CG Reservations-YNP, GTNP, Glacier, Olympic, Banff, Jasper

[smitty23]

I'm looking to take a long trip next summer from Iowa to grand teton and yellowstone, then glacier/jasper/banff etc and over to Washington(olympic, san juan islands, Cascades etc), then spend some time in oregon and colorado before heading back home.

I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips for excellent campgrounds and which ones allow reservations(and when I should reserve them). Also any boondocking near any of the parks?

I'll be camping out of an express van, so size isn't an issue. Will have a bed inside there as well as tent....so "hard side" or tent camping will both be possible.

Just looking for tips on anything I should start doing now. I recently got my van and was hoping to go down to bahia honda state park in FL this winter but see I'm way too late for that. I also believe lime kiln is a campground I need to get reservations for as it seems to fill up fast as well. Just seeing if anyone can help with what reservations should be a priority right now.

I'll also be making as many stops in between as I can .....any great places outside the park that require a reservation a long time in advance?

Thanks very much!

[Ivylog]

Both Banff and Jasper National Parks have a overflow CG/parking areas. While I did not have to use them... got a site, I'll ASSUME you can signup for a site for the next day.

I like the USFS self-serve CG... no reservations, no camp host, but limited services so it helps to be self contained which we are for a week without cutting back on anything. With a big rig you do not show up Friday thinking you will snag a site big enough. Show up late Sunday or Monday... plenty of sites.
Smitty, with a van and assuming you can go several days without hookups I would not make a single reservation months in advance. I like what Rocky2 suggested as that could be a week or less before you need them.

[smitty23]

Uncle Rj wrote:
You will want reservations in Banff and Jasper National Parks if you want to stay close to the towns. They have a good cancellation policy so I'd recommend booking something so at least you are sure to have a spot. Reservations open early in the new year.

You will be able to get a first-come spot in Glacier as long as you get to the campsite early. If not, there are lots of private campgrounds in the area.

Thanks RJ. Thats good news as I am busy putting money into transforming the van right now 🙂

[smitty23]

chloe's ranch wrote:
I agree with the "just wing it" folks. With that much time and a tent and van you will fit almost anywhere, which makes it much easier in the National Parks and state parks. Also, reservations sure put a damper on spontaneous change of plans when you decide to stay longer or shorter based on things that you hadn't anticipated.

Rocky2 wrote:
Something you may find useful at West Glacier. Alberta has a really good visitors center. They found and booked all our campsites in Banff and Jasper for us this year. They were able to get us in at Lake Louise and Whistler in Jasper with only 2 weeks lead time...remarkable. We chose not to go further east into Alberta (been there before) and got good tips from them on BC also.

Thanks rocky, I'll look into that.
Thanks Chloe. From what I understand I can get full refund on reservations if cancelled within 48 hours, but will have to look into that more. I do like the freedom of staying and going as I please as well. Though with all I want to see...it'll be hard to stay anywhere for too long.

[smitty23]

jamesu wrote:
YNP: Knowing that it's tough getting both SP & NP campsites during primetime, we just book private using trip advisor/campground reviews in new geographical areas. Works for us. Stayed in Gardiner, MT last September which was too many miles north. Next time W. Yellowstone.

Washington coast or Cascade Mts: plenty of private, affordable CG's if you can't book SP or NP. Off season is better for those.

Irdew wrote:
We are stuck now wanting to visit the parks you mentioned without reservations and everything is full for the year. The larger parks are hard to visit from campgrounds outside the parks. And I believe most all parks have gone to online reservations at most campgrounds. With online reservations It's so easy to reserve sites a year in advance hoping for a trip the following year.
Your big advantage is the short length you require opens many more possibilities.

Thanks James and Drew.
I'll likely stay away from most private campgrounds and stick to the NP Cgs. Maybe I'll check out a couple.

[smitty23]

Busskipper wrote:

smitty23 wrote:
I'm looking to take a long trip next summer from Iowa to grand teton and yellowstone, then glacier/jasper/banff etc and over to Washington(olympic, san juan islands, Cascades etc), then spend some time in oregon and colorado before heading back home.

