National Parks and the Lack of Adequate # of Camp Sites.Sort of says it all - Now I have "No Dog in this fight" or "Horse in this Race"BUT I sure would like to be able to get into YNP on a whim with my Granddaughters! And because they are Girls they require more WATER and ELECTRICITY, so it sure would be nice if the parks would make this Possible.I personally have no issue - having Been there and Done that - and can do it again (With the present system) - but for the life of me I have a hard time understanding how a NP Service can let an area larger than the State of Rhode Island Burn, but has no ability to create a few more acres of CG's?So I've opened the door to a very SENSITIVE ISSUE - let's stay civil and see if we can have a discussion that proposes Solutions to this issue. Private or Public - In the Park or out of the Park - Solutions not Sermons.Let the Games Begin.

Personally I prefer private campgrounds with full hookups.

We stay right outside YNP in West Yellowstone with FHU if we cannot get reservations at Fishing Bridge in the park.

I don't think it is a "Sensitive issue" at all. All over the country there are state and national parks that are so special every body and their brother wants to get in. You just can't do it "on a whim" ! If you could, they would be so crowded that you wouldn't want to be there.Jack L

Why do they require water and electricity just because they are girls? My daughters were taught how to get by without electronics, limited water, and no electricity. I traumatized them so much as kids, they have continued the tradition with my grand daughter.I can go to Yellowstone on a whim as there are plenty of campsites available when the big crowds aren't there. And when the crowds are there, I don't want to be there anyhow. I've been twice, the first time without reservations with two RVs for five nights at two different locations. The second time for four nights and only made reservations two days out.One of the reasons they limit the number of campsites is it is a way to control the number of people and the impact they cause. To many campsites, to many people, to much impact, and we loose what they are trying to protect.

Um...it's supposed to be Camping. Since I've replaced the tent with an RV, I'm in the same boat as everyone else. But I haven't been in a campground yet that doesn't have multiple open tent sites. Which is what almost all National Parks were built to accommodate, mostly. Besides the limiting of impact, which is a very valid point, there is the issue of $$$$ to upgrade, let alone expand, campgrounds. There was no money before, and in this new political climate it is even more unlikely there will be a fresh influx of money.So to go on a whim, pack a tent. To go in an RV to YNP, plan ahead and make a reservation. The downside of the upgrade to have your own home on wheels.

National Parks and the Lack of Adequate # of Camp Sites

Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
Personally I prefer private campgrounds with full hookups.
outdoorlovers
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
We stay right outside YNP in West Yellowstone with FHU if we cannot get reservations at Fishing Bridge in the park.
NanciL
Explorer II
Jan 11, 2017
I don't think it is a "Sensitive issue" at all.

All over the country there are state and national parks that are so special every body and their brother wants to get in.

You just can't do it "on a whim" ! If you could, they would be so crowded that you wouldn't want to be there.

Jack L
kohldad
Explorer III
Jan 11, 2017
Why do they require water and electricity just because they are girls? My daughters were taught how to get by without electronics, limited water, and no electricity. I traumatized them so much as kids, they have continued the tradition with my grand daughter.

I can go to Yellowstone on a whim as there are plenty of campsites available when the big crowds aren't there. And when the crowds are there, I don't want to be there anyhow. I've been twice, the first time without reservations with two RVs for five nights at two different locations. The second time for four nights and only made reservations two days out.

One of the reasons they limit the number of campsites is it is a way to control the number of people and the impact they cause. To many campsites, to many people, to much impact, and we loose what they are trying to protect.
Flapper
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
Um...it's supposed to be Camping. Since I've replaced the tent with an RV, I'm in the same boat as everyone else. But I haven't been in a campground yet that doesn't have multiple open tent sites. Which is what almost all National Parks were built to accommodate, mostly. Besides the limiting of impact, which is a very valid point, there is the issue of $$$$ to upgrade, let alone expand, campgrounds. There was no money before, and in this new political climate it is even more unlikely there will be a fresh influx of money.
So to go on a whim, pack a tent. To go in an RV to YNP, plan ahead and make a reservation. The downside of the upgrade to have your own home on wheels.
rexlion
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
Yellowstone is choked with visitors each summer. If having more campsites encouraged more visitors, that would not work out well. But if it actually reduced traffic due to less people having to depart and enter (or reenter) the park daily, maybe it would actually help. Studies would have to be done.
djmikel
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
Yosemite National Park??
4runnerguy
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
So often I see empty campsites even though they are fully booked. The penalty for not cancelling a reservation isn't enough of a deterrent to make people do the right thing and cancel a reservation if they aren't going to use it. It would be interesting to know on average how many reservations aren't used in any given day in YNP. Fully utilizing the existing campsites would sure help some of the problems you mention.
Busskipper wrote:
And because they are Girls they require more WATER and ELECTRICITY, so it sure would be nice if the parks would make this Possible.
Better training! ;) Our 14 and 17 yo nieces have camped with us for years and don't need (or get) electricity. Yeah, there's water spigots but the toilets are often just outhouses. The cost and disruption of providing water and electric just aren't justified. It's a short enough camping season anyway, so it would take many years to payout that investment.
GordonThree
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
National Parks are intended to protect and preserve some of the most precious natural areas in the country. Campgrounds especially modern ones have a huge footprint. Installing and maintaining the utilities mean digging things up, bringing in heavy trucks, etc. Also where does the waste go? Has to be tricked out, more big trucks.

It's bad enough that any camping occurs inside the parks. Seeing something like a RV resort with hundreds or thousands of sites sardined next to each other built inside a park would be awful.

Let private developers build those abominations outside parks if they must.
korbe
Explorer
Jan 11, 2017
Sometimes the cost to improve or expand is higher than we think. In general, many campgrounds are maxed out on the visitors/campers versus number of bathrooms/showers required. The sewer system may be maxed out also. So, increasing the number of camping spaces could have a domino effect all the way to the sewer ponds.

I do agree that increasing the number of camping spaces may also trigger a new environmental assessment and sometimes it's just not worth it.

If they made all the parking lots larger, made all the roads divided highways, the park would have more people than they can handle.IMHO