I was posting on another persons post that I'm going to attempt Teton/ Yellowstone/glacier for 3 weeks in July. Lol I realize some say it's too much and I don't disagree. Working on taking off another half week. I'm going to try to reserve some days for campgrounds in next few weeks. I'm going to post my questions starting with day 1 and please experience campers....add your thoughts. Day 1 Dover oh to Joliet Il on rt 30 390 miles and 6 hours 45 minI don't know anything about Chicagoland other than I've been through it. Sometimes slow and sometimes at 90mph. I did take 30 from Chicago few months ago and not bad. My only requirement is be on other side of Chicago come morning and I'd love to treat family to Chicago pizza. If no camping anywhere what are some options.

What you do before you reach your final destination is important, but more important than that is to have your reservation at Colter Bay. Make that, then work the rest of your trip (including Yellowstone) around that. Just sayin'.

Agree with soricobob. We are heading to Grand Teton's, Yellowstone in July 2015 as well. We booked in Oct 2014 and many sites were taken already. You need to book NOW. As said, book the major NP's first, then plan the rest of the route. Otherwise, you will have reservations at stops along the way and no national park!We are leaving, by the way, on July 4 from Peoria, IL. Here are our stops:1st nite: Henderson, NE; Prairie Oasis Campgroud; 517 miles2nd: Rawlins KOA in Rawlins, WY; 530 miles3 nites: Coulter Bay RV park5 nites: Fishing bridge RV park in Yellowstone2 nites: Ponderosa campground, Cody WY2 nites: Devils Tower KOA, Devils Tower WYovernite on way home: Sioux Falls KOA, Sioux Falls, SD (446 miles)Home.Note: this is how we typically do long trips. a few longer days up front, then slowly circling the wagon back towards home.Hope this helps.

I think that 390 miles in under 7 hours is optimistic. I see you have a motor home from your profile. We figure on 50 miles made good per hour of travel time. But perhaps your average will be faster.

For trips, figure 50mph average. Doesn't matter if it's a 200 mile trip or west coast and back, that figure has held up well for the last 20 years of my traveling. I've tried to maintain a 60mph average to make a lot of miles and find it just isn't worth the strain. Even running 70mph in my car for 220 miles from in-laws to home, we only averaged 63 mph and that was with only one quick stop for a Bo Jangles biscuit.mleekamp has a nice two week trip planned. Good compromise seeing what they want to see in a compact time. I'm looking at 3 weeks for Yellowstone and don't think I have enough time to make it a relaxing trip.

Thanks guys I was just copying Google. I tend to stop frequently when traveling....I bet the 50 mph average will work well. It's looking like 5 days to get there due to a short travel days to see things. 1 Dover to Chicago2 Chicago to Rochester mn3 Rochester to chamberlin sd 4 chamberlin to Cody wy 5 Cody to colter bay6,7,8 colter bay then 9,10,11,12,13 at fishing bridgeStill working on things!

Yellowstone or bust | Good Sam Community

newk
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
stew47 wrote:
$80 for all 3 parks plus Rushmore and where ever else we go doesn't seem terrible.

It doesn't help for Rushmore. Rushmore is "free," just like it's always been. But 2-3 decades ago they built a big, new, multi-level parking lot at Rushmore, so now they charge you to park. :R No way to get around it. The parking pass is good for a year, so if you go during the day and decide you want to return for an evening lighting, at least they don't charge you again to park.

The Park pass will be good for Devils Tower, YNP, GTNP, Glacier, SD Badlands. I always bought one until I qualified for the old fogey pass.
stew47
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
$80 for all 3 parks plus Rushmore and where ever else we go doesn't seem terrible.
stew47
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Lol I havent thought of 39 as a youngster. Thank you though I'll look at it.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Stew,
You might want to consider a National Parks Pass. I suspect you aren't over 62 yet, but if you are, the pass costs $10 and is good for life. There are other options if you're a youngster.
stew47
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
Well as we push along planning now comes the hard part....lol how much is this gonna cost? Ok well how much is the stuff gonna cost that I don't know about? My known costs are the fuel (4000 miles at 7mpg), camp fees at 30 to 50 a night, and food (which I don't really count cause we gotta eat anyways. What are some other costs? How do you fellow rv ers plan?
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jan 16, 2015
KenMast wrote:

I noticed on the Coulter Bay website that they don't take reservations. How do you folks handle that? What do you do if you're in the middle of nowhere with no reservations and nowhere to stay and the closest Walmart is a hundred miles away and it's pitch black outside? I don't want to sound like a sissy, but where do you put a 45 foot motorhome and toad?

Colter Bay 'campground' does not take reservations for its 300+ sites. The Colter Bay RV next door does take reservations.

During our full-timing we have stayed in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (among many others) and have never had a reservation. Some campgrounds in the parks don't even accept reservations and that's where we head. We stay nearby the previous night and drive to the campground early morning when folks are leaving. We always got a site with our 40' motorhome. One time we even pulled into Madison campground which does take reservations. We easily got a site because every day there are cancellations. We find it more pleasant to not be tied to reservations...but that's just us. It can be done. :)
stew47
Explorer
Jan 16, 2015
KenMast wrote:
I'm pretty new to RVing, and Yellowstone is on my bucket list along with major trips to the Badlands, Grand Canyon, Brice, etc.

I noticed on the Coulter Bay website that they don't take reservations. How do you folks handle that? What do you do if you're in the middle of nowhere with no reservations and nowhere to stay and the closest Walmart is a hundred miles away and it's pitch black outside? I don't want to sound like a sissy, but where do you put a 45 foot motorhome and toad?

Colter bay does take reservations. I need to reserve soon. If I find myself without a camp site I'm just gonna pull over and sleep. Get up early and move. Never had to do that yet though. Seems like I remember some folks telling me they always manage a camp site. No guarantees on holidays though.
RamblinManGA
Explorer
Jan 15, 2015
Hi from AZ. . . folks are different, aren't they ! We loved 10 days at Yellowstone & didn't think much of the Tetons ! We enjoyed Cody & Bozeman, but didn't care for Jackson Hole. The Badlands, Custer State Park & environs were very enjoyable, but I would not go near there when the biker crowd was there (no offense, just not my crowd). Also, when traveling with kids years ago, I gave them the AAA Tourbook for the area and said " OK, what looks good to you ?" they enjoyed making choices and I'm SURE we went some places that weren't on my list, and had a great time ! Above all, enjoy regards, Craig
KenMast
Explorer
Jan 15, 2015
I'm pretty new to RVing, and Yellowstone is on my bucket list along with major trips to the Badlands, Grand Canyon, Brice, etc.

I noticed on the Coulter Bay website that they don't take reservations. How do you folks handle that? What do you do if you're in the middle of nowhere with no reservations and nowhere to stay and the closest Walmart is a hundred miles away and it's pitch black outside? I don't want to sound like a sissy, but where do you put a 45 foot motorhome and toad?
martinto
Explorer
Jan 15, 2015
Lots of good perspectives on options. Thinking to head to Seattle in 2016 with stops along the way. Glacier really appeals. Been to Yellowstone and the Black Hills area some years ago...but in a car! Now we are pulling a Coachman Apex 279RLSS. Looking at road trip planning guides but haven't locked onto anything yet.

So, from all this experience noted by fellow RV'ers, what is the best route, miles per day, what areas are a must to have a reservation and what time of year...especially considering a stop near Glacier. Retired, so time is not an issue. We're thinking a month, but want to do it all without any need to rush.

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