Forum Discussion

Toolguy5's avatar
Toolguy5
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2016

yellowstone grand tetons without reservations

Need a little help. We are considering heading to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons sometime in August. We will be traveling close to 2000 miles to get there. We only like to travel about 350 miles a day.

Our situation is I can not pin point the exact day we will leave so hence I can not point the exact day we arrive.

What is the possibility of finding an RV site when we get there. Is there any nice RV parks that you can just walk into and be sure of getting a site.

Would like to stay between 4 to 7 nights.
  • I just glanced at Fishing Bridge, the only campground inside Yellowstone with full hookups, and surprisingly there are quite a few open days in August in lengths of up to 7 consecutive days. That is for an RV that is 35' or less not counting the tow vehicle.

    So if you want to stay inside the park, you might look when you know when you will arrive and see if something is still available.

    xanterra.com reservations for Fishing Bridge

    Colter Bay in GTNP has a very few days open in August.
  • When I visit places like Yellowstone I always get advance reservations. It's worth the peace-of-mind and you don't get what ever's left.
  • We have really enjoyed our stays at KOA West Yellowstone. In Jackson we stay have stayed twice at The Virginian, which is a gravel full hookup lot in back of the small Virginian Hotel. Very central location, not much of a park, but clean, friendly, and access to the hotel pool. Often when we make our plans we can not be sure of the exact date we will arrive at the end point destination. Many parks will permit you to make your reservation in advance and then adjust the arrival date a few days before arrival or even the day of arrival. We have called campgrounds on many occasions over the last 40 years requesting a change in reservation for a day late or a day early. I have never been rejected. Perhaps we would have to switch spaces to accommodate other reservations, but never a rejection. Now this has always been at private campgrounds, KOA's family run campgrounds, etc. I have no idea what the rules might be at State or National campgrounds. I will add, that if you have any RV problems in Yellowstone or need to rent a car of van, contact Big Sky Rental in West Yellowstone. They really went out of their way to accommodate use when we had RV problems, so I recommend them every chance I get.
    Do enjoy, and Happy Trails.
  • as stated, check the rv parks in West Yellowstone first.
    Or, if your approach is from the south, through Jackson, you can find a place at Gros Ventre campground in Grand Teton Park. Then, call from there to see if you can luck into a few days inside Yellowstone at Bridge Bay or Canyon campgrounds.
    If not, then on to West Yellowstone.
    Last resort, you can go south from W. Yellowstone 15 miles to Henry's Lake State Park. Very nice state park.
  • You can't go wrong with that destination. If you go in late Aug. after schools have started that will help. There are several campgrounds that don't even take reservations and usually have sites if you time your arrival for mid to late morning. Coulter Bay in Teton is very large and usually does not fill. Mammoth in YNP is another good bet. Not all sites are large but you'll be OK if you arrive early and have a back-up plan.
  • You should have no trouble in getting a site in Gros Ventre CG in the Tetons. No hookups. Yellowstone might be difficult.
    Then too, there is always the commercial CG's in the town of West Yellowstone and Gardiner.
    Have fun. We were just there. Photos in my Sig.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    I think you should be OK in West Yellowstone as there are a few parks there. We stayed at Grizzly RV last year, Buffalo Crossing RV is nearby too. When you get a day or so out, give them a call and see what they can do.