Yellowstone in October?

[coruss]

We are planning on going to Yellowstone the second week of October. We have a Nash 25r (27ft overall).

As far as I can tell there are only 3 campgrounds open this late, Lewis Lake, Mammoth and Madison. Ideally, we would like to spend a few days at Lewis Lake on the south side of the park and then a few days on the north side at either Madison or Mammoth.

Looking at the forest service website it says that Lewis Lake is 25ft overall, including truck and camper. Is this correct, has anyone one here stayed at Lewis Lake? Would a 27ft camper fit? We tried to call but in typical federal gov fashion we could not find a live person to ask.

If Lewis Lake is not an option we would probably spend the majority of the trip at Madison. Is this a decent location to see most of the park from without driving several hours each day?

Thanks

[russelln]

coruss wrote:
We are planning on going to Yellowstone the second week of October. We have a Nash 25r (27ft overall).

As far as I can tell there are only 3 campgrounds open this late, Lewis Lake, Mammoth and Madison. Ideally, we would like to spend a few days at Lewis Lake on the south side of the park and then a few days on the north side at either Madison or Mammoth.

Looking at the forest service website it says that Lewis Lake is 25ft overall, including truck and camper. Is this correct, has anyone one here stayed at Lewis Lake? Would a 27ft camper fit? We tried to call but in typical federal gov fashion we could not find a live person to ask.

If Lewis Lake is not an option we would probably spend the majority of the trip at Madison. Is this a decent location to see most of the park from without driving several hours each day?

Thanks

We are planning the exact same trip at the same time. We are in a 25'Class C with a toad. Think we will to the Madison and Mammoth thing too.
I guess with weather you just have to be flexible. It's late winter here in New Zealand so we are acclimatised.....I hope 😉

[2gypsies1]

Even if it's cold and snow now doesn't mean it will be that way in October. We've been there in October with awesome sunny weather.

[westernrvparkow]

Twomed wrote:
Check construction road closures. Norris to Mammoth closes 9/11. If Dunraven closes for snow... no travel around.

Mammoth/Norris is scheduled to reopen on October 7th.

[coruss]

Thanks for the heads up on the weather. The temps do not bother us and we camp often in the winter. We'll check and make sure it does not look like a bunch of snow is going to come in before we leave.

[DrewE]

I have rather vivid memories of tent camping with my mom in Yellowstone in October (I think it was October) once as a child. It was beautiful weather during the day, 50's and sunny and comfortable.

It was six degrees the first morning we camped there. In a tent, six degrees is mighty chilly.

We decided to stay in a motel for the second night. 🙂

[Allworth]

There is snow on Dunraven and Electric Peaks this morning.

See:

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

[Opie431]

We were in Yellowstone the first week in October and woke up in the morning to sleet. That may have not been normal but I would do a search on what is.
It was our last day there so it did not matter.

[Allworth]

It is already in the upper 20's some nights (check Weather.com). The passes are likely to be closed by the time you get there and construction on Norris-Madison will have that closed.

You will probably want to stay at Madison for the North part and maybe even West Yellowstone for the South. (We are not big fans of Grizzly, but most people seem to like it).

The last time we were there in the Fall, we got 6 inches of new snow on October 12 and the only way out from the Old Faithful Lodge (we didn't have the trailer with us) was through West Entrance and back down through Idaho to Jackson. Some of the other roads were not plowed for a week.

[Twomed]

Check construction road closures. Norris to Mammoth closes 9/11. If Dunraven closes for snow... no travel around.

[coruss]

Thanks for the replies.

[2gypsies1]

Madison and Mammoth would be the best places for your stay. Lewis Lake would involve a lot of driving to see the whole park. There really isn't much around it.

[Army11Bravo]

Madison is a great spot for the lower half of Yellowstone and the spaces are plenty large for your rig.

[kknowlton]

What CloudDriver said. You are aware that there are no hookups at either CG, right?

[CloudDriver]

We have been to Lewis Lake campground a couple of times with our 24 ft MH, no toad. Sites are small and there is a sign at the entrance to the campground with the 25 ft limit. Your trailer/TV combo isn't going to fit.

Based on the choices you have, we would use Madison for the lower loop and move to Mammoth for the upper loop and the Lamar Valley. IMO Madison is a better location than Lewis lake for the lower loop anyway.