We try to make a point of driving Beartooth anytime were in the area. We enjoy the drive, the…read morehikes, the stops & like to see what's changed/ compare to past visits/ seasons. This visit was the end on June, 52° at 2pm at the summit, & 91° at our startup. It was breezy and traffic was lighter than usual. Cloudy skies made for more interesting pics & I do wish we'd had more time to spend playing with the cameras today. We may make a trip out next week for that, or perhaps wait out fall... gotta be careful tho, snow closes the pass unpredictably!

We deliberately stayed in Red Lodge, Montana, so that we would be able to drive the Beartooth on…read moreour way into Yellowstone. The week we were in town, every day was in the mid 90s temperature wise. Beartooth has a significant change in elevation, so as you drive, the temperature continues to drop. When we hit the Summit, it was actually quite chilly! This drive is amazing - there is something new to see around every bend! You can definitely see why they close it during the winter, as it can be very nerve-racking at times, but it was worth every minute of the drive. Absolutely make sure you do it at least once in your lifetime!

The owners Jason Tubbs and his wife are the nicest and kindest people you will deal with. The…read morelocation is great. You are within 10 to 15 miles of the Beartooth Highway. In about 2 1/2 hours for the northeast gate of Yellowstone. I had about two hours from Bighorn national recreation area. Jason had some wonderful scenic driving routes that you could take besides the Bear tooth. chief Joseph scenic byway was incredible. The only downside was our first day there was Canadian wildfire smoke. But it cleared out for the next day and we had bluebird skies. I would stay here again in a heartbeat. The owner really cares about your wants and needs.

Two of us spent 4 nights here recently in a small travel trailer - it was a lovely stay. This is a…read morevery nice campground, spotless bathrooms, great showers, very well maintained grounds and super friendly staff. If you need hookups, this is probably the best place to stay locally. You're a couple miles outside of town, which was fine for us. It was very quite. There's a nice little store, laundry facilities and a dump station. There's even a small crystal clear creak that runs through the middle of that campground, and you can walk to the nearby river. No negatives, I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

We had a wonderful overnight stay at Old West RV Park. Easy access to, in and out of the park,…read morelevel, and clean and the owners, Jeremy and Ivy are lovely, and dog friendly people which we and our Corgi really appreciate. The grass at the camp sites are well maintained, making it an even better experience all around for ours and his enjoyment. Will definitely stay here again when traveling I-90. Thanks for the great dinner recommendation, too!

Chirps Across the Continental Divide: A Love Letter to Reed Point's Little Sentinels…read moreby Antonio J. Hopson I can't explain my love for prairie dogs, but I'll try--because obsession needs witnesses. They're cute, sure, but that's just the welcome mat. What hooks me is that each one is a character: expressive, social, democratic even. In their sprawling underground neighborhoods--called towns--they share the burden of survival like a chorus line of lookouts. One squeaks a warning for a hawk; another chirps a different tune for a coyote. There's even evidence they can recognize the same human wearing different colored shirts. In the grand theater of the animal kingdom, prairie dogs don't just bark--they speak. And of all the wild creatures we've studied, only humans have a more nuanced language. For now. That's what draws me--not just their behavior, but their performance of it. So we packed a cooler, my old notebook signed by Jane Goodall (humble brag), and my partner Jenny, and drove 760 miles to Reed Point, Montana. Destination: Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park, a sun-drenched patch of holy ground for lovers of language, wildlife, and miracles that live in the dirt. We parked with lawn chairs and beers--the kind of setup meant more for communion than conquest. If you're lucky enough to date someone who finds rodents romantic, skip the tourist traps. Go see the real show: prairie dogs at dusk. But first: Reed Point. The town feels like time paused for a smoke and never came back. We stayed at the Old West RV Park, run by Jeremy and Ivy--two of the kindest, no-nonsense folks you'll ever meet. The place is spotless. The restrooms gleam. The grass is manicured like a country club for travelers. There's even a rusted safe, a stagecoach wheel, and a tractor that--to this city slicker--looked like a fossil from another dimension. Now, let's talk about the "Redneck" thing. I'm a Black man. Jenny's white. And yes, I know what you might be thinking: Montana? Isn't that the kind of place where people don't "see" you until they do? But not once did we feel unwelcome. Not from Jeremy. Not from Ivy. Not even from the guy with the Jeep whose license plate simply read "REDNECK." We laughed--not at it, but with it. In Reed Point, "redneck" wasn't code for hate; it was shorthand for hard work--for boots worn down by fences, and fences built up by hands. Jeremy, curious and open, asked why we drove halfway across the West to watch what many call pests. I explained--romantically, yes, but also scientifically. Prairie dogs are keystone species. Their burrows aerate soil, feed ecosystems, create homes for owls, ferrets, foxes. Sure, they're a headache for ranchers--but they're a heartbeat for the plains. Jeremy nodded, asked sharp questions. That's the thing about Montanans: they'll move toward you or away--but always honestly. He even helped us search beyond the park, pointing out access roads and public lands. We took a wrong turn--of course--and ended up right back at Greycliff. Perfect. Prairie dogs, like us, are diurnal. They nap during the day's peak heat and come alive in the golden hour--just like we did. Most folks blast past the I-90 sign, never knowing they're missing the closest thing America has to a rodent opera. Jenny and I weren't tourists. We were observers. Scientists. Lovers. We set up shop, field notebook in hand, and began cataloging: behavior, vocalizations, social dynamics. Around the park's loop, we noted distinct neighborhoods--each with its own tone and tempo. We named them: Tacoma, Medina, Bellevue, and Rainier Beach. Some had kids. Some had retirees. One was ruled by a prairie dog we dubbed "Karen"--who would not shut up about our presence. I swear she was filing a report. Jenny had seen them once as a kid, from a car window. That glimpse had imprinted on her. For me, it was more than awe. It was homecoming. Instead of teaching science, I was doing science. The behavior was textbook and thrilling. Sentry postures. Splooting. Foraging. Alarm jumps that looked like panic--or joy. The line blurs in prairie dog. Jenny cooed at every move. I tried to play the scientist. Tried. But I smiled more than I wrote. And truth be told, while these creatures are wild, they're acclimated to humans standing around watching. We stay in our lane, they stay in theirs. But you can't help but feel like you're the one in the zoo--not them. Back at the RV park, it was a fifteen-minute drive to The Water Hole Saloon

