Driving the Beartooth Highway: Montana’s Most Beautiful Road Trip

On Saturday, we were lucky enough to have some really fantastic late summer weather, so we packed everyone into the car, including my in-laws who are visiting Montana for the first time, and headed for one of the most breathtaking drives in America: the Beartooth Highway.

Beartooth Highway: The Most Beautiful Drive in America

The Beartooth Highway stretches between Red Lodge, Montana, and the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park near Cooke City, and it climbs higher than you can believe. At its peak, Beartooth Pass sits at 10,947 feet above sea level. Charles Kuralt once called it “the most beautiful drive in America,” and he wasn’t exaggerating. From zigzagging switchbacks to jaw dropping overlooks, it feels like the road was carved just to show off every angle of the mountains.

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A Highway Open Only Half the Year

Because of its extreme altitude, the pass is only open for about five months a year, usually from mid-May to mid-October. That makes it feel even more special, like you’ve been invited to glimpse something rare. And even in summer, you can’t take the weather for granted because snowstorms and sudden winds are just part of the deal. Luckily for us, the day was pure sunshine, which meant crystal clear views of sparkling lakes and rugged wilderness.

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Driving in Sheridan’s Footsteps

One of the things that struck me as we drove was how much history is wrapped into this stretch of highway. Back in 1872, Civil War General Philip Sheridan crossed this very pass with 120 men, following the advice of an old hunter who knew the land. Decades later, when the Beartooth Highway officially opened in 1936, it followed almost the same route. I thought about that as we climbed higher, imagining what it must have been like on horseback without the luxury of paved roads or guardrails.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Montana Experience

As much as I loved the scenery, the real joy was watching my in-laws take it all in. At every pull off, we piled out of the car with cameras and wide eyes, pointing out lakes tucked into the valleys and patches of snow still clinging to the mountaintops. It felt like introducing them to a piece of our world that words or photos alone could never do justice.

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The Lasting Impression of the Beartooth Highway

By the time we wound our way back down, we were all a little quieter not because we were tired, but because the beauty had settled into us. The Beartooth Highway isn’t just a drive, it’s a reminder of how wild, vast, and humbling this corner of Montana really is. And now, it’s a memory my in-laws will carry home with them.