Does this make sense - Yellowstone and Salt Lake Rental?

I had a good (except for one questionable employee...) experience with Cruise America this summer. They are big, you see their rigs everywhere. Not the cheapest I think, but you can find deals sometimes if you plan far enough ahead. I did a write up on it after the trip,

Cruise America fly-n-rent

As to size, I had no problem with the 30' length, in fact it was very confirming and we ended up buying a very similar 30' Class C shortly after that vacation. I did have a solid plan with campsites booked along the way, which for me is required. I have a hard time relaxing on my one week of vacation if I don't have a plan lol.

ExxWhy wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:

MetalGator wrote:
My wife and I rented a Class C motorhome in Salt Lake City and drove to Yellowstone back in mid June of 2010........
It might be too late to reserve sites now in Canyon and Madison but they have several campgrounds that are first come first serve. .......

If you revisit, you will be absolutely amazed. The number of visitors has increased dramatically. I don't mean just by a few percent but by many times. Trying to get into a first come, first served campground is often just a waste of time.

Wow, that's a bummer. Darn people, too many of em! ;) We were there in 2012 and stayed at Norris by getting there about 11 am. I hate making reservations anywhere. That's just how it is at the most popular parks. I think they should build a few more campgrounds in the park, doubting that will happen. I'd even take a glorified parking area, it's one place we never spend much time in camp.

Most of our National Parks are way, way past needing "a few more campgrounds". The demand is many times the available space. Making reservations is barely an option. For Arches I had to make a reservation as soon as the reservations were available and that was for end of October with night time temperatures getting down towards freezing and ranger lead hikes had already stopped for the year. It is likely that Arches and some of the more popular parks will soon need to go to a reservation system just to get into the park. The waits are Arches are often more than a mile long. Once the park is filled, people need to wait to enter until some else leaves. That can take a great many hours.

Put in for a site now or get on waiting list. Should have no issue getting a site somewhere in the parks. Last time we made reservations only a couple months ahead, wait list, cancellation, in.

My cousin does something similar with a family of 4. They fly to Bozeman, Montana and rent a Class C there. They usually do two weeks and visit sites all over the area. I know they visit National Parks as well, but I don't know where they camp. They are considering buying a Class C and leaving it in Bozeman, then fly out and use it throughout the year. They live in the Maryland suburbs of DC.

If it were me, I'd secure the camp site(s) first, then rent the Motorhome. I wouldn't want the worry of whether or not we can get a site or the stress of trying to find one that time of year.

-Michael

In my opinion, It's not so much a driving issue, as it is a parking issue. The bigger you are the harder it is to park, especially at the smaller sights.
One way to beat that, is get to the sights, as early as possible. Things really heat up by noon, one o'clock ish. In terms of crowds

Just my opinion but the park campsites, are not really all that great, the tend to be small sites, and the CG's are crowded. On the flip side you do have the occasional elk herd wander through.

You say you are a fancily of 5, I am guessing three kiddos, you might consider staying outside the parks, at commercial campgrounds. As they tend to have things kids like, as in pools, wifi etc.

Sounds like a wonderful plan and trip though, and a great family adventure