Parking a Truck Camper at a Tent Only space in Yellowstone

Deb and Ed M wrote:
IMO, if I'm allowed to camp with the tenters, I will try as hard as possible to be "one with their world".

Sage advice.

Jim, when are you heading to Yellowstone? Shoot me a PM, if you would like.

b

There's a different "aura" with tent camping, than with RV's in general. It's QUIET (assuming we're talking about outdoorspeople gathered, rather than a Frat Party). You can hear a Loon crying in the distance, mice scampering in the woods, along with a myriad of other forest sounds. There's no slamming doors, TVs/radios, A/Cs, etc.

IMO, if I'm allowed to camp with the tenters, I will try as hard as possible to be "one with their world".

back in the 70s we were several hundred tent campers strong in upper pines campground in Yosemite along with a smattering of RVs much drinking was had that evening. Quiet hour started at 10pm. It was November and there was snow on the ground. At 2am a Class A fired up his generator waking up everyone. A knock was made on his door and it was explained that quiet hour started at ten and to shut it off. His response was FU we are cold in here. That was relayed in a loud voice to all the other campers along with lets flip him over. The gathering crowd had that A rocking and up on two wheels before the genny was shut off to loud cheers.. the A drove off shortly there after.

Much better to follow the rules and be nice to your neighbors.

Wide range of responses at both extremes and everywhere in the middle. Our theory, with no reservation just pulling up to gate ask for a space, understand that if they say you can park in a tent space one night be thankful, if they are full move on. Start looking earlier, call ahead, plan more carefully. There is the other end of the spectrum where RV campers want to add a tent in an RV space and that doesn't always fly either. We are not big planners so take what we can get, or are willing to take any available if we run out of hoped for options sometimes no matter the reason. Parks and campgrounds aren't responsible for our poor planning or daily issues. We try to treat our hosts as we would like to be treated.

skipro3 wrote:
It was explained to me this way when I asked about my TC in a tent-only camp spot;
No. How would you like it if a tent was in an RV only spot?

He went on to explain that every spot would be filled with RV's/TC's if they allowed 'em into tent only spots.

He said tent-only spots were originated because RV's would always take every spot and tenters would never get one. Tent campers stay a few nights, RV's usually longer.

Anyways, that's how it was explained to me at Yellowstone.

I've often been granted leave to camp in a "tent-only" spot, with the caveat that each day I needed to check in with the ranger to ensure that there were still available "tent-only" spots in the campground. If all of the tent-only spots were consumed before check-in time, I would have had to have moved. There are many areas in which the tent-only sites seldom fill up, and the rangers and/or CG hosts would rather see the site occupied than sitting empty - with the caveat of no generators.

I typically dry camp, and I greatly enjoy going to campgrounds off-season where the tent loop is completely abandoned (and the RV section is loud and fully packed). Almost without exception I'm allowed to camp in the wide open, deserted "tent only" area once I've explained that no, I don't need electricity, I don't need water, I don't need sewer, and I don't carry a generator...

It was explained to me this way when I asked about my TC in a tent-only camp spot;
No. How would you like it if a tent was in an RV only spot?

He went on to explain that every spot would be filled with RV's/TC's if they allowed 'em into tent only spots.

He said tent-only spots were originated because RV's would always take every spot and tenters would never get one. Tent campers stay a few nights, RV's usually longer.

Anyways, that's how it was explained to me at Yellowstone.

dave17352 wrote:

Boatycall wrote:
Uhh boy... ok, I did... Twice. Not at YSNP, but here locally at Mt Rainier Nat'l Park. In both cases, the RV parking was full, and my truck/TC easily fit into the parking spot of the first-come first-serve tent area spot I found, so i parked there.

I then proceeded to put up a small 2-person tent I keep with me.

Both occasions, nobody said anything, and in fact, on one of the times I shared coffee with the people next door to me the following morning.

I think if you do/or are able to park in a tent space, respect the peace and quite the tenters came for -- No generator, no roof air, tv, radio, leave outside lights off, etc.

I agree with this.

"Tents only" rules are yet another example of stuff that was just made up for no reason. Can't imagine a Park Ranger actually enforcing such a rule. They have such a reputation for being lenient on rule after rule. And why not run your generator, your television, your roof air and turn on your outside lights? Any prohibition against those activities are just a bunch of rules like the tent only rule and should actively be disregarded.
If people would just take the initiative to take what they want, and not only what some bureaucrat decided they should have, the world would soon be a better place. I mean, why should a tent camper have a site free from motorhomes, fifth wheels and the like. If you can drive your rig in, you should park it wherever the heck you want. And who needs roads, a good 4x4 pickup in low range should get you where you want to go. Also, if you should encounter a fire ban during your stay, just cut down a few trees and light them on up. The park has billions of trees and no one will miss one or two. There is an entire infrastructure built to battle wildfires, so no one can say they don't plan for them. No big deal if one gets started from your campfire.

Boatycall wrote:
Uhh boy... ok, I did... Twice. Not at YSNP, but here locally at Mt Rainier Nat'l Park. In both cases, the RV parking was full, and my truck/TC easily fit into the parking spot of the first-come first-serve tent area spot I found, so i parked there.

I then proceeded to put up a small 2-person tent I keep with me.

Both occasions, nobody said anything, and in fact, on one of the times I shared coffee with the people next door to me the following morning.

I think if you do/or are able to park in a tent space, respect the peace and quite the tenters came for -- No generator, no roof air, tv, radio, leave outside lights off, etc.

I agree with this.

We often call ahead.

then we can always ask the question about trailer versus tent.

Use your tools and save the aggravation then simply sleep well and enjoy your travels.

I was sorry to hear you were rejected. Real bummer at the end of the day.

Uhh boy... ok, I did... Twice. Not at YSNP, but here locally at Mt Rainier Nat'l Park. In both cases, the RV parking was full, and my truck/TC easily fit into the parking spot of the first-come first-serve tent area spot I found, so i parked there.

I then proceeded to put up a small 2-person tent I keep with me.

Both occasions, nobody said anything, and in fact, on one of the times I shared coffee with the people next door to me the following morning.

I think if you do/or are able to park in a tent space, respect the peace and quite the tenters came for -- No generator, no roof air, tv, radio, leave outside lights off, etc.