Yellowstone camping recommendations

[Whirlaway]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

I say no generators at the park service operated campgrounds within Yellowstone because that is what the park service says

Yellowstone National Park - Campgrounds in Yellowstone (U.S. National Park Service)

Generators may only be used at the vendor operated campgrounds within the park.

Thanks I did not know that back east here we can use them at Arcadi in
Maine.

[dmac]

We have enjoyed Bridge Bay, and Coulter Bay in Grand Teton. Neither have hookups... but the scenery is very nice with trails and lakes. Also the park has convenience stores and gift shops nearby.

But I am biased against RV parks... I refuse to drive hundreds of miles to spend my vacation in the equivalent of an ugly mobile home park.

[Relentless]

If you want to go first class with no concerns about enough space for your 31', then go to Grizzely in West Yellowstone. Could separation between sites, full service, right at the entrance to the park.

[SilverAvion]

i stayed at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and Cabins last spring (in a snow storm.) clean sites, plenty of room, and full hookups. its just south of downtown west yellowstone.

[2Alaska]

I'm also taking a trip out to Mt Rushmore, The Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier this Summer. This thread had been full of great information so far. Thanks! Keep it coming! (I'm still pretty new at this and this will be my longest trip so far)

I was under the impression that you had to be under 40 ft (tv and rv combined) to stay in the park. From some of your post though it would seem like maybe that only applies to the parks with hook-ups ???? I'd love to be in the parks but I was thinking we'd have to stay outside the park because of the length. My argosy is a 24 and my suburban is about 18 feet. So I am over the 40ft allowed at most campgrounds I had checked into in the parks. Most of your trailers seem to be about the size of mine or longer so I am thrilled that we may be able to be in the park.
I'm going to look into some of the places mentioned and try to find out more information but this has been most helpful. I was really bummed thinking we couldn't be in the parks.
I was going to take a tent so that we could be in the park but we decided we'd rather bring the dogs and stay outside the park if we had to. This would be great if it all works out.

Thanks a lot,
~2Alaska

[doug&maggie]

2Alaska et al----hate to be terribly redundant, but can't assume everyone reads all threads (we don't) , so we wanted to point out again (as in posts elsewhere) the outstanding wildlife adventures that the Teton Science School offers in the Tetons and Yellowstone. We were out there last year for the first time, such a beautiful area and one we can't wait to return to. Have a great trip!

[Pacerized]

Your setup is almost identical to mine. Our airstream is a 25' model with the same narrow body style as your Argosy, and we tow with a Durango. I've never had a problem at any national park campground with this setup and I've seen some huge trailers in these same campgrounds. I've never even felt like we were cramped for space. Since most trailers give their lengths for just the box and don't include the tongue, I think you'd be safe declaring your setup to be under 40'.

Charlie

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Pacerized

. Since most trailers give their lengths for just the box and don't include the tongue, I think you'd be safe declaring your setup to be under 40'.

Charlie

Last year we thought we would use this method to get our 29' in and claim it was only 26'...the folks at registration have caught on to our little trick, the question asked now isn't "how long is your trailer", it's "how long is your rig, front bumper of the truck to the back bumper of the trailer"
They did slot us into a spot at Bridge Bay that was exactly as long as out rig, saving the longer ones for the monster 5ers...

[Airboss]

I visited Yellowstone last summer but was while I was at the International Rally so Bozeman was my CG. I also went to Glacier and stayed at West Glacier KOA. Very nice CG and had dinners too. Try the Trout Dinner!!!! I will say Glacier has views that are out of this world. Going to the sun rd is a MUST! I also climbed Apgar Mt. 4 mile hike and quite a view as well...All of you drive save and happy trails...

[brownsmtnlab]

We stayed at the Madison campground in early June 2008....absolutely loved it...they allowed our 31 foot, but they only have a half dozen or so spots that big...I guess we may have been on batteries and propane for those 3 days....We moved to outside the park for an extra day (west Yellowstone) we found that a completely (in a bad way) different experience....tons of mosquitoes and wind not present in the park

[maxandgeorgia]

We too have passed over the campgrounds within YP, but we have found several just beyond its boundaries, yet within exploration drive distance. Just off I90, approaching YP from the east, north of Big Timber on the Boulder River is Silver Creek CP, a good central site for access to great drives up the Boulder valley toward the Beartooth range. For you movie fans, The Horse Whisperer was filmed in this valley--incredible scenery! You'll find various small FS camping sites up the B River, but they are primitive, ususally right on the water. The road becomes VERY rough as you drive upriver. Tenting or small campers only! we'd advise. As John wrote above, in Paradise Valley on the Yellowstone River, north of YP and south of LIvingston is Yellowstone's Edge RV Park where we had a delightful stay a couple summers ago and where we will return. About 30 miles west of YP, along the Madison River, is Madison River Campground, clean, good small groc and fishing provisioning store, wonderful laundry/bath house...we've stayed several times and enjoy the site just overlooking the trout stream. You'll find only a few sites (maybe a dozen?) and cottages are available too if you need respite from the road. You can be entertained trout fishing or watching the antics of other fishermen in the swift water from the swing overlooking the water. . Between Teton Park and YP is a huge but pine-shaded campground with equally large restaurant/shop/store/gas facility--/Flag Ranch. We've stayed twice and had good experiences. Some complain about the population, but we've always had large enough sites with decent privacy and it is ideal as a central location for a family wanting to explore both parks. You'll be exploring a grand part of our country--enjoy! ~G

[Ketchum]

We stayed at Rocky Mountain Campground in Gardiner, MT last summer. It was a good time. It has free wifi, good hookups and easy in & out sites. The sites are pretty small but they work. They do have some restrictions about sleeping outside of your camper and don't allow tents on the same site (only in the tent sites.)

Have fun!
Bob
Spearfish, SD

[joel]

we stayed in the town of west yellowstone at the west gate of the park.Several nice campgrounds there but we stayed at grizzly camp ground.great place with large level areas and full hookups .

At rushmore we stayed at the big pines camp ground in the city of Custer.again a nice campground and 1 mile from one of the gates of Custer state park. Also the greatest attraction in the area is in the town of custer.""" The Purple Pie Shop""" we had never had rhubarb pie till we went there. Home made pie and ice cream.It also has a flintstones bedrock camp ground there.Have fun

[2Alaska]

Thanks for all the advice. It makes trying to plan it all out a bit easier. I love hearing what worked and what didn't. I think we're going to try to get in the park at The Tetons and Yellowstone as much as we can then hit the KOA in West Glacier (that looks great). We're giong to try to make a few reservations and then try some of the 1st come 1st served places to try to fill in some days when we get there. At least we have a rough plan. I hate to plan it out too much but I know we're already pushing it if we want to make reservation in some places.
Thanks again,
~2Alaska