My summer trip has morphed into a early fall trip! I will be heading north from FL with my first actual destination Mt Rushmore then west to Yellowstone Then likely on to Seattle.I notice that most campgrounds in park close early and that the gas stations are "seasonal" With no mention of what seasonal is? Dates would be very helpful.My first concern is gasoline, I have a Toyota class C with a 15 gallon tank and feel comfortable refueling every 150 miles. Can go a farther but prefer a safety margin. Will I have any issues on the way to, leaving or in the park? Next would be over night parking, Are there places in the park where overnight parking is possible if the RV spots are closed or full?Then of course travel tips would be greatly appreciated. Jim

We are doing a similar trip at the same time. We'll be at Custer State park, then migrate north to Devils Tower, then to Little Big Horn. From there we will swing north on I-90 going around the north end of the Bighorn Mountains,then 212 to 310 to 72 to 120 into Cody and over to Buffalo Bill State Park. From there we will move west through the east entrance to the park, across the park and land at West yellowstone mid September. (If the fires will allow us to pass and get there???)I plan on fueling along I90 at Spearfish, then likely up around Sheridan, then again at Cody (maybe one more spot in between.) Cody will get me into West Yellowstone for refuel. I've never had problems refueling in towns this time of year along this route.I don't anticipate any problems on that route. I'm staying out of the Bighorns with my rig as I've done them before- and while the sights are beautiful the grades are just way too intense for me.Safe TravelsJoe

In the meantime search this Forum for either `Rushmore' or `Yellowstone' and read all about it.It might be a good idea to get a Campground Directory to carry along.

In your shoes, I would carry an extra gas can. Get a good metal can like these:http://www.lexingtoncontainercompany.com/Nato-Jerry-Cans.html

jjrbus wrote:My summer trip has morphed into a early fall trip! I will be heading north from FL with my first actual destination Mt Rushmore then west to Yellowstone Then likely on to Seattle.I notice that most campgrounds in park close early and that the gas stations are "seasonal" With no mention of what seasonal is? Dates would be very helpful.My first concern is gasoline, I have a Toyota class C with a 15 gallon tank and feel comfortable refueling every 150 miles. Can go a farther but prefer a safety margin. Will I have any issues on the way to, leaving or in the park? Next would be over night parking, Are there places in the park where overnight parking is possible if the RV spots are closed or full?Then of course travel tips would be greatly appreciated. JimSince you're western terminus is Seattle you're probably coming I-90 much of the way from Rushmore. Fuel will be no problem on 90, but with your 150 mile safety net keep your eye on the gas gauge if you get off the Interstate. Montana and Wyoming are the "wide open spaces." Fuel up when it is available.

I recall a rather large paved gas station on the eastern entrance to Yellowstone which any large RV could access ( Hiway 14). It would be on the right side as you are driving in the enter direction ... kinda out in the middle of nowhere on a curve ... possibly India Reservation owned. There is a gas station in the heart of the park at Fishing Bridge, and another north of there in the park at Canyon Village. You did not specify if you are pulling a tow vehicled, nor how long your Class C is, but I considered I could probably get my 35 foot class A and small tow into them OK so no problem. Also gas stations at the West Entrance ... depending on your length and with no tow you should be able to pick and chose there. Otherwise back up on I-90 certainly no problem.

Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone mid Sept | Good Sam Community

jjrbus
Explorer
Sep 08, 2016
Thanks for all the responses and info, have been traveling and not had time or internet at times to respond.

Just left Badlands NP and was surprised to find Cedar Pass campground was full.

Will sift through Yellostone info as we travel.
newk
Explorer
Sep 06, 2016
I think I'd get a 5-gallon jerry can. 150 miles isn't very far in some parts of the west, especially if you want to pass thru a town without filling up now and then. I do think you could make it without the extra fuel, but your mind would be on that fuel gauge half the time.

You can't "boondock" in Yellowstone -- must be in a campground.
lane_hog
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2016
To another point asked (not sure if it was answered), there aren't any spots for overnight parking outside of the campgrounds. It's far from peak season, so the non-reservable sites should be available if you check early enough in the day.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 30, 2016
I guess I'm not understanding what your question. Yes, there are only 4 reservable campgrounds open in Sept and Oct. and closing at different times. The rest are not reservable and wouldn't be listed on the reservation site but they are listed in the park's website.

