Beartooth Highway
US 212 from Red Lodge, Montana, over 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass into Wyoming and back to Cooke City near Yellowstone, open late May to mid-October.
Also known as US 212, Red Lodge to Cooke City
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length68.7 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout two hours of driving, or three hours to experience it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUS 212[2]
- Start and endRed Lodge, Montana, over Beartooth Pass to Cooke City, Montana, near Yellowstone's northeast entrance[3]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonLate May to mid-October, when the road is open[3]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesHigh mountain road over Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet, with switchbacks; winter weather can close it temporarily at any time, even in summer.[2]
- Seasonal closuresClosed in winter. It typically opens the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and closes in mid-October, weather permitting.[3]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Beartooth Highway climbs from Red Lodge, Montana, up a series of switchbacks onto the Beartooth Plateau, crosses into Wyoming over Beartooth Pass at 10,947 feet, and drops back into Montana at Cooke City, near Yellowstone's northeast entrance.
Up top, the road passes alpine lakes and open tundra, and snow often lingers into summer. The National Park Service says the road typically opens the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and closes in mid-October, and storms can close it any time.
The drive itself takes about two hours. Bring warm layers, and check road status before you start.
Stops along the way
-
Red Lodge
Montana town at the east end.
Official information · 45.18578, -109.24683 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Beartooth Pass
Summit at 10,947 feet.
Official information · 44.96912, -109.47156 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Beartooth Lake
Alpine lake below Beartooth Butte on the Wyoming side.
Official information · 44.94647, -109.59427 · about 0.3 mi from the route line
-
Cooke City
Small town at the west end, near Yellowstone.
Official information · 45.01661, -109.93408 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Red Lodge Farmers MarketRed Lodge, MT · about 0.4 mi from the route
- Annual Farmers' MarketAbsarokee, MT · about 24.8 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- BasilJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- BlackberriesJun, Jul, Aug
- CantaloupeJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- CornJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Sources
- America's Byways: Beartooth Highway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- US Hwy 212 Corridor - Beartooth Highway (Custer Gallatin National Forest, USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Park Roads, Yellowstone National Park (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).