Colter Bay RV Park vs. Headwaters Campground

[FeatherFam]

Does anyone have experience with Colter Bay RV Park and Headwaters Campground in Wyoming? Both CGs offer full hookups and are priced similarly. We noticed that Colter Bay RV Park does not have fire pits for the sites, but Headwaters does. Are there marked differences between them that we should consider before booking. We are planning our trip for the second week of July 2018. I am sure that both parks will be packed.

How do the facilities and campsites compare? Are there aesthetic and/or ambiance pros and cons between them? What about the staff and/or any other amenities that we should consider? We want to use all of our hookups, so we are not considering the other CGs in the park.

Thank you!

[kscottmurry]

I would be curious to hear any comparisons between the two as well. My family has reservations for Colter Bay for late July of 2018. We also based our decision on having full hookups, so we were down to Colter Bay vs Headwaters. I decided on Colter Bay, but would love to hear if I made the right choice.

[RedHorse1]

I only have experience with Headwaters from late this September. We stayed a week and it rained, sleeted and snowed 5 of those days. The pads are a mix of dirt (mud) and gravel. Lots of pines for shade and the fire pit/grill. The park is well kept but as I hinted was a touch muddy due to the moisture falling. The Snake River is a short walk away and the park is convenient to Y’stone and the Tetons. There is no cell (ATT), WiFi, cable or air TV. The restaurant/gift shop and fuel pump is convenient. Laundry worked fine.
All done, it’s a nice place to stay and I’d do it again.
Make sure you have what you need to remove whatever collects on the slides or toppers. Due to the slushy accumulation on the toppers our slides couldn’t retract till I’d cleared it off.

[FeatherFam]

Is it true that Colter Bay does not have fire pits but Headwaters does?

[KCSA75]

We stayed at Coulter Bay in 2015 and I thought it was fine. Nothing special, but the staff was friendly and the restrooms were clean.

Prior to that trip I was doing the same thing the OP is doing in this thread and heard several negative comments about Headwaters.

[Sport165]

Hi, we were just there, went through Headwaters just to check it out in mid September and looks like a really nice Campground, has a large lodge/restaurant, and lots of security, but I thought it was terribly overpriced! However the Campground did appear full.

We actually had planned to Boondock off of Grassy Lake Road- access is right there at the headwaters...
Instead, we took YS Rangers advice and drove through the Tetons and over to Mormon row-- where we Boondocked on National Forest land :-) loved the FREE Price Tag. Also it felt like we were truly camping vs in a CG. (though we still had about 5 neighbors, just completely different feel to it...) Oh! And there were fire rings

Colter Bay was a really nice area, and it didn't seem much different than the parks we stayed at up in Yellowstone. If I had to choose between the Headwaters & Colter Bay, I probably would choose Colter Bay bc it seems more Central to all things in GTNP..

But if I was feeling really adventurous, I would be camping right out there in the National Forest :-)
There was an amazing view of the Grand Tetons from our TT, and it did rain, but it also snowed a little bit, it was just a wonderful time :-)

I'm sure wherever you decide to stay, you're going to have a great time too, this National Park is just incredibly beautiful

[Sport165]

Oops sorry just realized you aren't interested in boondocking at all but want the full hookup, okay I still say go to Colter Bay :-) and that's only because driving through the parks and the surrounding nearby areas, that would be my choice.
Don't recall WiFi at Colter Bay but there wasn't any at Headwaters but I did use it when we were at the Jenny Lake visitor center and it was fine... so I'm thinking Colter Bay would have it as well! Because the other South? Visitor Center/museum also had it- just blanked the name!

[LeeandKelly]

We stayed at Headwaters at Flagg Ranch June 2017. Staff was very nice and plenty of space between sites. Although it was a little too far north than we would have liked and the Mosquitos were a problem. We used this location for our daily hiking excursions to the Tetons. After a few day we relocated to Fishing Bridge in YS, this campground is nice. For Fishing Bridge plan on extra sewer hose length.

[DAD]

I have been to Colter Bay campground many times, I live in Jackson Hole and had a boat on Jackson Lake for years. The full hook up sites are right behind the store and laundry and showers . Very short walk to two restaurants and boat dock. If you are a boater this is the place. There is a tour boat with breakfast and dinner cruises, or you can rent boat/canoe. There are not many full hook up sites and the campground, depending where you are is not walking distance to anything. I am positive they have fire rings, but have never been in full hook up