RV Park near Yellowstone

Taking someone to Yellowstone for their first visit is something special. Watching them walking around with their mouth hanging open in awe. I've had that opportunity to do that several times.

Keith

We are heading back to Teton again this year, taking a couple who have never seen either Teton or Yellowstone this time. Trying to decide between Colter Bay or Gros Ventre. Did Gros Ventre for 5 days over the July 4th period last year. Nice CG. A variety of well separated sites. Close to the Mormon barn but cannot see the Tetons from CG. Thinking Colter Bay for a change of view.

padredw wrote:
Sounds like a great plan.

Colter Bay remains one of our favorite campgrounds in the USA.

I would agree. Great location. Very well stocked store. Amazing scenery in the area. We saw a grizzly just south of the campground.

kedanie wrote:
There must be a reason so many stay inside Yellowstone. While mileages will vary from where you start, generally attractions are closer if you stay inside. There are also many more campsites inside which are mostly full every day of the summer season.

Here is a little data on that.
Miles from West Yellowstone/ Miles from Fishing Bridge

Old Faithful Geyser .......... 31.3 miles/39.4 miles
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone............ 39.6 miles/15.7 miles
Hayden Valley............. 47.1 / 8.4 miles
Mammoth Hot Springs............ 48.7 miles/48.6 miles
Yellowstone Lake (nearest approach) ............ 48.6 miles/ .3 miles
Norris Geyser Basin............ 28.2 miles/27.7 miles
Lamar Valley...... 65.2 miles/41.9 miles
Tower Fall....... 55.4/31.8 miles
West Thumb Geyser Basin...... 48.3 miles/20.5 miles

So I guess West Yellowstone is actually more centrally located to ONE of the parks main attractions, it is 8 miles closer to Old Faithful.

Number of campsites in campgrounds total 2164 sites

In order of opening Dates* Nightly Fee/** Sites Elev (ft) Features RV Sites
Mammoth
All year $20 85 6,200 A,F,G Most are pull-through
Madison ??
5/2-10/19 $21 278 6,800 A,F,NS,DS,G Call for availability & reservations
Fishing Bridge RV??‡
5/9-9/21 $45 >325 7,800 F,S/L,DS,G, hookups Call for availability & reservations
Norris
5/16-9/29 $20 >100 7,500 A,F,G 2 @ 50' (signed); 5 @30'
Tower Fall
5/23-9/29 $15 31 6,600 V All @ 30' or less; has hairpin curve
Bridge Bay ??
5/23-9/1 $21 432 7,800 A,F,NS,DS,G Call for availability & reservations
Canyon ??
5/30-9/14 $25.50 273 7,900 A,F,S/L,DS,G call for availability & reservations
Indian Creek
6/13-9/8 $15 75 7,300 A, V 10@ 35'; 35@30'-pull-through
Pebble
Creek
6/15-9/29 $15 27 6,900 V Some long pull-throughs
Slough
Creek
6/15-10/7 $15 23 6,250 V 14 @ 30', walk through first to assess sites
Lewis Lake
6/15-11/2 $15 85 7,800 V All @ 25' or less
Grant Village ??
6/21-9/21 $25.50 430 7,800 A,F,S/L,2S,DS,G Call for availability & reservations

Keith

And the Parks in Gardiner are closer to Lamar Valley, Tower Falls, Mammoth and Norris than Fishing Bridge. Plus Gardiner and West Yellowstone have multiple restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and cellular service. The full service parks have wifi and cable tv. They also allow unlimited usage of the showers as compared to limited usage at FB. For many people, the access to the park is through those two entrances, so they can park their rigs without traveling the park roads with large vehicles. There are different benefits to each location.

There must be a reason so many stay inside Yellowstone. While mileages will vary from where you start, generally attractions are closer if you stay inside. There are also many more campsites inside which are mostly full every day of the summer season.

