We're planning our first trip to Yellowstone with the family (4 kids ages 9-16) for the last week of July. We have a 30' TT (hitch to bumper) paired with an Expedition (18'). Looking to settle in a centrally located campground but a call to Xanterra told me Canyon is already booked for our size rig. Madison is still a reservable option, but not as central as we'd like for our base camp.So, I'm considering the following plan. Arrive early on a Tuesday morning from the north to get a spot at Mammoth. Spend a day on the north side of the park. Then try for Norris on a Thursday or Friday early morning. Do you think we can leave our trailer in Mammoth, drive to Norris to get a large enough site (leave wife and kids and a few chairs in new site) and go back to get the trailer? I'd hate to pack up and then spend the day roaming Yellowstone for a campsite. Thoughts? Am I crazy? Or should I take the safe bet and reserve at Madison?

YES!:) Packing up, closing up, loading and hitching up that many times is not my idea of fun, but what do I know:) I am sure you know that you are visiting Yellowstone at the peak of the RV and tourist season. Would not consider the trip without guarantied reservations. IMHO

Here's my $0.02 on the subject.According to the Yellowstone website, Norris has 111 sites, with only two of 50 ft and five of 30 ft. IMO you would be very lucky to have someone leave one of those sites on the day you want to arrive and also be there before someone else gets the site. There could be ten other folks waiting for a site when you arrive and you get skunked.Also, IMO Madison is better located than Norris for the thermal areas of the Park. Norris is pretty much hot springs with a few geysers and IMO much less interesting than the thermal areas south of Madison on down to the Old Faithful area. Lots of geysers and other thermal features at and around Old Faithful.We have stayed at Norris on two occasions, including last year, but we are always there in early June when it's less crowded (we have never been there in July).My suggestion would be to reserve at Madison so there is no worry about getting a place to stay. I also suggest trying for Mammoth for a few days so you can visit the Lamar Valley, which is the most remote road-accessible part of the park. Large herd of Bison there each time we have visited. You can always make a day trip from Madison to the Yellowstone Canyon to see the falls.

You are going to drive from MO to Yellowstone with 4 kids and not have reservations. :H

We were there last year in late June. I would no go back without reservations. You might be able to find something outside the park without reservations. But that's not for me.

We took our truck camper to Yellowstone and Grand Teton in 2014 the week after July 4. We had no reservations, we planned to stay at Lewis Lake and Tower Falls. It worked out but we arrived early in the day, middle of the week and got the last site at Tower Falls. I don't know much about the bigger campgrounds.

Yellowstone in late July with no reservation--Am I crazy?

jason4598
Explorer
Dec 05, 2015
We took our truck camper to Yellowstone and Grand Teton in 2014 the week after July 4. We had no reservations, we planned to stay at Lewis Lake and Tower Falls. It worked out but we arrived early in the day, middle of the week and got the last site at Tower Falls. I don't know much about the bigger campgrounds.
TNRIVERSIDE
Explorer
Dec 05, 2015
We were there last year in late June. I would no go back without reservations. You might be able to find something outside the park without reservations. But that's not for me.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 05, 2015
You are going to drive from MO to Yellowstone with 4 kids and not have reservations. :H
CloudDriver
Explorer
Dec 05, 2015
Here's my $0.02 on the subject.

According to the Yellowstone website, Norris has 111 sites, with only two of 50 ft and five of 30 ft. IMO you would be very lucky to have someone leave one of those sites on the day you want to arrive and also be there before someone else gets the site. There could be ten other folks waiting for a site when you arrive and you get skunked.

Also, IMO Madison is better located than Norris for the thermal areas of the Park. Norris is pretty much hot springs with a few geysers and IMO much less interesting than the thermal areas south of Madison on down to the Old Faithful area. Lots of geysers and other thermal features at and around Old Faithful.

We have stayed at Norris on two occasions, including last year, but we are always there in early June when it's less crowded (we have never been there in July).

My suggestion would be to reserve at Madison so there is no worry about getting a place to stay. I also suggest trying for Mammoth for a few days so you can visit the Lamar Valley, which is the most remote road-accessible part of the park. Large herd of Bison there each time we have visited. You can always make a day trip from Madison to the Yellowstone Canyon to see the falls.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 05, 2015
YES!:) Packing up, closing up, loading and hitching up that many times is not my idea of fun, but what do I know:) I am sure you know that you are visiting Yellowstone at the peak of the RV and tourist season. Would not consider the trip without guarantied reservations. IMHO

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Yellowstone in late July with no reservation--Am I crazy?

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