RV Camping in Yellowstone National Park
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Yellowstone National Park is 100 percent the ultimate destination for RV and camper explorers and for good reason. With more than 2 million acres, roughly the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, you can spend weeks in Yellowstone and still have more to explore.
Yellowstone National Park South Entrance.
If you’re on a tight schedule, you’ll need at least three days to take in the essence of the park as it is truly a sprawling wonder. As a visitor you can do as much or as little as you’d like and still have an incredible adventure.
Ember RV Overland Series camped at Yellowstone National Park Grant Village Campground.
Book Early
The reservation booking window accepts reservations up to 13 months in advance, which means you need to login on the 5th of the month to book your stay for the same month for the next year.
If you want full hook-ups, Fishing Bridge is your only option within Yellowstone National Park; however, if you’re traveling with an Ember RV Overland Series, you really have everything you need. Ember’s standard solar package and “Max Solar Option” and a backup generator in case of cloud or tree cover ensures you can book nearly any of the campsite options.
If you don’t book 13 months in advance, you’re not completely out of luck. Establish a habit of checking the Yellowstone National Park website daily and explore apps for scanning available campsites like Campnab, which will notify you when a campsite meeting your search criteria becomes available.
Additionally, ensure you have necessary permits and reservations for any activities relevant to your party before you arrive. This is true for fishing, boating, backcountry hikes, etc.
Arriving
There are five entrances to Yellowstone and campsite check-in begins at 2 p.m. Purchase a park pass ahead of time and if you’re using the south entrance, you will be traveling through Grand Teton National Park, which means you’ll also need a separate park pass to pass through.
Ember RV Overland Series camped at Yellowstone National Park Grant Village Campground.
Camping
Camping at Yellowstone is like camping anywhere else, except with better views. Do shop for groceries before arrival, do buy firewood at your campsite, do bring a generator if you're unable to book a full hook-up campsite.
Each campgrounds is unique and will give you the opportunity to experience Yellowstone after dark. Quiet hours ensure you’ll hear Yellowstone when day visitors head out and your Yellowstone doesn’t charge extra for the blanket of stars covering your campsite.
Exploring the Park
This is not your typical regional or state park. This is the park that sets the standard for all other parks. It’s breadth alone ensures you need a bit of strategy for exploring, or, at the very least, dedicated time to wander.
Yellowstone’s Grand Loop can be tackled in a number of ways. You can look at it as a figure eight, or as upper and lower loops. Each loop will take about 2.5 hours without stops -- or traffic. As a rule, you can spend a day on each loop and see the park’s top-billed wonders.
Exploring Tips:
The Grand Loop is 142 miles and is an incredible way to see the park. Leave your campsite early and hit the road before the rest of the pack. The roads will become crowded quickly, and if you’re out and about early you’ll not only catch a spectacular sunrise, you’ll also have more opportunities to see wildlife.
Geysers and hot springs are incredible and the exception to the get-there-early rule. Foggy mornings and hot water will ensure you’re not able to see them to their full potential. Check the predictions page for a pretty accurate eruption prediction.
Pack a cooler with snacks, drinks, and meals. While the tour loop is equipped with shops and restaurants, you’ll want to take advantage of the more than 50 picnic areas, especially if you’re traveling with small children. Simply, the tour loop is a lot of car time.
An activities bag for kids is a must simply because it’s a drive to anywhere. Crayons, coloring books, books, etc. are all great options.
When you leave camp, prepare to be gone all day. Dress in layers and/or bring backup clothes.
Pack multiple binoculars. When you’re zeroed in on a bison, or other wildlife, you won’t want to hand them over to anyone else.
Yellowstone with Kids
The junior park ranger program will keep your kids engaged as you explore the park.
Outdoor bingo is a campsite favorite.
While your smartphone will capture bison creating traffic jams, your kid’s photography will blow you away if you given opportunity. As an added bonus, giving your kid a job will allow you to pivot their attention when they’re tired of car time during the Grand Loop tour.
Wifi and general reception is not to be trusted within the park. Download playlists, videos, and games at home. These will come in clutch during a traffic jam or on a rainy day at the campsite.
Must-See Sites in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the park filled with the full rainbow of colors especially blue, green, and copper.
Watching bison in Lamar Valley at Yellowstone National Park.
Watch wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. Both valleys provide opportunities to see grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, elk, and bison
See Mammoth Hot Springs in person because it’s the only way to do it justice. The white, cascading springs are incredible.
West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail at Yellowstone National Park.
Walk the boardwalk through springs at West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail along Yellowstone Lake. The one mile loop is an easy walk filled with a number of eye-catching water features.
Like much of Yellowstone National Park, photos just don’t do the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone justice. Overlooks give you access to the north and south rims, both equal in awe-inspiring veiws.
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful Geyser is always on time and a big hit for all ages. Board walks will take you to other geysers in the area, too.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most visited national parks for a reason. Not only does the park showcase some of the most beautiful scenes in the United States, it is also surrounded by tremendous destinations like Jackson, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park.
