yellowstone we are a coming

[jgkeeto]

well we made a perfect purchase of a used 2015 winnebago view and we LOVE it. as we had made plans to go to yellowstone, we couldn't make it this summer but plan on getting on the road, very late august early september and was hoping for some input from those that have gone.
is it going to be too late in september to camp in yellowstone? i saw a few of the campgrounds close like the 2nd week in sept? also, thinking that since school would have started, is it going to be less crowded?
we were planning on hitting montana area as well afterwards, we just wondering if the snow hits early or if we will be ok. plan on going to mount rushmore so any advice is helpful.
we were thinking of buying a toad to bring along, but thought it may be easier if we just rent a car, has anyone done this and any suggestions?
also, our MH is a diesel so how is the gas station situation in yellowstone in trying to find diesel?
we are just trying to get everything in order before heading out and looking for some good helpful tips, plus if you can recommend the best scenic campgrounds to stay at.
our trip can last anywhere from a month to 6 months so we are open on anything.

thanks all for your help ahead of time.

[ReneeG]

Thanks for the feedback, jalichty!

[jalichty]

ReneeG, I would think that, if you arrive at Colter Bay Campground after 9:00 am and before 11:00 am, which is check-out time, you'll find a camp spot that you will like. We went there, for the second time this year, after the 4th of July and ran into the longest entry line we have ever encountered, however, we got a very nice spot and after all those people checking in, the campground was not full. I would think the traffic would settle down a bit after the Eclipse broohaha and you should have a great chance to score a nice camp site.

[ReneeG]

Not meaning to hijack this thread, but has anyone arrived at Colter Bay Campground (the dry side, first come, first served) over the Labor Day weekend? We were planning on staying at Wolf Creek CG near Alpine over the Labor Day weekend since we are arriving on Saturday, then heading in on Tuesday to other campgrounds, but Wolf Creek is 85 miles from a location we want to check out and were thinking Colter Bay is closer, but the timing is my concern. Thanks!

[ReneeG]

bikendan wrote:

ReneeG wrote:
Thanks for the feedback jalichty and bikendan - Since we'll be going in September, we should be able to get a good site. Gee the website says something like $52 for hookup sites in the campground and just electricity? That's pretty high, IMO. I think it's pretty costly, even dry, so it will be for the experience. I'm one year away from the senior pass, so still the regular price for us this year.

We're setup for dry camping, so the $30 sites were fine with us.
Plus we weren't old enough then for the Golden Age pass.

We are now but I still wouldn't pay $22 more for just electricity.

Agree! Due to limited time there, looks like we'll be passing up Colter Bay, but we're using Campendium to locate FS CG's outside the boundaries for a more isolated feel and looking to stay at just a couple of campgrounds for more relaxation.

[bikendan]

ReneeG wrote:
Thanks for the feedback jalichty and bikendan - Since we'll be going in September, we should be able to get a good site. Gee the website says something like $52 for hookup sites in the campground and just electricity? That's pretty high, IMO. I think it's pretty costly, even dry, so it will be for the experience. I'm one year away from the senior pass, so still the regular price for us this year.

We're setup for dry camping, so the $30 sites were fine with us.
Plus we weren't old enough then for the Golden Age pass.

We are now but I still wouldn't pay $22 more for just electricity.

[Parrothead_Mike]

While Yellowstone is nice be sure to spend a good amount of time just south in the Grand Tetons. We actually enjoyed the Tetons more because it was less crowded. The hiking trails were practically deserted on the three hikes we went on and we were there in mid-July a few years ago.

You won't have any problems getting diesel around the parks. The prices might be a bit higher, but getting filled up isn't a problem. Just in case, be sure to fill up or top off your tanks when you have the opportunity.

Enjoy your trip.

[ReneeG]

Thanks for the feedback jalichty and bikendan - Since we'll be going in September, we should be able to get a good site. Gee the website says something like $52 for hookup sites in the campground and just electricity? That's pretty high, IMO. I think it's pretty costly, even dry, so it will be for the experience. I'm one year away from the senior pass, so still the regular price for us this year.

[bikendan]

We went to Colter Bay campground in September. Way better than the RV park and way cheaper.
Big sites with decent privacy.
At that time of the year, lots of available campsites.

I seem to also remember that the only sites with electric were ADA-handicapped campsites.

[jalichty]

ReneeG, the hookup sites you are referring to in the campground are only electric, no sewer or water. They are larger than most of the other sites and some of them are reserved for folks with physical problems needing electricity. While we were there in early July, everyone of the sites was filled every day we were there. You are right about the RV park sites being pretty close together and the cost is pretty high, I believe $71 per day without any discounts. The campground is $30 per day but only $15.50 with a senior pass, so a large difference in cost between the two.

