Help with Yellowstone and Tetons

kdsjts3 wrote:
Need expert advice. Driving a 40' with a tow from Georgia with our family of 7 in July. Staying in Rapid City, Custer, then on to Yellowstone, Tetons and RMNP then back. I have reservations at campgrounds near the National Parks - as close as I could find. I have double booked because I am not sure of the best route as I have read to avoid going over the Bighorns. I have a night in Cody, and two nights in West Yellowstone booked. I also have the same three nights booked at Yellowstone's Edge in Livingston. The next two nights I have at Firesides Buffalo Valley, then on to Estes Park, CO. Should I keep three nights at Yellowstone's Edge and plan to drive in to YNP each day or is that too much car time for 7 of us packed in? Other option is to go through Cody and drive through the park to the West side. OR stay two nights on the North side then drive over to West Yellowstone for a night to see Old Faithful and the sites on that end. There is so much driving and I am nervous about the first come first serve spots because we have five kids (three teens) and it's hard to get everyone up and going early. Advice on roads in that area? Advice on a home base for Yellowstone - north or west or both? Advice on Tetons from Moran area? Thank you!

This is such an awesome trip. You'll have an amazing time.

I don't have the experience with all of your questions to feel confident answering all of them, but I wanted to tell you that if you are at all interested in the first come first serve campgrounds in the park, you don't need to have your whole rig/family with you to get in line for a spot. You (or whoever rises early in your family) can take your tow early, get your spot, then return later with your rig. We did this last September and it worked out fine.

You're not going to regret any part of this trip, I don't think. Personally, were it me, I'd do all three nights in West Yellowstone, and I'd get there via I-90 in Montana. I wouldn't cross the Bighorns unless I had to. If you stay in one place for the three nights, you save some packup/breakdown time with your rig, and get to spend that time in the park. West Yellowstone is a great spot to see the most popular sites. Then I'd take the rig through the park to get to Moran and the Tetons.

I-90 coming from South Dakota is a beautiful drive. You see the Bighorns get larger as you drive towards them. It's one of the seminal moments of my life.

No matter what you choose, you'll have an amazing time. Please keep us updated!