We are making our first ever trip to Yellowstone this summer. I've been doing a lot of research on camping options both on this forum and through web searches. I will need full hookups and Fishing Bridge is booked. So it looks like we're staying outside the park. We want to take at least one day and do some exploring up into Montana. The problem is, we can't decide where in Montana we want to go. So i'd like some ideas as to some cool places to explore in Montana. Up towards Ennis and some of the ghost towns in the area sounds like fun. If we did that, then we would probably want to base out of West Yellowstone. I don't know what there is to see north out of Gardiner, but if we was to go there, then we would want to base camp in Gardiner. There seems to be more camping options in West Yellowstone than in Gardiner plus there seems to be mixed reviews on the Gardiner campgrounds. So I need Montana sightseeing ideas and good campground options. Next question: if you only had three days to spend in Yellowstone, what are the the best "do not miss" areas of the park?

More places in West Yellowstone. More tourist activities in West Yellowstone.We stay at Buffalo Crossing when staying in West Yellowstone.

Cup fan wrote:We are making our first ever trip to Yellowstone this summer. I've been doing a lot of research on camping options both on this forum and through web searches. I will need full hookups and Fishing Bridge is booked. So it looks like we're staying outside the park. We want to take at least one day and do some exploring up into Montana. The problem is, we can't decide where in Montana we want to go. So i'd like some ideas as to some cool places to explore in Montana. Up towards Ennis and some of the ghost towns in the area sounds like fun. If we did that, then we would probably want to base out of West Yellowstone. I don't know what there is to see north out of Gardiner, but if we was to go there, then we would want to base camp in Gardiner. There seems to be more camping options in West Yellowstone than in Gardiner plus there seems to be mixed reviews on the Gardiner campgrounds. So I need Montana sightseeing ideas and good campground options. Next question: if you only had three days to spend in Yellowstone, what are the the best "do not miss" areas of the park?Virginia City/Bannock are interesting. They are restored "ghost" towns. Other ghost towns are pretty much a collection of a few falling down shacks. You can see that close to your home, there are plenty places like that in the Ozarks. If you feel there is more to see and do in West Yellowstone and your research indicates the parks are better, that is probably where you should stay. West Yellowstone is a great base to visit the geyser basins, not so good if your tastes lean towards animal watching, fly fishing or if your plans include a trip over the Beartooth Highway. Do you plan on taking in Glacier National Park and/or Grand Teton Park? That should also weigh on your decision.

Westernrvparkowner, we would love to do Glacier and/or the Tetons, but due to time constraints (we aren't yet retired), we won't be able to. It's 2 days up and 2 days back which only leaves us 4 days to explore while we're there. So we will just have to try to make the best of the time that we do have. I've got plenty of time to plan between now and July and I will continue to research. But if I can find out where the must see places are before we get there, it will save us from having to plan on the fly after we arrive. Now having said that, Yellowstone isn't necessarily set in stone either. Montana is so big and there is so much to see that it's difficult to decide just exactly where to land. We've never seen Yellowstone, so we just figured we'd go there, but if we were to find somewhere else better, then we are open to altering our plans.

We spent two weeks in Yellowstone and enjoyed every minute. You'll spend all your time there with little time for anything else. We stayed at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. Great CG and excellent if you have children traveling with you. From the CG you can walk to town for shopping and eating out, if that's your thing. You can also walk to the wildlife exhibit in West Yellowstone....Dennis

Since you've never been to Yellowstone before, I would recommend West Yellowstone as it is somewhat closer to most of the sights that you can see in 3-4 days. Grizzly gets good reviews as does the KOA, but it's an extra 10 miles or so to the West Entrance.As far as what to see in the Park, plan to get in early in the morning to avoid the line of cars. I would split the park into North and South sections. North would be Mammoth, Tower Falls and Lamar Valley. The South has the obvious sights of Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Upper and Lower Falls and Yellowstone Canyon, as well as various paint pots and Norris Geyser Basin.If you have time and want to hike, check out the trails between Norris and Canyon - they are not in steep country but cover lots of opportunities for wildlife and scenery.Have fun and enjoy your trip!

West Yellowstone or Gardiner? | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Cup_fan
Explorer
Jan 31, 2016
Westernrvparkowner, we would love to do Glacier and/or the Tetons, but due to time constraints (we aren't yet retired), we won't be able to. It's 2 days up and 2 days back which only leaves us 4 days to explore while we're there. So we will just have to try to make the best of the time that we do have. I've got plenty of time to plan between now and July and I will continue to research. But if I can find out where the must see places are before we get there, it will save us from having to plan on the fly after we arrive. Now having said that, Yellowstone isn't necessarily set in stone either. Montana is so big and there is so much to see that it's difficult to decide just exactly where to land. We've never seen Yellowstone, so we just figured we'd go there, but if we were to find somewhere else better, then we are open to altering our plans.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Jan 31, 2016
Cup fan wrote:
We are making our first ever trip to Yellowstone this summer. I've been doing a lot of research on camping options both on this forum and through web searches. I will need full hookups and Fishing Bridge is booked. So it looks like we're staying outside the park. We want to take at least one day and do some exploring up into Montana. The problem is, we can't decide where in Montana we want to go. So i'd like some ideas as to some cool places to explore in Montana. Up towards Ennis and some of the ghost towns in the area sounds like fun. If we did that, then we would probably want to base out of West Yellowstone. I don't know what there is to see north out of Gardiner, but if we was to go there, then we would want to base camp in Gardiner. There seems to be more camping options in West Yellowstone than in Gardiner plus there seems to be mixed reviews on the Gardiner campgrounds. So I need Montana sightseeing ideas and good campground options. Next question: if you only had three days to spend in Yellowstone, what are the the best "do not miss" areas of the park?
Virginia City/Bannock are interesting. They are restored "ghost" towns. Other ghost towns are pretty much a collection of a few falling down shacks. You can see that close to your home, there are plenty places like that in the Ozarks. If you feel there is more to see and do in West Yellowstone and your research indicates the parks are better, that is probably where you should stay. West Yellowstone is a great base to visit the geyser basins, not so good if your tastes lean towards animal watching, fly fishing or if your plans include a trip over the Beartooth Highway. Do you plan on taking in Glacier National Park and/or Grand Teton Park? That should also weigh on your decision.
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 31, 2016
More places in West Yellowstone. More tourist activities in West Yellowstone.
We stay at Buffalo Crossing when staying in West Yellowstone.

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West Yellowstone or Gardiner?

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