Black Hills/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons Campgrounds

[Colliemom]

Working on potential trip out west, end of May into June. Providing mom Nature lets me get things squared away here first. Anybody got suggestions for campgrounds out therer? Kind of wondering if one can base someplace and go from there. I have a route planned as far as black Hills area at the moment. Need to work one from there and back to MI.

Beth, can you suggest campground in Black Hils area where I can base and explore from .

[JudyJB]

This breaks my rule about preferring state and national parks, but one of my favorite campgrounds is the Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. It has full hookups which I seldom need, but more importantly is clean, grassy, paved roads, paved and good gravel on sites, and within walking distance of everything within the little town. (Best huckleberry ice cream around.) Also, good WiFi, and they let you wash your vehicle right in your spot. DEFINITELY, the absolute best campground in West Yellowstone, although there are some west of the town a few miles that people like. I liked being in town so I could ride my bike around. (Boy, Mollie will be huge by then!)

Because Yellowstone is so big, you might want to try more than one campground. Also, make sure you are well supplied with food and stuff because even West Yellowstone has only two small and expensive grocery stores.

Inside Yellowstone, there is only one site with electricity and that is Fishing Bridge, but I don't recommend it because it is so tight. You can get in but with your truck parked next to you, there is literally no room to put a chair out to sit on and no cooking outdoors or picnic tables. RVs behind you hang out into the spaces in between you and the RV next to you, so ever your truck will barely fit in. They really need to bulldoze this entire national park campground and start over with 50% fewer spots. Hookups are also awkward being higher than ground and sometimes underneath your RV.

I really liked Grant Village--big enough spots, very shady and woodsy, and just felt nice. No hookups of any kind, however, but it is close to Old faithful and a good central base. Mammoth has a campground, but it is down a long hill and spots are dirt very, very uneven--front to back and side to side. A few trees but if it is hot, you will not be able to leave Molly in a hot trailer without AC. You might want to go back into my blogs for the past two summers. I loved the drive coming in from the east, even though some people feel it is too hilly and curvy. Very scenic.

More on Black Hills tonight.

[judi]

I also stayed at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, and also at Fishing Bridge. Ditto everything Judy said. My rig is small so I didn't have a space problem at Fishing Bridge, but many of the water spigots were frozen (it was Oct) and some pipes burst so there was water and ice around. I didn't have time to camp in Grand Tetons but I sure wish I had. I want to go back to these parks again!

[Bethers]

The Black Hills area is very big - so depends on how far you want to travel after camped? That said, it's what I do working there - and have no problems. When traveling, I plan a bit differently.

My question for you is - do you want to have hookups, or can you dry camp? My favorite locations are almost always the NFS, etc cgs. That said, to do what you want, I'd suggest you look at Pactola Lake. I've never stayed there, but love the lake and the location would work well for all the Black Hills, IMHO. http://www.recreation.gov/camping/pacto ... rkId=70305 It's gorgeous - but doesn't have electric. If you want electric, there are lots of cg's in the area. I can't recommend most. One which I like, wouldn't be convenient for driving all the Black Hills area - but would be great for Custer State Park, for example.

[JanetA]

I hate to rain on your parade but you would best take the low road FIRST and stay out of elevation until the very end of May and better yet into June. Take it from my experience,, it stays winter up there until June. Ive lived just outside of Denver and I know we couldn't plant a garden til the MIDDLE of June and that was @ 4900' elev. The mtns of Yellowstone, ive been in may and the picnic tables were covered and I DO mean coverd on mother's day weekend... so,,,unless you just wanna take your chances and only be able to stay in parking lots of any businesses (which we did) w/ no hookups and run your heater,, then you'd best not even think of those places in May. Just fair warning from one whos been there, done that. Good luck!

