Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Community Forums > Freeways & Byways
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-19-2014, 05:02 PM   #1
TheSweetLife
Member
 
TheSweetLife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hershey, PA
Posts: 71
Estes Park- Yellowstone- Buffalo WY

Looking for some advice on summer trip. Need some help with safe route to travel with a 39 foot 5 wheel. We will be traveling from Estes Park to Yellowstone. We will be stopping in Jackson for a night. From Jackson we are staying in Yellowstone ( Madison campground, Fishing Bridge is already full). After 5 days in Yellowstone we are heading to Buffalo WY.

I know this is a tough question since everyone has different views on safe routes. This is part of a 4 week trip from PA. This area is a large focus and so we want to see scenic routes but also not be so stressed that I never want to return.

Thanks for your help.
__________________
2014 Sprinter Copper Canyon 343FWBH
2007 Chevy 3500 DRW Duaramax 8 foot bed
TheSweetLife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 06:09 PM   #2
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
I pulled a 35' 5er from Cheyenne across 80 to Laramie and then up 287/26. Wasn't a bad trip. A couple pretty good passes to climb, but the roads are good. If you go that route, you would actually have to back track to go to Jackson from the south entrance. I guess you could go to Rock Springs and take 191, but I can't tell you much about that route, never been off of I 80 in that part of the state. 80 is good all the way across though.

As far as going to Buffalo, you should be fine on 14/16. Again a couple pretty good passes, but shouldn't have any problems if you take your time.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2014, 07:45 AM   #3
koko
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 497
The highways in Wyoming are very good and passes very manageable. You need to remember that you're traveling from a very busy road system to a state where even at its busiest, you're going to feel like you're driving in the country. Wind may be your main battle. Enjoy. Those are beautiful areas that we have traveled many, many times over the years with our various campers.
__________________

2017 Jayco Melbourne 24k-Jeep Wrangler
2013 Bullet Premier 19FBPR-Dodge Durango V8 Hemi
2013 Rpod 177HRE-Jeep Liberty
2011 Aliner Sport-Jeep Cherokee
2008 Little Guy 5^Wide-Toyota Avalon
1980 Shasta 21-GMC Suburban
1981 Coleman Tent Camper-1981 Dodge Ramcharger
1978 VW Westfalia
Lots of tents
koko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2014, 08:37 AM   #4
Jim & DJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Morgan
Posts: 223
Estes Park- Yellowstone- Buffalo WY

39' ? .... Madison CG, ?. Better make sure they can handle the length..

Yellowstone Grizzly RV park, West Yellowstone, Mt. is great but in the $60.00 range

Yes, 191 out of Rock Springs isn't bad.

Best of luck.
Jim & DJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2014, 02:34 PM   #5
TheSweetLife
Member
 
TheSweetLife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hershey, PA
Posts: 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim & DJ View Post
39' ? .... Madison CG, ?. Better make sure they can handle the length..

Yellowstone Grizzly RV park, West Yellowstone, Mt. is great but in the $60.00 range

Yes, 191 out of Rock Springs isn't bad.

Best of luck.
According to information I have gathered Madison can accommodate a small number of 40 foot motorhomes or trailers.

Would you recommend staying at Yellowstone Grizzly to visit the majority of Yellowstone? We would be staying for 5 days in the area and then could drive the truck around yellowstone to visit the park.
__________________
2014 Sprinter Copper Canyon 343FWBH
2007 Chevy 3500 DRW Duaramax 8 foot bed
TheSweetLife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2014, 05:33 AM   #6
jsmith948
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
We stayed at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. About 1/2 mile from the west entrance. Clean, quiet CG with wide, grassy sites. Nice store & laundry. Very nice staff. You can even buy buffalo burgers for your grill at the store.
__________________

Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
jsmith948 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2014, 07:28 AM   #7
austinp
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: California
Posts: 128
Just went through some of the state highways through Wyoming last month to get to South Dakota. All roads were good. As previously mentioned the wind was our main issue. Try not to pull through the streets in Casper. There's allot of road construction and congestion. Also, the fuel stations aren't very accommodating for large trailers so get fuel outside town.
__________________
TT 2014 Keystone Hideout 28BHSWE
Tow Vehicle 2012 Ford F150 Ecoboost, factory brake controller, Dual friction sway/Pro series WD hitch
Retire So Cal Copper.
austinp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2014, 08:10 AM   #8
Jim & DJ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Morgan
Posts: 223
Yellowstone area

TheSweetLife

We usually stay at Yellowstone Grizzly RV park for a week at the beginning of summer and again in Sept.

Like the previous post said, it is a Great place to stay.

Make your reservations at least 6-8 weeks ahead, maybe more. (406-646-4466)

If you have Sat. tv ask for a spot that the trees won't block the signal.

ps; No, I am not on their payroll, just like the place.

Good luck, have safe travels and let us know about your trip.