Here is a little data on that.
Miles from West Yellowstone/ Miles from Fishing Bridge

Old Faithful Geyser .......... 31.3 miles/39.4 miles
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone............ 39.6 miles/15.7 miles
Hayden Valley............. 47.1 / 8.4 miles
Mammoth Hot Springs............ 48.7 miles/48.6 miles
Yellowstone Lake (nearest approach) ............ 48.6 miles/ .3 miles
Norris Geyser Basin............ 28.2 miles/27.7 miles
Lamar Valley...... 65.2 miles/41.9 miles
Tower Fall....... 55.4/31.8 miles
West Thumb Geyser Basin...... 48.3 miles/20.5 miles

So I guess West Yellowstone is actually more centrally located to ONE of the parks main attractions, it is 8 miles closer to Old Faithful.

Number of campsites in campgrounds total 2164 sites

In order of opening Dates* Nightly Fee/** Sites Elev (ft) Features RV Sites
Mammoth
All year $20 85 6,200 A,F,G Most are pull-through
Madison ??
5/2-10/19 $21 278 6,800 A,F,NS,DS,G Call for availability & reservations
Fishing Bridge RV??‡
5/9-9/21 $45 >325 7,800 F,S/L,DS,G, hookups Call for availability & reservations
Norris
5/16-9/29 $20 >100 7,500 A,F,G 2 @ 50' (signed); 5 @30'
Tower Fall
5/23-9/29 $15 31 6,600 V All @ 30' or less; has hairpin curve
Bridge Bay ??
5/23-9/1 $21 432 7,800 A,F,NS,DS,G Call for availability & reservations
Canyon ??
5/30-9/14 $25.50 273 7,900 A,F,S/L,DS,G call for availability & reservations
Indian Creek
6/13-9/8 $15 75 7,300 A, V 10@ 35'; 35@30'-pull-through
Pebble
Creek
6/15-9/29 $15 27 6,900 V Some long pull-throughs
Slough
Creek
6/15-10/7 $15 23 6,250 V 14 @ 30', walk through first to assess sites
Lewis Lake
6/15-11/2 $15 85 7,800 V All @ 25' or less
Grant Village ??
6/21-9/21 $25.50 430 7,800 A,F,S/L,2S,DS,G Call for availability & reservations

Keith

cubmaster252 wrote:
Planned our first trip to Yellowstone this summer. Based on previous posts on this site, we booked in Fishing Bridge for 5 nights early July, followed by 3 nights at Colter Bay RV down in Grand Teton.

Yes, there are campgrounds close to the entrance that are not in Yellowstone but if you are at the entrance and still 60 miles from Old Faithful for the Yellowstone Canyon, how close are you really?

West Yellowstone is closer to Old Faithful than Fishing Bridge is. Nothing in Yellowstone is close to everything else. So what exactly is your point?

Oakman wrote:

Veebyes wrote:


Grizzly is the Holy Grail for some but there is a price to be paid. The fees are much higher plus there is that commute to & from the park & the cost of the fuel burned doing it to factor in.

High priced, yes, but the drive to the park entrance is just three blocks. You make it sound like the park is miles away.

Yes the gate is only a few blocks away but the intersection where you go north or south & get into touring the park is at least 15 miles into the park. An interesting drive the first time in but it is repetitive after that. Oh, and how about those lines at the gate? Some have passes. Some don't. Many want to ask the gate keeper a pile of questions like there is nobody else behind them who also want to get in.

When you are in the park, you are in the park. No gate lines. No doing the same busy access road at the begining & end of each day. The fact that inside park CGs reservations are hard to get says something.

Sounds like a great plan.

Colter Bay remains one of our favorite campgrounds in the USA.

Planned our first trip to Yellowstone this summer. Based on previous posts on this site, we booked in Fishing Bridge for 5 nights early July, followed by 3 nights at Colter Bay RV down in Grand Teton.

Yes, there are campgrounds close to the entrance that are not in Yellowstone but if you are at the entrance and still 60 miles from Old Faithful for the Yellowstone Canyon, how close are you really?

Oakman wrote:

Veebyes wrote:


Grizzly is the Holy Grail for some but there is a price to be paid. The fees are much higher plus there is that commute to & from the park & the cost of the fuel burned doing it to factor in.

High priced, yes, but the drive to the park entrance is just three blocks. You make it sound like the park is miles away.

I would agree it is expensive but at the entrance to the park. One of the nicest campgrounds we found. If cost is an issue maybe not the best choice. We loved it there. Large sites, very clean & friendly, helpful staff.