RV route guide
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway — WY-296 Cooke City to Cody
47 miles. The route Chief Joseph used in the Nez Perce flight of 1877. RV-friendly Wyoming alternative.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296) connects Cooke City, Montana, with Cody, Wyoming, via 47 miles of Wyoming high desert and Beartooth-Absaroka foothills. The byway is named for Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, who led his people on the 1,170-mile flight from Oregon through this corridor in 1877. The road is RV-friendly and serves as the Wyoming-side alternative to or extension from Beartooth Highway.
- Tier
- Scenic byway
- State
- Wyoming
- Best season
- Memorial Day through October.
- Sources
- Cited official (.gov / .org)
Should I drive Chief Joseph or Beartooth?
Do both. They connect at Cooke City. Beartooth Highway is the high alpine experience (10,947-ft summit). Chief Joseph is the Wyoming high desert continuation, descending to Cody. Together they form a full half-day or day-long scenic loop combined with US-212 and WY-296. Chief Joseph is RV-friendlier (gentler grades, no length issues).
- 47 miles WY-296
- Connects with Beartooth at Cooke City
- RV-friendly throughout
- Cultural context: Nez Perce 1877 flight
- Open Memorial Day to mid-October
At a glance
Route facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded numbers for planning — always confirm against current conditions and state DOT 511 before you depart.
Distance
47 mi
Cooke City MT to Cody WY
Drive time
1.5–2.5 hr
Elevation
5,500–8,000 ft
RV compatibility
RV-friendly
Best season
Memorial Day through October.
Cell coverage. Limited.
Elevation profile
Ranges 5,500 ft to 8,000 ft at Dead Indian Pass.
Vehicle restrictions
- No posted RV restrictions
- Closed mid-October through Memorial Day
Nez Perce flight of 1877
The historical context
Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce people on the 1,170-mile flight from northeastern Oregon through Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana in 1877, attempting to reach Canada to avoid forced relocation to reservation lands. The Nez Perce moved through this corridor in late August 1877.
The byway is named for Chief Joseph but the broader story includes Looking Glass, White Bird, Toohoolhoolzote, and the elders + non-combatants who walked the route. Many died. The survivors were ultimately surrendered at Bear Paw, Montana, 40 miles short of the Canadian border.
The Nez Perce (Niimíipuu) homelands and contemporary tribal lands are now in Idaho. The Nez Perce Tribe administers the Nez Perce National Historical Park (NPS unit). Multiple interpretive sites along the flight route.
Acknowledgements
- Nez Perce Tribe (Niimíipuu)
What Visit Wyoming + Beartooth Highway promotion doesn't tell you
Beartooth Highway gets the press; Chief Joseph less so. For RV travelers, both deserve time. Doing them as a combined Yellowstone-northeast loop is a multi-day RV experience.
Cody at the WY-296 terminus is a substantial Wyoming town with multiple RV-friendly campgrounds, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (excellent museum), and gateway to Yellowstone east entrance via US-14/16/20.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I camp?
- Multiple USFS sites in Shoshone NF. Cody has private RV parks.
- Is it open year-round?
- No — closed mid-October through Memorial Day.
Authoritative sources
Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.
Cultural respect
This route crosses or commemorates lands and histories of Indigenous, African American, or other communities. Travel with cultural awareness. Visit tribal cultural centers and support tribal-owned businesses. Respect photography restrictions and sacred sites.
Planning an RV trip along Chief Joseph Scenic Byway?
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