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kodiak_308's avatar
kodiak_308
Explorer
Jul 28, 2015

Campground near Yosemite and Grand Canyon

Plan on making a long awaited trip from Florida Panhandle to Grand Canyon then on to Yosemite and Yellowstone. Looking for recommendations on parks close to Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Have a 41ft 5th wheel. We don't necessarily want to stay in the National Parks but close enough to run back and forth if needed. We plan on leaving the last week of May and are allowing 4 weeks.
  • He said he was going to Yellowstone so he got some information.
  • Guess many didn't read the title or the OP's post.
    Both say that they want info on GC and YOSEMITE, not Yellowstone.

    If you don't stay in Yosemite, there are NO campgrounds close.
    they are all a minimum of a 40 minute drive.
  • Stayed at Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon last September. I would HIGHLY recommend it.
  • Campfire Time wrote:
    Grizzly RV in West Yellowstone is 2 blocks from the west entrance to Yellowstone. We've been there twice. Excellent RV park. Restaurants and shopping within walking distance.


    Another vote for Grizzly
  • For the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, I'd recommend either Kaibab Camper Village(looks tight but a log of bigger rigs get in there as we have) or the Forest Service Campground at Jacob Lake. You can zoom in and determine if you'll fit. Most likely you will. Google this CG and you'll find photos.

    As for Yellowstone. Only one in the park, maybe two, will fit your rig (in my opinion, others may differ) - Bridge Bay or Fishing Bridge. Outside of the park there are numerous possibilities if you don't mind driving in, even long drives. We've stayed at Colter Bay RV. Colter Bay off Jackson Lake on the Rockefeller Causeway has an RV full hookup side and a dry camping side. On the other side of Yellowstone, in West Yellowstone Montana is Grizzly RV as one person already said, but there's also Baker's Hole, a FS CG with big rig sites, E at most sites and water to fill at the entrance. The only draw back is that it's first come, first served, but in my opinion, well worth it. We've dropped our rig off at Grizzly, driven over to Baker's Hole and checked with the host as to which sites will come open in the morning. We then check them out and drive over the next morning, put or name on one, pay, then go back and get our rig. It's worked out well for us this way. There's also a nice RV park out further by Henry's Lake on the Idaho side called Red Rock RV. We've stayed here a couple of times and have really enjoyed it. We don't mind driving so it was perfect for us. We've also stayed on the Wyoming side off the Togwotee Pass at a FS CG called Falls. One loop as E and big rig sites. We've stayed there a couple of times, driving into Yellowstone for the day. We're the type to get up early, pack a picnic lunch and head out, returning in the evening. Other's are different. Here's a photo of our site at the Falls CG off Togwotee Pass -

    Here's our site at Baker's Hole -


    Here's a picture of Grizzly RV -


    Picture of Colter Bay RV - looks tight but long Class A's get in here easily -
  • Grizzly RV in West Yellowstone is 2 blocks from the west entrance to Yellowstone. We've been there twice. Excellent RV park. Restaurants and shopping within walking distance.
  • Um, don't think there are any parks/campgrounds close to both Grand Canyon and Yosemite.

    (Ouch! Wise Guy.)

    For the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, if you can't get a reservation for the Trailer Village IN the park, there is a park in Tusayan, just a mile or so outside the NP. It's not a great park, but it will work. Grand Canyon Camper Village, 45 foot max length.

    However, it is very much worth it to get a reservation at Trailer Village, as then you can take the shuttle bus everywhere and never fire up an engine until you are ready to leave. If you stay outside the NP, you will have to drive in and find a parking spot.

    Beyond that, I'd also recommend taking at least 8 weeks to see all three places. Maps says you are looking at about 5200 miles RT. That's 175 miles EVERY SINGLE DAY of a 30 day trip, which might be just a tad ambitious.