Grand Tetons Camping

TenOC wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
Gros Ventre (our favorite) or Colter Bay.

Can someone give me the pro/con for these two campgrounds. I have read other reviews of the two. From what I can find out, I think it is a flip-of-a-coin between the two. I have stayed at GV, but am thinking about CB on the next trip.

Gros Ventre is our favorite campground for our favorite national park - Grand Teton. Our first visit was in 1975 and we have been there at least 15 times since. We have been to Colter Bay several times but much prefer camping at Gros Ventre.

Our reasons are:

The sites at Gros Ventre are back in and nearly 100% are perfectly level - no blocking needed. The sites at Colter Bay are shallow U-shaped pull through on both sides of the loop roads, sort of like parallel parking. Only one time have we been assigned a site that was level enough that we did not need to use blocks.

At Gros Ventre there is a sign at the entrance that says something like "Register at office before occupying campsite". We just drive by the office and check the loops for an empty site we like, then go back to the office and ask for that site. Many others do this too. At Colter Bay there is a gatehouse in the middle of the entrance road where you must stop to have a site assigned. On at least half of our visits we have had to return to the gatehouse and ask for a different site because the first site was either too far off level for the blocks we have or because our one slide would extend out into the loop road and possibly be hit by another RV. This past June the second site we were assigned had this problem and we wound up driving into the one way loop in the wrong direction so that the slide would be on the side away from the road.

Most sites in loop A at Gros Ventre are in full sun, while the sites in the other loops have more shade. Trees at Gros Ventre are mainly Cottonwoods. The sites at Gros Ventre in loop A and the western side of the other loops have good views of the Tetons across the valley. Colter Bay is in a Pine/Spruce forest. Because the sites are along the edge of the loop roads, RVs are in full sun during most of the day. Picnic tables and fire rings are off in the trees. Colter Bay is just across Jackson Lake from the Tetons, but due to the dense growth of trees we have never had a site with a view of the mountains. However, there are great mountain views from the nearby marina, much better than at Gros Ventre.

Moose are a common sight along the Gros Ventre river south of the campground in the morning and evening and we have seen them several times in the campground as well. This past June there were five Mule Deer grazing in the campground for several days. First time we have seen that though. There is also a Beaver lodge in the adjacent Gros Ventre river. We saw a cow Moose once at Colter Bay but haven't been there enough times to know about typical animal sightings. Colter Bay would be a better choice for boaters and fishing.

Gros Ventre is about 10 miles from Jackson, where there are two full service supermarkets for restocking, Albertsons and Smiths. Lots of places to eat in Jackson. Gas is less expensive in Jackson than at Colter Bay. Colter Bay is about 40 miles from Jackson.

Lastly, we have never had any difficulty getting a site at Gros Ventre on any date in June. Also true for Colter Bay, but Colter Bay always seemed to have fewer sites available.

Try a night at Colter Bay. You can always get a site at Gros Ventre if you find you don't like Colter Bay.