Yellowstone and Grand Canyon campgrounds.

We've been at the Grand Canyon in February - in shorts!

You never know what the weather will be.... just be prepared for anything.

I'd advise that you keep trying to get a site at Trailer Village in Grand Canyon NP itself. Surprisingly, dogs are allowed on the Rim Trail. Usually in national parks dogs aren't allowed on trails.

westernrvparkowner wrote:

RGar974417 wrote:

kohldad wrote:
Do you realize that in early May, most of the roads won't even be open yet in Yellowstone? You need to wait until after Memorial day to be able to see the entire park. 2018 Yellowstone Road Openings


Unless you have real needs for hookups, you really need to learn how to dry camp a night or two to really enjoy the parks. Really opens up the quantity of sites and will make traveling without reservations easier so you can adjust your itenary as you see fit.

Congrats on the retirement and finally having the time to slow down taking your time to see things along the way.

We were in Yellowstone mid May of 2016. All the roads were open. The only entrance that was closed was the south entrance,but it was open when we left.Daytime temps were high 50's low 60's. Night time dropped into high 30's. We stayed in Madison Campground. No hookups but generators were allowed from 8am to 8pm.If you tie yourself to full hookups you will miss some great camping. Plus staying in the park means you don't have to drive 45 minutes to get to and from the attractions. We came across a mother grizzly and 3 cubs on the road from Norris to Canyon. They walked right towards our van and past my window. I would advise you to eat at the Inn at Old Faithful. The lobby is beautiful and the food was good and not too expensive ( $12 to $30 ). If you get near Minden,Nebraska,I would recommend the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum.If you like history,old cars,trucks ,tractors,motorcycles this place has it.

Mid May is different than early May as far as roads and facilities go. Also, what someone experienced weather wise in 2016 may be very different than what the conditions will be in 2018. The main concern I see is apparently the OP has a rather tight travel schedule. With minimal time allocated to Yellowstone under ideal conditions, it could very well be a wasted trip if the weather does not cooperate, as is often the case in early May. I would hate to see someone dedicate the time and money needed for a trip to Yellowstone only to have that trip result in a couple of days of sitting in their RV trapped by inclement weather without the ability to adjust their travel schedule.

We went in on May 10th and left on the 15th. At that time of year,even if it snows,it will not last plus they do plow. In my opinion and that of others who have been there that time of year,it is one of the best times to go because the crowds will be light. I would not let the chance of snow change your plans.

RGar974417 wrote:

kohldad wrote:
Do you realize that in early May, most of the roads won't even be open yet in Yellowstone? You need to wait until after Memorial day to be able to see the entire park. 2018 Yellowstone Road Openings


Unless you have real needs for hookups, you really need to learn how to dry camp a night or two to really enjoy the parks. Really opens up the quantity of sites and will make traveling without reservations easier so you can adjust your itenary as you see fit.

Congrats on the retirement and finally having the time to slow down taking your time to see things along the way.

We were in Yellowstone mid May of 2016. All the roads were open. The only entrance that was closed was the south entrance,but it was open when we left.Daytime temps were high 50's low 60's. Night time dropped into high 30's. We stayed in Madison Campground. No hookups but generators were allowed from 8am to 8pm.If you tie yourself to full hookups you will miss some great camping. Plus staying in the park means you don't have to drive 45 minutes to get to and from the attractions. We came across a mother grizzly and 3 cubs on the road from Norris to Canyon. They walked right towards our van and past my window. I would advise you to eat at the Inn at Old Faithful. The lobby is beautiful and the food was good and not too expensive ( $12 to $30 ). If you get near Minden,Nebraska,I would recommend the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum.If you like history,old cars,trucks ,tractors,motorcycles this place has it.

Mid May is different than early May as far as roads and facilities go. Also, what someone experienced weather wise in 2016 may be very different than what the conditions will be in 2018. The main concern I see is apparently the OP has a rather tight travel schedule. With minimal time allocated to Yellowstone under ideal conditions, it could very well be a wasted trip if the weather does not cooperate, as is often the case in early May. I would hate to see someone dedicate the time and money needed for a trip to Yellowstone only to have that trip result in a couple of days of sitting in their RV trapped by inclement weather without the ability to adjust their travel schedule.

kohldad wrote:
Do you realize that in early May, most of the roads won't even be open yet in Yellowstone? You need to wait until after Memorial day to be able to see the entire park. 2018 Yellowstone Road Openings


Unless you have real needs for hookups, you really need to learn how to dry camp a night or two to really enjoy the parks. Really opens up the quantity of sites and will make traveling without reservations easier so you can adjust your itenary as you see fit.

