Community Forums

gmatti · 11-17-2019, 08:04 AM

Planning our summer 2020 trips and would like to know if we can drive our 38 ft motorhome with toad from the West Yellowstone entrance to the East entrance without problems?

FatChance · 11-17-2019, 08:22 AM

What kind of problems?

MSHappyCampers · 11-17-2019, 08:24 AM

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

We've never done that so can't advise you. Noticed you are kinda new on the forum and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

creativepart · 11-17-2019, 08:26 AM

No you’ll encounter many bear jams and moose jams and nose to tail traffic every few miles. Of course you’ll have this same problem no matter what you’re driving.

As you might imagine Yellowstone is constantly being traversed by large motorhomes and giant 5th Wheels. It’s a massive park with big roads, big parking lots and big traffic during the short summer season. It really ramps up between 4th of July and Labor Day like everything else, but it can be pretty massive.

You can traverse the park without problem, but you’d be happier and see more from your toad.

jacwjames · 11-17-2019, 08:29 AM

We toured Yellowstone in our coach, +38', but didn't have a toad (wish we did). We didn't have a problem and don't think pulling a toad would pose a problem. All the attractions had plenty of RV parking and turn arounds. Some of the campgrounds were tight but you could drop the toad if you were concerned.

nctox · 11-17-2019, 08:33 AM

Yes. "Problems" can have different meanings to different folks, but if the roads are free of snow or ice, and there aren't too many traffic back-ups due to bison on the road you should have no problems.
We drove our 34'QFA from the south gate to Fishing Bridge (near the center of the park) and then out the east gate a few years ago, then last year we drove our 40'AP from the south gate to the west gate and back again. Both times towing a toad. The drive is a nice one, especially if the weather is clear for viewing the scenery.

J Birder · 11-17-2019, 08:36 AM

Sylvan Pass, just west of the east entrance will have some fairly steep down hill grades, and some moderately tight curves. However, I routinely tow my 5th wheel that way (once during a snow storm) without significant difficulty I also see plenty of motor homes making that drive.

Joel

Lv2Roam2 · 11-17-2019, 09:46 AM

We've traversed the east - west and north - south routes with our 43' plus toad (total @ 61') without problem. You should expect speeds in the 40 - 50 mph range and temporary delays at wildlife sitings (the park is starting to send rangers out to these sites to encourage traffic to move on).

A bigger delay is caused by construction - a phone call or review of the park's website helps ID those locations and give you a sense of the length of delay and possible alternative routes.

It will only be possible to pull over at some of the key sites with the coach / toad just due to size limitations and traffic congestion.

It's a beautiful drive ... enjoy.

Milford 47 · 11-17-2019, 11:39 AM

I went across twice both directions plus North and South with my 43 plus F150 KR in tow. No issues except for mud where the roads were torn up for construction and the 5 inches to 8 inches of snow. That just slowed me down a bit. We prefer staying outside the East gate and driving in normally and go across the park towards other destinations.

Crasher · 11-17-2019, 01:14 PM

Not a problem. In some ways, the MH is a better way to see everything sitting up higher with a picture window. It's the parking areas that can test your skills and patience. FWIW, it was a lot nicer 35 years ago with fewer people there, but it should still be on everyone's bucket list.

tropical36 · 11-17-2019, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

No you’ll encounter many bear jams and moose jams and nose to tail traffic every few miles. Of course you’ll have this same problem no matter what you’re driving.

As you might imagine Yellowstone is constantly being traversed by large motorhomes and giant 5th Wheels. It’s a massive park with big roads, big parking lots and big traffic during the short summer season. It really ramps up between 4th of July and Labor Day like everything else, but it can be pretty massive.

You can traverse the park without problem, but you’d be happier and see more from your toad.

Not so sure about being more happy with your toad.
We weren't towing when we went through and with a stopover, between campgrounds in West Thumbs, I believe, we were comfortable in the parking lot for having a lunch and a bathroom break, while watching the long lines outside in front of the rest rooms and food vendors.

Robmat · 11-17-2019, 07:05 PM

In 2018 I took my 35 foot motorhome towing a Jeep in the East entrance from Cody, WY stayed a few days at Fishing Bridge Campground then continued past Yellowstone Lake and out the South entrance to stay at Colter Bay Campground in the Grand Tetons and then a few days later we headed north to the Yellowstone South Entrance up Rt. 191 in Yellowstone to the West Entrance and out to West Yellowstone and the rest of the trip westward. No issues on this route you just have to watch for cars pulling in and out of pullouts. If you take the route up the East side of Yellowstone you might have more slow downs due to people stopping to see wildlife.

nelsonrl · 11-17-2019, 07:10 PM

We were there last summer. No issues traversing the park, but many of the turn offs to attractions do not allow RV's. As said getting from on entrance to another will not be an issue.