Who's been to Yellowstone?

[JMBD2112]

Trying to plan a trip for this summer and fly my parents out from TN to go with us. I'm going to pull a pop up to Cody and head in from there, is there any campgrounds you guys would recommend? It'll be a short trip since my dad isn't in that great of health, so maybe 4-5 days tops.

[Great-Kazoo]

When during the summer, is the key to visiting.

[JMBD2112]

His Birthday is August 5th, I'm thinking around there.

[KestrelBike]

I went car-camping for a week in MT/WY a couple years back, and the last part of my trip was yellowstone. Honestly, I found it to be the ugliest part of the trip. The geysers/thermo-features are cool and you don't get to see such concentrations outside the park, but the greenery in the park was quite underwhelming. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have just stayed in Custer and North-central WY (Bighorn Park).

[EvilRhino]

Looking at a map of the park and remembering back to 2006; Actual camping, we stayed at Canyon Village in the middle. The visitor center being close by saved my butt by having the things I didn't check for like tent stakes, foam mats when the airbed kept going flat, etc. I think there's cabins at the fishing bridge, but very few. IIRC there is a decent size hotel by old faithful.

I liked our spot for being central since I didn't plan on moving camp. Each day just picked a new direction and saw the things along that way. I think it's more geothermal stuff on the West side, more waterfalls and wild life to the East.

When we checked in at the camp, they noted the sites that a Grizzly had just walked through, so that was something to think about.

[JMBD2112]

I went car-camping for a week in MT/WY a couple years back, and the last part of my trip was yellowstone. Honestly, I found it to be the ugliest part of the trip. The geysers/thermo-features are cool and you don't get to see such concentrations outside the park, but the greenery in the park was quite underwhelming. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have just stayed in Custer and North-central WY (Bighorn Park).

I've never been to either one, I'll look into Bighorn. Thanks man

[fly boy]

been there twice.... plan for a ton of time spent in the car. Certain parts are 50+ miles apart, and there are TONS of people/traffic/idiots/asians etc.

It is very beautiful - I would suggest making sure you hit everything else besides old faithful. There are geysers all over the park, old faithful is the same, just a little higher and more regular.

Also, what is your route of travel? We went on a motorcycle trip out through the flaming gorge in UT, then up through the Tetons into Yellowstone and it was great.

[wctriumph]

If you want to camp there is the park, also Grand Tetons park is right there as well. If worried about health issues, stay in Cody or Jackson in a hotel and just drive in each day.

[twitchyfinger]

The one time I went through years ago one thing I distinctly remember is most campgrounds within the park do not allow tent camping including pop up campers due to the bears. Something you might want to look into.

[newracer]

The one time I went through years ago one thing I distinctly remember is most campgrounds within the park do not allow tent camping including pop up campers due to the bears. Something you might want to look into.

Correct, many campgrounds only allow hard sided campers.