It's been recommended we go to Gros Ventre when we briefly visit GTNP. Ya, it's too short but it's what I have to work with. We are staying a week in West Yellowstone. We know both sites are first come first served and we've visited the NPS webstite which says Colter may fill up in the afternoon where as Ventre might fill up in the evening. We can dry camp in our 29ft Montana with no problems, minus generator but w/solar. We'll arrive on Monday 30 May and depart Wed 1 Jun for West Yellowstone.Given locations, would it be best to try Colter and then, if Colter is full, head to Gros Ventre? If you had to give it odds, what are the odds of getting a tire in Colter?

digoddenYou might get different input from others but I do not believe that you will have a problem getting into Colter Bay. We were there four years ago and Colter Bay opened Memorial Day Weekend. Yes we had reservations but the park was not full. It was only about 1/3 full. You are there at a good time as the schools in that area do not close until late June. It is beautiful country and we had snow on May 1. Colter bay is nice with a nice restaurant as well as a nice little grocery store. Enjoy

I do not think you will have any problems that time of year. I have been to GV a number of time (not on July 4th) and have never had any problems. Snow could be a problem. I was there on 5/17 and had one day of snow in which YS was closed for about 4 hours until they could clear the road.

Just posted in your other thread about Gros Ventre, so won't repeat here.I doubt that you would have any problem getting a site at Colter Bay campground (not the RV Park) at the end of May. Since you are heading up to Yellowstone after a few days, it would save you miles of towing to stay at Colter Bay.That said, don't miss seeing the Tetons in their glory by driving the TV south to Jackson Lake Junction then turn left over the dam and on to Jenny Lake using the inner Park road. Great views of the mountains driving in that direction! Have lunch on the upper deck at Dornan's just over the river from Moose and then head back north on route 191 to complete the loop.

In general. I liked Colter Bay more, having stayed at both. On a side note(this won't affect you) but prior to entering the actual National Park(gated entrance), I had disconnected my toad so that when getting to Colter Bay CG I had easier driving of the MH. They person at the gate would not let me through as a single unit....I had to pull through the gate, hook my car back up to the MH in her view and drive off only to stop again 100 yards down the road to un hook again. Rules are Rules I guess! Anyways...Have a Great time at both The Grand Teton's and Yellowstone.

Colter Bay campground is nice, with a good village nearby. BUT...the campground is enclosed with trees. No view of anything but trees and other campers. So I like Gros Ventre better because it isn't so closed in around me. Maybe I'm a bit claustrophobic :)

Colter Bay and Gros Ventre | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

CloudDriver
Explorer
Apr 26, 2016
Just posted in your other thread about Gros Ventre, so won't repeat here.

I doubt that you would have any problem getting a site at Colter Bay campground (not the RV Park) at the end of May. Since you are heading up to Yellowstone after a few days, it would save you miles of towing to stay at Colter Bay.

That said, don't miss seeing the Tetons in their glory by driving the TV south to Jackson Lake Junction then turn left over the dam and on to Jenny Lake using the inner Park road. Great views of the mountains driving in that direction! Have lunch on the upper deck at Dornan's just over the river from Moose and then head back north on route 191 to complete the loop.
TenOC
Nomad
Apr 26, 2016
I do not think you will have any problems that time of year. I have been to GV a number of time (not on July 4th) and have never had any problems. Snow could be a problem. I was there on 5/17 and had one day of snow in which YS was closed for about 4 hours until they could clear the road.
Bob___Ann
Explorer
Apr 26, 2016
digodden
You might get different input from others but I do not believe that you will have a problem getting into Colter Bay. We were there four years ago and Colter Bay opened Memorial Day Weekend. Yes we had reservations but the park was not full. It was only about 1/3 full. You are there at a good time as the schools in that area do not close until late June. It is beautiful country and we had snow on May 1. Colter bay is nice with a nice restaurant as well as a nice little grocery store. Enjoy

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Colter Bay and Gros Ventre

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