4 Days in Yellowstone

[Ray_Karpis]

Hey guys, 1st timer. I'm planning a 2-week trip from Little Rock to various points along the way (Sante Fe, Mesa Verde, Arches, Canyonlands) winding up with 4 days in Yellowstone. I've read up on the various campground option in the park and have a few questions on a tentative itinerary.

I will need a combo RV (>30)/large tent campsite. We're traveling in a 22 ft. Rialta. I would really prefer to be able to reserve as many nights as possible. I know I can't see even close to everything in 4 days, and I DO NOT want to go through the park at break-neck speed. I want to enjoy and experience it..at least the portions we're able to see. I have 3 kids (12, 9, and 7). We want to see the geysers, hike a little, see wildlife (we won't fish, kayak, or do any major hiking in the park). I'm just getting familiar with the park, so what do you think about this plan:

- drive in from the south park entrance early on Day 1. Spend day 1 in Geyser Country, then camp in Madison on night 1;
- spend day 2 exploring between Madison/Norris - camp in Canyon on night 2;
- spend day 3 at Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (hiking) and vicinity; camp in Canyon on night 3;
- day 4 drive north into Roosevelt area via east side of upper loop; shoot for Lamar Valley in late afternoon and try to camp in Tower/Slough campground on night 4 (doesn't sound like this may be doable since we won't get up to that area early enough);
Exit park via Northeast gate on morning of day 5.

Basically a reverse "S" through the two loops. Please shoot holes in this plan as you see fit. Am I crazy for not spending time in Lake Country at all? Other key spots I should see over what I have above?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Ray_Karpis]

I've done a little more thinking and looking. What about 2 days around the lower loop with Madison as a base camp. Then 2 days around the upper loop with Canyon as a base camp? I could get all 4 nights reserved and eliminate some unnecessary driving.

[bigdogger]

sremsing wrote:
We stayed in Cody, Wyoming and just drove into the park everyday. Distance was not to bed, and scenery from Cody to the park is beautiful.

150+ mile round trip just to get to the Grand Loop Rd from Cody. Cody is a great town to visit, but an iffy choice for a Yellowstone base.

[Lauren]

Don't let bumpyroad scare you - the sulphur pots are very beautiful and all different to some degree. Oh yes, there is the falls and wildlife and and --- guess if you leave early you miss all that. Old Faithful was a ho hum to us - but darn near mandatory to fight the crowd to see it I guess. But there is sooooooooooo much more.

[sremsing]

We stayed in Cody, Wyoming and just drove into the park everyday. Distance was not to bed, and scenery from Cody to the park is beautiful.

[BB_TX]

As noted above, if you plan on pulling into a first come/first serve campground inside the park late in the day you will likely be out of luck. Early morning will be the best time to find a site.
Some of the campgrounds you mention do take reservations. Some are first come/first serve only. Better make reservations for the type travel you plan and plan on the campgrounds with reservations only, if you can get them.
You probably know but only Fishing Bridge campground has hookups.

[CloudDriver]

Sounds like a good plan for your limit of four days. I agree that you will have trouble getting into either Slough Creek or Pebble Creek with a late arrival. Another possibility for your consideration would be to drive out the Northeast entrance through Cooke City to the Fox Creek Campground. There are several other Forest Service campgrounds closer to Cooke City, but they don't allow tents due to bears. A few miles past Fox Creek is the Crazy Creek Campground, which we have used several times in the past. If you go there, go across the road to the short trail up along the cascading Crazy Creek. Across the valley on the opposite side we have seen Bighorn Sheep on the mountainsides (binoculars required).

On the way up to the northeast entrance stop at the pullout on the left for Baronnette Peak and use binoculars to look for the Mountain Goats.

From the northeast entrance you have the choice of driving over the Beartooth Highway (route 212) to Red lodge or the Chief Joseph Highway (route 296) to Cody, both beautiful drives.

[Ray___June]

Slough Creek campground only has 22 sites, and they fill fast. We go up there every Labor Day (for 29 years) and try to get into the campground before 9:00 am on Thursday or Friday. Mondays or Tuesdays you might be able to get into the campground as late as 2:00 if it isn't a holiday week or weekend.

Tower Falls, Slough Creek, Pebble Creek, Indian Creek, Mammoth and Norris are all first come, first served. Canyon is the closest reservation campground to the Lamar Valley.

[Bumpyroad]

I got there one afternoon and caught Old Faithful. next day the South loop, second day the North loop. left one day early. I smelled enough sulfur pots to last me a lifetime.
bumpy

[Ray_Karpis]

As far as camping in one location, we'll be driving the Rialta through the park, so we'll be loading up each day anyway. I really don't want to have to backtrack everyday if I don't have to. I have given some thought to renting a car, but I think we can navigate the 22-ft. through the park.

[Campfire_Time]

We've been there twice. Personally I would just camp in one place the entire time. Use the time you would spend moving sites around to see stuff instead. You will see wildlife everywhere. On the roads, next to the roads, off the trails, etc. Otherwise I like your plan. Good mix of light hiking and off the road sites for a family.

If you plan on doing any hiking off the main roads, and I mean the back country trails not the "tourist" stops, even on short hikes, I strongly recommend good hiking shoes for everyone. Sneakers and sandles will just hurt your feet. Been there, done that.