My family and I are planning our summer trip next year. 3 weeks, from Western NY to Yellowstone and Glacier National park and back. I have lots of questions but here are a few to get me started.1) what is the max length of RV (class A or C) that is easy to get a spot in the parks.2) there are my wife and I plus our 5 kids, is there a limit for how many can be in a camp site? I saw some restrictions of 6.3) we tent camped 2 years ago and stayed in hotels on our grand canyon trip. It was fun but we spent alot of time loading and unloading in and out of the suburban.4) what is a good route to take, would like to see something every day and do not want to drive more than 6hrs per day if possible.Thanks,Joe

Just returned from a vacation which included a week at West Yellowstone. Our troop included my wife and myself, two 5 year old grandchildren, my daughter and son-in-law all in our 39ft MH. Fantastic trip. We stayed at the KOA West Yellowstone, which is about 6 miles from the park entrance. Lovely RV park, and I chose it because they allow tents outside the MH. As luck would have it, it rained every evening, and we decided to all sleep inside, but it was still a good choice as it is a lovely RV park. We traveled with another couple who traveled in their rig. Therefore we rented a 15 passenger van from BIG SKY Rentals in West Yellowstone. This turned out to be a wonderful plan, as we could see everything and pull into all the turnouts without concern. They also rent smaller vans and cars. Very Nice people to deal with. As for what size RV is best: Bigger RVs sleep people more comfortably. But a large RV just will not fit into the turnouts and pullouts. Many years ago, like 30 or 35, we traveled Yellowstone in a 28foot C, I remember that we could not fit into many of the turnouts back then...and the roads have not changed. Hope this helps with your planning.Have fun

More thoughts for your trip: Some of the fantastic views in Yellowstone are on smaller, one way roads restricted to motorhomes and trailers. Example, the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone" and a warm water swimming area along the river. Renting a car or van for travels through Yellowstone really seems like a good idea. If you can fit it into your schedule go to the Bar-J Western show in Jackson, Wy.Glacier National Park has a great Red Bus Touring system operated by the park which will take you up the Highway To the Sun and around the park. You could rent a car there, but you can do just as well with tourist transportation. If you go into Canada, be sure to take the family to Buffalo Jump, a Canadian museum and display about early Indian buffalo hunting.Again, Have Fun.

Depending on the age and size of the children, a class "C" might have better acomodations than a class "A" since in a class "C" you have a queen size bed plus you can lower the dinnete table and have a kids bed and if it comes with a couch you have another bed, try to get one that also has rear bedroom that way you have a separate space for the adults.Look for units that have the overhead cab bed, a dinnete, couch and rear bedroom, remember that most of the time you are going to be out doors unless it is inclement weather, then you are going to apreciate the space, specially the separate bedroom with a slidind door.navegator

Spring, is a relative term, in Jamestown, Spring comes, what, Early April,(maybe), in April or even May, parts of, (if not all)Yellowstone & Glacier will still be closed, Glacier is usually not completely open until late June or early July.

kalynzoo wrote:Just returned from a vacation which included a week at West Yellowstone. Our troop included my wife and myself, two 5 year old grandchildren, my daughter and son-in-law all in our 39ft MH. Fantastic trip. We stayed at the KOA West Yellowstone, which is about 6 miles from the park entrance. Lovely RV park, and I chose it because they allow tents outside the MH. As luck would have it, it rained every evening, and we decided to all sleep inside, but it was still a good choice as it is a lovely RV park. We traveled with another couple who traveled in their rig. Therefore we rented a 15 passenger van from BIG SKY Rentals in West Yellowstone. This turned out to be a wonderful plan, as we could see everything and pull into all the turnouts without concern. They also rent smaller vans and cars. Very Nice people to deal with. As for what size RV is best: Bigger RVs sleep people more comfortably. But a large RV just will not fit into the turnouts and pullouts. Many years ago, like 30 or 35, we traveled Yellowstone in a 28foot C, I remember that we could not fit into many of the turnouts back then...and the roads have not changed. Hope this helps with your planning.Have funThanks kalynzoo!I like the idea of the rental van, this would be great in the park, last time I was there we went through it in my parents conversion van, we rented a house in Montana and drove in.I want a 40' one, but am nervous of going to the national parks with it as that will be the main focal points for our trips, the following year I want to make it to Cali, Washington, Oregon.I like the optional washing machine/driers...

best rv for Yellowstone/ Glacier National park in spring

Allworth
Explorer II
Sep 12, 2014
Check the manufacturer's max tow rating for any Class A you are considering. That Burb is heavy.
bigjoesanfilipp
Explorer
Sep 10, 2014
So, I am leaning toward a motorhome that can haul the suburban for jaunts and easy day trips etc. I am looking at these Thor Palazzo 33.3 and the Legacy 340BH bunk houses. Like the sleeping areas with the over driver sleeping area, that my oldest has dibs on if we get one..

One issue, I know the washer and drier will be a big plus but these are not available in the bunk models I have seen.

Can you get a add on washer and drier?

