Teton NP and Jackson, WY

Gros Venture over July 4th weekend a few years ago. It was full only one night. Price is right. Location good. Chance of seeing wildlife good. Sites very well spaced.

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
Any recommendations for a campground near these areas that won't bankrupt me? Both Gros Ventre and Signal Mountain look promising. Both have electric, dump and water available. Private RV parks are very expensive. Thanks.

We just came back from Grand Tetons and I can hardly wait to return! Because we were traveling in July and our little doggies need guaranteed electric hookups (they're insistent little suckers), neither Gros Ventre nor Signal Mountain would do it for us. Both of those are first-come, first-serve and have only a limited number of electric sites. We did check out Signal Mountain anyway, and it was very nice, but besides the uncertainty of an electric site, the sites are on the smallish side. Our 31' Class A was right at the max.

So, we stayed at the Colter Bay RV park and it was wonderful for us. Walking distance to visitor station and amphitheater (for evening programs, which we went to every night), conveniently located in the park, store and laundry onsite, a fun little restaurant for dining out, and just outside the woods is a spectacular view of the Tetons. The only problem is that it gets booked way in advance so early reservations are a must.

Have fun. I'm jealous...
Skip

We also like Gros Ventre over Colter Bay campground. We enjoy the open vistas rather than heavy forest. It's a quieter part of the park - more like a big ranch. If you tow a boat, yes, Colter Bay campground would definitely be best. Yes, it takes perhaps 15 minutes more to get to Jenny Lake but a very pleasant drive. Hiking isn't any farther either way. We typically don't need restaurants or grocery stores when camping. We do that before or after.

Everyone is different for sure.... and that's just fine.

We would vote Gros Ventre over Coulter Bay. The views, close to Jackson, and the proximity to nice hiking trails were reasons. They were just installing electric sites when we were they 5 years ago, but we carry a small Honda generator so hookups were no problem.

We stayed at Coulter Bay in the rustic sites while there and checked out the lake area. It was certainly beautiful, but I'd still prefer to spend my time at Gros Ventre next time.

Coulter Bay, don't waste your money at Flagg Ranch.

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
Any recommendations for a campground near these areas that won't bankrupt me? Both Gros Ventre and Signal Mountain look promising. Both have electric, dump and water available. Private RV parks are very expensive. Thanks.

Only D loop in Gros Ventre has electric, and we loved it.
Waking to this, was a definite plus at Gros Ventre,

To each their own!

jkment wrote:
Could try Flagg Ranch,it is about 8 miles south of yellowstone. Full hookup, about $70/ night. Store, gas, decent sites.

Don't know when the OP is going but the south entrance is closed and Flagg Ranch has been evacuated due to a fire. There is another discussion about it.

We like Gros Ventre, it is by far the closest to Jackson of the available public NP campgrounds.

caysea7254, if you would have gotten out of your trailer and walked five minutes down the trails you would have been on the shore of Jackson Lake and seen more of the Teton range than you would ever see from Gros Ventre. Plus you would only have to go about five minutes to get to the marina to catch a cruise boat that takes you across Jackson Lake to the base of Mt. Moran and back, around Elk Island. Then, about 25 minutes down the road from Colter Bay is Jenny lake, arguably one of the prettiest places in the world with pristine water and wonderful views. Takes around 45 minutes from Gros Ventre. I will tell you we spent one week at Gros Ventre, trailing our boat back and forth to Jackson Lake to fish and, if possible, would never do it again. However, we did see more Moose in the Gros Ventre campground than we have in 50+ years of visiting Colter Bay and, if you took the trip to Slide Lake and beyond you probably got to see a herd of Big Horn Sheep, which we also don't see at Colter Bay. Also, Gros Ventre doesn't have restaurants, if that's your thing, a general store and grocery store or a laundry and shower facility as well as any place to fill your propane if you happen to run out. I believe the biggest plus for Gros Ventre is that it's way closer to Jackson, if that's your thing. We have been to Grand Teton National Park for 17 days this summer and made one day trip to Jackson, when it was raining and we couldn't get out and fish so we went sightseeing and into town. Gros Ventre is a good campground, but to say it has a better view than Colter Bay seems a bit of an overstatement.