[ReneeG]

Good post richardcoxid - we too live close, but not as close as you and are planning a trip, again, this fall and haven't seen it all and haven't stayed in all the campgrounds we want to, yet. As for Colter Bay - yes, they have two campgrounds - one the full hookup RV side and the other, the dry camping side, but there are now some sites with hookups. Both are named Colter Bay - Colter Bay RV Park and Colter Bay Campground. I really like the RV park, DH not so much due to the sites being close, so I'm hoping to try the campground side this time around. We've walked through there with our dogs while at the RV park and it's definitely less populated with the sites a little farther apart.

[richardcoxid]

Some general information about YNP (some general items apply to GTNP also)

YNP is about 45 miles E/W and about 65 miles N/S (2.2 mil. Acres total). The figure 8 loop road inside the park is about 140 miles around. The lower loop is 96 miles and the upper loop is 70 miles around and yes, it is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

Whatever time that you think you will need to see YNP you better double it, or to say it another way is that you will see one half as much as you planned on in the allotted time. The Bison think that they own the road (they do!) and will slow down the traffic to walking speed or all stop for 1/4 mile or more blocking both directions of travel, the thermal attractions also tie up traffic and with a 5 month long summer tourist season that coincides with a 5 month long road construction season and a 45 MPH radar controlled speed limit it will take about a full day to see each loop and then you will only see the main attractions. In addition to the occasional construction delays they will also sometimes close whole sections of road (for uninterrupted night construction) between 10 PM and 8 AM in the morning, if you are running late and get caught at night in the wrong area it CAN be a LONG way around to your CG! (The entrance stations will have current construction information or go on line to check it out)

Then there is the elevation- YNP ranges from a low at Mammoth- 6239 ft to 7784 ft at Fishing Bridge or higher if you go hiking and there are passes on the grand loop road that are close to 8000 ft or so! Drink plenty of liquids and pace yourself when walking.

I recommend that you get up EARLY, leave the CG and be back by 4 or 6 PM have dinner and be sitting in your recliner drinking a cool one when your neighbor drags himself back to the CG at 8-10 PM. Remember that from mid May to mid July in YNP the sun doesn't set until about 9:30- 9:45 PM then there is a long twilight.

Cell Phone Service- Only at the major visitor centers, otherwise non-existent!

Clothing- Especially in the early or late season it is not unusual to have a 30 or even the occasional 40 degree temperature change throughout the day. Dress with easily shed layers of clothing. Also dress in bright easily seen clothing. I am sure that we all have been to a sporting event, parade or Disney World etc. and we blink our eyes and our partner/child has disappeared. My DIL was born and raised in HI, you guessed it, every Xmas, b-day or Father's Day I receive a Hawaiian shirt. One of them is shiny black with 4-5 inch dia. bright flowers. Not many of them in Wyoming and in YSNP, that is what I wear. If your partner has on a Violet blouse and a Orange scarf with a Pink hat I guarantee that she will be the only one within the boundaries of either NP. It can save you a few anxious moments.

Water- Now I will have to contradict myself, at the altitude of YNP yes, drink lots of water! HOWEVER, be aware that the flush toilet restrooms are are in the major tourist areas- Mammoth, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Lake Hotel, Bridge Bay, Grant Village, Old Faithful, Madison Junction etc. The geyser basins and other thermal attractions areas have only pit toilets. I have seen the pit toilet line at the lower Geyser Basin (2 holes) 25 or more feet long (bless the tour buses) So be smart about drinking your water and use the major tourist area R/Rs before leaving the area!

Sun- At YSNP altitude the Sun is intense (uv)have and apply sunscreen, wear that old floppy wide brim sun hat, wear Sunglasses!

If your luck is like mine Old Faithful will have just erupted when you get there and you will have up to a hour and 10 to 15 minutes wait for the next one. Tour tour the O/F Geyser basin while waiting. O/F INN is a must see, reportedly the largest LOG building in the U.S. (Meals in the O/F dinning room are “OK” also.

We have lived about 110 miles from West Yellowstone, MT since 1964, go to YSNP 3-4 times a summer (normally before Memorial Day and after Labor Day) and haven't seen it all yet! So don’t be discouraged that you didn’t have the time to see all of it. Just plan on coming back another time!

I honestly don’t mean to scare or discourage you but to give you a heads up as to what to expect! After all there was 4.1 million visitors in 2015! As far as I know we didn’t lose one of them. Except those who by their own stupidity step off the board walks into BOILING HOT water and ignoring the warnings about the WILD ANIMALS! That is called purifying the gene pool!

