Best RV Campgrounds For Your Yellowstone Adventure

Above, at West Entrance Yellowstone KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park in the northwest corner of Wyoming (and parts of Montana) is such a popular national park that it is almost impossible to get a campsite reservation within the park.

However, there are numerous private campgrounds and RV parks outside of Yellowstone that are easier to secure a campsite reservation. I did back in 2015 at the West Entrance Yellowstone KOA. What was nice about that campground, Buffalo Bus Touring Co. had a stop there for tours of Yellowstone. 

RV Life has posted a list of RV parks near Yellowstone that they recommend. The KOA is not on the list, but I recommend it.

They begin with:

National parks are some of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. So it makes sense that people want to camp in and around them. If you’re looking for an experience that puts you close to wildlife, geothermal activity, and scenic mountains, you’re probably looking for campgrounds near Yellowstone!

Most everyone runs off to see Old Faithful right away. It is okay, but our favorites by far were the Lamar Valley drive where we saw thousands of Bison all over the place. Really enjoyed Mammoth Hot Springs one day. Two Grizzly sightings north of Fishing Bridge in Hayden Valley, one with a cub in tow. Canyon Village has a great Visitor Information Center. I believe the most amazing view and photo opportunities was without a doubt, at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone near Canyon Village. Take a short walk on both the South and North sides. Paved trails and amazing views. — Don Sikkema

This park covers large portions of Wyoming and Montana so there are plenty of options when you’re browsing for a campground. Some people want an upscale resort experience, while others prefer rugged and secluded campgrounds. No matter what you’re looking for, you should find it somewhere in the list below.

We’ve compiled information about 5 stellar campgrounds near Yellowstone, each with their own unique features. They also gained our attention thanks to the great reviews they received from campers. After all, the guests are the ones who know best here! Each campground below has received enough rave reviews to put themselves on the map. And hopefully, you’ll be able to visit them and see their positive qualities for yourself.

To read more, go here. 

Best RV Lengths For National Park Campgrounds

Above, the campsite I had at Yosemite's North Pines Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I bought my motorhome, I have stayed in several national parks. As it is 23 feet long, finding a campsite that would accommodate it has been no problem.

National parks I have stayed in include Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Lassen Volcanic. Each national park has campsites that easily accommodated my motorhome. 

Above, Lassen Volcanic's Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel has posted an article on the best RV lengths for national park campgrounds.

They begin it with:

Visiting and camping in America’s national parks is near the top of most RVers’ bucket lists. One crucial factor that can make or break an RVer’s camping experience is whether an RV will fit into a campsite. Let’s explore what size RV is ideal for national park camping, and what you should expect when trying to find a spot.

The national park RV size dilemma

Many national park campgrounds were built long before RVs became as big as they are today. While national parks very often offer some breathtaking scenic views, they often come with smaller and less accommodating campsites for larger RVs. Knowing the right size RV for these campgrounds is essential before making a reservation.

To read more, go here.

Why All RVers Need A Picnic Table Cover

Above, Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I rarely ever use the campsite's picnic table for eating. I just don't find them convenient to use. I generally eat inside the RV on my own dinette table. I do have a picnic table cover, but I don't like to be harassed by bugs if eating outdoors, so I don't.

Considering an article posted at RV Life, it is a good thing that I don't use the campsite's picnic table for dining. A big yuck is my reaction!

The article begins with:

If you’ve RVed for a while, you likely understand the importance of a picnic table cover.

Almost all of the campground picnic tables we’ve seen are made from wood. Wood is porous. That means whatever the last RVer placed on what is now your table has likely penetrated the surface, deposited germs, and/or holds the potential for ruining your camping experience.

If you enjoy eating your meals at your RV site’s picnic table, you need to get a table cover!

They put what on the table?!

While traveling, we’ve seen many things I wish I could unsee. Here are just a few situations where RVers used their picnic table with little consideration for the next camper:

• Mom changing her toddler’s diaper on the table

• Happy anglers cleaning their morning’s catch

• Muddy hiking boots left to dry

• A departing RVer who forgot her dog’s poop bag on the table

• DIYer cleaning his RV wheel bearings at the table

• A camper’s dog atop the table while bathed and brushed

• Nasty words carved into the table

• A smoker using the table to put out his cigarette

• And, yes, an RVer drying his sewer hose atop the picnic table

To read more, go here. 

