West Yelowstone camping

[RandandDoug]

Just got word that I will be working in YNP for the summer. We stayed in West Yellow last year while working at one of the campgrounds, but they had no monthly rates. Does anyone know of a decent place that offers monthly rates in and around West Yellowstone. We know it will be high, but some of the places for employees are nothing more than an alley with hookups, wondering how much more we might have to spend to get a actual campsite.
Thanks for any help

[RandandDoug]

Campfire looks like a nice place, but no campsites large enough for us. We will prob downsize in a year or two, and that one may be on our list!!

[narcodog]

You might look at Campfire Lodge and Resort. It's about 18 miles to West but it is quite and less pricey. There is no internet and spotty cell phone.

[kknowlton]

Lionshead is now a KOA. (There are 2 KOAs just outside of West Yellowstone, about a mile from each other.) I believe Lionshead is called something like KOA Mountainside.

[RandandDoug]

Yep, we loved the look of Valley View, much, much better than the in town parks. And the whole reason for being in that area is to enjoy the area, not a town. I can go a lot of places to enjoy a town, Yellowstone isn't one of them. But having spent an entire season there, I would like the convenience of being in town, and the ability to escape three days out of the week for 4-5 months will be well with putting up with the town on workdays.
Passing through or spending a week or so there now I would never camp in town. But I get why some people do, I think my wife would have a different opinion actually, and that gets "some" consideration!!!! hahaha Everybody is different in what camping/RVing means to them, to me it is traveling to an area and enjoying the area for at least a month, Yellowstone for example, we had been there a few times before, and spent 4 months there last year, and we are not done yet. We may actually look at property this year for a summer cabin, not sure I could get tired of that area. I didn't go into the park much at all during the peak times, mid-July thru late August, spent that time mostly west of the park in the nat'l forests and such. Just an incredible summer, and really looking forward to repeating it again this year!!

[RAS43]

We stayed at Lionshead RV Park in 2009 and it was nice, and quiet. It is 7.5 miles west from West Yellowstone. They have extended stay sites.

[bobsallyh]

Having stayed at Valley View numerous times on monthlies, there has always been several folks there that worked in West Yellowstone but not in the park. Always our choice when in the West Yellowstone area along with Bakers Hole Forest Service CG. But they have a 16 day limit.

[noe-place]

Been there a number of times and Grizzly is the only place we stay.

[TexasShadow]

X2 for valley view rv park if you want a bit roomier than the employees rv lots.
they have a very nice laundrymat there, too. but you may not like the commute.

[kcmoedoe]

I can't help with specifics for West Yellowstone, but I know that the park we stay at each spring at the North Entrance has complained for years that the concessionaires repeatedly hire people without telling them that housing and RV spaces are almost non-existent for those employees. They field dozens of requests for seasonal sites and the conversation ends when they explain that a seasonal site would be $1350.00 per month, if they had one to rent. Monthly rents for RV spaces near Yellowstone often run in excess of $1000, often well in excess. That puts it out of reach for the vast majority of workers. The trick is to get either an employee site provided or be placed at one of the parks where the concessionaires pay a large portion of the rent. That needs to be done upfront, I have never heard of anyone who got a site tossed in after they took a position. This thread needs to be a cautionary tale for people seeking seasonal positions at Yellowstone. Make sure housing or an RV site allowance is part of the compensation.

[kknowlton]

Yes, there is a stay limit at Henrys Lake. I believe it's 14 days.

[tsetsaf]

We stayed here it is nice and they were not too busy. Daily is high but seasonal may be better Rustic Wagon RV Campground & Cabins

Also that same site has videos of every single RV park and campground in West Yellowstone so you can check them out yourself CampgroundViews.com Kind of like Google Street View for RV parks.

We have also stayed at Grizzly and that was expensive.

If you are willing to commute my personal favorite is Henry's Lake State Park they have paved full hookup sites now! Probably have length of stay provision but if you are forced to break up your stays why not.

Also if you don't mind a dirty car and want to stay on the lake Madison Arm does have seasonal sites.

[RandandDoug]

Thanks for the responses. Keep them coming if someone knows anything or someone in the area.
There are no available spots near the west gate in the parks employee spots, that's why we are looking, if we go back there is a good chance we could get one for the second year forward. Not worried about eating up the wages, we are in this to break even and spend our summers where we like to be. Plus, the job is only four days a week, so at least not a 5 day commute. And my workday will start at 0430-0500 each day, so traffic is not an issue.
Might consider the 13-15 mile drive in from valley view, but hoping to find a secret spot, there are some up there, that might be coming open for whatever reason.

[Cat_Lady]

I stayed at Valley View RV Park about 13 miles outside the gates of W. Yellowstone for about three months. This is a Passport America park. I paid either $300 or $350 a month (30amp f/h/u) plus $20/mo wifi, can't remember which rate. I think 50 amp is slightly higher but not by much. Roomy sites, no trees, a very large laundry/office. Gas station is next to the campground. Not a lot to do there but I only used it for R&R so wasn't a problem for me. I liked the park and will stay there again when I'm in the area. I stayed during the summer and left the first part of September. Traffic into WY was not a problem but I usually got there early.

Cat Lady

[2gypsies1]

I would really consider the park's employee spots if you're working in Yellowstone. The commute from outside the park would be unrealistic with the traffic and getting to work on time. Also, what you would pay for an RV park would surely eat up your wages.