food at the Busy Bee too. Also good: price/value at the Busy Bee.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Thanks guys! Slight change in plans: Since we couldn't get a hotel in Buffalo, we'll be staying for probably 2 nights in Sheridan instead, and drive back and forth to Buffalo. So we'll probably just scoot down I-90 all the way. Instead we'll do some exploring after the Longmire Days. We plan to go Highway 16 to Highway 20 south, and on to Riverton and Lander, to 287, to 80 west.

Anything we shouldn't miss on that route? Good eateries/lodges/viewpoints? I've been wanting to visit Lander for years. We'll read up on everything before the trip.

[branDcalf]

Sinks Canyon is interesting. Hwy 16 is my favorite route over the Big Horns.

Flaming Gorge, south of Green River is pretty in an unusual way. There are back roads from the southern end of the reservoir that will get you to Salt Lake City, that I like to take. But, I just kind of wander and don't have road numbers.

[jody_wy]

At Hudson between Lander and Riverton

https://www.facebook.com/Svilars-Bar...0109460673141/

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Thanks, branDcalf and Jody! I'll look up the back roads to SLC, and we'll do it if we aren't in a hurry by then. And the bar, of course! Gotta check that out!