Yellowstone

[stargirl96]

This question is for those who have traveled to Yellowstone National Park. We recently returned from a trip by car to Yellowstone. We were fortunate to find a cabin in the park to stay. We noticed the campgrounds were full. There are hundreds of wide level turnouts throughout the park. Those who have been there know what I'm talking about. I know it is prohibited to park there overnight. At the same time the park is huge and there are so many turn-offs. Have you ever heard of a camper taking advantage of them when they can't get a campsite? This is just idle curiosity and nothing else.

[ppine]

Staying inside the park. Then you don't have to commute. Then you can hear the elk bugle at night. You can hear owls and hawks. You get to camp with people that have been going there for 50 years. You camp with people that stay in tents.

[Islandman]

Yellowstone NP is a great place and the rangers and other staff are doing their best to preserve the beauty and features of the park. Been there many times over the past fifty years; winter and summer, and the Park Service does a good job in managing the park so people can enjoy their trip. Yes there are times when crowded conditions cause a stressful trip, but that comes with the territory; if you can't plan for a fall or spring adventure. As far as having a big rock at the rear of a camp site, that was probably placed there to prevent backing onto vegetation and eventually causing damage. There are some good USFS CG's not too far away from Yellowstone that can handle the overload if can't make it to the park and you want something similar. Hat's off to the NPS employees, they do a good job!

[pnichols]

The time we visited Yellowstone in our Class C and after touring around to all of the main attactions in our RV (fairly easy in a 24 footer) - we stayed in one of the campsites inside the park that was out of the way on the side of the park away from where most of the attractions are.

It was drycamping only and it was very quiet and uncrowded. It was some time ago, but I believe it was a campground in kindof the Northeast corner of the park - over by where wolves could most likely be seen.

[Cider]

Dick_B wrote:
On our one and only trip to Yellowstone we stayed at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone just outside the west entrance. I guess I don't understand the attraction of staying INSIDE the park.

How about $80 a night vs $14 (Golden Age Pass) as a starting point??

[TxGearhead]

Just my perception...most rangers are tree huggers that think anyone in a RV is squandering natural resources to build a RV and drive it. I assume they are the same ones that put that huge boulder or log at the rear of a RV campsite to frustrate large RV owners.
I wouldn't count on a ranger cutting you any slack.

[bobndot]

I know it is prohibited to park there overnight

Have you ever heard of a camper taking advantage of them when they can't get a campsite?

No. It's prohibited . 😉

[BarabooBob]

You asked, people answered. I think that the first officer to drive by after dark would put you on your way with a hefty fine. They enforce the rules strictly so that people do not trash the park or start unauthorized campsites. Before you scream about not trashing the park, it is just one of the things that they want to avoid, I didn't say you were going to do it.

[stargirl96]

Some of you replying to my question apparently did not read all of my post, and missed the part where I said my question was asked out of "idle curiousity" and nothing else. BTW, this was our first trip to Yellowstone and we drove in a car. I do not anticipate ever going there in a motorhome due to the long distance from our home.

[ReneeG]

There are plenty of FS and out of the way campgrounds just on the outside that you shouldn't even think of this.

[MDKMDK]

There are some other places where you might hole up for a few hours, like the parking area at Old Faithful (it's quite large), and I'm sure there are some other spots inside the park perimeter. Or stay just outside the park, as was also suggested. Probably a few places out there you could spend the night. Check for BLM/USFS places nearby.

[Dick_B]

On our one and only trip to Yellowstone we stayed at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone just outside the west entrance. I guess I don't understand the attraction of staying INSIDE the park.

[2chiefsRus]

ok, so you know it is prohibited but if someone on the internet, who you don't even know, tells you that they have done it, then you would be willing to try it yourself? Not much reward for so much risk in my opinion.

[TexasShadow]

the park rangers watch that pretty close. I suppose you could get away with it once or twice, but not sure what the penalties are.

[PartyOf_Five]

It took me a while to realize that I'm not the first one to think like this with my RV 🙂