I don't know your dates of arrival and how long you want to stay but IF you came in on Sept 15 you COULD stay at Fishing Bridge with hookups for 3 nights (as of 3pm when I looked). Then if you wanted to spend more time in the park you'd have to move to Grant, if they have openings or to a non-reservable campground. Then the first opening for Madison is Sept 23 if that's the time you'll be there and Madison is pretty much open for sites until Oct 15. It's a nice central area. If Grant has all the days open that you want then stay there for the entire time. I just thought you might want hookups for some of your time and that would be at Fishing Bridge. Yes, kinda confusing. :)
jjrbus
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
2gypsies wrote:
I don't know what dates you're looking for but for hookups, Fishing Bridge has 3 days available Sept 15, 16 & 17. Then you could move to Madison if you want reservations and many sites are open from Sept 23 to Oct 15.

Also, inbetween those dates, there are campgrounds in the park that don't even accept reservations and at that time of year if you want to move to one of them in the morning it would be possible. Mammoth is very nice and open year-round. Norris, Tower Fall and Pebble Creek are open until Sept 26; Slough Creek until Oct 7.

Personally, I would move to 2-3 campgrounds if I were you since you're concerned about gas. You could refill at Old Faithful until Oct 9, Canyon until Oct 23 and Mammoth year-round in the park and also at the outlying small towns if you're there for supplies, etc.

Interesting, when I go to the park site and reservations it shows 4 parks. most of which except Grant are mostly sold out? I'm missing something here? Jim

https://ynpres1.xanterra.com/cgi-bin/LANSAWEB?PROCFUN+RN+RESNET+RES+funcparms+UP(A2560):;YMSUM6;?/#
You have plenty of options.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2016
I don't know what dates you're looking for but for hookups, Fishing Bridge has 3 days available Sept 15, 16 & 17. Then you could move to Madison if you want reservations and many sites are open from Sept 23 to Oct 15.

Also, inbetween those dates, there are campgrounds in the park that don't even accept reservations and at that time of year if you want to move to one of them in the morning it would be possible. Mammoth is very nice and open year-round. Norris, Tower Fall and Pebble Creek are open until Sept 26; Slough Creek until Oct 7.

Personally, I would move to 2-3 campgrounds if I were you since you're concerned about gas. You could refill at Old Faithful until Oct 9, Canyon until Oct 23 and Mammoth year-round in the park and also at the outlying small towns if you're there for supplies, etc.

You have plenty of options.
jjrbus
Explorer
Aug 29, 2016
Thanks for the info after many web searches I was directed to this that shows actual dates. I was starting to think such info did not exist!!

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ocd_locale.htm

It appears that Grant is the only one with open spots left around the time I get there.
Jim
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2016
First, I wouldn't worry about fuel. Every town will have it year-round. Inside Yellowstone Old Faithful has it until Oct 9; Canyon Village until Oct 23 and the Mammoth area has it year-round. West Yellowstone will have it year-round. While driving on your trip just drive on the top half of your tank and you'll always have fuel. No need to carry it with you.

Campgrounds in Yellowstone have various closing dates so check the park's web site with lot of good information. Fishing Bridge is the only one with hookups and it closes Sept 18, along with Grant campground (no hookups). Sept 26 others will close. Slough Creek closes Oct 7 and Mammoth campground is open year-round.

Move around within the park to 2-3 campgrounds to save fuel. The park is huge.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
jjrbus
Explorer
Aug 29, 2016
Thanks for the responses, greatly appreciated. The Toyota is a small class C 21 ft plus another couple feet for the rear hitch. No toad, if I had a toad I would not be in the least concerned.

I did do a bit or research on this but schedule has changed since then and now info like gas stations are open during season without an explanation of what season is does me no good!

I would like to stay off interstates and wander a bit so likely a combination of both will work best.

I do not have an exact arrival date so cannot make reservations in the one rv park that will be open with vacancies when I get there. So am hoping for some info on parking somewhere for the night or should I find a RV park outside Yellowstone?
Many thanks Jim
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Aug 29, 2016
No issues whatsoever. Believe it or not, people actually live, year round, in Wyoming and Montana and we don't have to make a tank of fuel last from August to June. Gas will be available. Fires?? that's a different story. The entire west is very dry and it is expected the fires are going to burn until well into October. There is going to be smoke in many places, but that is pretty much an every year occurrence somewhere in the west.

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