All Yosemite Campgrounds Opening Beginning This Month

Above, The Beast at Yosemite's North Pines Campground in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yosemite National Park has announced that all 13 campgrounds within the park will be open for the first time since 2019.

According to the National Park Service:

Yosemite National Park will open all 13 park campgrounds this summer, marking the first time since 2019 that all campgrounds have been open. These additional openings will add approximately 500 campsites available to the public for enjoying the park.

"We're very excited to have these campgrounds open to the public as we enter the busy summer season," said Acting Yosemite National Park Superintendent Ray McPadden. "Camping in this park is truly a magical experience, and we want to provide the opportunity for as many visitors as possible."

To read more, go here. 

Late Campground Check-In Times

Above, last April at the KOA Kampground in Flagstaff. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After RV camping over several years, I wondered why some campground have such late check-in times.

Naturally, campground/RV park operators have to make sure people have checked out of a campsite and it is left in a presentable state. 

Generally, my driving days usually end around 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon (I am an early riser and like to get on the road before sunrise), so late check-in times have not been an issue. I have also checked into campgrounds earlier than the posted check-in time with no problem.  

This is a topic of a Letter To The Editor at RV Travel.

They begin with:

We received this letter from Laura G. last week, and we think many of you can relate. How many times have you arrived at a campground early, only to find that you can’t park until your check-in time? How many times have you “killed time” to get to that hour of the day when you can check in?

Read on, and then please leave a comment for Laura.

To read more, go here. 

RV Camping: Planning Versus Winging It

Above, Devil's Tower, which I plan to see again in July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little over a month from now, I plan to head up into Wyoming and South Dakota for some exploring.

As of now, I haven't made any campground reservations. As the departure time gets closer, I will make some reservations, just have to figure the travel time needed to get there from New Mexico.

There are two schools of thought concerning RV camping. Those who "wing it" and those who plan it. That is the topic of an article in RV Life.

They begin with:

The Right Tools Can Help You Decide Where to Camp, While Still Feeling Spontaneous

Every year, we talk to hundreds of RVers. We ask them how they decide where to camp, which campgrounds to go to, and how they get there safely. There are a variety of strategies, but they can be divided into two primary camps. Those are the planning crowd and the spontaneous crowd.

You’d think the size of the RV would dictate which crowd those RVers would be in when they decide where to camp. But that just isn’t always the case. We’ve seen 40-foot fifth-wheel owners in the spontaneous crowd, and folks towing 20-foot travel trailers plan to the nth degree. Before we proceed, we should define the two styles.

To read more, go here. 

Poll: What's An "Affordable" RV Campsite?

Above, Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like everything else, the price of campsites have risen over the past several years. Recently, I stayed at the Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque and was charged $62 for a night's stay.

While that may seem high to some, it is still much cheaper than a hotel room these days. Hotel rooms are averaging over $150 to $200 per night from what I've been seeing.

RV Travel has a poll article on what would you define an "affordable" campsite for a one night stay?

It begins with:

Everyone has a different definition of “affordable” and, of course, that depends on many things. What’s affordable to you may not be affordable to someone else and vice versa. Affordable also means different things in campground terms.

Membership programs like Harvest Hosts and The Dyrt may seem affordable when you break it all down, but maybe it’s too much of an up-front cost. Maybe an RV resort with a bunch of amenities for the grandkids seems “affordable” for all that it offers.

Some RVers are perfectly content with a quiet boondocking spot off a forest road, where the cost is zero but the rewards are priceless. Others are looking for electric hookups, hot showers, and a level parking pad—things that often push the price up.

To read more, go here. 

Grand Canyon Camping Fees Going Up

Above, Grand Canyon's Trailer Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like everything else these days, the cost to camp in a national park is going up.

The latest is Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. For the first time in 20 years, camping fees are going up.

AZCentral reported:

Grand Canyon National Park is raising fees at its campgrounds for the first time in 20 years.

Fees will increase for standard campsites at the Desert View and Mather campgrounds at the South Rim and at the North Rim Campground.

Prices will be going up for tent and RV sites. It's the first time Grand Canyon has increased these fees since 2005.

How much does it cost to camp at the Grand Canyon?

