Seeking round trip advice from Minneapolis to Yellowstone

July 23rd to August 3rd is a total of 12 days for this trip. IMO not enough time. Do you really have to get back on Wednesday vs. the second Sunday so you will have a full 2 weeks? A few additional days would greatly enhance the experience and reduce the "have to get there" pressures.

The best choice of the two RV parks you listed for Grand Teton is Colter Bay RV. The Virginian is in the town of Jackson with no views of the mountains. It appears that you want hookups and the only FHU campground inside Yellowstone is Fishing Bridge. Likely too late to reserve a site for this year, but you might get a cancellation. There are a number of private RV parks in West Yellowstone, with Grizzly RV the most recommended. Hopefully you are towing a car or plan to rent one when you get there as parking an RV at pullouts in Grand Teton and Yellowstone will be very difficult.

For a different route on the way home, consider leaving Yellowstone via the North entrance and pick up I90 at Livingston, MT. You can then use I94 across ND to Minneapolis. Along the way you will pass Pompeys Pillar, where Capt. William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition carved his name into the rock. This is the only remaining physical evidence of their trip. Easy off - easy on from I94. Just south of Bismark, ND is Fort Abraham Lincoln. This is the last post of General George Armstrong Custer before the battle of the Little Bighorn. There is a campground there with electric and water.

We stayed at Colter Bay about three years ago and would recommend it. The drive into Yellowstone is about a half an hour if I recall correctly, and not too much farther to Old Faithful and the new lodge, which was under construction when we were there. But the area of Colter Bay is very nice itself. Plenty to see. Enjoy yourselves.

I work at Custer State Park. The time you have listed for your trip is right during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and it is one of the busiest times in the Black Hills. Mt. Rushmore, Crazyhorse, Custer State Park will all be very busy. You may want to consider arriving the 2nd week of Aug to avoid all the crowds, especially if you don't like motorcycles, the roads will be packed with them late July and then first week of Aug.

Thank you all! When I spoke with the reservation specialist at Welikit, she told me Sturgis started the second w/e of Aug...we don't have a lot of flexibility on timing as our oldest will be starting high school the second week of Aug, but appreciate the heads-up!

There is nothing in Jackson Hole (the area). Jackson is the town. There is a fish hatchery north of the town.
Hiking the Grand Tetons will be memorable. Yellowstone is worth at least three days. Get the book Tracking the Spirit of Yellowstone. Watch the series on TV. Keep searching this Forum.

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I don't know if you've traveled west or not but once you get off interstates you don't make good time.

Minneapolis to Custer via I-90 is approximately 650 miles = 1-1/2 days of driving

Custer to Yellowstone via Cody is approximately 500 miles = 2 days of driving and this is pushing it.

Jackson to Minneapolis via Casper/Rapid City/Sioux Falls is approx. 1100 miles = 3-4 days of driving.

That's 7 days of just driving back and forth. You have 12 days to do it and tour leaving you only 5 days of touring.

I'd recommend skipping Custer and heading straight to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and use your 5 days there. You can always do Custer another trip.

If you want full hookups try to get a site in Fishing Bridge RV in Yellowstone for 3 nights and Colter Bay RV in Grand Teton for 2 nights. Don't stay in the town of Jackson at the Virginian. It's too far to day trip into the Tetons and the Tetons is a lot more scenic and pleasant.

I've only done this road trip in a car, never RV. Is this why you've added extra time for driving? Thank you for your input-we're looking at adding more time to our trip!

You guys must be retired............

2gypsies wrote:
I don't know if you've traveled west or not but once you get off interstates you don't make good time.

Minneapolis to Custer via I-90 is approximately 650 miles = 1-1/2 days of driving

Custer to Yellowstone via Cody is approximately 500 miles = 2 days of driving and this is pushing it.

Jackson to Minneapolis via Casper/Rapid City/Sioux Falls is approx. 1100 miles = 3-4 days of driving.

That's 7 days of just driving back and forth. You have 12 days to do it and tour leaving you only 5 days of touring.

I'd recommend skipping Custer and heading straight to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and use your 5 days there. You can always do Custer another trip.

If you want full hookups try to get a site in Fishing Bridge RV in Yellowstone for 3 nights and Colter Bay RV in Grand Teton for 2 nights. Don't stay in the town of Jackson at the Virginian. It's too far to day trip into the Tetons and the Tetons is a lot more scenic and pleasant.

2016 Sturgis Rally: 8/08-8/14