Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Perhaps the most famous national park in the U.S., Yellowstone is the ultimate camping destination. You may not know that Yellowstone is also the United States’ oldest national park, established all the way back in 1872. The unique concentration of wildlife and an unparalleled combination of geological features has attracted people to the area for more than 11,000 years.
Today, more than four million visitors flock to Yellowstone each year to see the park’s amazing geothermal attractions, rugged mountains, and forests teeming with wildlife. From Old Faithful to Mammoth Hot Springs to the bison herds of the Lamar Valley, your camping group will find new adventures in every corner of the park. During your camping trip through Wyoming, put Yellowstone at the very top of your list.
One of the top reasons folks visit Yellowstone is to view the impressive geysers around the park. Geysers are formed when groundwater is superheated by lava underground and spectacularly gushes from openings in the Earth to relieve pressure. Perhaps the most well-known site among all U.S. national parks, Old Faithful is one of more than 500 geysers found in Yellowstone.
To get your fill of geyser action, take a walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin. Here, you will find more than 150 geysers within a single square mile. Make sure to stay on the boardwalks for your safety as the eruptions of these geysers can be boiling hot.
You’ll find even more hot springs throughout Yellowstone than geysers. Hot springs are similarly formed to geysers, although the lack of constriction near their surface allows the magma-heated water to exist on the surface as a far-less dramatic pool. Hot springs are still visually striking, however, with their deep, unique colors resulting from extremely heat-resistant microbes.
As you explore the various hot springs in the park, make sure to visit Mammoth Hot Springs, in particular. Here you will see the limestone travertine terraces, formed by a constant flow of water rich in calcium carbonate. The result is a continuous building of dramatic white ‘steps’ that resemble an icy waterfall.
Another top reason campers flock to Yellowstone each year is the diverse and abundant wildlife. In particular, Yellowstone is known for its large animals. Keep an eye out for big predators like grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, and wolves. You will also be able to view large herbivores like bison, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep.
All of these animals can be quite dangerous, so bring your binoculars and maintain a respectful distance. Park staff urge visitors to maintain at least 100 yards of distance from predators and 25 yards from other animals. In fact, it’s probably best to remain in your vehicle when bear-watching.
A true mountain lake, Yellowstone Lake sits at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet. Its ice-cold waters are perfect for trout species to thrive, and the lake is home to the largest species of wild cutthroat trout in the world. When fishing today, anglers target both these cutthroat trout as well as invasive lake trout.
There are a few special notes for fishing in Yellowstone. In order to fish, a park-specific permit is required, but no state licenses are necessary. All hooks must be barbless to protect the fish from unnecessary damage. Lastly, lake trout are considered an invasive species, and any that are caught must be either killed or harvested.
There’s no better way to connect with the majestic land of Yellowstone than by hiking one of its many trails. More than 900 miles of hiking trails can be found throughout the park with vastly differing lengths and degrees of difficulty. Choose from routes that border lakes, explore geysers, follow riverbanks, summit mountains, and wind through forests.
Bear in mind that you’ll be hiking in elevation. If you are not used to this, be prepared to become winded and dehydrated easily. Take your time and drink plenty of fluids. There is also a significant number of bear encounters by hikers each year in Yellowstone. It is wise to carry bear spray when you’ll be exploring areas known for bear activity.
There are 12 campgrounds that offer campers more than 2,000 sites at Yellowstone, and most of them can accommodate RVs. One unique feature of Yellowstone is that it has a dedicated RV park. The Fishing Bridge RV Park provides full hookups for 310 campsites, a camp store, a dump station, and potable water. The other campgrounds also welcome RVs; however, there are no hookups available, so be prepared to dry camp.
If you are looking to stay outside of Yellowstone, Redrock RV and Camping Park is about 22 miles to the west of the park in Island Park, Idaho, just over the Wyoming state line. This particular park has a ton of lawn sports (horseshoes, tether ball, etc.) for entertainment and is close to canoeing, fishing, and hiking trails. Your full hookup site will provide up to 50-amp electrical service and guests will also enjoy amenities such as Wi-Fi, a laundry facility, a bathhouse, and a propane filling station.
Just five minutes from the western gatehouse, the Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park could not be more convenient. The park offers a variety of pull-through and back-in spaces with varying degrees of isolation and forested lands. These full hookup sites are complemented by Wi-Fi and cable TV access, six bathhouses, laundry facilities, and a large playground. The park is also located within the historic town of West Yellowstone, where visitors can find ample Yellowstone-related information and entertainment (like the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center) as well as a bunch of dining options.
If you’d like to stay closer to the northern border, Rocky Mountain RV Park up in Gardiner, Montana is just a mile from the northern gatehouse. Choose from either standard or wider deluxe sites with full hookup capability and Wi-Fi service. Additional amenities include a shower and laundry facility, as well as close walking distance to shopping and dining in Gardiner. There’s also free mini golf for you and the kiddos to have a little fun.
Six miles from the eastern border of Yellowstone in Cody, Wyoming, the Yellowstone Valley Inn and RV Park is a scenic option with a bunch of great amenities. Enjoy an onsite restaurant serving all three meals and a saloon for a nightcap after a long day of hiking. Your full hookup site will be on a large gravel lot, but the open views of the mountains are fantastic. Guests will also love the heated pool, fitness center, and coffee bar on site.
There are more dining options at Yellowstone than in any other national park. More than 20 different restaurants, cafeterias, snack bars, ice cream counters, soda fountains, and bars can be found at various lodges throughout the park.
From grabbing a quick sandwich at the Old Faithful Cafeteria to a fine dining experience at the Lake Lodge Hotel Dining Room, dining experiences of all levels and amenities can be found at Yellowstone. The cuisine also varies from place to place, so interested diners can choose everything from rice and noodle bowls to seafood, buffets, and a good old-fashioned diner with classic American hamburgers.
Unless you are camping outside of the park, it won’t be all that convenient to get to restaurants in the border towns. At the northern border up in Gardiner, Montana, you’ll find a bunch of pizza joints, grills, pubs, a few American chains, and a grocery store.
To the south, you’ll find the gorgeous ski town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you’re combining a trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, this is a great town to spend a night or two. This area has a dedicated tourist draw all its own, so there are plenty of restaurants available. These will mostly be grills and BBQ, but you’ll also find a coffee roaster, Thai, Lebanese, and even a couple of local breweries.
The eastern border is not as popular, but a solid food hub can be found in Cody, Wyoming. Again, you’ll find grills and BBQ, but there are also American cafés (serving hearty breakfasts), Thai, and Mexican options as well.
No camper’s bucket list is complete without a visit to the famed Yellowstone National Park. Even if you’ve visited before, you’ve likely only scratched the surface. Let’s get that RV trip planned today; the geysers, mountains, and forests of Yellowstone are calling.