Hello friends. We're from Portland but are in New Mexico with my family (wife & 11 yo kids). We have a 35' class A towing a car. Our schedule is a bit unpredictable but at the end of July we'll be heading back to Portland. We typically drive through Moab, SLC, Boise to get home. We are considering a drive through Yellowstone. My questions:Is it even possible to visit Yellowstone on short notice? Is it too crowded to bother? Zero chance of finding a place to park/camp w/ a 35' Class A?What would you see if you only had an afternoon or a day or two to visit?Is it possible to just drive through and see a few things and then camp outside the park?We did a similar sort of excursion last summer at the Grand Canyon. No reservations. Found a RV campground in Williams and then drove into the Grand Canyon for the day. That worked fine for us, but I am familiar with that area.I realize more time is required to fully appreciate a location like Yellowstone, but schedules sometimes don't afford us many days to play. Thanks all!

Yellowstone is incredibly popular, and while camp sites IN the park do occasionally come open due to somebody canceling, I wouldn't count on that. There are campgrounds in West Yellowstone as well as between the Grand Tetons and the south entrance to Yellowstone that might be a much better bet. In late July, Yellowstone is going to be packed to the gunnels. I wouldn't even try to drive the entire rig through it. Land outside and take the car.While there are way too many very fabulous sights to see for a single afternoon, Old Faithful, the Inn there, and the geysers and hot springs around it are where I'd go if all I had was one afternoon. It is possible to spend the entire day there, wandering around seeing incredible things, eat lunch, and minimize your time wandering slowly down the road, as the traffic congestion will have you doing, no matter your plans otherwise.

I've heard that it is booked solid during the summer months and I've been told if you really want to see Yellowstone, you need more than just a day or two. I have 3 places I want to RV before I die and Yellowstone is one of them. The Oregon coast and the Grand Canyon are the other two and I am planning 10 days to 2 weeks for each trip.

Call some campgrounds. There are lots in West Yellowstone. It will be crowded, but It's Yellowstone!

Try to get a site at Grizzly RV Park, perfect for you rig, call now.

You can drive thru and see a lot of the features. In a car. But many of the parking areas to see those features are small and tight. Some have RV parking. Some don’t. Likely as not the RV spaces will be occupied by cars. But that time of year they will all be crowded and very difficult for a large RV. I would try West Yellowstone for 2-3 nights and drive the toad to sightsee.

If I have a day or two to visit Yellowstone..,.

naturist
Nomad
Jul 05, 2018
Yellowstone is incredibly popular, and while camp sites IN the park do occasionally come open due to somebody canceling, I wouldn't count on that. There are campgrounds in West Yellowstone as well as between the Grand Tetons and the south entrance to Yellowstone that might be a much better bet. In late July, Yellowstone is going to be packed to the gunnels. I wouldn't even try to drive the entire rig through it. Land outside and take the car.

While there are way too many very fabulous sights to see for a single afternoon, Old Faithful, the Inn there, and the geysers and hot springs around it are where I'd go if all I had was one afternoon. It is possible to spend the entire day there, wandering around seeing incredible things, eat lunch, and minimize your time wandering slowly down the road, as the traffic congestion will have you doing, no matter your plans otherwise.
IBcarguy
Explorer
Jul 05, 2018
I've heard that it is booked solid during the summer months and I've been told if you really want to see Yellowstone, you need more than just a day or two. I have 3 places I want to RV before I die and Yellowstone is one of them. The Oregon coast and the Grand Canyon are the other two and I am planning 10 days to 2 weeks for each trip.
Ed_C
Explorer
Jul 05, 2018
Call some campgrounds. There are lots in West Yellowstone. It will be crowded, but It's Yellowstone!
GeoBoy
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
Try to get a site at Grizzly RV Park, perfect for you rig, call now.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 06, 2018
You can drive thru and see a lot of the features. In a car. But many of the parking areas to see those features are small and tight. Some have RV parking. Some don’t. Likely as not the RV spaces will be occupied by cars. But that time of year they will all be crowded and very difficult for a large RV.

I would try West Yellowstone for 2-3 nights and drive the toad to sightsee.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
You can drive through in your rig with car in tow but don't expect to be able to stop and park as you go through. On one of our visits to Yellowstone, we drove up from Tetons into Yellowstone and out the west entrance to West Yellowstone. It is a beautiful drive even if you don't have the time in your schedule to stop. It a drive through visit is all you have time for, then I would suggest trying to time it to drive through around dawn and shortly there after to give you the best chance to see wildlife from the RV and possibly be able to park somewhere along the way.
Crowe
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
Is it possible to just drive through and see a few things and then camp outside the park?

Yes on the see a few things in the park. I've never camped outside but we were able to get a Kamping Kabin at the Mountainside KOA on somewhat short notice (although we had to cancel). There will be crowds, yes, but take a look at the park map and decide what you'd like to see. Old Faithful would be at the top of my list plus the geyser basins. Pick one section, see what you can see and if you have additional time just keep going.
NMDriver2
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
Go see the Tetons and day trip to Yellowstone.
ThomBoles
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
We were there early this year. While you could drive an RV through I'm not sure you'd have extremely good luck always finding a place to park at the attractions that you want to see. We were in Fishing Bridge -(Full hookup) but I'm guessing you'd be hard pressed to find a spot there with short notice.

Last year when we visited we had a campground up on the North side of the park just outside of Bozeman, MT but it was an hour drive south to the park.
Lexx
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
We just went through Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago. We stayed at West Yellowstone KOA, which I do not recommend. They really pack the coaches in tight. And the aisles are really tight for turning.

If you approach the park from West Yellowstone, you can do much of the park in 2 or 3 days. On one day do the Upper Loop, and the next day do the Lower Loop. You'll see most of the sights this way.

Know that Old Faithful has big crowds and you may have to wait an hour or more before either erupts again if you just misses it when you arrive.

Don't sweat it if you don't get it all in. There's a lot to see.

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