Congrats on the retirement and finally having the time to slow down taking your time to see things along the way.

We were in Yellowstone mid May of 2016. All the roads were open. The only entrance that was closed was the south entrance,but it was open when we left.Daytime temps were high 50's low 60's. Night time dropped into high 30's. We stayed in Madison Campground. No hookups but generators were allowed from 8am to 8pm.If you tie yourself to full hookups you will miss some great camping. Plus staying in the park means you don't have to drive 45 minutes to get to and from the attractions. We came across a mother grizzly and 3 cubs on the road from Norris to Canyon. They walked right towards our van and past my window. I would advise you to eat at the Inn at Old Faithful. The lobby is beautiful and the food was good and not too expensive ( $12 to $30 ). If you get near Minden,Nebraska,I would recommend the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum.If you like history,old cars,trucks ,tractors,motorcycles this place has it.

Here are the Yellowstone Spring, 2018 Opening Dates from their website:


Conditions permitting, roads will open at 8:00 am on the following dates:
•April 20: West Entrance to Madison, Mammoth to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon.
•May 4: East Entrance to Lake (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Junction to Lake.
•May 11: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), Tower Junction to Tower Fall.
•May 25: Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass)
•May 25: Beartooth Highway

"All electric" DPs do not use just electric for heat...they use diesel in something like a AquaHot hydronic heating system.

Mid-late May is the earliest I'd get to Yellowstone as even then the south entrance could be closed.

I cannot stress enough the freedom learning to boondock gives you plus $6-8/ night instead of $60++ to barely have room to open your awning:S

Do you realize that in early May, most of the roads won't even be open yet in Yellowstone? You need to wait until after Memorial day to be able to see the entire park. 2018 Yellowstone Road Openings

Grand Canyon should be done on the way out with your scheduling about correct. Then visit family in CA, go explore some of CA, go back and visit family, then work your way home in early June. Long way to drive just to visit one weekend. In June, go without reservations as it will be easy to get a site in West Yellowstone. Also, make sure you check out the weekends as they are sometimes not as busy because the weekends are used to travel to/from the park making the weekdays busier sometimes.

Unless you have real needs for hookups, you really need to learn how to dry camp a night or two to really enjoy the parks. Really opens up the quantity of sites and will make traveling without reservations easier so you can adjust your itenary as you see fit.

Congrats on the retirement and finally having the time to slow down taking your time to see things along the way.

WE went to Jellystone last August. First 5 nights at Henry's Lake CG near West Yellowstone. Very close to west entrance of the park. After the Eclipse we moved to Headwaters RV park near the south entrance.

My only complaint was the first CG charged me $5.00 more per day for my toad, even though I specified the toad when I made the reservations. I wasn't happy about a new charge. I think it was extortion. The CG was very nice, though.

Neither CG had cable but we had our satellite dish. Both had clean restrooms. Both have firepits.

Whoops ! looks like we just had a lightning strike on the electrical grid and all the power went off in the middle of writing this !

Animals sighted: 100's of bison, 1 bear, deer, elk, bald eagle and many other birds.

I finally got to see just about all the park over 10 days, better than when I was there 45 years ago.

Yep, the Senior Pass was the best. Dedicated entrance lane - no line.

Traffic is several areas is heavy in the park complicated by those driving an RV around rather than a toad. Trying to park an RV at each local sightseeing spot is difficult to impossible. Our toad was perfect.

If you need gas or diesel at the station next to Old Faithful there is a low clearance roof over all but the outside pump, and little room to turn around for the short pump hose. But when my very old battery in my toad failed, the guys in the station were great replacing it.

Weather in the second half of August was absolutely perfect.

Wow. Good point Paw Paw and Gram.

Why FHU?

Based on historic averages the OP can expect low temps in the mid-20s in both parks on the dates they have listed. Snow should be gone at the Grand Canyon, at least on the roads. There will likely be road closures in Yellowstone due to snow.

A surprising number of new/ recent year model both gas and diesel Class A rigs are “all electric” without propane tanks.

Though one can run the generator for cooking - for heating at night that would get expensive.