Glacier & Yellowstone Natl. Parks MT

[Northwoods]

We will be camping our way to Glacier and Yellowstone Parks from St. Louis. Does anyone have any experience camping at St.Mary's campground in Glacier or anywhere in Yellowstone? We had a great time at Rocky Mtn. last August in the Morraine. It was our last trip in the old Coleman, our TM arrived 3 weeks later. We plan to do some Lewis &Clark exploring, Oregon Trail and family tree researching. We leave July 26 and plan many stops on the way. We'll go up through South Dakota and back through Nebraska. We'll be towing our 2330TM with our 2000 Suburban. Thanks. Northwoods, Ken and Olga Smith

HI we went to Yellowstone twice in the last 2 years. One of the campgrounds we stayed in both times is Yellowstone Valley Inn there website is as follows: www.yellowstonevalleyinn.com it is about 30 to 40 minutes east of yellowstone. It is on the road that connects Cody WY and Yellowstone. Nice people and not very busy either. We went both times on the week you are going. The road leading to Yellowstone there are moose and bear. You can usually spot them on your way in early AM or early evening when you come back out to campground. You are only 20 minutes from Cody too. So you can go and watch the rodeo or just go and walk the wood board walk in town. We have been to south dakota 3 times too but I can't remember the name of that campground. There are many nice ones around the area. Especially around Keystone SD and Custer SD. Go on the South Dakota web site and have them send you a brochure it really helped us out. We also went to Glacier National Park last year. It was during the fires we didn't see much. Are you going thru North Dakota and all the way across Montana? If you are you will definitely find out why Montana is called Big Sky country. I will look up the campgrounds in South Dakota and post again with that info. I hope I helped you.

mamabear

We were in Yellowstone for almost a week in 2002. Stayed at Fishing Bridge. A little pricey (the gas too) but well worth being in the park. Some of the other campgrounds in the park are nicer, but have no hook-ups. Fishing Bridge has full hook-ups (WES). No tents or pop-ups allowed at Fishing Bridge because of close placement to prime bear habitat. I would stay there again. If you want to get a spot there for the mid-summer dates you mention reserve now. Staying inside Yellowstone is the way to go.

Way back in 92 we stayed at a campground about an hour north of the park. Too far for me, too much time wasted driving back and forth. Remember, that's an hour just to the gate. Add another 45 minutes or more to get down to other areas of the park.

Can't comment on Glacier, have not been there - yet.

Camperboy

[kempert]

8) YNP is fantabulous! I've spent a total of over a month there. Last summer it snowed, rained, and sleeted, all in one day while we were there. The thing that many people miss is the road from the NE of Yellowstone to Red Lodge, MT thru Bear Tooth Pass. Charles Kuralt said that it is the prettiest drive in the US. It is beyond description.

If you want to dry camp in GNP, Two Medicine Lake is a great place. You camp along a long, narrow lake with a mountain going almost straight up on the other side.

[Northwoods]

Thank you all for your input on places to camp in Glacier and Yellowstone. It definitely helped us decide to camp within the parks as we had planned to do. Still lots of planning to do, but can hardly wait. Northwoods/ Ken and Olga Smith

Ken & Olga,

We live in Southern Illinois and are thinking of exploring the Lewis & Clark trail in the fall. Would you post a summary of your trip on this site when you get back? We'd love to see where you stayed, as well as your recommendations of some good places to visit.

Steve & Linda

[Northwoods]

Steve and Linda, Where in southern Illinois? We are outside of Florissant, MO and see the lights of to Alton, Ill. from our deck. We are going on 25 July. We had planned to go in September, but were warned by friends in Billings that we might get into snow, so we backtracked to an earlier date. Will be glad to share with you. We are going up through S.D. and back through NE. Olga and Ken

Northwoods,
You didn't mention the time of year you plan this trip. Keep in mind that the Highway to the Sun in Glacier may not open until mid-June to mid-July, depending on the overall snowfall. There is a private campground, I think it is called Johnson's, just across the street 100 yards or so from St. Mary's Lodge, that is highly recommended.

There is also a KOA about 1/4 mile north of the Lodge.

Obviously, if the weather cooperates, camping in any of the national parks is preferred... I'm just offering a couple of "fall-back" places in the event you can't get into the park rv spaces. We were able to drive in to the point the highway was still blocked by snow (in May 2002), but none of the campgrounds were open. The Lodge was, and so were the private campgrounds.

Enjoy!

Ken & Olga,

We live in Chester, Illinois, which is 60 miles south of St. Louis. Chester is located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Our claim to fame is "The Home of Popeye" - hence the picture we use.

Steve & Linda

To all of you planning to visit Glacier Nat'l Park this summer, keep in mind that there will be construction work on the Going To The Sun Road the beginning of the summer. The historic road is being rebuilt and the project will take several years to complete, as hopes are to get each segment done before the peak tourist seasons. Also, remember that there are length restrictions on this narrow winding road! Don't thing we'd want to take our TM over that road - too much traffic during the summer, with drivers that are often too much in awe of the beautiful and spectacuar scenery and glimpses of grizzlies and mountain sheep. We live in Kalispell, MT, which is just 35 miles from the west entrance to the park. Can't tell anyone much about the campgrounds on the east side, but anyone with questions about the west side can contact us. We'll try to help.