Girl Camper: Episode 98 Tips for Touring Yellowstone

On this week’s show I’m sharing my tips for camping in and touring Yellowstone National Park. When camping in Yellowstone you have 12 campgrounds to choose from offering 2000 sites within the park. Seven of them are run by NPS and are offered on a first come, first served basis. They have no hookups but offer fire rings and lush surroundings. The only campground in the park that offers full hook ups is Fishing Bridge Campground. The campground is conveniently located but not very camp like. There are no fires allowed and the sites are stacked on top of each other without even picnic tables.   Touring the park requires patience and a plan. Some of my tips are: 1) Start your day early before most tourists are out. The roads don’t start to get crowded before 10 am and you can see two sights by then without all the people. 2) Ask a Ranger for advice. They know the peak and off peak times to see things, where the animal sightings are and the best hiking trails.  A ranger suggested to me that we travel counter clockwise on the lower Grand Loop because the majority of people travel clockwise. 3) Pack a lunch. You will save time, money and be healthier! The food is concession grade, expensive and you have to wait a long time for it. 4) Wear appropriate shoes. Yellowstone is not a sanitized theme park. The hiking trails are full of sticks, vines and gravel. Flip flops can ruin your day. 5) Keep jackets and rain gear in the car. The weather can change dramatically and very quickly. 6) Allow extra time for animal jams, heavy volume and poor parking. Everything takes longer than you think it will. 7) Follow the rules for staying away from the animals. Photograph them at a safe distance.