Very happy with our weeklong stay at Big Moose. The owner is friendly and accommodating, a…read morewonderful host. We stayed in cabin 8 and my folks rented cabin 9 which was connected. We liked having the adjoining cabins to enjoy family meals and time together. The cabins were clean with a small kitchenette complete with utensils, servingware and cookware as well as a shared bbq on the porch. Downfall was the small mini fridge since we planned to cook at the cabin and brought quite a bit of food. The resort is on the outskirts of Cooke City so more rustic than being next to the businesses and gas stations downtown. Located about a 15 minute drive from the East Entrance of Yellowstone. We would stay here again and recommend it to others.

From the owner: Best camp spots at Cooke cityread more

They were going to get 5 stars until... About 6am there were 2 cars with homeless people in them…read more One had a blonde lady in a puffer jacket that tried to get the code to the bathroom by asking everyone she saw, including me and my husband. Eventually someone let her in. There was another junky car parked nearby that also clearly didn't belong there. So I was happy to be leaving because otherwise felt like my stuff would get stolen if I didn't watch it closely as we were packing up. I had called the "after hours" number twice about the lady before she got in but was directed to leave a message each time. All that said, I felt safe until then. The bathrooms and showers were clean and also plentiful. We played the mini golf there, which was free. We walked down to the Yellowstone River, which was steps away. It was stunning with lots of cool rocks. The one-room cabin was good. A code to get in, which was nice. Air conditioner and little fridge and desk with chair. Bunk beds and also another (full size?) bed. The curtains were good at blocking out light. The little shop had coffee in the morning but like all other koa's not until 8am. We had a fire pit at our cabin. I recommend this place but watch your belongings and don't let vagrants in the bathroom.

Tight sites, on top of your neighbor! Concrete curbs on each side and our trailer is small, almost…read moretouched the wheels on both sides. You have to walk on your neighbors side to hook up water and electric. Our site #32 had no sewer. Felt like a packed sardine and bees everywhere. Book that the Yellowstone RV Park instead as drove thru and wider sites and much nicer park. We will book there next time instead. Avoid this KOA if you can, we won't be back.

Definitely be aware that the interstate is a few yards from the property fence and the railroad…read morejust on the other side of the interstate. Both are extremely loud at a constant rate all day and all night. The only reason we stayed and didn't forfeit our rental fee is we have a loud fan above our bed that drowns out most noise. If this campground was even a mile away from the interstate and the railroad, it would be one of the nicest campgrounds I've been to. But the extreme and excessive noise is a deal breaker.

Staff was extremely helpful and caring. Went out of their way to fit us in last minute. They have…read moregreat amenities for kids. They have water/sewer hookups and wifi. Verizon got 3 bars here and we could work off of our hotspot. Pull through and back ends. Right off the freeway. Be sure to take the exit that says grey cliff koa exit now otherwise it will take you 9 miles further on gps.

Great camp great staff. Weather is great and the camp is pretty spaced out so you will have plenty…read moreof time for walks.

Wifi: Awcscouts062!…read more First off theres no service so use the wifi password. The dog named rocky is a w. The pond is very small. The showers are really nice for a scout camp. The dining hall is pretty small and meals are VERY chaotic but the food is pretty good. They give an oar away at the end of the week but the competition is kinda rigged. Any way it was a pretty good camp and take astronomy merit badge. One staff member is also racist so ya that was kinda interesting.

We love Buffalo Bill State Park . On a hot day in Cody we drive up and enjoy wading in the…read morereservoir. There are huge fish if you enjoy fishing. There are covered picnic tables in many areas. There are also cabins for rent under $100.

We absolutely loved this park and it will be a guaranteed return for next trip out west! We stayed…read moreat the Lakeshore Campground. They were installing more electricity to sites. The only negative thing I could say is that it is incredibly windy however that worked to our advantage as it eliminated the need for AC in 90+ degree heat and kept the bugs down. So not really negative. Camp hosts were incredible too!

Staff was very friendly and helpful. Convenient locations, off of i-90. Easy on and off. Park is…read moreclean. Sites are gravel, full hookups available. I would definitely stay again.

I stayed on a quick trip for a dog sports event in Columbus. It was very quiet and clean.read more