I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips for excellent campgrounds and which ones allow reservations(and when I should reserve them). Also any boondocking near any of the parks?

I'll be camping out of an express van, so size isn't an issue. Will have a bed inside there as well as tent....so "hard side" or tent camping will both be possible.

Just looking for tips on anything I should start doing now. I recently got my van and was hoping to go down to bahia honda state park in FL this winter but see I'm way too late for that. I also believe lime kiln is a campground I need to get reservations for as it seems to fill up fast as well. Just seeing if anyone can help with what reservations should be a priority right now.

I'll also be making as many stops in between as I can .....any great places outside the park that require a reservation a long time in advance?

Thanks very much!

Think you should read/follow this might just fit into what you are after.

Do a search on this member profdant139 his adventures seem to parallel much of what you are after.

Stan Parker's Album might help also

Camera and Tripod - Fleece - Really good Boots - rain gear - comfortable chair - 2,200 watt inverter generator - bike - cell phone/gps.

And you will be good to go.

IMHO reservations are way over rated - just get out there and Do It!

BOL,

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out. Some great photos from a quick glance!
I'll have all mentioned except the generator. I'll have an inverter but shouldn't need the generator, hopefully. Won't have A/c and will only use Microwave when I have electric hookup.

[smitty23]

Busskipper wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
We will be doing, and have done about every other year, 2-3 months out West without advanced reservations and I'm 42' plus a car... many of the places we stay at do not take reservations... that includes NPs. I will call a private CG after lunch to see if they have a site for that night when traveling.

At 20'... enjoy your trip and just wing it. A couple days before a long weekend, find a nice spot and stay put until it's over.

Like Dick we never make reservations and some how have managed, you seem to have a good plan and in your unit should be able to move about and squeeze in just about anywhere. Don't forget to seek out and explore the areas all around the parks too - hard to drive anywhere in any direction that will not reward you with Eye Candy.

Like 2gypsies said though, later is better, so you might just keep in mind that the outlying areas are better in the higher season as most are just not on the radar of the masses in high season.

My personal suggestion would be to try to stay as late as possible - IMHO September and October are Heaven.

BOL,

Thanks ranger and bol.
Seems to be an even amount of "reserve" and don't reserve....guess it's just more a matter of how you like to travel.
I will likely stick to the dates mentioned, as I want to get away from the midwest humdity......even though it means dealing with more crowds. I did love my late september trip to RMNP though. Got there just before the first snow of the year and it was great to be able to see it before and after the first "dusting". The fall colors were also wonderful!

[smitty23]

kknowlton wrote:
We found to our chagrin that the Provincial Parks in Canada open reservations in January for the summer - we were too late to reserve good sites there for this summer, and had to make alternate plans. So - January for the Canadian parks. Private parks there, I have no idea, but July and early August would definitely be peak visiting time for the Canadian Rockies, for sure.

Yellowstone opens reservations in May for the FOLLOWING year (i.e. May 2016 to reserve summer 2017 sites). Not sure about the Tetons; we booked our site at Colter Bay RV Park (not the same as Colter Bay CG) in January this year, for this summer.

Ivylog wrote:
We will be doing, and have done about every other year, 2-3 months out West without advanced reservations and I'm 42' plus a car... many of the places we stay at do not take reservations... that includes NPs. I will call a private CG after lunch to see if they have a site for that night when traveling.

At 20'... enjoy your trip and just wing it. A couple days before a long weekend, find a nice spot and stay put until it's over.

thanks for the replies know and ivy.
I do tend to "wing it a bit" but also want to make sure I'm not wasting too much time finding a spot to sleep.
I will be doing some 1st come 1st serve sites, but am not sure how they work. I know I have to be early....but what can I do while I wait? Can I make breakfast, do laundry(if there is laundry there) leave on a bike for a while etc? How long does it usually take to get a spot? I see some places show when they filled up but not how long you have to wait.

