Parking a Truck Camper at a Tent Only space in Yellowstone

Annoyances aren't unique to rvs. I've been disturbed by tent campers as well. ;)

jimh425 wrote:
I didn't have the Yellowstone park number which was different than the reservation number.

I just called. After navigating the prompts. We got to a person. They said, no.

This is usually the case. There are a few reasons most parks have "tent only" sections:

1. Because they have a parking area and campers have to walk to the actual sites - this means no RVs in the tent area;

2. Because they are providing an enjoyable place for tent campers to be - this means not having large RVs blocking the views, no generators, no scare lights, etc. - this means no RVs in the tent area;

3. Because most RVs are too big to maneuver/park in those campsites - this means they might let you if you're small enough.

To be truthfully honest, unless you made reservations at Yellowstone when the reservation window first became open for this year, you're going to be hard pressed to get a spot for an RV inside of yellowstone.

I went there in late September, long after the kids were back in school, and there still wasn't any RV spaces open at any of the campgrounds inside yellowstone, and ended up just staying at the West yellowstone KOA (for a pretty penny).

Since you are asking.....if it truly says "tents only," then there is your answer. Pretty straight forward in my mind.

jimh425 wrote:
...They said, no.

heheh, well, that ends that conversation...

I guess the final answer is to check with the PIC/Ranger/Host to see what their thoughts are.

I normally camp in the off season, non-summer, due to what I call the
"BKT"s. (Bugs - Kids - Traffic)

So allowing tent camping for small trailer might be available. TC, I wouldn't count on it.. but push come to shove, I'd check with them, just in case..

fun..

I didn't have the Yellowstone park number which was different than the reservation number.

I just called. After navigating the prompts. We got to a person. They said, no.

jimh425 wrote:
I can call but from what I understand that gets me to the reservation system which might not be what the ranger in charge thinks.

But you haven't actually tried for yourself? What are you going to lose except a couple of minutes of your time? You've burned far more than that with this thread.

I'm not really interested in intent or fairness because we all have those opinions. I can call but from what I understand that gets me to the reservation system which might not be what the ranger in charge thinks.

I don't see why this would be a problem. The "tent" sites in most state parks and COEs that I've been to were for anyone that didn't an electric connection.

You're going to get 10 answers here that are more opinion than fact. Why not call the park and ask? You'll get the right answer, not a guess. I've found the rangers and staff to be very helpful when I was looking for answer I couldn't find online.

No way to be sure except to give them a call. I suspect not in a NP. It might work if you also set up a tent. At Denali we let people park and sleep in a camper van as long as they also used a tent. Don't remember a TC though.