Note I have seen on this blog and others about folks “day tripping” from YSNP to GTNP, it is done all the time (myself included) however remember this is BIG country and with the speed limits, animals and thermal attractions you will be doing a LOT of driving. From Grant Village Visitor Center (extreme S/E corner of the lower loop road) to Jackson, WY is about 80 miles with Coulter Bay being about 1/2 way then from Grant Village you have to add the distance to your CG it will be a Long days trip! A point of clarification- there are two (2) CG’s at Coulter Bay, sorry I have forgotten their names! One a full service “RV Park” with FHU’S that takes reservations. T he other “CG” has no hookups and doesn’t take reservations. They are basically across the road from each other.

When in the Jackson area I highly recommend seeing the Bar J Chuckwagon dinner show! If you go, MAKE RESERVATIONS and BE THERE EARLY TO PICK UP YOUR MEAL TICKETS/ TABLE SEATING ASSIGNMENTS! They seat you by when you show up to get your tickets NOT by your reservation number. Tim, their fiddle player has won the "Idaho state old time fiddle contest 7 times and the US open fiddle championship twice". If you decide to go you will sit at picnic type of bench seats/table, they get pretty hard, I recommend that you take along a blanket/pads to sit on. We day trip it there 2-4 times every summer just to see them! Disclaimer- We have no financial or other interest in the Bar J only that it will be the best $$ value for your money for your trip! Check out their website.
Also in Jackson check out the “COWBOY” bar, the bar stools are saddles and the # of Silver Dollars in the bar.

http://www.barjchuckwagon.com.

[TragedyTrousers]

Your going to LOVE it. Was out there last year 2nd week of Sept at Grant Campground. Sept 15 was last day campground was open before closing for the winter. Best trip we ever took. Make sure you have reservations. We had scores of people without reservations coming up to the ranger station trying to find campsites. Everything was full. Fishing Bridge has full hookups but its more like camping in a parking lot. Grant was much nicer but no electric, water or sewer. They do have a dump station and water though. Generator use is limited. We had 2 inches of snow last few days we were there.

Horse Thief campground was nice near Mt. Rushmore. Highly recommend taking a scenic drive on the needles Hwy.

[ReneeG]

We live fairly close to YNP and TGT that it's our favorite place to visit and we plan to go again this September, our favorite and usual time to visit. We've even visited in October seeing a dusting of snow when we woke up! We dry camp a lot as we are self contained and tow with a diesel. Diesel is available as a previous poster stated. Yes, some campgrounds in the park and some outside close mid September, but you will always find one available. Outside of West Yellowstone is Baker's Hole, a FS CG with electric sites and they stay open as long as weather permits. They are right on the Madison River and you can hear elk bugling and wolves howling at night from there. A little further outside of West Yellowstone into Idaho is Henry's Lake State Park and numerous private RV parks too. Red Rock is a little further out, but nice if you prefer that. Within West Yellowstone are others, including Grizzly which is a favorite and late in the year, it's not as busy and they offer discounts, plus free coffee and cocoa every morning! Your view will fit in Madison, our fifth wheel will not, but we have a lot of options, including dry camping or boondocking which is what we prefer. There's also Colter Bay RV Park and Campground on Jackson Lake. Super nice too. We've even stayed off the Togwotee Pass at Falls CG several times (electric sites in one loop) and driven in to the parks. So, there's a lot of options, but Falls can close too depending on the weather since it is a 8000 + in elevation. Last time we were there in 2015, we left early because our weather band warned of a snow storm and we didn't want to be driving down that pass on snow. Check numerous campground links for information:
Campsitephotos.com
Campgroundviews.com
National Forest Camping Guide
Campendium
Yellowstone Park Camping
Grand Teton National Park Camping

I use all of these to plan our camping. Campendium is my favorite because previous campers post reviews and photos, plus Google Maps displays the exact location for you to view.

Good luck and enjoy.

[RGar974417]

We live west of Reading,Pa and were there in May 2016. May and September are the best months.Nice weather and fewer people.Yes, you will have fewer choices for campsites,but that's ok. We stayed at Madison. No hookups but you can run your generator during certain hours. If you don;t have 2 batteries,I would add another one. Madison is centrally located. We were there 4 days,but should have had 2 more. Some highlights were the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,seeing a grizzly mom with 3 cubs and eating in the Inn at Old Faithful. The lobby is beautiful.If you want more info on routes and campgrounds along the way,message me.