Grand Teton Park, Moran, WY

AuntEthel, unless you are worried about an hour trip each way from Colter Bay to the entrance to Yellowstone with some very nice scenery, you could stay in Colter Bay and day-trip to Yellowstone. We do it all the time, even towing our boat from Colter Bay to Yellowstone Lake to fish for the day. A person can leave pretty early in the morning to miss car traffic and tour the parks loops, one per day, and get back a little late in the evening, just in time to watch the beautiful sunsets on Jackson Lake as you are having dinner, etc.

Uncle Grumpy, where the heck is that 20-mile stretch coming from Moran to Lander? I live in Lander and went up to Grand Teton three times last summer and twice more to Jackson this winter and I do not, for the life of me, remember any 20-miles stretch of severe frost damaged road. In fact, almost all the road from 15 miles outside of Dubois to the Turpin Meadows turn-off about five miles from Moran is new road that has been completed in the last eight years. Going from Moran to Rock Springs through Jackson and down the Hoback is a long ways out of the way for no good reason, unless you want to take a look at all the gas wells around Pinedale on the way to Rock Springs. Then you would hit I-80 and have wall-to-wall trucks for another 110 miles from Rock Springs to Rawlins. Not my idea of a great trip with an RV.

AuntEthel: Yes, you 'could' tour Yellowstone from Colter Bay but it would involve a LOT of slow driving miles and a very long day. That's really not the way to see Yellowstone. Try to get reservations at Fishing Bridge RV in Yellowstone itself. They have full hookups. If you only have a few days to spend in Yellowstone it's better than none.

Also, there are many campgrounds that don't accept reservations but you'd need to arrive at them between 9-11am if you can - when folks are leaving. This would be doable if you're staying in Colter. They are, however, dry camping which you said you are leery about doing. Give it a try for a couple nights. It's a cinch. Just have your water tank filled before you go and your holding tanks empty. Conserve water and electric usage and you'd be just fine for a couple nights. Here's a link to Yellowstone campgrounds:

Yellowstone Campgrounds

We are planning a trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in July. I know, it's the busiest time of the year and we don't have reservations! My question is, if we stay in Colter Bay, will we be able to do decent day trips into Yellowstone? I would like to stay where there are hookups because we are brand new to camping in our hybrid. I have already been advised that traffic will be horrible, but I'm looking at the bright side, as it's more time to take in the sights!

If you take 287 be aware that there is about a 20 mile stretch coming down towards Lander that has severe frost heave damage. Even in my truck alone I slow to no more than 50mph. there are also no services from Rawlins to Lander. We take 191 out of Rock Springs. Good road and gentle grades. And, they repaved the rough stretch west of Rawlins on I-80. Safe travels.

RLGetman wrote:
Planning to stay at Grand Teton Park, Moran, WY, any advice on this park (easy road access, park reality, etc...) Thanks

Stayed there a few years ago. Nothing fancy but I like it because it's out in the country. I'm not big on Colter Bay.

Good choice, Colter Bay is so much closer to the Lake and the rest of Grand Teton than is Teton RV Park. You will enjoy it very much. Don't forget to take the cruise around the Lake out of Colter Bay Marina. It's well worth the cost and, if you want, you can take an evening cruise that stops at Elk Island and dinner is served. Also, go to Signal Mountain Lodge and have their super Nachos in the bar, big enough for dinner for two to four people and very good. Plus, in the evening the huge floor to ceiling windows look to the west and at Mt. Moran and the setting sun. What a great spot.

Thanks Again Everyone! We are booked at Colter Bay and have a great list of what to see and do, Thanks to you all!

Regarding the Grand Teton Resort in Moran - last year we spent a week off Togwotee Pass at Falls CG. It's a FS CG at 8500' with an RV loop with electricity at the sites and many with a clear view of the Southern sky for satellite. Another loop is completely dry but with many spacious sites for long RV's. Moose and bear at this CG. Anyway, we drove in to and back from the Tetons one day right past this resort. Quite a few folks there but I noticed all interior roads were dirt and they were packed in there. Having stayed at Colter Bay RV many times and at Gros Ventre one fall, late in the season, I'd pick Colter Bay for its location. Gros Ventre can be tight depending on how many people are already in there and for the time of year you're going, it's going to be busy. Not to mention that you'll also have Colter Bay Village with several restaurants and one that has a great breakfast buffet, there's a wonderful museum at the Visitor Center, a gift shop, a mini-mart, showers, and the ticket office for boat and horseback rides.

RLGetman wrote:
Thank You everyone for your inputs and recommendations. Our visit to the Tetons will be the first two weeks of June. Currently, we have a 1 week reservation at the Grand Teton Park RV Resort in Moran, WY, but are now looking hard at Coulter Bay for 1 week dry and 1 week wet camping opportunity instead of the RV park at Moran. Really enjoyed all your tips on what to see, where to drive while camped there. Also looking at any issues with getting from the highway to Coulter Bay (safest route). Anyway, Thanks again everyone!!!

The drive from the highway into Colter Bay Village is very smooth and easy. No problems there at all. Out of curiosity I just looked at the Moran RV Resort, and where it is located on the map. I would really recommend Colter Bay RV park if you don't want to dry camp. The NP campground is beautiful if you want to dry camp and they have very nice restrooms in each loop. You can walk right to the lake and stick your toes in from either of the campgrounds at Colter Bay Village. Not so Moran RV Resort. You can also walk to the grocery store, restaurant, visitor center, marina, laundromat, gift shop, tour counter (lake cruises), and around the little penninsula that juts into the lake. Ahhh can't wait to get there!
Becki