We'll be traveling to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in September. Is it necessary to make reservations in advance for private RV parks just outside the entrances after Labor Day weekend? We'd like the freedom to spend as much time as we like without having to tie ourselves down to a schedule, if possible.
I have no idea how crowded the RV parks are during that month, after the summer rush. Thanks for any advice you can provide!
Generally, no. You might not be able to stay in the exact spot you want, few, if any campgrounds will be full.
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I have went there twice in September. There are a lot of people there at that time. We could not find a spot to camp because we didn't have reservations. We camped just past Cooke City Montana. So I would make reservations!
We were there in September last year (Labor Day) and the year before (late Sept.) and stayed in private CGs outside the park: Grizzly in West Yellowstone (both years) and Rocky Mt RV Park in Gardiner. Both were mostly full when we were there. We also stayed at Red Rock RV Park and Henry's Lake SP in Island Park ID on that same Labor Day week trip; both were jammed full.
yes, the rv parks in west yellowstone will still be pretty full, and the campgrounds inside the park will be pretty busy, too, until mid Sept when most of them start closing.
down in the Tetons, you can more than likely find a site at Gros Ventre campground. Colter Bay rv park might be pretty busy. The regular campground is pretty big, so you can probably find a spot there.
Sept is a popular time, so if you don't want to risk disappointment, get reservations for yellowstone at least.
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I was their in late Sept(around the 22nd to the 27th).....some CG's within the Park were starting to close certain loops off. As I recall Fishing Bridge was closed. Outside the Park, we found most places including Grizzly, Red Rock and Henry's Lake had available sites. Many empty sites at Baker's Hole and the other NFS CG up the road from Baker's Hole(cant think of the name). If you can arrive at any of the above locations on weekdays, I think your chances will be greatly enhanced. Have FUN!!!
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thiswebs4u wrote: I have went there twice in September. There are a lot of people there at that time. We could not find a spot to camp because we didn't have reservations. We camped just past Cooke City Montana. So I would make reservations!
We have visited Yellowstone in September the past four years. To some extent the size of the crowds and the availability of RV sites in the private parks has followed fuel prices. The year diesel was $4.45/gal there were plenty of spaces available. The year with the lowest priced fuel it was harder to find a spot. There are only two RV parks with hookups close to the North entrance. Mid-September is a popular time for fishing and wildlife watching in that area so they are pretty busy. The first come first serve campground in the park at Mammoth seemed to always have a few sites open if you can do a day or two without hookups.
We got into Fishing Bridge in 2008 (high fuel prices and before the electric upgrades) with about three days advance reservations.
Grizzly seems to be the most popular park in West Yellowstone. One year we had to change sites in the middle of our stay in order to stay as long as we wanted. I understand that there is a New RV Park that just opened in West Yellowstone.
The Forest Service campground at Baker's Hole that was mentioned is first come first serve and usually does have some sites available, however not all the sites have electric and the electric ones generally fill first. The Madison campground in the park is very large and usually has spaces available, but there are no hookups.
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