RE: Need help for Yellowstone @ Tetons

[Beavis & Ace]

 
We are trying to plan our first trip from Southern Il. to Yellowstone and The Tetons  for June--being both new to the pu and the fact that this is our first long trip we seem to not know really where to start the planning other than to read everything we can find on the forum.   We would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone would want to offer if they have made the trip.  Our main hangups at this point -- the fact that our pu does not have a furnace--seems most of the campgrounds do not have electric hook-up and we usually rely on a small electric heater--would sleeping bags be the way to go?  Would a person be foolish to attempt finding a camp spot without reservation?  Thanks in advance !!!

[mwh710]

 Don Elliott
Love those long trips & you won t be dissappointed in Yellowstone.  I go up flyfishing for a couple of weeks every summer.  Be aware that they can have snow even in July & August.  Most mornings there will be frost, but sleeping bags & proper night clothing, including wearing a stocking cap to bed.  Be also aware that not all camps in Yellowstone will let a PU camp there because of bears, probably half are hard side only.  Last time I was there with the family I stayed in Cody, WY. & had elec, sewer etc.. & drove in every day & enjoyed Cody at night.  Gunfight in street stuff & Rodeo on Firday nights as well as a wonderfull Western museum.  
 
 As far as long trips go, we go for 4-6 week trips with kids almost every summer (HS teachers - we re not paid in summers & no one wants hire us, since we ll quit come September, so might as well camp).  I belong to Good Sam & do a trip with them and figure on 4-6 hours of driving time a day.  I know that that doesn t sound like much, but afterthe camper is stowed & hooked up, gas, potty breaks, & we always make a point to find a park in what ever town we are in when it is lunch time (EVERY town has a city park) & we take a 45 min - 1 hour lunch.  The kids play & chase & so does Dad & Mom.  We have mounted a TV/VCR combo with a " Y"  cord for dual headset for the kids to watch movies & not disturb us.  We have a huge collection of books on tape that keep our minds active & alert on long drives.  4-6 hours of driving is a good 8-9 hour day.  We make reservations usually in advance, but cell phones can make quick changes when necessary.  We carry the Trailer Life Directory & it is our bible for where we camp on trips, since there is a good rating system & we always try for ones with something for the kids.
 
 We always try to remember that its the kids vacation too, & whene they re not happy, well.... you know the rest.  We did a similar trip from S. IL. (from Belleville & a SIU Carbondale Grad.) a couple of years ago. & Did Hannible, MO, the Amana colonies in Iowa, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, Bad lands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils tower & Yellowstone.  What a great trip!  Came back through the Grand Tetons, the Great Salt Lake, clear down to Carlisbad Caverns & finally had to come home.
 
 The key is planning & accepting quick changes when necessary as " part of the adventure" .  Attitude is key.  Hope this helps.  have wonderful time.[]

[AustinBoston]

 Beavis & Ace
We spent 5-6 nights at Flagg Ranch, which is in the Rockefeller National Parkway, a strip of land between Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP.  It includes a fairly decent campgrounds (we reccomend reservations) that include full and partial hookups. See http://www.flaggranch.com/summer/  Flagg ranch is within 5 miles of both parks (but you will drive a lot once in the parks).
 
 See http://www.nps.gov/ for information about the parks themselves.
 
 You will see cold weather there in June.  Depending on winter snowfall, you are likely to find snow on the ground in places.
 
 Austin

[morbob]

 mwh710
MWH 710
 
 We will be passing thru Cody the second week in May and they are having a wild west weekend at that time.  Would you be able to recommend a campground for us to stay at.
 
 
 Thanks

[van castle]

 Beavis & Ace
We spent 3 nights at Colter Bay in the Tetons in early June of 2002. It is a great park with a full range of hookups. There were plenty of sites available for our Coleman Taos when we arrived just before noon on a Tuesday with out reservations. It snowed the day we arrived and the evening temperatures were cool by Texas standards but we stayed warm with a small electric heater and a few blankets.
 
 We were out 30 days in June traveling to Seattle and then up to Jasper and Banff, Alberta and managed to find good sites every night without reservations. We did call ahead a few hours on a few occasions. You will find that as you approach the end of the month and get near the prime vacation month of July, the camps fill up much earlier in the day. Our camping household is made up of 2 senior citizens but we enjoy being around children and observed many families having much fun.
 
 Park Rangers will inform you about bear precautions as well as wonderful opportunites to have a great time.
 
 

[mwh710]

 Beavis & Ace
I believe we stayed at the Good Sam Poderosa Campground. 307-587-9203.  It s pretty large, but there are some more secluded sites if requested.  We were there to see Cody & Yellowstone & just need a place to hook up & it s just down the road from the Rodeo Grounds, & the Buffalo Bill Museum is just 3 blocks away.[]

[morbob]

 mwh710
Thanks for the help about Cody.  I had selected that campground but it s nice to hear from someone who has been there.

[Opie431]

 Beavis & Ace
We just take extra blankets for that kind of trip where the temperature may vary so much. We started out with the sleeping bags and found they were usless in hot weather.  For cold weather we just pile on more blankets and wear socks if necessary. In winter camping we have tried sweat suits in place of pajamas. There are small nonelectric furnaces that you can buy but the last one we usd was when we borrowed Dr. Frankensteins pop-up 30 years ago so you need more current information.  There must be other people who have them.
 We have always stayed in NP or NF campgrounds but we go in September or October when it is not as crowded.
 Southern Wyoming  is dull, dull, dull, but Colorado takes forever because of the mountains. Have entertainment for your children for that part of the trip.  I picked up a box of garage sale books, etc. to take along if you have children who read in the car.

[Miss-Teri]

 Beavis & Ace
As far as reservations - we tried making reservations for Yellowstone a month in advance (last year) and everywhere we wanted to stay was booked solid, with a huge list of people hoping for some cancellations, so I would recommend the reservations.  We finally got a spot, then plans changed and we weren t able to go.  []

[PJay]

 Beavis & Ace
I agree with Austin.  As planner for our trip, I can say that I would much rather have reservations available for mental sake.  Flagg ranch was a nice campground and bears are not a problem.  The campgrounds in the National parks are geared more towards tenters or hard sides.  Animal problems are a direct result of trash issues.  
 I found going outside the parks more travelling but better in the convience of camping where I got services I wished.  And no bear alerts.  Besides, if you travel to Wyoming and miss the Tetons you have missed a wonderful treasure.