National Park camping with no reservations

Meeks · 05-13-2014, 03:06 PM

Hi Everyone,

First year camping in the National Parks in a very long time and first time ever in our new pop-up tent trailer (have always tent camped in the past).

It seems from my quick online looking that very few campgrounds in the National Parks take reservations and that they operate how they did decades ago on a first-come first-serve basis. Is this correct? First trip tomorrow is Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands and then in the height of the summer season Rocky Mountain, Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier.

Any thoughts or helpful tips?

Thanks so much!

alparmer · 05-13-2014, 03:20 PM

Don't know about National Parks, but it seems like most State Parks do not take reservations directly at the park. You have to do it online or call a dedicated line.

NO3putt · 05-13-2014, 03:25 PM

Suggest you try the NPS web site (recreation.gov) and check out what parks take resverations, which one's are first come first serve spaces, and some parks have a mixture of both resverable and non-resverable spaces.

**bikendan** · 05-13-2014, 04:32 PM

i can tell you that Yellowstone and Tetons take reservations and you need to if you plan to be there in high season, especially Yellowstone.

Oakman · 05-13-2014, 05:46 PM

If you look at the individual national park websites you will find information on how to make reservations. For most national parks if you click on “plan your visit” and then click on "fees and reservations" you will find the info you’re looking for.

Meeks · 05-15-2014, 07:17 PM

Thank you, Everyone!

All good advice!

Appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

slacktime · 05-16-2014, 06:16 PM

There are still first come first serve, but they have added some reservable sites also. As said earlier its on the Recreation.gov site. You will find a lot of information like be there before 10AM to get a spot.

Meeks · 05-18-2014, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slacktime

There are still first come first serve, but they have added some reservable sites also. As said earlier its on the Recreation.gov site. You will find a lot of information like be there before 10AM to get a spot.

Thank you! Will be going to Grand Canyon tomorrow!

Herenthere · 05-21-2014, 08:42 AM

We were a bit late in getting our first pop-up trailer (former tenters too), and we found that there are a limited number of reservations or none at all. We have our first trip coming up and since we have a long haul between Dinosaur National Monument and Grand Tetons, we booked one night at the Jackson KOA to be assured of a spot in the afternoon. Next morning we are looking for a NPS spot at the Gros Ventre campground. After a few days we will try Yellowstone NP, which does take reservations, but was already booked up for a trailer and truck of our length (they measure the total length of your towing vehicle and trailer).

Happy camping and let folks know how you do without reservations.

slacktime · 05-21-2014, 10:16 AM

Yellowstone is the same way, get there before 10 and you can usually get a spot. We did the same thing with Yellowstone and stayed in a place outside the north entrance. Headed in in the morning and got an excellent site at the mammoth hot springs campground on the 6th of July. We drove around the places and found that many of the campgrounds you reserved were stacked in like cord wood. and didn't have a great view. Enjoy your trip, if your in a pop-up some of the campgrounds in Yellowstone don't allow pop-ups because of the bears.

Mountndream · 05-21-2014, 10:29 AM

When arriving at the NP, check with the rangers about when Campgrounds usually fill up and Bear status. Esp in bear country. If you have internet access, there is a page on each Np's camping site that tells when each camground usually fills up by

At Glacier in August last year every campground was full by 8am in the morning. Rising sun was completely closed to camping unless you were in fully hardsided camper (no hybrids or pop ups)

Sounds like you have some amazing trips planned though

slacktime · 05-21-2014, 10:36 AM

Yellowstone is the same way, get there before 10 and you can usually get a spot. We did the same thing with Yellowstone and stayed in a place outside the north entrance. Headed in in the morning and got an excellent site at the mammoth hot springs campground on the 6th of July. We drove around the places and found that many of the campgrounds you reserved were stacked in like cord wood. and didn't have a great view. I almost forgot; while driving down the road to exit Yellowstone out mammoth hot springs gate, there is a pull off parking area on both sides of the road near the bottom of the hill. Then you can walk down the trail along the river about 1/4 mile walk, to the secret location

That spot in the river as you will see is a favorite for the locals and those who know that the hot springs come out of the ground into the river at that spot. yes wear a suit and take a towel with you and most important enjoy.

**bikendan** · 05-21-2014, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountndream

At Glacier in August last year every campground was full by 8am in the morning. Rising sun was completely closed to camping unless you were in fully hardsided camper (no hybrids or pop ups)

lots of misinformation on camping at National Parks, with a popup or hybrid.

the Rising Sun campground was TEMPORARILY closed August of last year, due to bear activity.
there is no such ban exists currently, but it hasn't opened up yet for this season.

and all the major campgrounds in Yellowstone are open to popups and hybrids, except only one campground, Fishing Bridge, which has a permanent ban on any soft-sided camping(popups, tents, hybrids).

BUT if you have a hybrid, you can "turtle" if you want to stay at Fishing Bridge CG.

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