Tetons and Yellowstone

[Jones714]

We will be visiting both the Tetons and Yellowstone this spring. We would like some recommendations for campgrounds in both areas. For the Tetons I will assume we want to be as close to or in Jackson Hole as possible? Yellowstone I'm thinking we will access from the north west entrance? Help. We travel in a 40ft motor home. Thanks

[westernrvparkow]

DeanRIowa wrote:
Here is a link to previous post talking about Fishing Bridge Campground in Yellowstone, including my thoughts.


Now for comparing Colter Bay to Flagg Ranch campgrounds in Tetons, my thoughts:

• Colter Bay better location for Tetons touring and on/near a Lake
• Colter Bay seemed more crowded though, when both were full
• Flagg Ranch better location for Yellowstone touring
• Flagg Ranch, the sites seemed to have bit more spacing
• Flagg Ranch the toilets were old and dirty

Dean

Flagg Ranch is now called Headwaters. The new management company (it is a lease from the Forest Service) has put a whole lot of money into the facilities. Can't say if they have replaced the toilets or not, but it is a facility that is definitely on the upswing. The one thing they can't improve, however, is the mosquitos. At certain times they attack like the black plague. And there are very limited resources in that location, so things like cell service, wifi, television, gas, supplies and the like are all scarce and expensive if available at all.

[DeanRIowa]

Here is a link to previous post talking about Fishing Bridge Campground in Yellowstone, including my thoughts.


Now for comparing Colter Bay to Flagg Ranch campgrounds in Tetons, my thoughts:

• Colter Bay better location for Tetons touring and on/near a Lake
• Colter Bay seemed more crowded though, when both were full
• Flagg Ranch better location for Yellowstone touring
• Flagg Ranch, the sites seemed to have bit more spacing
• Flagg Ranch the toilets were old and dirty

Dean

[jalichty]

Staying in Jackson or Victor will add needless time to your visit to the parks. Jackson is 35 miles from Jackson Lake which is 45 miles from the entrance to Yellowstone. Gros Ventre is on the "far" end of Grand Teton, much closer to Jackson but not that far from the Moose entrance so it's a good place to stay. Only reason I wasn't totally happy with it was the drive to the lake to fish as compared to Colter Bay. About 40 minutes from Gros Ventre to Jackson Lake from Gros Ventre as compared to less than five minutes to the ramp at Colter Bay. Also less fuel use as well. Liked Gros Ventre somewhat but since our main visit is for fishing Jackson Lake, we like Colter Bay much better.

As far as Yellowstone is concerned, it's not that far from West Yellowstone to get into the Park but for seeing the Park, you might be better off trying to camp inside if you can. Yellowstone is pretty big, about 140 or more miles of roads as well as all the hikes and features that you can't really drive to. Enjoy your trip and if you don't need FHU, Gros Ventre or Colter Bay campgrounds will work great for you. Grant village, a ways from the South entrance is a nice campground on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake which, in itself, is huge. It's over 20 highway miles from Grant Village to Bay Bridge and the Lake Hotel and Fishing Bridge campground.

[GeoBoy]

For the Grand Tetons NP stay at Coulter Bay and for Yellowstone NP stay at Grizzly RV Park in the town of West Yellowstone.
In 2014 I stayed at Flagg Ranch RV park, it was crude, dirty, no wi-fi and poorly managed. It is definitly not the place to stay if you want to enjoy Yellowstone NP.

[1971duster340]

We quit trying to stay east of the Teton Range or south and east of Yellowstone years ago. It got too busy, so we changed to W. Yellowstone for the Park visits, then move to Victor ID for the Teton visits. W Yellowstone is right at the west entrance and it's 24mi from Victor to Jackson. I know for the majority of people it's a first time experience, but we've had to adapt since the days we could arrive and stay about anywhere without reservations...yes, we're talking '60s to early '90s. Grizzly RV Park in W Yellowstone and Teton Valley RV Park in Victor ID.

[2gypsies1]

With our 40' motorhome we've stayed IN the parks themselves - better scenery and less driving.

Yellowstone - Mammoth, Madison, Bridge Bay. Fishing Bridge is the full hookup park in the park but we haven't stayed there. Dry camping is just fine with us. We've also stayed just outside of West Yellowstone at Baker's Hold national forest campground. Since we've been to Yellowstone so often we sometimes use Baker's to explore other areas outside the park, too.