Starting May 1, 2025, standard campground fees at Grand Canyon will be $30 per night.

Certain national park passholders — seniors with the Senior pass and disabled visitors with the Access pass — receive a 50% discount on camping fees. Under the new rate, they'll pay $15 per night.

To read more, go here. 

The Inventor of the Loop Campground

Above, Yosemite's North Pines Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One learns something new everyday, as so the saying goes.

I learned something new this morning while reading the RV Travel Sunday Newsletter.

It is about the man who invented the loop campground. I've never given it a thought before until this morning.

According to Chuck Woodbury in RV Travel:

I bet you have never heard of Emilio Meinecke. I hadn’t until recently. If you are in a campground right now, whether in a national park, national forest or a KOA, please stop reading for a moment and walk out your RV’s front door and look around. You will see evidence of his work.

Emilio Meinecke, born in 1869, was a plant pathologist for the U.S. Forest Service. His major claim to fame, however, is as the inventor of the loop campground. It was about 90 years ago, in the early 1930s. His design changed camping forever. You know the design because you’ve seen it too many times to count — a one-way loop road, with auto pullouts every so often that designate individual campsites. In most cases, each site had (and often still does) a fireplace and/or campfire.

To read more, go here. 

RVers Are Fed Up With Rising Park Prices Says Jellystone Park Campgrounds

Above, Tucson / Lazydays KOA Resort only charged me $36/night last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The national campground chain, Jellystone Park, is concerned over high campsite prices that many RVers are refusing to pay.

The Jellystone Park chain is the nation's second largest campground chain. I have not stayed at one. The largest chain is KOA Kampgrounds, of which I am a member. 

So far, campground rates for me have been mixed. The highest I paid per night was $90 at Monument Valley KOA in September. The lowest was $30 at Valley View Mobile Home & RV Park in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Others this year were averaging around $50 per night. Tucson / Lazydays KOA Resort charged me only $36/night last year after my KOA membership discounts were applied.

RV Travel has posted an article on Jellystone Park's concern over rising prices leading RVers to be "fed up". 

They begin with:

If you’re finding the rates at RV parks are too much to stomach, you’re not alone. “Inflation” has hit nearly every corner of the American economy, including prices demanded for staying in your RV. When will the rate increases stop? Evidently, RV park franchise chain Jellystone is recognizing that “enough” may be too much already. High RV campsite prices are taking their toll.

Still, campground prices are much cheaper than nightly hotel/motel room rates.

To read more, go here.  

Finding A Cool Campsite

Above, on the runway of Rice Army Airfield. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last month, I attended a four-chapter clampout (campout) in the Mojave Desert of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. We were camped on the former concrete runway of Rice Army Airfield.

With that in mind, one of the things I made it a point of doing is having the refrigerator side of the RV facing away from the sun. This I did.

Finding a cool campsite is the topic of an article in RV Travel. Nanci Dixon provides some tips on how to do so.

She begins with:

Whew! It seems that the last several campgrounds my husband and I have stayed at have been closer to solar ovens than cool, shady campsites. It has been so blistering hot under the sun that we haven’t even bothered taking the chairs out.

If you think there’s no way to get cool in hot weather, think again. I’ll show you a quick, easy way to make sure your RV stays cool at the next campsite.

To read more, go here.

RV Park Unwritten Rules You Should Know

Above, campers at the Ely, Nevada KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever camped at an RV park or campground next to obnoxious neighbors? I can't say that I have. But others haven't been so lucky.

RV Life has posted an article on "unwritten rules" of RV parks that everyone should know.

They start it off with:

When you check into an RV park you’ll almost always receive a list of campground rules. As you dutifully check it out, you’ll typically see there are campground quiet hours, rules about not killing the grass with your camping rug, keeping pets on leashes,  and a host of other rules. These rules help keep campground managers and RVers happy.  However, those aren’t the only rules at the campground you should be aware of.  There are also some unwritten rules for good campground conduct that new RVers )or some seasoned ones) may not be aware of. Knowing these rules will save you from becoming a social outcast in the RV park. 

To read more, go here. 

Drive To McGaffey Lake

Above, yours truly at McGaffey Lake. 

Late this morning, I decided to take a Jeep drive to McGaffey Lake in the Cibola National Forest.

It had been two years since I last been there. When I was there, the lake was all dried up with only mud in the middle of it.

