Grand Tetons; need a campground recommendation

Denver Transplant wrote:
You also might consider Flagg Ranch (Officially now Headwaters Lodge). The sites are a little close together (we have not stayed at the Coulter Bay RV Park so I can't provide a comparison), but you are in the trees and generally have good shade. The RV sites are full hookup. There are some tent sites mixed in with the RV sites. We had a tent site next door and one of the three occupants that were there when we were weren't too happy about it. Also no cell service in the campground. Some wifi in the lodge. At Coulter Bay you can get a signal, but its spotty.

The "lodge" is basically only a front desk/tour sales desk, gift shop, small store, gas station and a fairly nice restaurant. It about 15 miles north of Coulter Bay (2 miles south of the south Yellowstone entrance). Not as high traffic area as Coulter Bay.

We stayed in a non-hookup site in the Coulter Bay main campground a couple of years ago. They do have some electric sites, but those are hard to come by. We checked in at 10:00 and the electric sites were all gone (main campground doesn't take reservations).

There are also a couple of commercial RV Parks near Teton. We passed Fireside RV park about 4-5 miles east of Moran Junction on Highway 26. Looked "OK" but its on the Prarie and doesn't have much, if any shade. We haven't stayed there, so I can't provide any better information

Thanks, good info, Coulter Bay is already booked for July 4th next year!

ulvik wrote:

TenOC wrote:

ulvik wrote:
and they even marked the best boondocking spots for us.

Where do you think the "best" boondocking spot is . . . :h

I have always stayed at GV, (which is hard to beat) but I am looking for a different place to dry camp this fall. IMO anyone should be able to dry camp (with electricity) for three days. GV has a dump/fill station and you do not have to deal with the number of people at Coulter Bay.




The nest was in a hollow tree that was within 10 feet of my GV site.

My personal favorites are one off of USFS 30340 at 43.754942, -110.577577 and the other is off of Shadow mountain road at 43.701868, -110.622974. Both you have to drive about a mile or so down a gravel road and they say during winter thaw the roads can get quite muddy but we did not have any issues. Great views!

GV is my choice also. I don't remember the year but we must have had the same camping spot nest was close.

We prefer the Colter Bay campground to their RV Park.

The RV Park sites are SO close together, whereas the campground sites are huge and very spacious.

We value space and privacy, over hookups. But we're experienced dry campers.

Colter Bay RV park is very nice. Very close to the lake and you will get to see plenty of wildlife. 2 bears through the campground in 3 days, not mention the couple that we seen down by the lake. Sites are a bit narrow but long. And they are set at an angle so you have a good view instead of the side of the neighbors trailer.

You also might consider Flagg Ranch (Officially now Headwaters Lodge). The sites are a little close together (we have not stayed at the Coulter Bay RV Park so I can't provide a comparison), but you are in the trees and generally have good shade. The RV sites are full hookup. There are some tent sites mixed in with the RV sites. We had a tent site next door and one of the three occupants that were there when we were weren't too happy about it. Also no cell service in the campground. Some wifi in the lodge. At Coulter Bay you can get a signal, but its spotty.

The "lodge" is basically only a front desk/tour sales desk, gift shop, small store, gas station and a fairly nice restaurant. It about 15 miles north of Coulter Bay (2 miles south of the south Yellowstone entrance). Not as high traffic area as Coulter Bay.

We stayed in a non-hookup site in the Coulter Bay main campground a couple of years ago. They do have some electric sites, but those are hard to come by. We checked in at 10:00 and the electric sites were all gone (main campground doesn't take reservations).

There are also a couple of commercial RV Parks near Teton. We passed Fireside RV park about 4-5 miles east of Moran Junction on Highway 26. Looked "OK" but its on the Prarie and doesn't have much, if any shade. We haven't stayed there, so I can't provide any better information

TenOC wrote:

ulvik wrote:
and they even marked the best boondocking spots for us.

Where do you think the "best" boondocking spot is . . . :h

I have always stayed at GV, (which is hard to beat) but I am looking for a different place to dry camp this fall. IMO anyone should be able to dry camp (with electricity) for three days. GV has a dump/fill station and you do not have to deal with the number of people at Coulter Bay.




The nest was in a hollow tree that was within 10 feet of my GV site.

My personal favorites are one off of USFS 30340 at 43.754942, -110.577577 and the other is off of Shadow mountain road at 43.701868, -110.622974. Both you have to drive about a mile or so down a gravel road and they say during winter thaw the roads can get quite muddy but we did not have any issues. Great views!

ulvik wrote:
and they even marked the best boondocking spots for us.

Where do you think the "best" boondocking spot is . . . :h

I have always stayed at GV, (which is hard to beat) but I am looking for a different place to dry camp this fall. IMO anyone should be able to dry camp (with electricity) for three days. GV has a dump/fill station and you do not have to deal with the number of people at Coulter Bay.




The nest was in a hollow tree that was within 10 feet of my GV site.

Not sure but I think there are two Colter Bay campgrounds. Make sure you get the right one, others here probably know more about it.

We did Coulter Bay as well in 2015 .... we loved an afternoon swim in Lake Jenny ... 58 degree F water....so much fun.

If interested in boondocking in the area there are plenty of wonderful places with spectacular views. Just check in with the visitor center and they will provide you with a map and they even marked the best boondocking spots for us. We have also stayed in Gros Ventre Campground at both non hookup as well as a site with Electric only. Just have to arrive early to get a site with electric though. It was a very nice campground.