Jim & DJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2014, 01:30 PM   #9
koko
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 497
At one time I believe you said you were also going to Glacier. Is that still part of your plan? If not, I wouldn't go all the way to West Yellowstone. If you can't stay in the park, you'd be better off staying in Cody, even though it's about a 50 mile drive (one hour) to the east entrance. That way, when you leave for Buffalo you're very close. Also, Cody has some great things to see and do with lots of campgrounds. The east entrance to the park is beautiful, as is the south entrance from Jackson/Grand Teton NP.
__________________

2017 Jayco Melbourne 24k-Jeep Wrangler
2013 Bullet Premier 19FBPR-Dodge Durango V8 Hemi
2013 Rpod 177HRE-Jeep Liberty
2011 Aliner Sport-Jeep Cherokee
2008 Little Guy 5^Wide-Toyota Avalon
1980 Shasta 21-GMC Suburban
1981 Coleman Tent Camper-1981 Dodge Ramcharger
1978 VW Westfalia
Lots of tents
koko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2014, 01:47 PM   #10
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
I love the south entrance, always wildlife out around the roads in the GT...Have seen deer, elk, moose, wolf, and bear on that road.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2014, 04:45 PM   #11
TheSweetLife
Member
 
TheSweetLife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hershey, PA
Posts: 71
We are not planning on visiting Glacier this go around. This is part of a 4 week trip. We will be going from PA to Colorado Springs to Estes to Tetons to Yellowstone to Rushmore to Chiacgo to Ohio to home. Those are our big stops and we have 4 weeks worth of smaller stops also. Still getting route and stops set. Fun fun We haven't accounted for visiting family yet ether.

We are staying in Moran for 3 nights to visit Jackson and Tetons then moving to Yellowstone for 5 nights. I booked Madison in Yellowstone but would rather have full hookups although I can live without for a few days.

My biggest problem is how to spend 5 days in Yellowstone. I would prefer to dock the trailer in 1 location and take the truck to visit the park. If that's my goal is it realistic to see the rest of the park on "day trips" and if so what entrance is the best? Fishing Bridge campground is already booked.
__________________
2014 Sprinter Copper Canyon 343FWBH
2007 Chevy 3500 DRW Duaramax 8 foot bed
TheSweetLife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2014, 08:38 PM   #12
koko
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southwest Wyoming
Posts: 497
If you were going to stay at Madison for 5 days, you might as well stay in West Yellowstone, MT instead if you want hook-ups. Madison's over on the west side anyway. We stayed at the Yellowstone Park/West Gate KOA this summer. It was nice. The Yellowstone Park/Mountainside KOA is new and still needs lots of work, so I wouldn't recommend that one. They're within two miles of each other and close to the entrance. Sounds like others like Grizzly RV Park. They'll probably all be in the $60-$70 range in West Yellowstone. Days trips will be manageable with West Yellowstone as base. It's a big park, but with 5 days, you'll be able to see a lot. Just remember that speed limits are slow in the park.
__________________

2017 Jayco Melbourne 24k-Jeep Wrangler
2013 Bullet Premier 19FBPR-Dodge Durango V8 Hemi
2013 Rpod 177HRE-Jeep Liberty
2011 Aliner Sport-Jeep Cherokee
2008 Little Guy 5^Wide-Toyota Avalon
1980 Shasta 21-GMC Suburban
1981 Coleman Tent Camper-1981 Dodge Ramcharger
1978 VW Westfalia
Lots of tents
koko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2014, 03:34 AM   #13
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
Just out of curiosity, where are you staying in Estes? I love Estes Park, not impressed with most of their campgrounds though.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 04:44 PM   #14
TheSweetLife
Member
 
TheSweetLife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hershey, PA
Posts: 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
Just out of curiosity, where are you staying in Estes? I love Estes Park, not impressed with most of their campgrounds though.
Haven't booked our stay in Estes yet. Any feedback on where not to stay?
__________________
2014 Sprinter Copper Canyon 343FWBH
2007 Chevy 3500 DRW Duaramax 8 foot bed
TheSweetLife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2014, 08:49 PM   #15
ChuckS
Senior Member
 
ChuckS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 2,977
Estes Park- Yellowstone- Buffalo WY

We stayed twice at Grizzly RV twice this year and love it.. Yea it cost a bit but plan in advance, save the cash, and stay at a super place.. We are already booked to stay there again next year..

After looking at YNP campgrounds and some of the rules with regards to pets I'll pay a little more so I am not hassled about my dogs as to where I can walk them, etc..

I understand the need for rules and regs and respect that.. I just like Grizzly RV.. In the evenin we can ride our bikes into town and shop, get ice cream, etc..




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
__________________


2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
ChuckS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2014, 04:53 AM   #16
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSweetLife View Post
Haven't booked our stay in Estes yet. Any feedback on where not to stay?
Sorry, Don't have any recommendations for you in Estes. We stayed at Jellystone in a 35' 5er. Paid big $$$ for a "premium" site that we could barely fit in, couldn't open the awning. Saw a few other campgrounds that didn't impress me. There may be some options that don't have full hookups, but that is not an option for us according to the DW. That is why we pull a small house around now. It's a compromise, she gets all the luxuries of home and I get to go camping.

If you are adventurous, I guess the campground isn't that important up there, you won't spend much time in it anyway. So many places to go and things to do, especially if you like to hike.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2014, 09:19 AM   #17
hankaye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
TheSweetLife, Howdy;

This past June I made a trip to West Yellowstone, to meet some fishing
friends and stayed a week at this Campground. It's in the process of
being brought into the 20th Century slowly, but efficiently. It's about 15
or so miles to West, but the drive is nice. Some of the sites are a bit of
a squeeze so talk with them in advance and Wendy, will be very helpful.
Now is also an excellent time to get the talking out of the way and you
should end up with a site you will be happy with.
This campground is between Hebgan and Quake Lakes, along the Madison
River so, if you enjoy doing some fishing ... this is an excellent spot to do some.

http://www.campfirelodgewestyellowst...ailer-park.asp

hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
hankaye is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.