Interesting observations at Fishing Bridge in YNP

[Atlee]

I was trying to add a couple of days to my stay at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park today. All of July is open except for the one day I want to add.

I need a 30' and under site for my 27' (measured from bumper to end of hitch) Jayco 23RB. For grins, I looked at all three classes, 30' and under, 35' and under, and 40' and under.

There are lots of sites still available for 30' and under, which I guess stands to reason since there are a lot more of them. But I was still surprised that so many were open at this relatively late date.

But with the 30' and under, May has 11 thru 31 open. Jun has 1-4, 5-10, 16-17, 23-24, 29-30 open. Jul has 6-31 open. Aug has 1-31 open. Sep only has the 1 thru the 5th open.

For 35' and under the story is a little different. May has 11 thru 26 open, with a couple of other single days. Jun has only 2-3, 8-9, 16, and 29 open. Jul only has 7-8, 14, 21, 27-28 open. Aug has 3-4, 6, 11-31 open. Sep has only 1-4 open. Rest of month is sold out.

For 40' and under, you're mostly SOL. May is sold out. Jun has only 7-10 open. Rest sold out. Jul is sold out. Aug has only the 18th open. Sep only has the 4th open.

If you are small, you still have a lot of choices at Fishing Bridge. Medium sized and the choices are pretty slim. Large and you are mostly out of luck.

[bikendan]

Cali-MinnieWinnie wrote:

1stgenfarmboy wrote:
Monkey44





I did not know you could boondock in a National Park, if I had we would have went more often during the 9 years I owned a TC, where do you boondock ?

True boondocking not allowed, but all campgrounds, besides Fishing Bridge, are dry camping, which some people call boondocking.

Correct.

Boondocking isn't camping in a developed campground that doesn't have any hookups. That's Dry Camping.

Boondocking is camping in undeveloped areas without hookups, like national forests, deserts and BLM land.
That's why they call it Boondocking.

[Cali-MinnieWinn]

1stgenfarmboy wrote:
Monkey44





I did not know you could boondock in a National Park, if I had we would have went more often during the 9 years I owned a TC, where do you boondock ?

True boondocking not allowed, but all campgrounds, besides Fishing Bridge, are dry camping, which some people call boondocking.

[Atlee]

Nicer, yes. But it's something I don't care about. While in Yellowstone, I plan to get nice when I drive to Lamar Valley, or up towards Bear Tooth, or visiting the geyser's.

When I get back to FB, I'll want a quick bite to eat, and go to sleep using my CPAP machine.

scrubjaysnest wrote:
For us if FB is the only CG available we will skip Yellowstone. All the other CG's in YNP are much nicer.

[prichardson]

1stgenfarmboy - true boondocking with a vehicle in undeveloped areas in most national parks is not allowed; however, most that have camping have semi developed areas where there are vehicle accessible sites with no hook ups.

[scrubjaysnest]

For us if FB is the only CG available we will skip Yellowstone. All the other CG's in YNP are much nicer.

[1stgenfarmboy]

Monkey44





I did not know you could boondock in a National Park, if I had we would have went more often during the 9 years I owned a TC, where do you boondock ?

[1stgenfarmboy]

.

[wireman]

I believe FB is the only campground in YNP with full hookups, if that matters in anyone's plans.

[MDKMDK]

Thought I read somewhere that almost all NP campgrounds can accommodate single recreational vehicles up to 25' in length in most of their individual sites. In my experience in them, we've found that to generally be true. Most can probably handle up to 28', but over that and you're into the full hookup pull through campgrounds. Still, there are some advantages to larger motorhomes and towables.
Ultimately, size matters. One way or another, and you can take that any way you like. :B

[monkey44]

This is exactly one of the benefits of a Truck Camper. We can go pretty much anywhere -- I know, too small for some, but we've spent up to five months on the road at one time, and can't recall a single time where we could not find a place to camp - even occasionally boon-docking in a pinch. Altho, we also boon-dock via planning as well, but sometimes it's the only way in some areas at the last minute, and no reservations, which we never make.

[ppine]

Evidence of the practicality of smaller RVs.

[MDKMDK]

Good to know, if not a little surprising. Thanks for posting. Kind of wondering where to go with our new rig this summer. We have enjoyed YNP twice before. Would always go back.