Yellowstone Eastside or Westside

[tkoden]

I am planning my first family trip and I haven't been to yellow stone since I was a kid 20 yrs ago. Which side of Yellowstone is better to stay at? We will be coming from CA with our final destination being South Dakota. Are there more/better things to do and see on the Westside vs the Eastside?

[tkoden]

Thank you for the info and input. I managed to get into the fishing bridge campground (I hope I can fit). I am looking forward to the trip over the next two weeks.

[profdant139]

Well, with a baby in a backpack, I guess your hiking range depends on how strong the backpack carriers are! Our favorite hike was to Fairy Falls and the Imperial Geyser area -- about three miles each way, not hilly or difficult, and you get to have your own private geyser show, which teenaged boys would really enjoy -- it is noisy and violent. Just be careful where you step or sit, because some of the ground is hot, and the hot stuff is dangerously thin ground:



In that shot, I tried to time it so that the geyser would be going off during the shot, using the self timer on the camera mounted on a tripod. I could not catch the geyser at full height -- but this is what it looked like at its peak:



The falls are pretty cool, too -- you can get some idea of the scale by comparison to the size of my wife, in the lower right corner of the shot:



You could do this hike with a baby, if the baby will nap. Also, there are sandy places near the geyser that are safe for a crawling baby (test it with your hand first) -- the sandy places are buffalo wallows, where the bison come to scratch their backs in the sand.

If you are interested in more detail, here is a link to our blog post -- there is a lot of stuff in this post about other areas (like the Tetons), but just scroll down to the Yellowstone area:

Yellowstone blog post

[tkoden]

profdant139 - I have 2 foster sons, 17 & 19 and a 6 month old baby. The boys like fishing and exploring. We all like hiking but it has to be a pretty mild hike with the baby. We also like exploring dirt roads.

[profdant139]

Kirk, how old are your kids? Do they like to hike? How long can you spend at Yellowstone? Let us know what floats your boat and we can make some more specific recommendations.

[jalichty]

Xanterra is the concessionaire in the Park and manages most of the parks.

[tkoden]

Xanterra? Never heard of that site before. I am a complete campsite noob. I usually just dry camp at my company beach.

[maria_bettina]

Keep checking the Xanterra reservation website daily, because people are canceling all the time. It changes daily.

Example, I had a spot at Fishing Bridge but canceled it three days ago; I booked it a couple months ago but plans changed and I am tenting it now. I booked a spot at Grant Campground this morning (because there was nothing available the last few days). Good luck!

[bikendan]

jalichty wrote:
As far as the dry camping at Colter Bay, they are working on the water lines and other stuff on the bigger sites, about half the campground and they have a length limit of 24' on the part that's open, with no generator usage.

just to clarify, the Colter Bay Campground(not the RV Park)has some loops that generators are not allowed but also loops where they are allowed.

[leesan]

I also agree with Grizzly RV park. We are staying there this July. Reservations most likely are all taken if so you can stay inside the park on first come first campgrounds.This park is located on the West side of Yellowstone Good luck

[Bumpyroad]

Mr. Camper wrote:
Actually, I prefer the northern entrance (not to be confused with the northeast entrance). Second choice would be west.

my BIL and his friend stay at a campground a little North of the N entrance, on the yellowstone river IIRC.
bumpy

[jalichty]

As far as the dry camping at Colter Bay, they are working on the water lines and other stuff on the bigger sites, about half the campground and they have a length limit of 24' on the part that's open, with no generator usage. We were up there last week and couldn't get in so stayed at Gros Ventre. The work is supposed to be done by the 2nd of July and back in full operation. Hope so, because we plan on going up to Colter Bay around the 8th of July for a week.

[MTPockets1]

We are staying right now at Henry's Lake State Park in Idaho, 15 miles from West entrance. For reference, it's 50 miles from Henry's Lake to Old Faithful Geyser. They have added a brand new loop here with new bath house that looks pretty well ready to open. Grass has just been planted, but everything else looks finished. If interested, ask them about the new loop with full hook ups.

[TexasShadow]

the west yellowstone side is our favored choice if we can't get into one of the campgrounds inside the park.
we like staying about 15 miles south of the town of west yellowstone at Henry's Lake State park, water and elec and dump station. There is also a decent RV park just before you get to the state park turn off, with a very nice laundry.
west yellowstone has a museum or two and plenty of eateries and two little grocery stores and lots of shops for tourists.
east of yellowstone park is Cody. It is too far for commuting to and from the park, but has an outstanding museum of the West. There is also Buffalo Bill Cody's old hotel Irma with a great buffet and nightly shootout on the street.
But if you haven't been down into the Tetons Park, that's even better.
Lots to see out there.

[rr2254545]

Nothing east to speak off , suggest splitting time among the other three directions.

We are staying in Gardiner this next time for us.