planning a trip to yellowstone, road driving help needed

We went there a couple years ago in our truck/truck camper. We're around 23' long. We had the camper on the entire trip and didn't have much trouble finding places to park in the park. There was only one trailhead that is very popular that we couldn't find a spot to park.
We did go in early September so the park wasn't nearly as crowded as it would have been in the summer months.

I think somebody might complain about boondocking.
bumpy

You can always rent a car In West Yellowstone this way you can set up camp and use it as a base without packing up and then setting up every day. Fuel savings by touring in a car verses the MH will help offset the cost. Less stress on the narrow roads and parking. IMO.

It's very busy in YNP in the summer and parking will be a challenge no matter what type of vehicle you are driving. The bigger the vehicle the more difficult it will be to park at the many thermal features. No problem at Grant, Old Faithful or Mammoth.

As far as roadside camping, that is not allowed inside the park. Do you have reservations at a campground in or out of the park? If not you should make some ASAP and consider yourself lucky to get a space. There are a number of first come first served CG's in the park but all CG's report full by 8 to 8:30 AM. I think the idea of renting a car in W. Yellowstone is a good one. There are many CG's in town and if you don't mind an additional 15 minute drive you can stay at Valley View RV park in Island Park ID.

There is some parking for larger vehicles. However, there will be times when you will not be able to find a parking spot large enough. Mostly it will depend on time of day and time of year. You will not be able to park along the side the road, although stopping in the middle of the road is a frequent occurrence. They are not going to let you overnight in a parking lot although you may find out of the way parking spots they don't check at night.

jgkeeto wrote:
...also, has anyone just pulled over somewhere and spent the night drycamping or is that not allowed?
i guess we are asking if driving a 25 footer is going to be too big or are we going to be ok...

Camping in Yellowstone is restricted to designated campgrounds only. There are a number of Park Service operated campgrounds that are first come first serve. All of the campgrounds in Yellowstone are drycamping except for The RV Village at Fishing Bridge.

You will have lots of company in rental Class Cs that are not towing a second vehicle.

You should be fine for seeing the sights. Yes parking can be a problem but you are flexible, just park when you can and come back to those that you can't or ask if someone is going to leave. Just be flexible.

25' may not be a problem. But at some stops it very well could. You can use google satellite view and zoom in on the roads thru Yellowstone and see the pull offs and parking lots for the various sights. And some of those are tight and have few if any spots for larger vehicles. And likely as not the longer spots will be occupied by compact cars.

We were in yellowstone in the Fall and it seemed like a quarter of the RVs were Cruise America Class C rentals without toads. They were parked in the parking lots a plenty. My dually is wider than your unit and I had no problems finding spots to park. It appeared like Yellowstone had made accommodations for people like yourself. Can't say about summertime.

I remember a large-space, RV-designed lot by some of the major thermal features but it was more than halfway filled with cars, too, since the car section of the lot was already completely full. (That was after Labor Day in September.)

It's good to get an early start every day before things get so crowded.

Xantera has some tours that leave from campgrounds (and other locations) and we took two - Circle of Fire was a good overview of the park, and another one left at late afternoon for wildlife viewing. Driving/parking was the bus driver's problem while we just hopped off and saw the sights.

Tours

I don't love bus tours as a rule but those worked out pretty well for a first visit orientation to the park. Then we spent the rest of our week driving around to fill in the gaps.

It's worth downloading the Experience Planner brochure on that web page - tells about some free tours available, too, like one of the Old Faithful Inn.