Yellowstone - TT or Hotels?

[clubhouse]

Already thinking about a 2018 trip to Yellowstone, we've never been there.

We are a family of 5 (kids <12 y/o), driving from Central California (~1000 mile). We are planning for 2 weeks, I would have a hard time getting away for much more.

Initially thought we would take our TT and camp a couple different spots to see as much as we can. Now, as I have been reading about CG I having doubts. There seems to be a frequent 40' combined length requirement in the CG, but we are ~54'. We have been looking primarily at Madison, Canyon & Fishing Bridge.

Does my combination essentially eliminate my ability to use the CG in the park?

I live very near Yosemite and know frequently I can push the stated limits of the site no problem, but that is only 90 miles to home so if I make a mistake the penalty is run home with my tail between my legs. Yellowstone is all new to me and considerably farther where a reservation issue could seriously upset the trip.

Then the next question, should we even camp at all or just stay in hotels?

I prefer to camp, for all the reasons we all know. However staying in hotels might be compelling for this trip. For one it makes this 2 days, not 3 days, of travel each way. Also, traveling in our Suburban vs Duramax would be a much more comfortable ride for the kids and potentially easier to get around in the park.

I am very interested in you opinions, especially families with younger kids who have done this.

[garyg23]

Ask your kids, they will want the hotels!( 2 fewer days of just driving)

[Cdash]

Yellowstone sites can be tight. We were there with a 33' fifth wheel. I don't recall any overall length requirements, just trailer length.
We stayed at several different campgrounds in Yellowstone. If you don't stay in different places, you'll spend a lot of time driving to get around. Yellowstone is absolutely enormous, and beautiful!! We stayed at 3 different areas and did the quadrants around them. We weren't very good at dry camping back then, but we still did ok. I'm glad that we learned how to do it and get comfortable with it. I feel that we see so much more by camping IN the National Parks!

[Doug]

We visited this year.
Stayed in hotels also in 3 different areas and did quadrants around those areas.
Seems like Mamouth Hot Springs, a Canyon area, and Old Faithful area.
Hotels are like $200 a night for 2 people. Food is also expensive.
If your rig would be accepted, that would probably be most cost effective.
Either way, you need to reserve 3 or 4 different areas.

Doug

[TimHolt]

Use the RV. That's why you bought it.
We stayed in Island Park, they had a pretty nice RV park there.
Drove to Yellowstone through West Yellowstone each day.

[Grumpy]

Since your coming in from CA I would stay in West Yellowstone. There are numerous campgrounds, but definitely check out Yellowstone Grizzly CG. I also recommend you use one of the tours to see the park. We used Buffalo Bus and the guide was fantastic. Got us to the Lodge for lunch(you can also buy a box lunch from them) and told us what time to be outside to see Old Faithful. He also took us to see alot of wildlife. If you do it right it takes two days, one N loop and one S loop.

[Doug]

We spent 4 days and could have probably spent 7.
We did go down to Grande Tetons and really liked it too. Not far out of Yellowstone to Grande Tetons.

Doug

[clubhouse]

Thank you all.

Hotels it's going to be, although that Yellowstone Grizzily CG looks awesome.

Maybe at some point we will range outside our typical 300-400 mile towing range, but the wife and kids all preferred we stay in hotels this time.

Again thanks. Off to get our TT packed for a trip to the coast in a couple days.