Looking for an adventure that you’ll remember for the rest of your life? Make it a point to drive the Beartooth Highway between Wyoming and Montana and you’ll be daydreaming about your day on the road for years to come. Let us take you on our journey through the beautiful hills and mountains of Wyoming.

The Beartooth Highway is one of the most remarkable drives in the country. It's open for just a few months every summer.
Alex Ranaldi/Flickr
The famous route runs from the northeast entrance of Yellowstone, from Cooke City Montana up through Red Lodge, weaving back and forth along the Wyoming-Montana border the whole way.
The road runs for nearly 70 miles as it works its way up to one of the highest mountain passes in the country, Beartooth Pass.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Along the way, there are plenty of short side roads and pull-outs that are worth exploring. Drive to the top of the Clay Butte Lookout via a rumbly dirt road, if conditions are clear.
K. Magaraci
Beartooth Lake is also worth a stop, and it's just a short walk from the parking lot to the lakeshore. The mountains across the water are some of the most beautiful in the Rockies!
K. Magaraci

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There are countless glacial and alpine lakes up here, and since the views are so high up, you can see for miles from every turnout and overlook.
K. Magaraci
Don't forget to stop at the Top of the World! This souvenir shop is a good place to get gas and a snack before heading back on the road.
K. Magaraci
Soon, you'll find the road getting narrower and more winding -- and then you'll be here, at the top of Beartooth Pass!
K. Magaraci
From 10,947 feet above sea level, you can see for miles and miles. What a view!
K. Magaraci
It's no wonder the Beartooth Highway is continually named one of the best drives in America. It's hard to forget the sights you'll see along the way.
By the way, the Beartooth Highway opens in late May and stays open as long as the weather allows. The high elevation of the Absorka range makes weather pretty unpredictable, and it can snow at just about any time of year. Be sure to check the road status and weather before you head out!
Davidkn1/Flickr


Let's go on a road trip along the Beartooth Highway, one of the best scenic drives in Wyoming, in this video from We're in the Rockies:

With epic views around every turn and an abundance of scenic overlooks whispering for you to stop and admire their views, the Beartooth Highway is one of the best drives in Wyoming. Have you had the chance to follow its twists and turns to reach the Top of the World? Tell us all about your adventure with a comment.

To check the status of the road and conditions, visit the Beartooth Highway monitoring website. For more amazing road trips in Wyoming swing by our Wyoming road trip hub to find a little inspiration.

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More to Explore

More Wyoming scenic drives

Chris Muras | May 02, 2023

What are the best scenic drives in Wyoming?

 

There are numerous scenic byways in Wyoming if you want to take your time while taking in some of the most beautiful views in the state. Here are a few of the best scenic drives in Wyoming to add to your bucket list:

  • Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Tour: This drive is a little rough because you'll be traveling on dirt roads, but the wildlife potential of this trip is fantastic. There is a high probability you'll discover pronghorn sheep, elk, rabbits, deer, hawks, coyotes, sage-grouse, and eagles. Oh, and of course, the main attraction — wild horses! Begin your drive in either Green River or Rock Springs.
  • Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway: Hop in your car a little west of Cody, WY near the Shoshone National Forest. You'll follow the North Fork of the Shoshone River through the Wapiti Valley and end up at the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. This 27-mile scenic byway will treat you to towering rock faces, deep caverns, and a few historic dude ranches.
  • Chief Joseph Scenic Byway: Chief Joseph was Chief of the Nez Perce Indian tribe in the back half of the 19th century. This epic drive that links Cody with the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone National Park was named in his honor because it was the route he led his people out of Yellowstone and into Montana in 1877 while fleeing the US Cavalry. As you glide around each beautiful turn, you can imagine what it was like before any roads cut through these hills.

 

Read more about these and several more scenic drives in Wyoming in our featured article.

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Beartooth Highway, Wyoming, USA