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.

[katleman]

2gypsies wrote:
Hookups? You'll be charging your Rialta while driving during the day and siteseeing. No problem.

Exactly! My rookie trip to Yellowstone, reserved Fishing Bridge for the entire stay, with the false belief that I needed hookups. By the time I was done, was obvious that any driving each day would charge us up.

If any of your kids are interested in a horseback ride, Roosevelt Cookout is a nice (expensive) treat. Neither of my boys had been on a horse and really enjoy the ride. You do have to reserve well in advance, like now. We camped in Tower that night, to be close to the cookout at Roosevelt.

[katleman]

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

Have done three visits to Yellowstone, with three kids, in a 24' Minnie. You won't have any problems with your rig in the park.

Early mornings are your friend, when moving onto a new first come camping site. I tend to get up by 5-6 when relocating. i call them wildlife days, as you'll see more in early hours as well.

Reserve a night in Madison, and another in Canyon. Wing the rest of them. Canyon is a nice starting place to head up to the smaller sites to the north (tower, pebble, slough) in the early am.

[littlemo]

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

Excellent idea. Don't even think of staying outside the park..........talk about backtracking and wasted time. It will be a great trip. Enjoy!

[jalichty]

Hookups are really no problem. Tent campers in the olden days didn't have any hookups and they enjoyed the parks very nicely. We don't camp in full-service campgrounds when we are in Grand Teton, we "dry" camp, fill up our water when we get there, use our holding tanks and generally get about 4-5 days out of our battery bank before having to crank up the generator during available hours. Besides, with our senior pass, camping at Colter Bay Campground costs about $12 per day compared to over $50 per day at the RV campground with full hookups, and I can live with that for a long time.

[CloudDriver]

Madison and Canyon campgrounds have bathrooms, dump stations and water available. No hookups/no problem.

[Bumpyroad]

2gypsies wrote:
Hookups? You'll be charging your Rialta while driving during the day and siteseeing. No problem.

I take it no use of electricity, bathroom, water, potty, etc.?
bumpy

[2gypsies1]

Hookups? You'll be charging your Rialta while driving during the day and siteseeing. No problem.

[Ozlander]

Ray Karpis wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

good plan but how are you going to do without hookups?
bumpy

I have no idea. :B Did I mention this will be our FIRST RV trip?!

The bears don't have no hookups. :S

[Ray_Karpis]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

good plan but how are you going to do without hookups?
bumpy

I have no idea. :B Did I mention this will be our FIRST RV trip?!

[Bumpyroad]

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

good plan but how are you going to do without hookups?
bumpy

[matt7591]

My only suggestion is to try to get to YS first and make the decision to either stay or go in time to look at the other sites (Sante Fe, Mesa Verde, Arches, Canyonlands). Been to MV - very cool but not worth a huge excursion. YS is a mega trip of a lifetime. Your schedule sounds excellent for 4 days - you must be rather intelligent! But do consider the option of bypassing the other parks for what is a life changing experience.

And eat as much of the huckleberry ice cream as you can get your hands on. Please send a pint to me if you can.

[2gypsies1]

Ray Karpis wrote:
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.

That's the way to go. Definitely have reservations for your kind of trip. Your plan sounds great and don't even think about renting a car. You won't have any problems with your small rig. Have fun!

[Alfred622]

Three days at Yellowstone worked fine for us. And we spent our time at the attractions and did some hiking.

We did not stay in the park as I felt it was a bit too crowded for our camping style. I got a beautiful site across the boarder at Henry's Lake State Park in Idaho. It was about a 20 mile drive from the Park to Yellowstone. In exchange we had a large peaceful camping site, electricity, a premier fishing lake, and no worries about bears (we were in a popup at the time). In fact, while Yellowstone was really neat, I found sitting around a campfire, clean air, zero noise-pollution, incredible stars at night, and the total lack of stress at Henry's Lake pretty awesome!

[Ray___June]

Good choice!