Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Boondocking near Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Open Roads Forum Already a member? Login here.   If not, Register Today!  |  Help

Newest  |  Active  |  Popular  |  RVing FAQ Forum Rules  |  Forum Posting Help and Support  |  Contact  

Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Public Lands, Boondocking and ...

Open Roads Forum  >  Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping

 > Boondocking near Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
LarryDel

Lewes, Delaware

Full Member

Joined: 03/10/2012

View Profile



Posted: 09/16/23 10:17am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Hello. We are visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton in a few days September 18, 2023. We were told there were many places mostly with the National Park Service where you can pull in for free camping. We havd a small 21 ft Travel Trailer. We do not need hook ups. Just wanted to try boondocking and enjoying nature. Any help would be appreciated.

Larry

Thermoguy

Graham, WA

Senior Member

Joined: 01/04/2017

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/16/23 01:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I don't think you can camp outside a campground in Yellowstone. Not sure about Grand Teton. Did you look at their websites? They should have camping rules. I know Yellowstone has campgrounds that only allow solid sided trailers, no tents. Did you look for reservations at the campsites within Yellowstone? I'm sure you want to leave your trailer somewhere so you can stop at the sites, it can be hard to get parking if you have a trailer or something that doesn't fit in a conventional parking spot.

dave54

Northeast CA.

Senior Member

Joined: 02/12/2004

View Profile



Posted: 09/16/23 10:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thermoguy wrote:

I don't think you can camp outside a campground in Yellowstone. Not sure about Grand Teton. Did you look at their websites? They should have camping rules. I know Yellowstone has campgrounds that only allow solid sided trailers, no tents. Did you look for reservations at the campsites within Yellowstone? I'm sure you want to leave your trailer somewhere so you can stop at the sites, it can be hard to get parking if you have a trailer or something that doesn't fit in a conventional parking spot.


Pretty sure that is correct. No dispersed camping inside the NP. However, the National Forests surrounding the Park are open to boondocking. You would have to drive in every day, leaving your rig at your campsite.


=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
So many campsites, so little time...
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

SuperBus

Michigan

Full Member

Joined: 09/25/2019

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/17/23 06:08am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I would agree; the surrounding National Forests could work. However, Yellowstone is massive and Grand Tetons isn't all that small either. We just got back from a trip to both, where we stayed in between the parks at Flagg Ranch (National Park campground). It was conveniently located, but it was still an hour from the first real attraction in either park. You may want to keep that in mind depending on the goal of your trip to those parks. If you are further outside in one of the National Forest Parks, it'll be a good drive before you are inside the National Parks at your trailhead, boat launch, thermal feature, etc.

TexasShadow

Spring Branch, TX USA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/12/2003

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 09/17/23 09:33am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

For Teton: there is a national forest campground at Slide Lake called Atherton. it isn't free, but it's not as expensive as the park campgrounds.
there are some national forest campgrounds outside of Yellowstone, but the only one close to a park entrance is just north of West Yellowstone. Can't recall the name, sorry.


TexasShadow
Holiday Rambler Endeavor LE/ 3126B Cat
Sometimes BMW K75 on Rear Carrier
Jeep Grand Cherokee or 2016 Ford XLT 4x4 super cab with 8 ft bed
M&G aux brake system
854 Watts of Solar Power



Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.


agesilaus

North Florida

Senior Member

Joined: 05/06/2008

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/17/23 02:30pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

OK,first, we are knowledgeable about this. You can camp at The Tetons in Sept inside the park, we did 10 days a few weeks ago. Check Rec.gov and see if you can book spots. We had to move three times in that ten days.
Otherwise your best bet is Shadow Mountain NF dispersed camping. A very good camp just outside the park past the Mormon Village area. But there are only 15 or so spots there.
Otherwise there is a cg at Slide Lake past shadow mountain to the east. Its rather far out and the last mile or so of road is rough.

There is another dispersed CG at s cg at something lakes near the Triple X Ranch this is a dangerous spot, if its been raining you will get stuck.

For YNP, about 17 miles west of Gardiner is the BLM dispersed CG called Carabella. It is marked a fishing access area but there are 15 or so good spots on the on the Madison River. Good cell phone signal there and at Shadow Mountain. Just to the south, 15 mi from Gardiner is USNF Canyon CG which generally has open spots in the morning. Not a great spot, no cell signal and the road is rock strewn and rough and narrow. We used it will waiting for an open spot at Carablla.

O Outside+- the Cody gate there are several nice NF CG. No cell signal. Around Island Park, west pf West Yellowstone there are many NF dispersed cg.

We have done a lot of camping at these two parks the last few uears. And we got got in Bridge Lake cg in YNNP for five days this year rethought after the Tetons. They are closed now.

The weather can get very bad this time of year.


Arctic Fox 25Y Travel Trailer
2018 RAM 2500 6.7L 4WD shortbed
Straightline dual cam hitch
400W Solar with Victron controller
Superbumper


Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 

Open Roads Forum  >  Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping

 > Boondocking near Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Public Lands, Boondocking and ...


New posts No new posts
Closed, new posts Closed, no new posts
Moved, new posts Moved, no new posts

Adjust text size:




© 2024 CWI, Inc. © 2024 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved.