Community Forums

TheOldMan76 · 02-14-2016, 06:10 AM

Started booking campsites for our upcoming June trip to Yellowstone. Learned several things: Most of the government sites are booked up, especially thru 4th of July weekend. Passport America is not honored during summer months anywhere near there. Private camp spots are very expensive. By the time you pay the extra fees to get into a Colorado State facility, it is just as, if not more expensive than, a private spot. Most of the gov sites can't handle anything over 40'. Once you get out of Montana, Wyoming & Colorado, looks like things get back to normal. Also found that if you need to change a reservation w/Reserve America, it's almost impossible. Live & Learn!

Trapper2022 · 02-14-2016, 09:36 AM

We ran into the same issue several years ago. Been this way for a while. We now book in the park a year out as soon as the reservation system allows it. Good luck with your trip hope you get in or close. Keep trying people do cancel and if you are flexible you might get lucky.

Tony Lee · 02-14-2016, 09:43 AM

Yes, too many people with RVs and not enough spaces.

Come to South America. Plenty of places here.

We have been to Yellowstone twice and each time got a berth in the first come first served camps inside the park. Same with two trips to Glacier. If we had missed out we would have just boondocked outside somewhere.

cwsqbm · 02-14-2016, 09:49 AM

The RV industry builds more and more campers every year, but the size of state and federal campgrounds rarely changes. Its not surprising they fill up quickly. I've had problems finding sites in some state parks mid-week during the summer.

Private campgrounds have the complication of being nearly empty 90% of the time and therefore having to charge high rates the rest of the time to stay in business.

The advantage of being retired is being able to explore popular locations outside of peak season.

skigramp · 02-14-2016, 10:59 AM

Years ago, I stayed at the Fishing Bridge RV park (Electric) ... a 35' class A ... it was a VERY TIGHT fit ...

I think most of the larger rigs stay in West Yellowstone these days.

KarenS144 · 02-14-2016, 11:12 AM

Fishing Bridge is tight but it's a spot with hook ups and you have a place to sleep. A lot of people slam it and it is very expensive for what it is, but it is pretty much smack in the middle of a HUGE park so one doesn't have to drive half the day to get to some of the features.

Grizzly in West Yellowstone is nice as is Headwaters at the south entrance but both are a good drive from the thermal features.

Good luck!

Steve N Sal · 02-14-2016, 11:26 AM

It's not in the park but try Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. Great place to stay. Good Luck and hope you have a great time.

beaverfever · 02-14-2016, 02:17 PM

it is called supply and demand. Yellowstone is America's crown jewel and they are not going to make another one so we get in line and buck up . to me it is worth the extra effort and money . i would much rather spend 2 weeks at ynp than the waldolf astoria
and its much cheaper.

twogypsies · 02-14-2016, 03:02 PM

With our 40' motorhome towing, we've stayed multiple times in the first come campground in the park - Mammoth. We've also stayed in Madison and Bridge Bay campgrounds in the park - reservable campgrounds but we pulled in early morning and secured a cancellation site without having a reservation.

We've also stayed at Baker's Hole national forest campground a couple miles north of W. Yellowstone - a beauty, but again, no reservations accepted.

Also, we've stayed in Redstone national forest campground just north of Yellowstone in Montana.

...and yet again, we've stayed west of Cody in Yellowstone Edge RV.

There are also lovely campgrounds south in Grand Teton Nat'l Park. Full-hookups are in Colter Bay RV; dry camping in either Colter Bay campground (next to the RV park) or in Gros Ventre campground (our favorite). The two dry campgrounds have a dump station and water fill and again, they don't accept reservations. Each one has 300 sites and we've always gotten a site.

In June you'll find many places to stay.

scrapperjohn · 02-14-2016, 03:09 PM

We found a few years ago, weekdays are not as big of a deal.
Weekends and holidays, need reservations WAY in advance.
Wa stayed at koa on north end, 2 day notice,arriving on a Monday, no problem. Campground was only half full, in late July.

BoPeg · 02-15-2016, 01:02 PM

We Stayed at Grizzly in West Yellowstone and used the toad to run around the park. The folks at the CG were very nice and helpful. We stayed 7 days and enjoyed every minute.