Large-Rig Camping at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is probably on the top of every RV camper's bucket list. We finally got to cross it off our list after a trip to the West coast. Yellowstone was the high point of our seven-thousand mile trip which took us from Milwaukee, WI to Seattle, WA. Then down the coast of Washington and up the Columbia River, over Idaho and into Yellowstone.

We travel in a thirty-two-foot Airstream trailer pulled by a twelve-passenger Ford E350 van. The total length of this traveling hotel and bus is a shade more than fifty-five feet. We do not like to stay at RV Parks with their hard-surfaced pull through spots and close packed neighbors. We like to camp and will drive the extra fifty miles out of our way just to find a state or National Park. When we camp, we like to spread out and have some privacy.

We had done a lot of research on RV camping at Yellowstone and came to the conclusion that the RV campground within the park was not our type of camping. When we saw it, we were really happy we were not staying there. We also did not want to stay at any of the RV lots surrounding the entrances so we chose to camp in The Shoshone National Forest which borders Yellowstone on the east side.

Our campground was fifteen miles from Yellowstone's East entrance. We had reserved three nights at the Rex Hale Campground which is the only campground which accepts reservations within the national forest. It turned out we did not need to reserve the spot but it was good to be prepared just in case. There are a several campgrounds closer to Yellowstone along the same road but they do not take reservations. It is also good to note that each of them is restricted to hard side campers only so they do not allow tents, or pop-ups. This is due to the population of Grizzly Bears in the area. You can tent camp at Rex Hale.

Our campground was nestled along the Shoshone River in the Absaroka Mountain Range. Glaciers had cut through the mountains thousands of years ago creating the valley in which we camped. The Shoshone River, with its headwaters inside Yellowstone, catches the snowmelt and run off from the surrounding mountains making it a cold water, fast-moving river. We had a spacious, private site with mountain views and drop dead sun sets. Adding to the enjoyment was the sound of the river rushing through the campground. Teddy Roosevelt once referred to this corridor as the most scenic in America.

The campsite had water and 30 amp electric hookups. There was a picnic table a large fire ring and a cabinet to lock away your food from the bears. Firewood is anything you can collect since you are in a National Forest. We carry a cordless chainsaw and soon had a large pile of firewood. There was no sewer and there is no dump station available inside the National Forest. The closest dump station is about forty miles east.

The campground does not have flush toilets but the pits were clean and well ventilated. A camp host stays at the campsite and the forest rangers patrolled on a regular basis. Best of all there were no glaring mercury street lights so when the sun set the sky became a wonderland of stars.

There are day hiking trails from the campground. The river affords good trout fishing and you can even plan a float trip through outfitters in Cody, WY which is only forty miles east. Fifteen miles west is the entrance to Yellowstone. The entrance fee is $25.00 for a seven-day pass and there are senior as well as disabled passes available.

Shoshone National Forest offers a quality alternative to the cramped and crowded RV facilities inside Yellowstone National Park. I would suggest planning some time to explore the forest and take advantage of the many natural wonders you will find right by your campground.