Campgrounds near Yellowstone

[ReneeG]

We've gone to Yellowstone multiple years in a row in mid September with last year being the worst for crowding. Even the campgrounds outside the park were busy requiring jockeying for a site. For those of you who have visited this year, and familiar with other years, how is the camping situation looking for this year? We're thinking of going again and just want a hint of what to expect. Yea, yea, I know the Delta variant may be pushing people to get back out with their kids instead of having them in school, but around here (western Idaho) most of the schools are in session with just a few having shut down for a week due to an increase in cases. Thanks for sharing any experience you have.

[ReneeG]

agesilaus wrote:
How was the smoke?

Only one day that was bad and it was more evident in Cody.

[agesilaus]

How was the smoke?

[ReneeG]

Hemlockdj wrote:
ReneeG,
Yellowstone very busy still. Lots of visitors to include kids. Talked to several park officials/rangers seems to not be slowing, lol. Still a great time, enjoy.
Dave

We just returned from our trip to Yellowstone and the east side towards Cody. We managed to get campgrounds all along the way without prior reservations including a FCFS electric site. We found that it wasn't as busy as last year at this time and we drove into the park several times with no waits at the gates.

[Hemlockdj]

ReneeG,
Yellowstone very busy still. Lots of visitors to include kids. Talked to several park officials/rangers seems to not be slowing, lol. Still a great time, enjoy.
Dave

[ReneeG]

agesilaus wrote:

Hemlockdj wrote:
Heading to Madison CG labor day for a week. Hoping all the families are back home, lol. Hoping it's back to normal crowds and relaxing. Will report back.
Dave

I didn't see a lot of kids, some of the lockdown states have still closed down schools tho freeing up parents to travel.

Interesting that last Sept we didn't see a lot of kids either, but the park and surrounding campgrounds were packed!

[agesilaus]

Hemlockdj wrote:
Heading to Madison CG labor day for a week. Hoping all the families are back home, lol. Hoping it's back to normal crowds and relaxing. Will report back.
Dave

I didn't see a lot of kids, some of the lockdown states have still closed down schools tho freeing up parents to travel.

[ReneeG]

older_fossil wrote:
We spent four weeks between Garniner and West Yellowstone last September. We had days it seemed very busy only to learn that YNP hit a new visitation record for September last year. We went back for May of this year and found it very busy and learned a new May record had been set. We read reports that the park was looking into ways of managing the traffic. This is already happening at other national parks, and I am afraid it will be a growing problem across the country, especially with the most popular parks.

Art

We were at Yellowstone September of 2021, camping outside the park on the East and West side. It was crazy on the days we toured the park.

[ReneeG]

Hemlockdj wrote:
Heading to Madison CG labor day for a week. Hoping all the families are back home, lol. Hoping it's back to normal crowds and relaxing. Will report back.
Dave

Thanks Dave! Looking forward to your report.

[older_fossil]

We spent four weeks between Garniner and West Yellowstone last September. We had days it seemed very busy only to learn that YNP hit a new visitation record for September last year. We went back for May of this year and found it very busy and learned a new May record had been set. We read reports that the park was looking into ways of managing the traffic. This is already happening at other national parks, and I am afraid it will be a growing problem across the country, especially with the most popular parks.

Art

[Hemlockdj]

Heading to Madison CG labor day for a week. Hoping all the families are back home, lol. Hoping it's back to normal crowds and relaxing. Will report back.
Dave

[ReneeG]

Thank you for the feedback! Maybe it's returned to somewhat normal visitation rates.

[agesilaus]

We just finished a 6 days boondocking campout north of Gardiner. Crowds were variable. The first few dazs thez were lighter than expected. There were empty parking spots at Mammoth Hot Springs. The last two days they picked up to expected levels, no empty spots. The smoke was minimal to nonexistent the first four dazs but the last two it got very thick.
Bisons and Elks everywhere. Especially in the Lamar Valley, we must has seen 6 big herds of Bison, with Antelopes, one Coyote and maybe a distant Bear