yellowstone park-i want to camp in one place, where should I

I'm trying to keep from pointing and laughing.

You do realize, I hope, that Yellowstone is the most visited National Park in the entire US, and July/August are the height of busy season. Reservations or blind dumb luck are the only way to get into any accommodations in the park, and reservations fill up 100% months in advance. But you might catch a cancellation. Finally, dogs are pretty much not welcome anywhere in the park, so you'll have to keep it on a short leash.

The only campground in Yellowstone that has ANY hookups in Yellowstone is at Fishing Bridge. You might consider trying the campground at Flagg Ranch, which is the northernmost campground in Grand Tetons NP, but is only 6 miles outside the southern gate of Yellowstone. When we were there a year ago in June, it had just reopened after being closed for a while for renovations. They may have some openings, and that's pretty close. Go for it, check the Yellowstone reservation system, it is possible you'll get lucky. But do not count on being able to have your pick of multiple open sites.

Here is a link to the campground in YNP that allow generators.
Here

I would go ahead and call to see if you can get in at Fishing Bridge and continue to check periodically for cancellations.

I think if you get to the campgrounds early enough in morning you may be able to get a space. (except FB)

If you've never been there you're in for a treat.
If you HAVE been there you're still in for a treat.

Have fun!

I have been taking a dog to Nat'l Parks for over 50 years. Never a problem but not on trails, or in buildings and they must be kept on a short leash. They just expect pet owners to be responsible and abide by the rules. It could be very warm in an RV for a pet in July or August. My dog liked to stay in the PU bed when I was towing an RV and parked to see sites.

Reservations right now will definitely be a problem but check anyway. You didn't say what size your fiver is. For us, we would not stay in the park due to the size of ours (35' 5') unless we could get an end site in Madison so that we wouldn't have to drive around a loop to get to it (internal loop roads are tight then add units sticking into it and you've got a problem), or Bridge Bay in the open area up front. Bridge bay takes a lot of motorhomes and yes they allow generators. Some of the Bridge Bay sites in the back can accommodate big fifth wheels in back in spots. As for outside the park and you're coming from Livingston - you'll be coming in the Gardner North Entrance. Check if you can get a spot at the CG at Mammoth there. If you were coming in through Bozeman, I would highly recommend Baker's Hole FS CG just 2 miles North of West Yellowstone, MT. It's a first come first serve but well worth a little planning to get in. It's a beautiful FS CG on the Madison River, scenic, and big rig friendly. Most sites have electricity and there is water at the entrance to fillup and if you miss it like we did, there are threadless faucets throughout that with a "water thief" you can tap into, which we did. What we do to get into Baker's Hole is first drive in and check if we can get a spot. If not, we go into town and stay at an RV park for the night - we prefer Grizzly but any will do. Plus if you stay at an RV park, you can fill up your water and dump your tanks. Then the next morning we drive our truck over to the CG and get a site, pay for it then go back and get our rig. We always check in with the hosts when doing this so they know we are not saving a spot per say. They actually told us to do this when we stopped and talked to them about available spots coming open after driving through and not finding one. Flagg Ranch and Colter Bay campgrounds (there are two - RV hookups ($$) and dry ($) are also good choices but much, much further from Yellowstone than Grizzly or Baker's Hole.

naturist wrote:
I'm trying to keep from pointing and laughing.

You do realize, I hope, that Yellowstone is the most visited National Park in the entire US, and July/August are the height of busy season. Reservations or blind dumb luck are the only way to get into any accommodations in the park, and reservations fill up 100% months in advance. But you might catch a cancellation. Finally, dogs are pretty much not welcome anywhere in the park, so you'll have to keep it on a short leash.

The only campground in Yellowstone that has ANY hookups in Yellowstone is at Fishing Bridge. You might consider trying the campground at Flagg Ranch, which is the northernmost campground in Grand Tetons NP, but is only 6 miles outside the southern gate of Yellowstone. When we were there a year ago in June, it had just reopened after being closed for a while for renovations. They may have some openings, and that's pretty close. Go for it, check the Yellowstone reservation system, it is possible you'll get lucky. But do not count on being able to have your pick of multiple open sites.

I kinda think that the most visited NP is The Great Smokey Mountains, followed by , Grand Canyon, Yosemite and FORTH, Yellowstone. It doesn't make any difference when it comes to finding a place because as the replies all say good luck at this point in time. There is a highly recommended campground in West Yellowstone just outside the West entrance to YS, can't remember the name. Actually there are several in the West YS area.

We have always stayed in the park because the DW is a wizz at getting last minute reservations.

the name of the park outside west gate is probaly Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park (West Yellowstone, MT) we have stayed there ...and enjoyed the camping

If you can't get into Fishing Bridge, try Bridge Bay next and then Canyon. Any of these 3 will be ok for getting around the park to sight see, etc.

Just to add to the confusion, here's my 2 cents:

If we were to stay in only one campground for Yellowstone, it would be Madison. Sites can be reserved, generators are allowed (8:00AM to 8:00PM) and it is centrally located, especially for the thermal features, which are mainly between the Old Faithful area and Norris. From Norris it's only 12 miles to the Yellowstone Canyon and the water falls.

My second choice would be Canyon campground, if Madison wasn't available.

IMO Fishing Bridge and Bridge Bay add unnecessary time driving to what is already your limited time in the Park.

Flagg Ranch is too far away and Colter Bay, which is great for Grand Teton NP, is way too far. If you possibly can go to Grand Teton after Yellowstone. Some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the country.

Get an early start on the day you plan to drive the Chief Joseph and Beartooth Highways. That's a long drive and you will want to stop to enjoy the scenery. Also you will pass through the Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of the Park on the way. The valley is called the "Serengeti of America" and contains the largest herd of Bison in the Park. We got lucky and saw five wolves there last year.

Also plan for a full day at the Old Faithful, Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin thermal areas. Something like 25% of the geysers in the world in this area. Have lunch or dinner at the Old Faithful Inn.

I believe that about half the campgrounds are operated by Xanterra and take reservations and the rest are operated by the Park Service and do not reserve. I would try for reservations 1st but if none available, I wouldn't be afraid to show up at 1 of the non-reser. campgrounds(such as Mammoth) during mid to late morning. Be aware that the Park is huge so a centrally located campground, such as Canyon, might be good.

i thank you guys for your comments, except naturist. judging from your name, you're the type of person i laugh at as well.

i am going to try and get something inside the park. the only thing i have going for me is all of my nightly stays will be on week days rather than weekends. i should also throw this out there.... i am coming from north dakota, and going to cody, wy rather than livingston is an option i am willing to entertain as well. it is within 50 miles driving distance for me, so staying on the outside of the park by the CODY entrance is a possibility.

that being said, IF i was to get a camp site at fishing bridge or canyon, what would be the better way for me to come in? my 5th wheel measures about 31-32 feet in actual lenght and weighs around 9500# loaded. im well seasoned on pulling trailers, so i not afraid of a little adventure with the camper behind me

one more question about filling water.... should i make sure im topped off before i get there, or is there a convenient place to fill along the way?