Hi,I am a newbie at RV'ing, have a 19' hybrid travel trailer and heading to Yellowstone in fall of 2018. Never been to Yellowstone and not finding a lot of help from our local RV sales shops in the area. I have a few questions for anyone that has been there with a similar type RV. Appreciate your help!!1. Is Xanterra super strict on size? I have a 19' TT and a 19' F150. If I add the TT tongue and hitch on truck, likely to be almost 1' foot over the max 40' site size. Can I take hitch off and pull as close to tongue as possible? 2. Do people really use Generators to charge their batteries? If yes, is there a loud 'hum' throughout the campground? Also, do people steal generators while owners are out enjoying the sites?3. In general, is it just better to stay outside of the park with an RV?again, thanks for your help in advance!

I've only been there in a 20' van camper, and have usually stayed in the Lewis Lake campground inside the park. 1) We had no problems, and there are all shapes and sizes of campsites, pull throughs, roadside, and back ins. I seem to recall some truck/trailer combos that might have been close to 40' in length. If your rig fits, then no one will bother you, I'd think.2) Some folks use them to charge their batteries, and to run electric loads like A/C and microwaves and whatever else they need. There's always some noise when using a generator, unless it's a solar or wind generator.3) We like staying inside the park, but it was always the easiest option for us based on our travel plans. There were a few places we saw outside the west entrance that looked OK. I'd say the park is RV friendly, in general.

One foot should not cause a problem. Where permitted genny's are used and yes some are louder than others. Theft doesn't end at the park gate. Large park long drive stay inside.

I have a 35ft TT and I reserved a 40ft site. I would challenge them to put a 40 footer in the site they gave me! So it’s hard to say what would work. Good luck with whatever you choose. And yes staying inside the park is the way to go! We were in Fishing abridge, so I cant comment on the genny’s, but if anything you’ll be out most of he day so you won’t have to worry about noise too much!

“Do people really use Generators to charge their batteries? If yes, is there a loud 'hum' throughout the campground? Also, do people steal generators while owners are out enjoying the sites?”You are new! Yes people use generators to charge batteries. Yes there is a hum. That’s why solar RVers camp separate. Yes generators and all other valuables should be secured when you are out of your campsite.

I have reserved sites at Madison CG several times. I just tell the clerk when I want to arrive and how long I am. Never had a problem. I general stay a week, but last time I made reservations I got a call back about a month later and was asked if I would like a few more days. Seem like they got a cancellation and wanted to keep the site occupied. Of course I took them.I run my generator during the allotted times if I am present.

Yellowstone National Park questions | Good Sam Community

Noob_RVer
Explorer
Feb 02, 2018
Thanks All for your responses.

We have a campsite in Canyon reserved. I know they allow generators, but, thought if I chain it up to the trailer while gone, it may be safe?

My main concern is that they don't turn me away at the gate due to being 40'8" or even 41'. The people at Xanterra could not give me a straight answer. One person was pretty helpful and said I could just take my hitch off and back as close to the tongue of the trailer. That is why I was asking if anyone else had run into that.

Thanks again!
jules6
Explorer
Feb 02, 2018
There are no hybrid rv's allowed at Fishing Bridge campground
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 02, 2018
Noob_RVer wrote:
Hi,

I am a newbie at RV'ing, have a 19' hybrid travel trailer and heading to Yellowstone in fall of 2018. Never been to Yellowstone and not finding a lot of help from our local RV sales shops in the area. I have a few questions for anyone that has been there with a similar type RV. Appreciate your help!!

1. Is Xanterra super strict on size? I have a 19' TT and a 19' F150. If I add the TT tongue and hitch on truck, likely to be almost 1' foot over the max 40' site size. Can I take hitch off and pull as close to tongue as possible?

should not be a problem, but make reservations RIGHT NOW

2. Do people really use Generators to charge their batteries? If yes, is there a loud 'hum' throughout the campground? Also, do people steal generators while owners are out enjoying the sites?

Yes but there are 'generator hours, often 8 AM to 8 PM

3. In general, is it just better to stay outside of the park with an RV?

No, its a long long slow drive in and out of the park. Plan on 60-90 minutes each way, maybe more depending on where you go. People drive at 20-30 mph and stop every time someone sees a chipmunk.

again, thanks for your help in advance!
TenOC
Nomad
Feb 02, 2018
YS is VERY big. 50 miles from one key site to the next so a lot of people try to stay in the park.

I always stay at Baker's Hole (a NFS campground) a few miles north of West Yellowstone and do day trips into the park. A few times I have moved to the East or north-east side to NFS campgrounds.
rv2go
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
I have reserved sites at Madison CG several times. I just tell the clerk when I want to arrive and how long I am. Never had a problem. I general stay a week, but last time I made reservations I got a call back about a month later and was asked if I would like a few more days. Seem like they got a cancellation and wanted to keep the site occupied. Of course I took them.

I run my generator during the allotted times if I am present.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
“Do people really use Generators to charge their batteries? If yes, is there a loud 'hum' throughout the campground? Also, do people steal generators while owners are out enjoying the sites?”

You are new! Yes people use generators to charge batteries. Yes there is a hum. That’s why solar RVers camp separate. Yes generators and all other valuables should be secured when you are out of your campsite.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2018
I have a 35ft TT and I reserved a 40ft site. I would challenge them to put a 40 footer in the site they gave me! So it’s hard to say what would work. Good luck with whatever you choose. And yes staying inside the park is the way to go! We were in Fishing abridge, so I cant comment on the genny’s, but if anything you’ll be out most of he day so you won’t have to worry about noise too much!
bgum
Explorer
Feb 01, 2018
One foot should not cause a problem. Where permitted genny's are used and yes some are louder than others. Theft doesn't end at the park gate. Large park long drive stay inside.
MDKMDK
Explorer
Feb 01, 2018
I've only been there in a 20' van camper, and have usually stayed in the Lewis Lake campground inside the park.

1) We had no problems, and there are all shapes and sizes of campsites, pull throughs, roadside, and back ins. I seem to recall some truck/trailer combos that might have been close to 40' in length. If your rig fits, then no one will bother you, I'd think.
2) Some folks use them to charge their batteries, and to run electric loads like A/C and microwaves and whatever else they need. There's always some noise when using a generator, unless it's a solar or wind generator.
3) We like staying inside the park, but it was always the easiest option for us based on our travel plans. There were a few places we saw outside the west entrance that looked OK. I'd say the park is RV friendly, in general.

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