PS with a big Class A like this we could go longer on the trips as the rest of the team wont get as fatigued and cramped..
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Sep 06, 2014
Ivylog wrote:
It's 2000 miles from western NY to Yellowstone and at 300 miles a day (6 hours) it's going to take a week to get there on a three week trip. That leaves a week to see the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier??? I was serious about seeing Kansan or Nebraska at night as the OP needs to put in some 750 mile days so they have two weeks to see what they are going for. OK, Mt Rushmore is worth seeing but the Bad Lands are well named so buy the video of it. If the OP's trip was 5-6 weeks then fine do 300 mile days and yes there are some things worth seeing in-between.

^^^^ This!

Look, we took a 5700 mile trip this summer in 3 weeks. California to Branson and back. I told myself that would be my last trip doing that. When I was younger it was fine. Now it's just a grind.

We only had 2 days to see and do things in Branson and then it was on the road again to go back to California. This is driving fast with really good equipment.

Did we see lots of things? Yep! Did we do lots of things? Yep! Would I do it again? Nope! A trip like that really takes around 2 months or so.

You're going to have around 90 hours of driving alone. That is just driving to and from Yellowstone. That leaves just a few hours to see things.

Can you do it? Yep. But it's going to be a grind. Good luck no matter what you do and have fun!
bukhrn
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2014
Ivylog wrote:
It's 2000 miles from western NY to Yellowstone and at 300 miles a day (6 hours) it's going to take a week to get there on a three week trip. That leaves a week to see the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier??? I was serious about seeing Kansan or Nebraska at night as the OP needs to put in some 750 mile days so they have two weeks to see what they are going for. OK, Mt Rushmore is worth seeing but the Bad Lands are well named so buy the video of it. If the OP's trip was 5-6 weeks then fine do 300 mile days and yes there are some things worth seeing in-between.
Sorry, I missed the 3 week part, one week to see Yellowstone, Tetons, & Glacier, is about 1/3 of the time needed, one week is barely enough time to do Yellowstone by itself, I know there are those that say they did Yellowstone in 3 days, trust me, if you do Yellowstone in 3 days, you're not seeing much.
Perhaps the OP should break up his trip & save Glacier for another trip.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2014
It's 2000 miles from western NY to Yellowstone and at 300 miles a day (6 hours) it's going to take a week to get there on a three week trip. That leaves a week to see the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier??? I was serious about seeing Kansan or Nebraska at night as the OP needs to put in some 750 mile days so they have two weeks to see what they are going for. OK, Mt Rushmore is worth seeing but the Bad Lands are well named so buy the video of it. If the OP's trip was 5-6 weeks then fine do 300 mile days and yes there are some things worth seeing in-between.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
Ivylog wrote:
OP, In NPs there are roads, especially in Yellowstone that are restricted to 20' or less vehicles... cars/PU so even a short Class C is prohibited. Buy a BIG MH and tow something that will handle your family for sightseeing. Do not make the mistake I made of listening to those that say 36' is the biggest for NPs. I bought a used 36' DP and it did not take very long to realize that is not true. We were in the Tetons and Yellowstone this summer and stayed in three different USFS CG's in our 42' without reservations in late June.
There is not much between NY and WY worth seeing compared to WY and MT so 6 hour days will be a waste of time that you should be spending in the West on a three week trip. While I do not suggest you follow my example this summer of N GA to Jackson Hole in 48 hours... the two best ways to see Kansas or Nebraska is at night or from 30,000'.
I know we're not all the same, or all want to see & do the same things, but I wouldn't agree with that, We found the Bad Lands & Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, area to be very much worth seeing, even thought Devils Tower was worth the stop, true, it's not Yellowstone or Glacier, but well worth the time to see.
bsinmich
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
We were there with a couple of Grandchildren on Father's Day 2003 and all we saw of Old Faithful was in a blizzard. That was great be cause the Grandchildren were from Atlanta and hadn't seem that much snow before. The NE pass was also closed because of snow. This was late June.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
OP, In NPs there are roads, especially in Yellowstone that are restricted to 20' or less vehicles... cars/PU so even a short Class C is prohibited. Buy a BIG MH and tow something that will handle your family for sightseeing. Do not make the mistake I made of listening to those that say 36' is the biggest for NPs. I bought a used 36' DP and it did not take very long to realize that is not true. We were in the Tetons and Yellowstone this summer and stayed in three different USFS CG's in our 42' without reservations in late June.
There is not much between NY and WY worth seeing compared to WY and MT so 6 hour days will be a waste of time that you should be spending in the West on a three week trip. While I do not suggest you follow my example this summer of N GA to Jackson Hole in 48 hours... the two best ways to see Kansas or Nebraska is at night or from 30,000'.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Hawk,
You're right. When I mapped it I got 2500 miles and doubled it. When I typed my answer, I doubled it again. Brain fade.
hawkeye-08
Explorer III
Sep 04, 2014
Jim Shoe wrote:
I'd be more concerned that you're planning a 10,000 mile round trip and have 21 days to complete it. That's 500 miles a day - every day, and that's expressway miles. If you just do Yellowstone, that knocks it down to 400 miles a day. And there's two adults and 5 kids.

What map are you using to get 10,000 miles? New York City to Glacier is 2598 miles one way. Double that to go back home and you're still under 6,000 miles even with some side trips.