Yellowstone First Come Campgrounds

[jesseannie]

We just scored two nights at Fishing Bridge campground at nearly the last minute.
But I have questions about the first come spaces in the rest of the park?
There is a live update site that tells when each campground filled yesterday and so far for the current day:
Questions:
Some fill very early before 7am how does that work if the gate doesn't open until 8am and the current campers have until 11am to leave?
If I show up at the gate at 4am do I get first shot at what is open?
Do the 5 campgrounds that take reservations also have some walk up sites?
Because I will already be in the park can I get in line with my truck, get a campsite and then go get my trailer and set up?
We want to stay another 6 or 8 days but I am confused about how this all works.
Any help will be appreciated.
jesseannie

[bukhrn]

Also, the person already in that site has the first option to renew (before checkout time).
I arrived at Two Medicine, at roughly 8:00 & spotted a couple that was packing up, so I "road camped" until they physically pulled out, then pulled in as they were off of the site.
Another way is, like the gentleman that got the site from me, the evening before, he checked the "out" date on my pole tag, then asked at what time I planned on leaving in the morning and was sitting waiting just as I did.

[RGar974417]

And,depending on your camper size, not every site available will fit you unit. We were in Yellowstone in mid May. We had reservations at Madison. We fit in the site we had reserved. But it was tight and even though it was a pull through,we had to back out of the site since trees on either side prevented us from driving out.

[jesseannie]

OP here.
There are "only" 2000 camping spots in Yellowstone.
Only a smaller percentage of those are available each day.
Somebody has got to get them I just want to see if I can be the lucky one.
I would like to avoid the combat part.

jesseannie

[3oaks]

Twomed wrote:
I see line ups at Norris (super cg) every morning at 0730...combat camping 🙂

That's not for us........:R

[Twomed]

I see line ups at Norris (super cg) every morning at 0730...combat camping 🙂

[2gypsies1]

Glad you got your site at Fishing Bridge at this late date. I hate when folks state six months prior that "you're too late, the sites are sold by now". It always pays to check even if it's a few days prior. You never know.

We've used Mammoth quite often in June, August & Sept. We stayed nearby the previous night (you'll be right in the park) and get there by 9:00 or so. We've always gotten a site.

If a campground is marked as full at 7am then I would think all the sites have been paid for through that day by those on those sites already.

We have also gotten sites at Madison and Bridge Bay without reservations by being there early - 8 am - for cancellation or no-show sites.

Since you will be at Fishing Bridge you might just ask if you can just drive your truck to get a new site or how a campground can be full by 7am. However, since you have to leave Fishing Bridge anyway because your two night stay will be up, it really wouldn't make sense to drive to get another site and then come back for your RV - depending what time check-out is at Fishing Bridge. Then, too, you just might be able to pick up additional days at Fishing Bridge as long as you're there by cancellations, if that would work for you.

Good luck!

[narcodog]

The are physically open 24/7 they are manned at 0800. If you come into the Park when the gates are not manned it is expected that at some time you will pay the fee.
To get a spot on the first come first serv.You need to get there early and wait until someone pulls out then jump on it. They have until 1100 to vacate the spot. So you could arrive about that time and get a spot.
The CG's that take reservations may have a spot if someone does not show up for theirs, they will hold a spot until 1600 hrs, I think. So you may get a spot then.

[Artum_Snowbird]

It seems that if your site has a finished date of today, anyone can come and claim it that morning, and the first to come then pay their fee and own it for that day. The crooked and tilted sites that the people had last night now become available to the newcomers through the gate at 8 AM. It's yet another way of saying first come, first serve, but you have to pay to stay... and being there first has to be worth something.