Yellowstone for newbies

Eurocamper wrote:

jspence1 wrote:
We too are going to yellowstone this summer. Any advice on the tours, must do things that are/aren't worth the costs. I've heard the old west cookout is good but at over $250 is it worth it?

Where did you get $250? Cost is only $57. I usually spend over $30 with tip just to go out to eat at a nice steak house in town.

I've done it several times and I thought it was worth it. The wagon ride, entertainment and meal were highlights of our trip. Last time we had a bear walk by about 75 yards away from the dining area, you should have seen the people bolt out of their seats to get a look at it.

OK let me rephrase, at over $250 for the family is it worth it?

jspence1 wrote:
We too are going to yellowstone this summer. Any advice on the tours, must do things that are/aren't worth the costs. I've heard the old west cookout is good but at over $250 is it worth it?

Where did you get $250? Cost is only $57. I usually spend over $30 with tip just to go out to eat at a nice steak house in town.

I've done it several times and I thought it was worth it. The wagon ride, entertainment and meal were highlights of our trip. Last time we had a bear walk by about 75 yards away from the dining area, you should have seen the people bolt out of their seats to get a look at it.

We too are going to yellowstone this summer. Any advice on the tours, must do things that are/aren't worth the costs. I've heard the old west cookout is good but at over $250 is it worth it?

Wow, thanks for all the responses and tips. We live just SE of Flagstaff AZ at 5500 feet so 7000 feet at Yellowstone in the first 2 weeks of June should make us feel at home a little. We definitely have some thinking and planning to do.

Thank You

Dennis & Mary

katleman wrote:
As a RV rookie, stayed in Fishing Bridge first visit. Location is good, but its like being in a can of sardines.

I stayed in Fishing bridge as I wanted E/W and yes it was a little tight. but when I went to Yellowstone I did NOT go there to enjoy a camping experience in my RV, I went to see yellowstone to see the sights so didn't really care about the closeness. If I am interested in camping isolated in the woods there are about a million other campgrounds that would be preferable.
bumpy

Norris is a little closer to the west side of Yellowstone than the east. Fishing bridge is the first campground coming in from the Cody (east) entrance.

As a RV rookie, stayed in Fishing Bridge first visit. Location is good, but its like being in a can of sardines. If you typically dry camp (no hookups) you are better off staying elsewhere in the park. Though if you need a shower, you can drop by there.

Next two trip started with 3 days at Madison, explored what was around there, and moved out to one of the first come campsites in the park, like Tower/Pebble. Call those wildlife viewing days, because you're up at dawn so you'll see more wildlife on your way to find a new campground

Establish your new site, then you are set for a few more days.

Or you can get a reservation at Canyon if you want to start on the east half of the park, then move west to Norris, a fine first come site on the west side though it is much more of a drive to the thermal areas south beyond Norris. (Thats why I have started at Madison and moved west later)

A side trip I have done a number of times is the drive up to the top of Beartooth (going up from Yellowstone to the summit is much easier than the leg down to Red Lodge on the other side).

Chief Joseph is also quite scenic as well, and can be taken on a day trip to the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody. On that trip, we stayed two nights at a nice NF campsite, Crazy Creek, just south of Chief Joseph, using that as a base for the area. Do take the hike to Crazy Creek, a wonderful cascade across from the campground.

Hikes to recommend.

Fairy falls is nice, and you can take a loop back and get a good look over the basin.

Lone Star hike brings you pretty close to a backcountry geyser.

Have enjoyed every Ranger lead hike that has been 2 or more hours long. Anything less is generally just boardwalk strolls. Check the park newspaper for times and places.

Hidden Falls is a nice hike down in Grand Teton, as would be a float on the snake river through the park (sign up for the first float of the day, more animals)

Since I always come up from the south, I spend two days at Grand Teton first, Gros Ventre almost never fills and is fine. Spend a full day, then take the float first thing in th morning, then head up to Yellowstone, stopping at Lewis Falls and maybe west thumb.

