According to a National Parks Service news release dated August 5, 2009, in July 2009, more than 900,000 people entered Yellowstone National Park. That number represented an increase of 11.4 percent from July of 2008. The previous all time high was July, 1995 with visitors numbering 847,000 (See Reference 2).
Yellowstone National Park spans 2.2 million acres of alpine lakes, rivers, mountains and meadows with RV campgrounds located at elevations from 6,200 feet to about 8,000 feet. Roads can be closed even during spring and summer due to sudden snowstorms. For weather updates while you are traveling through Yellowstone, you can phone 307-344-2117.
Campgrounds inside Yellowstone National Park are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. These campgrounds have differing site length and width limits, prices, and facilities such as fresh water, restrooms, phone, firewood and sanitary dump stations. None offer electricity, but several allow generator use. What they share in common, except for Fishing Bridge RV Park, is a maximum 14 day stay limit. Fishing Bridge RV Park offers longer stays and is the only one that offers sewer hookups. Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, and Madison campgrounds all have RV sites that can be reserved. For information, contact Xanterra’s Yellowstone Reservation Center: 866-439-7375 or 307-344-7311.
The first come, first serve campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park are the following seven: Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall. These campgrounds are likely to be filled well before noon so arrive early to obtain a site.
Overnight camping of any type including tent, any vehicle or RV camping outside designated campground areas is strictly forbidden.
Reservations at those campgrounds that accept them are recommended.
If your RV exceeds 30 in length, you are advised to make a camping reservation well in advance. There are a limited number of campsites that can accommodate larger RVs in Yellowstone. A number of campgrounds with large RV sites are located in nearby gateway communities.
All wildlife warnings should be heeded in Yellowstone. In some areas camping is limited to hard sided RVs only. These are areas of high activity for bears.
The following communities are considered gateway communities to Yellowstone National Park. Flagg Ranch, Wyoming, borders the south entrance. West Yellowstone, Montana, borders the west entrance. Gardiner, Montana, borders the most northwest entrance. Other gateway communities where RV camping is available are Bozeman, Montana and from Livingston, Montana south through the Paradise Valley to Gardiner.
July is the most popular month for Yellowstone RV camping. Individual campground seasons vary depending on elevation, snowfall, road conditions and other factors, but in general seasonal use begins in late May and ends in late September.
Having an RV enables a family to enjoy the outdoors with some of the comforts of home. Cooking and sharing meals in an RV saves money especially for families with multiple members. Being able to pack a picnic in an RV galley for a later meal while sightseeing also saves money. In addition to savings, RV food preparations save time by helping families avoid long waits for meals at popular Yellowstone sites.
Recreating around a campfire in an RV affords the camping experience of tent camping while still allowing you to sleep on a bed indoors if you choose and even enjoy indoor plumbing.
Campers from many continents visit Yellowstone. Meeting and enjoying the company of other RV campers can be a culturally enriching and rewarding experience.
