what is the best time of year to hit yellowstone

[fxdave]

we didnt do our trip to yellowstone last year some had warned us we were to late ! so here we are we will be departing jacksonville fl ! so if any have done the trip from around here to there plse add must sees we also will be adding in a few stops in between ! looking for the best time of yer to do this thanks

[thelastplace]

A lot of what to see and do depends on how you plan on getting there. We like Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE, but we are sort of foodies. We follow the Travel Channel and eat where they say to eat. Your other problem is time of the year. We went to the Grand Canyon via San Antonio in April 2005. San Antonio was very nice but the Grand Canyon sucked. 35 degrees and gale force winds, sleet. It wasn't pretty. The problem is elevation. My guess would be for every 1000 ft above sea level (where you live) add at least a week for the weather to match yours. Good Luck and I'd go late April early May.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[Bob and Inga]

fxdave,

We went in last Sept 3rd, found a site in Mammoth CG, open year round, no hookups, no dump station, water in season and $7 per night with Golden Age. We spent 6 nights there and then found a site in Bridge Bay CG, no hookups, water across at the dump station and $9.75 + tax per. That CG closed on the 12th so we could only spend the last 3 nights it was open there.

That was a good time of year as far as we are concerned. Yes it was still crowded, and it did snow and we did get stuck in Buffalo Jams. But overall we could move around in our toad with no big hassles and the animals were moving. Big thing is the bears start coming down with the snow in the higher elevations, same with the elk. Plus the bulls are starting to heard the cows. We had once real nice bull hanging out with about 30 cows during the entire 6 day stay in Mammoth. He even cut through the CG late one day passing between the two sites behind us.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, make sure you see it from both sides. Colors are fantastic. We saw a couple of Grizzlies and a wolf on the road out to the northeast entrance. Tons of Bison out that way as well.

Bob

[Cruzer]

Yellowstone is good anytime. For an RVer you need to choose between summer or fall for the most part. May is a transition month and youmay encounter closed trails or even roads earlier in the month. The Beartooth Highway is open by Memorial Day anyway and Dunraven Pass will be plowed so late May or early June will let you see vibrant waterfalls and streams and elk and bison calves that were just born. July and August are busier months from a tourist standpoint and the snowmelt has receded so the water features aren't as spectacular but it's still a good time to go. The fall elk rut is always popular but you want to do that the middle of Septemeber. By then the bulls will have gathered some decent sized harems plus the aspens in the Tetons will be turning colors. For more details check out RVcruzer.com - Driving Routes for Large RVs into Yellowstone National Park and Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Beartooths

[fxdave]

cruzer wow that is quite the write up the only thing missing is where to get fuel ! lol thanks so much ! we will be coming from the east so probably will do the a route is it better to just dissconnect the toad an drive it or not thanks dave

[Cruzer]

I wouldn't disconnect the toad. Only if you take the Beartooth Highway.

[JimM68]

From the east (cody) is no problem in the MH.

I've done the beartooth in a car, NO WAY would I do it in the bus, it would, but it's just too damned disrespectful of the other people trying to use the road, they aren't there to follow me up the hil at 25 mph.

From cody to the east entrance is a nice run, then choose north to the canyon, or south to the lake.

There's no wrong place to be in Yellowstone.

[alvinc]

Our model for visiting Yellowstone was to stay at Fishing Bridge Campground in central Yellowstone. We used it as a base for day trips around the park. If we couldn't get a spot at Fishing Bridge we stayed at a CG in West Yellowstone and, again, did the day trip thing.

Fishing Bridge infrastructure is old and large rigs will have trouble. We drive a 35' gas rig with 2 slides on opposite sides at the spots were really tight. Sites are close together and according to the web site (as of 10 March 2011) there is no electrical service until further notice. No mention of why or when it might be back. Generators are permitted 8am to 8pm.

Some related articles on the electricity issues at Fishing Bridge:
Yellowstone Insider
RV Forum

In my opinion Yellowstone is a great place anytime of year you can get a reservation. Staying outside the park means more driving, but the views while driving are priceless. The most challenging approach is from the East (long narrow climb) and is also challenging on departure (long narrow descent).

Don't let Yellowstone overshadow the Tetons to the south. An amazingly flat valley surrounded by mountains that just spring up out of the valley floor.

[WhenIm64]

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Left KC mid sept. and headed to Yellowstone with a stop at Mount Rushmore first. Perfect time to go, great weather, moderate traffic. Stayed in Cody KOA for the first 4 nights then headed to Jackson Hole and dry camped for 3 nights. We couldn't have asked for better weather, warm days - cool nights!

[bachler]

What is the best time ???? It's like the Question . What is the best wine ??? Oh it's the wine in my glass;;;; Over the past years Since 1958 We we have been trough Yellowstone Maybe 75 times . every time has been enjoyable beyon words discription. We have been there in the heat of summer; Spent 15 years snowmobiling in the wintertime . It's fabulis. I say there is NO bad time to visit our parks.This goes for Grand Canyon. Zion, Uzemity, Glacier, The list goes on and on. If you accept it for what is , and not expect the park to entertain you will have fun and enjoy it;; WE have enjoyed the plains of North Dakota; The hot dessert sands in Arazona. The buitefull Tundra of Alaska . And everything between; It all is facinating, And enjoyable;; Life is good. If you look for the good;;

[Mr John]

In 2009 we visited Yellowstone in early June. Used Cody, Wy. as a base and did day trips with the toad. On our visit to Old Faithful we had; cloudy, rain, sleet, snow, sunshine. Quite a day and will go back in a heartbeat and I hate cold weather and use oxygen in bad weather and at high elevations. It is one fantasitic park. ENJOY!

[Chuck 1935]

We came in from Cody through the east entrance just after the park opened from the winter. We stayed at Madison Campground, great!. The benifit of visiting right after they open is NO CROWDS. We were almost the only ones on the roads in the park. After our visit we headed out the south enterance down the Tetons to Jackson. What a geat trip!!

[Cat320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxdave we didnt do our trip to yellowstone last year some had warned us we were to late ! so here we are we will be departing jacksonville fl ! so if any have done the trip from around here to there plse add must sees we also will be adding in a few stops in between ! looking for the best time of yer to do this thanks

Anytime school is still in session.

[Chuck 1935]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat320 Anytime school is still in session.

YES YES YES!!!