WyoTraveler wrote:
More driving than you might think. 24' C you would probably be OK in many of the parking lots. Some places you just pull off the road to see things. You may miss a few things if it is in the crowded season. Nice to have a toad.

OP won't need a toad.

I have done Yellowstone three times in a 24C, at this point, I consider it the ideal size to see the park. i cannot rmember ever having troubles parking it.

As to the time the OP is going, perfect. All my trips have been the third week of June, and crowds are still under what July & August are, first two weeks in June should be even better.

I have had a dusting of snow each of the visits, so you could encounter a little snow. But not likely enough to be more than fun.

We have done Yellowstone and Grand Tetons twice in the last 3 years. First time we gave ourselves 5 days for Yellowstone and knew we had to come back before we left.

RV campgrounds - Just one or rotate, likes, dislikes
We stayed in Gardiner the first year and West Yellowstone the 2nd year. Gardiner felt further away and the RV park was too tight for our liking so we tried West Ystone and liked it much more. We stayed at Grizzly RV Park. It was very nice, think it's newer. Very kid friendly (we have kids) with all the amenities. Stay on the south and west side of park, which is away from most commotion and right next to park land. Take a look at a satellite view on google maps. We would stay here again. We looked at fishing bridge, smaller RVs are better and it seemed further away from most of the the things we wanted to do. And unless you cook all your food or just love national park food, it's not an easy drive to get something to eat or pick up a few things at the grocery store.

Getting around with/without a car
We had a car. Lot's of people driving around and parking with their Class Cs. The later you go the more packed it will get and it will be harder to park. Remember, Yellowstone is huge. Plan for appropriate drive times in the park (these are not 4 lane hways), which include other slooooow RVers, tour buses, the parks classic tour cars and don't forget wildlife. Traffic is much lighter in the morning, but wildlife sitings will slow things down and the main reason for a traffic jam is buffalo on the road who don't want to move. This is not uncommond on the east side of the grand loop. The drive from Yellowstone to Grand Tetons has a couple of passes to go through, but wasn't a problem in our Class A.

If only 7 days top 5-7 things to see
Number one stop is visitor center. Then you have to know what you like to see. If you like Wildlife like buffalo herds, bears and perhaps a wolf (eventually elk are a dime a dozen) then an early morning drive to Lamar Valley is a must. Unfortunately there are no guarantees but we have been lucky and we have struck out on the wolves. If you want to see the features and can stand the incessant sulfer smell then the Grand Loop Rd between West Entrance Rd and Old Faithful has multiple stops and features culminating with Old Faithful. If scenery is your thing then the East side to the Grand Canyon and the Falls are awesome. On a 5 day trip you can do all these and a few more. Those would be my top 3 followed by Mammoth Springs, and maybe some evening fly fishing on the Yellowstone River. Lake Yellowstone is huge and pretty, but we weren't going out on the lake so only spent a couple hours in the area. Fishing bridge is just and old bridge over the river. People in the past overfished the native cutthroat so you don't even see any fish.

In Grand Tetons we have stayed at Colter Bay twice and would do it again. Love the Tetons. Last year we took the boat across Jenny Lake and the hike on the other side. The hike was very steep for the first part then much more enjoyable the final 3/4ths of the way.

Cell and hotspot reception?

No problems with AT&T outside the park, but don't expect much when you get into the park.

Bonus Extra: we got up early drove the Lamar Valley, out NE entrance rd (saw 3 grizzlies, pack of wolves and tons bison), stop in Silvergate Montana for a hot breakfast then a drive up the Beartooth highway and back. Very pretty drive if you like mountains, but easier done in a car and not an RV. I wouldn't take my class A.

Good Luck and have fun!

I took a look at the Xantera website, and being less than 30', you would have no problem getting reservations at Fishing Bridge, or any of the other reservable campgrounds.

If you don't have a toad, or don't plan on renting a car, I would suggest strongly that you stay in the parks, and consider moving campsites in Yellowstone, especially if you can dry camp or if you have a genny/solar.