Yellowstone/Grand Tetons in September 2014
We are planning a 3 week trip (1 week traveling to and from Texas, 2 weeks there) to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons for 2014, and we are thinking September would be a good time to avoid crowds and see the f...
Forum Discussion
We would suggest at least one week in the Tetons - especially if you like to hike. The trails are wonderful and for all abilities. Also plan to take a gentle float trip down the Snake River and you just might see a moose in the water next to you. There's lots to do in the Teton area.
For the Tetons, if you need full hookups, the only good place is Colter Bay RV Park. It's right next door to the huge 300-site non-hookup national park campground called Colter Bay. We like Gros Ventre campground (another 300 site) in the park - non-hookups.
Yellowstone - Fishing Bridge is the most convenient and is full hook-ups. Folks will say it's a 'parking lot' but as you can see from these pictures, there are many trees so to us, it's not a barren 'parking lot'.
Fishing Bridge Campground
We like Mammoth, in the park but it doesn't accept reservations and it's non-hookup and no dump station although you can dump on your way in or other at Madison. We've also stayed at Madison. Since we've been to Yellowstone many times and sometimes we just want to explore more of the area outside the park and just go into the park a couple days, we'll stay at a forest service campground about a mile north of West Yellowstone called Baker's Hole (Gallatin Nat'l Forest). It's a very, very pleasant place to stay and there are approx. 15 sites with electric and the rest non-electric. No water fill. No dump - so come prepared. There are water spigots which can be used for fill. It's on the Madison River and is in such a pretty setting. However, we find that staying outside the park for a main Yellowstone visit isn't convenient.
Yellowstone is for animals. Grand Tetons is for beauty and hiking. They are two very different parks in looks. Yes, Yellowstone does have hiking trails but to us, they're not as scenic as those in the Tetons.
For major groceries, there are two stores just south of the town of Jackson, WY near the Tetons. One is Smith's on the west side of the highway which has an attached liquor store and a laundry and fuel station - good prices. The other is Albertson's on the east side of the highway. There's also good fuel price to be had further south at Alpine/Thayne areas if you're coming in or leaving from the south. West Yellowstone has two mom&pop small groceries.
We haven't stayed at either Fishing Bridge or Colter Bay RV Parks as we like the non-hookups parks better...but that's just us.
For the Tetons, if you need full hookups, the only good place is Colter Bay RV Park. It's right next door to the huge 300-site non-hookup national park campground called Colter Bay. We like Gros Ventre campground (another 300 site) in the park - non-hookups.
Yellowstone - Fishing Bridge is the most convenient and is full hook-ups. Folks will say it's a 'parking lot' but as you can see from these pictures, there are many trees so to us, it's not a barren 'parking lot'.
Fishing Bridge Campground
We like Mammoth, in the park but it doesn't accept reservations and it's non-hookup and no dump station although you can dump on your way in or other at Madison. We've also stayed at Madison. Since we've been to Yellowstone many times and sometimes we just want to explore more of the area outside the park and just go into the park a couple days, we'll stay at a forest service campground about a mile north of West Yellowstone called Baker's Hole (Gallatin Nat'l Forest). It's a very, very pleasant place to stay and there are approx. 15 sites with electric and the rest non-electric. No water fill. No dump - so come prepared. There are water spigots which can be used for fill. It's on the Madison River and is in such a pretty setting. However, we find that staying outside the park for a main Yellowstone visit isn't convenient.
Yellowstone is for animals. Grand Tetons is for beauty and hiking. They are two very different parks in looks. Yes, Yellowstone does have hiking trails but to us, they're not as scenic as those in the Tetons.
For major groceries, there are two stores just south of the town of Jackson, WY near the Tetons. One is Smith's on the west side of the highway which has an attached liquor store and a laundry and fuel station - good prices. The other is Albertson's on the east side of the highway. There's also good fuel price to be had further south at Alpine/Thayne areas if you're coming in or leaving from the south. West Yellowstone has two mom&pop small groceries.
We haven't stayed at either Fishing Bridge or Colter Bay RV Parks as we like the non-hookups parks better...but that's just us.
