Forum Discussion

hdharrop's avatar
hdharrop
Explorer
Feb 29, 2016

Yellowstone RV length limits

We are looking to rent an RV to go to Yellowstone. The only RV sites that are available for reservation are 30' sites, or less...but the RV we're looking to rent is either 31' or 32'. Anyone have any experience with fitting an RV in a spot that is a little longer than what it should be? What has your experience been? Thank you!
  • We stayed at Grant village and Madison with our 33' fifth wheel. It was tight, but we fit. I used 29' when registering, it was a 28.5 model, which means it's length, right? :wink
  • Canyon, Tower, and some of the other campgrounds in the park are inaccessible for large rigs. For some of the sites, the maximum length is already a stretch. Granted, there may be some sites that can fudge a few feet, but you have no assurance those sites won't be occupied when you arrive.
    If you are too long for a site, you will be turned away. I seriously doubt all the posters who tell you to just lie will be around to offer you an alternative spot to stay in.
  • Bridge Bay, Grants Village and Mammoth will all have spots that you can fit. If you call, tell them it's 30 feet. We've been going there every year for 40 years.
  • 32' should be easy anywhere especially some of the dry camping CGs. We got our 55'LOA selves into Bridge Bay. Had a walk around & saw at least 6 other sites big enough for us. Loads of sites plenty big enough for a 32'LOA.
  • I'd suggest getting to the campground earlier in the afternoon the day you check in. Last summer I got to Bridge Bay early in the afternoon, drove to my site, and it was impossible to get level in. I had to go back and beg for a different spot.

    What type of RV are you renting? A Class C motorhome (guessing from the length). Do you plan on driving that around each day or do you have another vehicle? I ask because the length of some campsites is for all vehicles. I camped in Madison Junction a few years ago and had to park the second vehicle a long way away.
  • Thank you, Jim, for the heads up on location profile info. BozemanTrail, we are looking at Grant for a couple of nights and then Canyon for 3-4 nights, but we're still evaluating. I'm hoping that someone out there knows if certain campsites seem more flexible with that 1-2'. Maybe certain campsites are more cramped with trees than others? Fishing Bridge seems nice to have full hookups, but I'm hoping to make do with dumping every couple of days and filling up with water at the campground water faucets so that we can have campfires and a bit more personal space.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    In Yellowstone my 42' becomes a 40' for Fishing Bridge. I would not worry about 1-2' over 30'.
  • 30' will mean 30' in the Yellowstone campgrounds. They are definitely tight. What campgrounds have you looked at? Madison/Bridge Bay/Fishing Bridge/Grant Village I presume?
  • hd, First, when you created your profile, you said "Yellowstone" for location. That's so folks on here can see where you're starting from when giving directions. City and State is enough.
    Second, YNP was created 36 years before the Model T was invented. So campgrounds came along later. As a rule, the site measurements are the maximum size it can hold before you back into a tree. Some CGs have larger sites, but Fishing Bridge is the only one with hookups - inside the park. I'd consider Grizzly RV park in West Yellowstone, MT. Long pull thru sites with water, electric,sewer and cable TV. And only two blocks from the West entrance gate to YNP.

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