Road Trip to Yellowstone - Help!

[sfrenchie1980]

We are brand new to RV'ing and are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park and The Tetons in mid September 2016. Do we need to rent a car as well? Or can we drive our class C into each attraction?? It's 32'5"
I have reservations at Canyon Campground and Grant Campground. I also need to make reservations for the Tetons.
I have planned to visit Upper Geyser basin, old faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring Etc, Lamar Valley, and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Any advice and/or suggestions is greatly appreciated!!

[littlemo]

Rent a car!

[kwplot34]

we were just there in july, stayed at fishing bridge for 3 nights. 26ft class c. had no problems what so ever getting around or finding a place to park

[ccchuck]

nine trips to Yellowstone (spring, summer, fall, and NOT in the RV winter) - 2 without a car...
its easier, and more fun having a car with your camper.

[sfrenchie1980]

All of this information is SO helpful! I don't know why I said September yesterday, we are going in mid August. It's sounding like I should rent a car...

[scroller95969]

We were there 11 days and did it no problem with our 24' class C. Be advised however that RV's of any size are prohibited on Firehole Lake Drive, Firehole Canyon Drive, Fairy Falls parking (however there is parking on 89 and you can walk in) and Blacktail Plateau Drive. These are ones that I know of and all of these I wanted to see and wasn't able to except for the Fairy Falls trail. If we were to do it again for the same amount of time I would rent a car for 3 days and use the RV on the other 8.

[WA7NDD]

We live in Rigby, Idaho 90 miles from Yellowstone and have been there many time. I use to repair two-way radio for the Ranges. I have been though park with my 26 foot Four Winds. Because of the size I found parking not a problem. What I do not like, and still don't, are people who park anywhere on the road they feel like because they see an animal off the side of the road. Don't go speeding around a blind corner, there are many, because someone could be parked just around the corner looking at something, not thinking. Roads are narrow. Narrow enough that there is little room for your motor home and a line of bicycles. You have to pull out around them. You think I am kidding, many are in a race of some kind with numbers on them. The park had a record turnout this year, over 3 million people, and the price went from 25 to 50 dollars for admission. Weather is good, in the 80's this week, here at 4800 feet. Snow has been reported above 7000 feet. Most of the passes over the Continental Divide are over 8000 feet. Heading out to Jackson Hole you will cross the divide several times. You will find out what your motor home is made of. My V10 had no problems with anything in the park. Good luck, have fun, watch the blind corners and bickers. There should be fewer people in the park. The locals go up just after park opens to see the Buffalo caves. We call them orange drops. There has been one bear kill this year, a park employee, and several sightings on the roads. In the 60's they were all over the road. That stopped after all the garbage dumps and cans were made bear proof, if there is such a thing.

[2lazy4U]

Was there in mid-Sept. a couple of years ago in a car, and that was bad enough. No way I'd do it in an RV. Besides, what if a buffalo or elk decides to ram it? Not that far-fetched, either. I met a guy who'd had his entire front end destroyed (car) by a buffalo when the guy behind him honked at it. Much easier and cheaper to repair a car.

[Bobbo]

I took my 32' C to Yellowstone in Sept 2011. While you CAN do it without a car, you will have a much better time with far fewer white knuckle moments with a car.

There are places where the RV will fit nicely, e.g. Old Faithful, there are others where, at best, it will be very tight. There are places where you just can't go in the RV. You have to decide how much of the park you are willing to miss.

I recommend renting the car. I towed my Subaru.

[tjfogelberg]

The key to your post is that you will be visiting in Mid-September. The park will still be busy but not like July and August. We just wrapped up a 9 day visit to Yellowstone and the surrounding area (mid-Sept 2015). Nice weather and low gas prices = unusual numbers of visitors for the post Labor Day Period. We did one tour with our toad and were gone for most of the day with the 2 dogs. It was exhausting traveling in the car without the use of our bathroom, kitchen, and RV to rest in. We did a 2nd day tour with the RV and had no trouble finding places to park. (Our RV is 27' Class C). (We had the toad behind us). We are learning that we don't like car trips! I vote for taking the RV!! Old Faithful has a HUGE parking lot and plenty of places for RV parking. If you bring bikes, you could add another dimension to the trip by biking on the smaller park roads that DO NOT allow RVs or buses.(I would not recommend biking on any park roads that have RVs or buses on them). It was busy almost everywhere we went but there were always place to park the car or RV. If you have time, the drive between the East Gate and Cody WY is not to be missed. Tons of camping options on that route and also inside the town of Cody itself. Try to spend 1 night at Newton Creek Forest CG 20 miles outside of East Gate $15 great place of indescribable beauty. Wapiti Forest Service CG (between East Gate and Cody) also very nice and has electricity at most sites. Check on closure dates as these do close for the season all at different dates.

[kalynzoo]

You can certainly see most attractions in the 32fter. All of the major points are accessible. However, there are many smaller turnouts in Yellowstone that are to narrow for the RV. Also, if it is crowded, as the previous picture noted, many of the pullouts will be full, so you will either look, wave, and drive by, or park a long distance way to walk back. We rented a 15 passenger van from BIG SKY Rental in West Yellowstone. Two families in two rigs, this way we could tour together. Anyway, they were great people to work with, very flexible. Located across from the firestation close to the west entrance of the park. Their mechanic also saved our vacation when the engine a/c on my RV froze up. In Jackson don't miss the Bar-J Chuckwagon show and dinner. They have RV parking, but again, traffic in Jackson can be a bit intense and parking is limited, so if you can rent a car, do.
Happy Trails,

[intheburbs]

You can do it without renting a car, but only do it if you're REALLY comfortable in tight positions and can maneuver your rig well. Otherwise, rent the car.

This pic sums up the craziness of Yellowstone in the summer. Wildlife, traffic, and RVs. Don't be this guy (laid his back end on the road - was dead stuck and needed a tow truck):

[mda]

You would be better off renting a car. Many of the parking areas are not that big, and many times the RV parking lanes are filled with cars. Guess people don't care where they park. You can rent a car in West Yellowstone. There are also small roads that do not allow RV's. I have been there twice, once with just 30 ft RV and recently with a towed car.. Much easier to get to places with the car and less stress finding a place to park.