Roll down the windows, crank up your favorite music, and take time to relax as you travel these byways.
Every stretch along the figure eight of roads at the center of Yellowstone has some scenic allure, but my favorite is the part along the western and northern shores of Yellowstone Lake. There's less traffic than around Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and you have a good chance of seeing wildlife east of Fishing Bridge, as well as steaming geothermal features near West Thumb. The drive is best in the morning, when the sun is rising over the steaming lake.
From the northeast entrance of Yellowstone, head across the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Hwy. 212) to Red Lodge, Montana; at Red Lodge, head southeast toward Cody (Mont. 308 to Wyo. 120), and then catch the Chief Joseph Highway (Wyo. 296) and return to the park. Imagine this: dramatic mountain peaks, river valleys, painted landscapes, and two Old West towns, all on this 155-mile drive.
A twisting, narrow road climbs Signal Mountain to a fine 360-degree view of the valley and the mountains. On the way up, you'll see wildflowers and birds, and from the top, you can study the moraines and potholes left by retreating glaciers.