Grand Teton - Gros Ventre is our absolute favorite IN the park. We've also stayed a Colter Bay campground IN the park. It is right next to Colter Bay RV if you need hookups. Gros Ventre and Colter Bay campground are both dry camping but have a water fill and dump station. Neither one accepts reservations but each has 300 sites which rarely fill. Pull in by early afternoon and you'll get a spot.

Staying in the town of Jackson is too far of a drive if you plan to do much in the park. Also, you definitely won't have the gorgeous scenery.

You mentioned going THIS spring. It's now spring. 🙂 If you're leaving shortly, be sure to check that the roads will be open. Here's the official Yellowstone web site which gives you road information, campgrounds, and things to do. Each national park has a 'nps' site like this. Check them out.

Summer is the only time they can do road repairs. Click on the road construction link to see what's planned for this summer. There are some closures, detours and delays planned.

http://home.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

[westernrvparkow]

Jones714 wrote:
We will be visiting both the Tetons and Yellowstone this spring. We would like some recommendations for campgrounds in both areas. For the Tetons I will assume we want to be as close to or in Jackson Hole as possible? Yellowstone I'm thinking we will access from the north west entrance? Help. We travel in a 40ft motor home. Thanks

What do you consider spring? Weather really sets the agenda, and there are a number of locations that do not open early. Also, there is no Northwest Entrance, so it is kind of hard for people to give you recommendations based on that.
Do you want to dry camp or do you need hookups? Do you need hookups beyond W/S/E such as wifi or cable TV? Do you need good Cellular coverage? Whatever you decide, you probably need to get on with making reservations ASAP, there are already numerous posts about how parks are already booked.

[Dick_B]

For previous posts on this subject search for each location in the RV Parks section.

[TucsonJim]

Last year, we visited both parks, and I highly recommend Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch RV Park. It has full hook ups and is a very scenic area. It is centrally located between Grand Teton and Yellowstone. You are only two miles from the south entrance to Yellowstone, and a short drive from Jackson lake. There is a ton of wildlife in the area too. The lodge has a nice restaurant, and they also have gas and diesel pumps. Here's a link to their site:

Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch RV Park.

Please note that when you purchase your entrance fee to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, you can get a combined pass for ten days that will cost you $50. Or, you can spend $80 and get an access pass that is good for all national parks for a year. Of course, if you are 62 or older, you can get a permanent pass for a very modest fee.

Jim

[Alabama_Jim]

We really enjoy Yellowstone and the Tetons, I pray you have a fun and safe trip. We have been there several times, prior to buying our TT. I can't offer help on the campgrounds.

[CloudDriver]

If you can't get a reservation for Fishing Bridge inside Yellowstone, there are a number of private RV Parks in West Yellowstone. The one that gets the most mentions on the forum is Grizzly RV Park, which is just a few blocks from the west entrance station. We have stayed there a couple of times.

For Grand Teton, Colter Bay RV Park is inside the Park and is the only campground with FHU. If you prefer to stay in the town of Jackson (Jackson Hole is actually the name of the valley), try the Virginian RV Park, which is in town. If you can do without hookups, there is a Park Service campground at Colter Bay and the Gros Ventre Park Service campground closer to Jackson. We always stay at Gros Ventre for the Tetons and will be there again in early June.

[TenOC]

Jones714 wrote:
For the Tetons I will assume we want to be as close to or in Jackson Hole as possible? Yellowstone I'm thinking we will access from the north west entrance? Help. We travel in a 40ft motor home. Thanks

Dry camping some FHU

Bakers Hole NFS for YS -- few miles north of West YS


Gros Ventre Campground for Grand Tetons

[TexasShadow]

if you want hookups, Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone and Colter Bay RV in the Tetons are your only options for staying inside the parks.
West Yellowstone, MT has several rv parks and is right on the border of Yellowstone.
If you can live without hookups, you can do Mammoth or Bridge Bay...if you can get reservations. they have sites big enough but not many of them.
For the Tetons, we like staying down at Gros Ventre campground, with water and a dump station, 7 miles from Jackson, 3/4 miles from the park. But you can find a decent rv park in town. The Virginian looks good from the street and is on a tourist bus route.

[Bumpyroad]

if you want hookups in yellowstone, fishing bridge is where you want to make early reservations. be sure when you make the reservations point out you are 40 ft.
bumpy