North Carolina to Yellowstone Route and Campgrounds

[southbound2010]

Need your help in selecting a route from Fayetteville NC to Yellowstone. I have done the google and map quest routing but would really hear appreciate hearing from those that have done it and any intersting stops we should make going or coming back.
Will also appreciate any feedback on campgrounds, especially at or near Yellowstone? We will be driving a Jayco Melbourne and really would like full hookup sites which from what I have read are few within the park itself.
Look forward to hearing your response. Thanks

[southbound2010]

You folks have provided some great info and confirmed some of the stops I was thinking we should make. From what I have been hearing if you plan to stay in the park next June you need to start now so while it seems really early we are starting now. Thanks for your help.

[kknowlton]

When were you planning to come out, southbound? If you're looking toward next year, then you're in the right timeframe to be making plans. If this year, you had better hustle, since most of the CGs in Yellowstone close soon, some of them within a few days.

Colter Bay RV Park is lovely, very wooded, but it does take big rigs. Another good CG for Yellowstone is Grizzly RV in West Yellowstone. Not much in the way of trees, but a neat, clean park, and only a few blocks from the west gate of the park. Red Rock
is nice & has more of a country feel, but it is a bit of a drive to the park entrance. Tighter sites than Grizzly too.

I agree to include the Tetons with your Yellowstone visit. One entrance fee includes both parks for a week; they are literally right next door to each other. Depending on how much time you're wanting to spend on the entire trip, I also second the recommendation for
the Black Hills, and if so, spend a night at Devils Tower. The KOA right at its base has a spectacular view! If you're interested in the westward trek of the pioneers, make sure to go one direction across Nebraska; lots of interesting pioneer sites along I-80. If you can do w/o full hookups for a night or two, consider some of the state parks along the interstate there - some decent electric-only sites among them, and during the week it shouldn't be too terribly crowded. If you do this route westbound, consider taking off the interstate to US 26 in Ogallala, which will take you along the Oregon/Mormon trail route by some of the pioneer landmarks (Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, etc.) Guernsey SP in eastern Wyoming has campsites and also has some of the pioneer wagon ruts permanently carved into stone. Should be worth a stop.
If you have a MH (which it sounds like), you will want to bring a toad, rather than drive the MH around all the time. Lots easier! Certain roads (I'm thinking Needles Hwy in the Black Hills would be one of them) are not to be done in an RV of any kind.

[padredw]

I would agree with 2gypsies about the Tetons. We stayed there at Colter Bay RV Park. It became one of our favorites.

On the way you could visit the Black Hills area of South Dakota, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore. Two or three days would not be too much to spend there. The drives through the state park and the Needles highway are worth the visit.

On our only RV visit of a few days to Yellowstone we stayed at Red Rock RV in Island Park, Idaho--a beautiful area, but about 20 miles outside Yellowstone National Park.

[2gypsies1]

There's only one campground in Yellowstone that has hookups:

Fishing Bridge Campground

You'll have folks saying it's a 'parking lot' but you be the judge from these tree-filled pictures. 🙂 It's very convenient for doing your full days of driving around the park. The park is huge.

There are many other campgrounds in the park but they don't have electric although there are generator hours and dump station in some.

Yellowstone Campground Map

All Campgrounds in Yellowstone

Consider including a visit to Grand Teton National Park which is right next door. A 3-night stay there would be a good introduction. It is completely different from Yellowstone. The hiking trails are gorgeous for many abilities. Take the gentle Snake River float trip through the park and you just might see a moose or two in the water with you! Colter Bay RV has the hookups in the park. Right next door is Colter Bay campground (300 sites), no hookups. Gros Ventre closer to Jackson also has 300 sites.

Jackson will be your spot for replenishing your food supplies. There are two major groceries just south of town - Albertson's and Smiths. When you get to Yellowstone you'll only find some country stores with staples and higher prices. Have a great trip!