Ohio Koikeeper
US
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Joined: 09/06/2011
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I'm planning a trip from central Ohio to Yellowstone. I'd like to spend a couple weeks in and around the National Park as well as visit all the neat places while traveling to and on the return trip home. I'm hoping that some of you have enjoyed a similar trip and have advice to offer. Im looking for points of interest to see, things to do, places to stay while traveling and while at the park, as well as things to avoid. This will be my first big trip west and the first time to travel for many days in my TC. I plan to be gone a month and enjoy lots of boondocking and nice camping ares. Any and all insight and direction will be appreicated. Thanks for your inputs. Larry
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hedgehopper
Denver
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Joined: 11/16/2009
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Last June my wife and I drove our TC from Denver to the Tetons and Yellowstone. By going early in June we hoped to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone. But we didn't succeed – though I'm sure the crowds would be worse in July and August. Because campsites in Yellowstone were scarce and some were costly, we decided to stay in West Yellowstone at the Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park, just outside the Yellowstone Park west entrance.
Though we got to the RV park early in the day, the RV sites were filled. However, we were permitted to stay in the tent-camping area and plug into a 15-amp service at no extra charge. I don't know if that would work for you but it worked fine for us. The RV park isn't cheap but it's nice.
The previous year we drove from Denver to Fairborn Ohio and back, stopping at a lot of tourist attractions along the way. Some of our stops were the RV hall of fame, and several car and motorcycle museums plus an arboretum, a tallgrass-prairie museum and some pony express sites. If you're interested in any of these, PM me and I'll look up the details.
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nycsteve
NY
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Joined: 01/26/2008
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I havnt made Yellowstone yet , but you asked about attractions on the way. Consider the Badlands area of South Dakota. Lots of stuff to see concentrated in a small area. Theres, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Wind Cave NP, Mount Rushmore , and Devils Tower NP on the way in Wyoming. Very reasonable costs and beautiful country.
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billtex
RI
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Joined: 07/20/2004
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Welcome, TC Magazine just featured a story of our trip to YS and other National Parks; NP Trips
I will say our strategy of spending 2-3 nights in different cg's around the park worked well. This gave us a good amount of time in each area without having to drive far each day.
PM me if you have specific questions.
You should fill in (some of) your profile to let Folks know where you are traveling from also...
Bill
2006 Chevy D/A CC
Adventurer 810WS
25'Airstream Excella
"Good People Drink Good Beer"-Hunter S Thompson
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Bubtoofat
SE Michigan
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Joined: 02/27/2004
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Beartooth Highway and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway are spectacular. While you're at it you can visit Cody and go to the Cody Nite Rodeo. Plus there are plenty of NF campgrounds outside of Yellowstone that never fill up. No reservations necessary.
If you looking for wildlife then go the few extra miles out of the way and stay in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. There you will see wild horses and buffalo up close and personal. And NO crowds like Yellowstone. Take the 20 mile park loop an hour before sunset and the wildlife just seems to pour out of nowhere. The last time we were there we did the 20 mile loop and saw only three cars. In Yellowstone it can be like downtown Manhattan at rush hour because someone saw a chipmunk out in a field. It can be total chaos. But, it can get bloody hot in Theodore Roosevelt. Last time we were there it was over 100 degrees every day but it cools down nicely at night.
Mike
2005 Chevy 2500HD Crew 4X4 6.0
2011 Northstar Adventurer
Hellwig Bigwig, Ride-Rites, Fastguns, KYB Monomax.
"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife."
Daniel Boone
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NorthernLimits
Michigan
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Joined: 11/17/2011
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Reservations. Everywhere we went was jam packed full the whole tome we were out there. We were there for 3 weeks in June 2 summers ago but we went with reservations.
In Yellowstone, not much to say there.....see all the sites. I don't think there is one thing to make sure you see. It is all just shockingly beautiful. Old Faithful was cool but we had more time to enjoy the smaller, more active ones around the park. See the canyon, hike to a waterfall if you can. The Lewis and Clark white water trip was fun out of Jackson Hole.
Don't roll down your window and moo at a bison. They don't like that. LOL
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Sue Bee
NW suburbs of Chicago
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Joined: 06/05/2009
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If you are in the Yellowstone area a while, a side trip of a day or two to Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman can be a respite from all of the crowds at Yellowstone. There is the resevoir, if you boat or fish, and a campground (no utilities, but nice sites), and hiking, etc.
We did not have time to get down to the Tetons, and I regret that. I can't tell you firsthand how spectacular they are, but others have told me that we missed a lot.
I second the Beartooth Highway, but grades are steep, it is very winding, and I was surprised to see how many completely insane ( ) mountain bikers were riding. There are some pretty acute hairpin turns, so keep that in mind.
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JimK-NY
fulltimer
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We arrived in Yellowstone at the end of June last year and had no problems with campgrounds. We stayed a few nights in Bay Bridge which is sort of like a big parking lot, but convenient. Canyon campground was still snowed in. That is unlike this year but it might be cold there. Norris is a great area and so is Mammoth. I suggest you make a reservation for the first few days of your arrival and then move around as you decide.
Other great areas along the way have already been mentioned. Don't miss Badlands or Custer SP.
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SkipJ
Michigan
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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We stayed in the full service camp ground June 7th thru 14th. I seem to remember that was the only campground you can make reservations in. We would do it differently if we went again because of the huge size of the park. Camp near the area you want to see then move to another. Someone mentioned that and I would agree.
SkipJ
1992 Airstream B-190 van
1989 Airstream 25' Excella Trailer
Outfitter Apex 9.5 Truck Camper Ford F-350 Diesel 4x4
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JimK-NY
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Fishing Bridge is the only campground with hookups and it also takes reservations. Several of the other campgrounds take reservations while some are first arrival only.
Anyone who needs electric hookups might want to look at their camper systems and find an alternative. In some cases a good battery and LED lights might be all it takes. For others, solar might be the way to go. I don't remember about Yellowstone but there are many campgrounds that do not allow generators and that do not have electric service.
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