Today, the lake was full and only inches from reaching the top of the spillway. Oldtimers here have said that this has been the fullest the lake has been in years.

I took Six Mile Canyon Road through the canyon until it ended at the McGaffey Lake Recreation Area. The campgrounds haven't been opened yet. There were some people fishing. I don't know if the lake has been stocked with fish this year.

After looking over the lake, I took Highway 400 to a side road to Six Mile Canyon Road. I decided to save wear and tear on the tires by cutting 2 miles of winding road by going this way.

Naturally, I took some photos:

Above, the Jeep at McGaffey Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Six Mile Canyon Road two miles from McGaffey Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, McGaffey Lake looking east. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, McGaffey Lake looking west. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Jeep at McGaffey Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, McGaffey Lake looking north. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, on Highway 400. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Affordable RV Campgrounds Near Top National Parks

Above, at Diamond Lake RV Park near Crater Lake National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With so many people traveling to our national parks in their RVs, it is next to impossible to get a campsite in one. Even if one does find an empty campsite, it may not be big enough to accommodate the RV.

I did stay at campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Yosemite National Park. Either I was just plain lucky or made reservations months in advance.

The alternative is finding a reasonably-priced campground near to the national park. I did this a couple of times. I stayed at a KOA Kampground near Yellowstone National Park in West Yellowstone, Montana and Diamond Lake RV Park near Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

This is the topic of an article in RV Life.

They begin it with:

Looking for an affordable getaway into nature? RVing trips to national parks are among my personal favorite choices for sure! Unfortunately, the campgrounds in national parks aren’t always ideal. Some can’t accommodate big rigs, others can’t accommodate RVs at all, and most don’t have hookups of any kind.

The solution our family tends to turn to? Affordable campgrounds outside of popular national parks!

In honor of National Park Week from April 20–28, here are my top picks for great places to stay that won’t break the bank.

To read more, go here. 

Are KOA Campgrounds Safe?

Above, the Cedar City (Utah) KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This subject puzzled me at first. I have camped in many KOA Kampgrounds around the country and have found them to be safe. I have never had a problem with any of them.

Still, the question is pertinent to people with children and if they are new to RV camping.

The topic is by MSN.com and it begins with:

Curious about the safety of KOA campgrounds? We’ve had many camping experiences at RV sites at KOA, and when it comes to KOA camping, we’re big fans.

For the best camping experience, it’s a good idea to be aware of a few of the most common KOA questions, which we’ll dive into deeper below. 

The next time that you’re looking for an affordable vacation option check out KOA resort campgrounds and any local KOA campgrounds, which are great ways to have a stress-free camping trip.

Not only do they typically offer deluxe cabins and fun nearby attractions, but they’re also located at the perfect place to be able to get in and get out quickly. 

To read more, go here. 

More Full Campgrounds In 2023 Than In 2020

Above, there were plenty of open campsites at Manzanita Lake Campground
 in Lassen Volcanic National Park when I arrived. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I must be a lucky person.

Since I bought my motorhome in 2015, I have not encountered full campgrounds during my travels. Maybe it is because I prefer the off-season. I was even able to get a site at Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park without a reservation in August 2017.

I usually just show up at a campground (mostly private ones) without a reservation and ask the clerk at the front desk if they have room for one. 

According to an article in RV Travel, there were twice as many full campgrounds in 2023 than in 2020. 

They begin with:

Like to RV with spontaneity? Shun making campground reservations in favor of letting it ride while in your ride? Then you probably already know that finding an overnight spot is getting harder. Campsite-locating app The Dyrt has the numbers to confirm your experience. Twice as many full campgrounds were the rule for users in 2023 compared to 2020.

To read more, go here. 

Affordable Eclipse Adventure By RV

Above, at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
for the 2017 Great American Eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We are almost two months away before the solar eclipse.

Already, hotels and campgrounds are being booked up by sky-watchers. Travel and Tour World has posted an article on which mode of travel for the event is more economical for the family budget.

They begin it with:

When it comes to enjoying the captivating sights and sounds of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th without breaking the bank, many Americans are discovering that opting for an RV adventure and celebrating at one of the 5,000-plus campgrounds along the eclipse’s path is a more budget-friendly alternative to air travel and hotel stays. A recent survey by Priceline on flights and hotel rates in cities along the eclipse route revealed an average airfare of $587 per person and a nightly hotel rate of $238. In contrast, camping in picturesque parks or family-friendly campgrounds comes at a fraction of the cost, with many sites available for under $75. For those interested in renting an RV for the occasion, it’s possible to secure one that accommodates up to 8 people for less than $100 per night.

Above, at a viewing area in Roberts, Idaho just before the start of the Great American Eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the Great American Eclipse took place in August 2017, I booked my campsite months in advance at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. That was a memorable trip!

To read more, go here. 

Path of April 8 Solar Eclipse

Above, the 2017 Great American Eclipse in totality. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The April 8 solar eclipse across North America is rapidly approaching.

The path of totality will be going south to north through Mexico and then the United States. 

If one is planning to go out and view the eclipse, planning ahead is essential as hotels, RV parks and campgrounds are beginning to be booked up.

I saw the Great American Eclipse from Roberts, Idaho in August 2017 and it was a memorable experience. The recent annular solar eclipse path took it directly over my home in New Mexico. All I had to do was to go out in the yard to see it.

The path of this year's solar eclipse is shown below:

Above, map provided by NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio.

Right now, I am considering either flying to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas or driving the RV to Waco, Texas to view the eclipse. Since I had a great time in Fort Worth and Dallas in 2021, I wouldn't mind going there again and hang out at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I've been to Waco on a claims assignment back in 1992. So I have an idea of its terrain. It would be drive of over 700 miles from home. 

If I drive, I can also visit the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ Ranch during the trip. Both are around two hours away from Waco.

500% Spike In RV and Campground Bookings For Solar Eclipse

Above, my campsite at a Lava Hot Springs KOA during the
 2017 Great American Eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

April is not too far away. That means campsites along the path of totality of the April 8 solar eclipse are being gobbled up.

Now is the time (if one hasn't done so already) to reserve a campsite. 

Above, the solar eclipse in totality from Idaho in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went up to Idaho for the 2017 Great American Eclipse and it was an experience nobody should miss. The photos that accompany this blog post are from that trip.

According to Forbes, there's been a 500% spike in RV and campground bookings along the path of totality.

They posted an article that begins with:

If you’re yet to plan a trip to see North America’s total solar eclipse—the longest since 1806 and the last until 2033 in Alaska—it’s time to prepare.

On Monday, April 8, the rare sight of the sun’s corona around a new moon will be visible from a 115-mile wide path stretching from Mexico to Atlantic Canada via parts of 15 U.S. states. Everyone else on the continent will see just a regular partial solar eclipse.

You must get inside that path of totality—to not do so is to misunderstand how mind-blowing a totality solar eclipse is and its rarity. The experience of plummeting temperatures, wildlife going crazy, and the sight of the sun’s spiky white corona will leave you in disbelief at what you just saw. The next total solar eclipses in the U.S. are in Alaska in 2033, Canada, Montana/South Dakota in 2044 and coast-to-coast in the U.S. and beyond in 2045.

But hotels are now hard to come by—or else costly. The answer, of course, is to camp.

Above, my motorhome during the totality of the Great American Eclipse
from a viewing area near Roberts, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Avoiding The RV 10-Year Rule

Above, Cousin Eddie's RV from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

My motorhome will be 10 years old next year. So the following may become an issue then. But I am not worried about it as it is in great shape.

It us the "ten-year rule" that some RV parks and campgrounds impose to keep out junker RVs (like Cousin Eddie's in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation). 

RV Travel has an article on how one with an older RV can avoid the rule.

They begin it with:

The video below from the team at Drivin’ and Vibin’ discusses a heated topic among RVers, the 10-year rule. Many parks have a rule that RVs staying there must be under 10 years old.

While we can all understand the sentiment behind the rule is to keep out junker RVs, it remains unpopular because there are many, many well-kept RVs that are older than 10 years. To say nothing of the meticulously restored decades-old RVs still on the road, like the ones our hosts live in.

If you own an RV older than 10 years and have tried to make a reservation at one of the parks, you know what a hassle it can be. So the video was produced to help others in that situation.

To be sure, our host avoids these parks whenever possible because the 10-year rule just rubs him wrong. But there are instances where you don’t have a choice.

To read more, go here.