Camping w/ teardrop in Yellowstone?

[Jeff Bannow]

My wife and I are considering a trip to Yellowstone this summer, and would like some advice on taking our teardrop there. We've had problems in the past - we travel very light and don't want to park next to all of the campers. (We often take the teardrop and our Jeep offroading and camp in the wilderness). We're looking at some of the primitive campsites in Yellowstone, and would like to know if anyone here can tell us if we can back the teardrop onto the sites?

We've encountered tent sites in other National Parks that don't allow you to bring a car onto the camping area - there are barriers so that you have to carry your tent onto the site. While our teardrop is light, I don't think we want to lift it up and carry it anywhere!

So, does anyone know at the various campsites in Yellowstone if you can drive your car onto them? Looking at the primitive or tent designed sites mostly, not looking at the RV parks.

[iplay10us2]

I would probably call whoever is responsible for the campground and ask them.

[Gage]

I would probably call whoever is responsible for the campground and ask them.

Yep, that's what I would do.

[Jeff Bannow]

The lady at the national call center for Xanterra had never been to Yellowstone and had no idea. In fact, she'd never been camping before!

[mechmagcn]

The lady at the national call center for Xanterra had never been to Yellowstone and had no idea. In fact, she'd never been camping before!

Sounds like a lot of the call centers I have dealt with. Problem with most is the folks have never even been in th USA
I plan to camp in Yellowstone sometime next month, so I'll keep an eye on this thread

[Gage]

I've camped in Yellowstone a couple of times. But I've camped in RV camp grounds. Had to make reservations a year in advance. It's not like a private RV Park. You’re not on top of each other. But to each his own type of camping.

[Jim.M]

I've camped in Canyon campground, and the tent-only sites are blocked with rocks and logs.

the rv sites will work fine, though.

all the sites are the same price, with the same amenities no electricity, water from faucets spread throughout the campground, flush toilets with cold water in the bathroom sinks, and showers at the camp headquarters.

also, canyon village showers are unlimited length ($3.39 last year), the sinks in the shower area have hot water faucets, and the outlets don't blow when more than one of the ladies plugs in her blow dryer/curling iron/flat iron etc.

all the other showers I've had in national parks were 3 minutes or 5 minutes. and no pre-shutoff warning!

[Jkester]

I found a phone number that may get you to someone that can help you. It starts off as a voice message but if you press "0" it will put you to an operator.
Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168, Yellowstone, WY 82190
307 344-7381

Hope someone can help you.

James

[john]

I camped in Yellowstone at Norris Campground. It is first come first serve and even though we got there at around eleven we were lucky to find a spot. They fill up quickly all week; not just on weekends. Each morning we would discuss staying another night and pay for it if we chose to. The $14 fee certainly factored into the decision. After a day or two we realized that we were fortunate to have gotten a spot in Norris as it is centrally located, well shaded, and has awesome views of grazing, and dust bathing Buffalo in a small valley divided by a large swift creek. Some may not have liked it, but waking to the mildly sulfurous smell of the Norris Geyser basin in the distance was joy I will never forget.

We made a point to drive through as many of the other campgrounds as we could. Few compared to Norris. There was, however, a campground, Tower Fall, in the northeast area of the park over some mountains that was absolutely gorgeous.

Fishing Bridge Campground was the only campground to offer electricity and I believe their electricity was recently upgraded.

Canyon Campground appeared shady and was centrally located within the park like Norris except with the visitors center, stores, restaurants and gas just outside the gate/guard. I didn't make it past the guard for a drive-through. The only drawback for me was that Canyon was too close to modern conveniences. I was trying to get away from that stuff.

Mammoth Campground was super busy and unshaded. Indian Creek Campground was in need of shade as well, but unlike Mammoth it was quiet.

You will drive a lot. The locations of Norris and Canyon become appreciated very quickly.

All that said, I would have been ecstatic to get any site in any campground when I was there. Keep in mind that these campgrounds are dead dead dead during the day. People would leave in the morning and return to eat dinner and sleep in the evening. My family was no different. What does the site matter if all you do is sleep in it?

As to the original question, I don't think there is any BLM style off grid camping, though.

Good luck!! I envy you.

[Vedette]

Slow
What about the wind and the cold??
Sounds like the weather is ALWAYS badin Wyoming???
Just kidding......can't wait to get there!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

Slow
What about the wind and the cold??
Sounds like the weather is ALWAYS badin Wyoming???
Just kidding......can't wait to get there!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Jeff Bannow]

Thanks all for the advice! I'll be looking into the other options in the area as well.

Sounds like the teardrop will be stuck in the RV parks if we do Yellowstone.

[toolman]

Here's some info for you.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/c ... wstone.htm

http://www.freecampgrounds.com/results. ... ellowstone

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/sta ... ml#Wyoming

Happy reading!
Jerry

[DrCrash]

Just got back from yellowstone and cody. was alot of snow on the ground. Got a foot the night we left but the buffalo and bears are at the fishing bridge.

[S. Heisley]

Jeff:

I just sent you a PM.