[snowball]

The campground that Judy talked about is great from what I've seen there are also National Forest Service campgrounds north of town a couple of miles...in Idaho some of the Forest Service campgrounds have hook ups some don't but that is Montana and I don't remember...Its would be good to have a base camp and travel to places in the park depending upon how much time you have will determine what all you can see in either of the parks...Yellowstone has thousands and thousands of acres don't remember the amount but it's huge!!! something like a thousand miles of hiking trails...I always get a kick out of the people who spend a day in Yellowstone and confidently say I've seen Yellowstone!!! Remember I'm a native of Jackson Wy. and really willing to meet with you show you parts of that area..as it was said the winter can last late but that said....this winter didn't happen in Jackson (one of the ski hills is closed already) how much the parks got I don't know and there are still months that it can and more than likely will snow but just go with clothes for the gambit...and know that perhaps due to weather you might not get to see something...I've also seen it snow on July 4th!!! while in Grand Teton there is the Gro Ventre campground think it's non electric Birdie could tell you...Between the parks is Signal Mt as well as oh phooey can't remember but there are a couple up there that are full service ...
Sheila

[Colliemom]

Janet, I am not planning on leaving MI till after Memorial Day and Black Hills area is my first stop, so it will be toward mid June before I even get to Yellowstone area. By then, hopefully things will be into summer. Sheila, do plan to take up your offer if iIget out that way. Beth, thanks for the info. I do need to be someplace where there is electric as I will have Molly with me and if it's warm, could need the AC. Plus my trailer only has one battery, so long term boondocking is out in that respect. No generator. If I am gong to stay in one place for a few days, full hookups would be better, but not necessary. I don't mind driving as I love to be on road Depending on area, I like to base and go from there. Days are longer that time of year too, so doesn't matter. I remember my folks stayed at a really nice campground near Rapid City, said they had a nice view of the city from there and used it as their base to travel the area. But that was years ago and things change. So will be reading the Good Sam book and looking on line. Fun things to do. I am not on a time schedule either. Right now I am looking at a route from Black Hills area to Yellowstone. Since I am pulling a trailer, don't want to get into steep or extremely curvy Mt. roads. Might go into MT and around the north end of Yellowstone to the west end.

[Cudedog]

I second what others have said.

Yellowstone is at 7,733 ft. in elevation, and with the way winter has been going thus far there will likely be snow there well into June - and some of the roads into Yellowstone might not be open because of that. A pity to go all that way and not be able to get into the park. Check with the park for general opening dates of years past.

I am planning a trip to Yellowstone myself, late summer/early fall (while it is still warm-ish, and after the worst of the crowds have thinned out).

I have never been to Yellowstone, it is right "up there" on my Bucket List, and it was with Yellowstone in mind that I began the build-out of my van.

Happy travels!

Anne

[monik7]

I was in Yellowstone last year in mid-May. No snow on the ground and just a little pushed around in the parking lot. Wonderful weather and warm, not hot. Sue, I think I sent you some info last year regarding Spokane Creek RV about 8 miles outside Keystone, SD and very near Mt, Rushmore and an entrance to Custer SP. Passport Ametica - about $17 per night. Absolutely beautiful area. Let me know if you need pics again.
Sandi

[Bethers]

The park Sandi mentions is great for around Custer SP and Mt. Rushmore - however if you want to do the things north, it's a bit of a trek and I'd recommend getting more centrally located. That said, that cg is in a beautiful location and you can't beat the price - so maybe the extra driving would be worth it.

[Birdie]

Sue, go read Liz's blog for when she was around that area. I will post a couple of campground reviews north of Mt Rushmore with electric hookups. Most of my time near Mt. Rushmore was in National Forest, no services, campgrounds. Travel slowly and see the sights!

[Birdie]

Sue, I did a review on a campground in Deadwood, SD. I would stay there again. But, check out other campgrounds in Deadwood, Custer, and the other towns around there.

On the east side of The Badlands there are two camgrounds with full hookups. Both are very good. I haven't done the review on the one on the south side but that was where I stayed.

You can find them using AllStays.

[Colliemom]

Been checking thexYellowstone info and NPS has posted opening dates for this year with road clearing to begin in April. All areas except for Grant Viaage expected to be open by late May early June.