Going to Yellowstone

[Foil Freak 1211]

My wife and I spent almost two weeks in Yellowstone and the Tetons about 4 years ago. IMO, 2 weeks is not too much time. We had an 01 2500 CTD and a 27' Dutchman POS 5er. No problems pulling through the park. We went home through Cody, a very nice drive. Fishing Bridge is a great place to stay in Yellowstone, gives you good access to the park. We had the pleasure of having a grizzly bear visit the campground while we were there.



You really need to spend some time in Jackson Hole, it's a great town. The Grand Teton's are as scenic as Yellowstone, and I think we may have seen more animals when we were there. I think we stayed at the Virginian when we were in Jackson. The RV park wasn't anything special, but we are used to staying in the great Coloado State Parks, where there is actually room between the sites. Make sure you go to the Mangy Moose, in Teton Village. Also, a bar called (I think) the Silver Dollar.



Just writing about our experience brings back great memories. This was one of our all time best vacations. We are planning a trip back in 2007.

 

[pwr2tow]

o. k. found it on the map. Bear tooth pass on highway 212 out of red lodge Montana. Thanks we'll stay clear of their. Wish I had a toy hauler so we could take the bike along, sounds like a nice ride. Thanks again guys.



Are there any other roads we should avoid with our rig.

 

[pwr2tow]

I hear alot of good comments about the tetons. Well nothing is writen in stone yet as far as destinations maybe will take them in also if time allows.



When we get all the places or passes or whatevers to avoid then I can make a more concrete route of travel. Thanks everyone for input. I tend not to respond to individual posts because I don't want anyone to feel I over looked there response so please don't feel like you haven't contributed, I really appreciate everyones comments. One bad mistake on a trip could ruin the whole experience. I know I've said it before but thanks again.

 

[Fireman Dave]

We've taken two trips to Yellowstone with our 27' TT in the past 5 years. Both times we opted to dry camp in the primitive campgrounds so as to have a regular type site with a fire ring. We also liked it because we felt more like we were in the park - close to the evening programs, etc... Fishing Bridge is too much like a parking lot for our tastes. Not knocking it or anyone who stays there - it just wasn't the experience we wanted. We enjoyed the Canyon Campground area quite a bit. It's pretty central in the park for day trips. It (like the other campground villages in Yellowstone) also has a nice shower facility. I'd say those public showers were the cleanest I've ever seen - very impressive. Yeah, having full hookups is great and all, but when in Yellowstone we enjoyed being in a primitive site very much. Just another opinion here, no criticism intended.



I'd also agree that 2 weeks can go fast there. Just driving from one place to another takes quite a bit of time - but the scenery is great. You might want to check out the chuckwagon cookout too. But you'll need to make reservations in advance if you want to do that - especially if you want to ride a horse to it. Now wouldn't be too soon to make that reservation. If you wait until you're there, it's too late. Another thing - be careful if hiking. The grizzlies are not to be taken lightly. Don't hike alone, and make plenty of noise while hiking. The thermal features are spectacular, but stay on the boardwalks. Being boiled to death by thermal feature sounds like a pretty bad way to go.

Good luck and enjoy it!

 

[wyosteve]

Fwiw, there is construction continuing at Sylvan Pass which is just inside the east entrance. Not only will there be delays, but no night entrance at all. There will also be construction between Dubois and Moran Jct. across Togwotee Pass beginning this year. I'd avoid both of those routes.

 

[Grizzly]

We've taken two trips to Yellowstone with our 27' TT in the past 5 years. Both times we opted to dry camp in the primitive campgrounds so as to have a regular type site with a fire ring. We also liked it because we felt more like we were in the park - close to the evening programs, etc... Fishing Bridge is too much like a parking lot for our tastes. Not knocking it or anyone who stays there - it just wasn't the experience we wanted. We enjoyed the Canyon Campground area quite a bit. It's pretty central in the park for day trips. It (like the other campground villages in Yellowstone) also has a nice shower facility. I'd say those public showers were the cleanest I've ever seen - very impressive. Yeah, having full hookups is great and all, but when in Yellowstone we enjoyed being in a primitive site very much. Just another opinion here, no criticism intended.



I'd also agree that 2 weeks can go fast there. Just driving from one place to another takes quite a bit of time - but the scenery is great. You might want to check out the chuckwagon cookout too. But you'll need to make reservations in advance if you want to do that - especially if you want to ride a horse to it. Now wouldn't be too soon to make that reservation. If you wait until you're there, it's too late. Another thing - be careful if hiking. The grizzlies are not to be taken lightly. Don't hike alone, and make plenty of noise while hiking. The thermal features are spectacular, but stay on the boardwalks. Being boiled to death by thermal feature sounds like a pretty bad way to go.

Good luck and enjoy it!

Is there a fee for the primitive campgrounds? Are you allowed to run a generator on non-quite time hours? Do you need reservations? We plan to be there about the first of August for about 2 or 3 days.

 

[nps]

Is there a fee for the primitive campgrounds? Are you allowed to run a generator on non-quite time hours? Do you need reservations? We plan to be there about the first of August for about 2 or 3 days.

Click on this link for answers to all your questions. They also say to watch out for you and your relatives, so they might not let you in. :-laf

 

[pwr2tow]

Thanks guys that's the kind of information I'am looking for. IMO is a real waste of good vacaction time running into construction work with delays and detours.



My next question was going to be is there places to stay that do not cost so much. I don't mind camping without hookups, after all that's what I bought a camper for and to go camping. I don't have alot of spare money (barely make enough to even take a vacation) so any way I can save would be greatly appreciated.



hey Grizzly me and the wife plan on being there around the same time. Maybe stop and shake a fellow TDR's hand and then I'll move on. Good luck on your trip to Alaska, I'am still jealous over that.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Is there a fee for the primitive campgrounds? Are you allowed to run a generator on non-quite time hours? Do you need reservations? We plan to be there about the first of August for about 2 or 3 days.

Yes, there is a fee, but it's pretty modest. There are flush toilets in those campgrounds, too. Just no showers. The villages that have the showers are a short (within walking) distance from the campgrounds. I'd recommend reservations for early August - I think that's peak season there. But I think there are also some non-reservable areas too. Both times we went, it was in June. No problem getting in then, but the chance for snow is much greater. They got 15" the day before we arrived in mid June in 2001. But it melted pretty quickly.

A little side story - we went there a few times when I was a kid in the '60s. I remember having to bang on a cooking pot with a spoon to chase the black bears (not grizzlies) out of our campsite. They were a real problem back then. Now it's kind of hard to even see a bear in the park, but you can see one if you keep an eye out. Bring binoculars and look way down in the valleys for grizzlies - we saw several that way. We had a buffalo grazing in our site one morning on the 2003 trip. They are to be respected as well, but pretty cool.

 

[pwr2tow]

nps, I couldn't get your link to work.

 

[pwr2tow]

nps, o. k. it works now. Thanks.

 

[nps]

nps, o. k. it works now. Thanks.

Guess the govt is having some trouble.

 

[pwr2tow]

Some thing weird with this site also. I seen your post about rates and then it disappeared.

 

[nps]

Some thing weird with this site also. I seen your post about rates and then it disappeared.

I deleted it after I saw you already tried the link. It said cheapest reservable site is $17/night, cheapest site is $12/night, but first come, first served. The only site with hookups is $31/night. Xanterra handles all the reservations. I've stayed with them in the Grand Canyon NP. OK, not great, managers. Lost a cooler full of soda overnight there though.

 

[Grizzly]

Click on this link for answers to all your questions. They also say to watch out for you and your relatives, so they might not let you in. :-laf

Good link. Not to worry about my relatives, they're all in jail or in a wildlife preserve. :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

Yes, there is a fee, but it's pretty modest. There are flush toilets in those campgrounds, too. Just no showers. The villages that have the showers are a short (within walking) distance from the campgrounds. I'd recommend reservations for early August - I think that's peak season there. But I think there are also some non-reservable areas too. Both times we went, it was in June. No problem getting in then, but the chance for snow is much greater. They got 15" the day before we arrived in mid June in 2001. But it melted pretty quickly.

A little side story - we went there a few times when I was a kid in the '60s. I remember having to bang on a cooking pot with a spoon to chase the black bears (not grizzlies) out of our campsite. They were a real problem back then. Now it's kind of hard to even see a bear in the park, but you can see one if you keep an eye out. Bring binoculars and look way down in the valleys for grizzlies - we saw several that way. We had a buffalo grazing in our site one morning on the 2003 trip. They are to be respected as well, but pretty cool.

Thanks Dave. Good information and also a good side story.

 

[crobertson1]

We are planning a trip to Yellowstone in probably September. We are thinking of staying at the Grizzly RV Park too. It sounds nice and seems to be conveniently located.



http://www.grizzlyrv.com/index.html

 

[tandersen]

Here's another link. http://www.yellowstoneparknet.com/rv_camping/fishing_bridge_campground.php

 

[pwr2tow]

After looking at the link you guys posted it looks as though non will accomidate a rig larger than 40 feet. The only ones that will are upwards of $50. 00 a night.



Am I missing something?

Has anyone parked in any of lower priced $14-$17 site with a 33 foot trailer and 22 foot pickup?

Any other sites I should be looking at?



Thanks for all your help.

 

[Fireman Dave]

After looking at the link you guys posted it looks as though non will accomidate a rig larger than 40 feet. The only ones that will are upwards of $50. 00 a night.



Am I missing something?

Has anyone parked in any of lower priced $14-$17 site with a 33 foot trailer and 22 foot pickup?

Any other sites I should be looking at?



Thanks for all your help.

Yup - another down side - the sites are tight. Our rig just fit on the Canyon site (27' TT + LWB QC) in '01. The sites in some of the other campgrounds are a bit more spacious, though. But length is something to consider. In '03 we stayed in the Bridge Bay campground - the sites are more open there and easier to get into.