I'll likely try to get a spot at one of the campgrounds near yellowstone lake, as they all seem to be by reservation. I'll also check out the canadian CGs and try to get some reservations for some of those. I'll also reserve a spot at lime kiln in WA.

[Uncle_Rj]

You will want reservations in Banff and Jasper National Parks if you want to stay close to the towns. They have a good cancellation policy so I'd recommend booking something so at least you are sure to have a spot. Reservations open early in the new year.

You will be able to get a first-come spot in Glacier as long as you get to the campsite early. If not, there are lots of private campgrounds in the area.

[Rocky2]

Something you may find useful at West Glacier. Alberta has a really good visitors center. They found and booked all our campsites in Banff and Jasper for us this year. They were able to get us in at Lake Louise and Whistler in Jasper with only 2 weeks lead time...remarkable. We chose not to go further east into Alberta (been there before) and got good tips from them on BC also.

[chloe_s_ranch]

I agree with the "just wing it" folks. With that much time and a tent and van you will fit almost anywhere, which makes it much easier in the National Parks and state parks. Also, reservations sure put a damper on spontaneous change of plans when you decide to stay longer or shorter based on things that you hadn't anticipated.

[jamesu]

YNP: Knowing that it's tough getting both SP & NP campsites during primetime, we just book private using trip advisor/campground reviews in new geographical areas. Works for us. Stayed in Gardiner, MT last September which was too many miles north. Next time W. Yellowstone.

Washington coast or Cascade Mts: plenty of private, affordable CG's if you can't book SP or NP. Off season is better for those.

[Irdew]

We are stuck now wanting to visit the parks you mentioned without reservations and everything is full for the year. The larger parks are hard to visit from campgrounds outside the parks. And I believe most all parks have gone to online reservations at most campgrounds. With online reservations It's so easy to reserve sites a year in advance hoping for a trip the following year.
Your big advantage is the short length you require opens many more possibilities.

[Busskipper]

smitty23 wrote:
I'm looking to take a long trip next summer from Iowa to grand teton and yellowstone, then glacier/jasper/banff etc and over to Washington(olympic, san juan islands, Cascades etc), then spend some time in oregon and colorado before heading back home.

I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips for excellent campgrounds and which ones allow reservations(and when I should reserve them). Also any boondocking near any of the parks?

I'll be camping out of an express van, so size isn't an issue. Will have a bed inside there as well as tent....so "hard side" or tent camping will both be possible.

Just looking for tips on anything I should start doing now. I recently got my van and was hoping to go down to bahia honda state park in FL this winter but see I'm way too late for that. I also believe lime kiln is a campground I need to get reservations for as it seems to fill up fast as well. Just seeing if anyone can help with what reservations should be a priority right now.

I'll also be making as many stops in between as I can .....any great places outside the park that require a reservation a long time in advance?

Thanks very much!

Think you should read/follow this might just fit into what you are after.

Do a search on this member profdant139 his adventures seem to parallel much of what you are after.

Stan Parker's Album might help also

Camera and Tripod - Fleece - Really good Boots - rain gear - comfortable chair - 2,200 watt inverter generator - bike - cell phone/gps.

And you will be good to go.

IMHO reservations are way over rated - just get out there and Do It!

BOL,

[Busskipper]

Ivylog wrote:
We will be doing, and have done about every other year, 2-3 months out West without advanced reservations and I'm 42' plus a car... many of the places we stay at do not take reservations... that includes NPs. I will call a private CG after lunch to see if they have a site for that night when traveling.

At 20'... enjoy your trip and just wing it. A couple days before a long weekend, find a nice spot and stay put until it's over.

Like Dick we never make reservations and some how have managed, you seem to have a good plan and in your unit should be able to move about and squeeze in just about anywhere. Don't forget to seek out and explore the areas all around the parks too - hard to drive anywhere in any direction that will not reward you with Eye Candy.

Like 2gypsies said though, later is better, so you might just keep in mind that the outlying areas are better in the higher season as most are just not on the radar of the masses in high season.

My personal suggestion would be to try to stay as late as possible - IMHO September and October are Heaven.

BOL,