A Family Adventure to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in a Campervan
Author: August Johnson
It is no secret that Yellowstone is filled with coveted natural wonders and history. While there are the obvious places to visit, this is also a great place to bring the kids along for a fun family vacation in a campervan for all ages. We found lesser known places outside and in the park for your family to enjoy a 7-10 day trip and have the kids not wanting to go home at the end! We planned the following trip in mid-May, the first weekend that many of the campgrounds opened up for the season. For some, this may be challenging with kids in school, but if you have younger children under 5, you may find that this is absolutely the ideal time to plan this amazing adventure. Our timing proved quite beneficial due to smaller crowds and less road traffic. We were extremely fortunate with minimal rain, blue skies, and overall very comfortable weather conditions.
For us, we always make the kids experience the primary focus of the adventure, and therefore find activities that bring them the most joy, excitement, and smiles. With that in mind, we strongly suggest you keep things simple on this trip, stay flexible with your itinerary, bring bikes for kids under 5 (if you have space), and try to sprinkle in as much time at hot springs as you can. Throughout this amazing adventure we never had to break out the tablets even once and were able to keep the kids focused on the natural wonders that surrounded us in every direction and continuously diverted their attention to something new and unique that they’d never seen before.
There will be quite a bit of driving during this trip, so depending on the age of your children you’ll likely be seeking multiple pit stops and breaks from the driving and the typical site seeing. Younger kids may not share the same passion for seeing some of the most popular attractions throughout the park. To give your kids a break from the driving and sightseeing, we suggest taking them to a traditional playground or allowing them to play freely at a lakeside beach. We will highlight a few options for these types of activities throughout our daily itinerary. This also gives parents a much needed break and time to regroup and relax.
If you plan things accordingly and really hone in on doing the activities that bring your children the most joy, your kids will be sobbing in the Wandervan as you finally break the news to them that it’s the last day of the trip and you’re heading home rather than to the next campground. The internal joy that will swell up inside of you from seeing your children in tears for nearly 45 minutes because the trip is over will reiterate so strongly to you that getting your children out into nature at a young age is so critically important and also extremely rewarding. Taking your children on an epic 7 day journey in campervan rental is an investment in their future, one that builds their connection with nature and creates a strong sense of adventure that can make a real impact on them for the rest of their lives.
Trip Overview and General Planning
We recommend giving yourself a week or more to explore Yellowstone National Park in a campervan if you have the time. However, if you have at least 3-5 days, it is still possible! From Boise, the west entrance is the nearest entrance at 393 miles and approximately 5.5 hours drive time. If you’re traveling from Boise, our recommendation is to enter through the West entrance, and leave through the South entrance, then spend a couple days in the Grand Tetons. We were able to do Yellowstone in 4 days with 3 days in the Grand Tetons. The detour will add approximately 40 miles (and around 2 hours driving) to your trip, but, in our opinion, the scenery alone makes it worth it!
Once you arrive in Yellowstone National Park, there are 12 different campground options. Unlike outside the park, you can not utilize parking areas or dispersed camping. Camping anywhere outside of designated camping spots is prohibited within Yellowstone National Park. Therefore, while planning for this trip, you need to decide if you would prefer to have a reserved site or attempt to grab a first-come, first-served site. We strongly recommend that you reserve a campsite as far in advance as possible due to increased traffic into the parks during the pandemic.
You can travel from our Boise location to West Yellowstone or do this trip backwards if you’re coming up from our Salt Lake City location. The following itinerary is simply a general guide, feel free to add more days, or modify your plans as needed based on the weather, or campsite availability. You’ll want to start planning as early as 6 months in advance for this trip, as campgrounds fill up fast once they are opened up for reservations. There are so many resources for planning a trip to Yellowstone, and we suggest purchasing a couple books in advance so you can make notes as you research top destinations and sites within and around the park.
Where to Stay When Visiting Yellowstone
For those looking to stay in (or near) Yellowstone, we’ve got you covered with this list of accommodations. Whether your budget is on the higher or lower side, there are options for everyone!
Campsites in and around the park can be reserved at www.recreation.gov.
Extra Gear Storage Trick - Large Wandervan
You may have a bunch of extra gear that seemingly won’t fit inside the Large Wandervan in an organized manner. We recommend turning the lower bunk into a gear storage area by laying down a large outdoor style blanket, tarp, or moving blanket which can protect the bedding underneath but still allow you to stack gear on top. You can see an example of this method in the picture below. This technique allows you to then stack all of your excess gear, firewood, bikes, etc on the lower bed at the back of the van and then easily unpack all of this extra gear once you reach your campsite. Most of this gear and equipment is then stored outside of the campervan at night time and you simply remove the tarp/blanket to reveal your nicely made bed underneath.
Day 1 - West Yellowstone
While making your way to the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, you can get the kids excited for their Yellowstone experience by visiting Bear World. This drive-thru park immerses you in the regional wildlife with a petting zoo, amusement rides and unlimited tours through the park. You are guaranteed to see Elk, Bison, Deer, Moose, Mountain Goats and the Black and Grizzly bears. Bear World closes for the season in October so be sure to check availability before your trip. Depending on the time of year and number of visitors within Yellowstone National Park, you may not see all that much wildlife that are easily visible to the naked eye so this stop to bear world will give your kids a close up view of a variety of animals they’ve likely never seen before.
After Bear World, it is well worth staying in historic West Yellowstone for a night to check out the gift shops or grab a bite in town. Be sure to stock up on any camping necessities and food items as resources are more limited within the park. There are quite a few campgrounds a few miles to the west of West Yellowstone where you can reserve a site well in advance. Additionally, there are numerous lakes and other sites you can explore in the W. Yellowstone area, which will have far fewer people at them. Less people can be an attraction in and of itself because once you enter the park, you’ll be experiencing slow traffic and lines to see the most popular attractions. We headed west of W. Yellowstone to check out Hegben Lake and the surrounding areas.
Day 2 - Yellowstone National Park
After spending the night in West Yellowstone, it’s good to get an early start to head into the park to beat the crowds entering the park and around the attractions. We reserved a campsite north of the entrance at Mammoth Hot Springs, therefore depending on where you are able to reserve a campsite, your itinerary may be slightly altered. There are a couple of options we recommend:
Option 1: Enter Park and head towards Mammoth Hot springs.
Explore the Mammoth Springs and see the sites nearby. There is a gift shop and a visitors center here worth checking out. A small convenience store offers some of the essential items you may need, so there is no need to stock up on a high volume of goods prior to entering the park.
If you camp at Mammoth, there is a large grassy area with a playground area for kids located in the Fort Yellowstone area, just southeast of the main road, hidden from plain view. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch or snack break to give the kids time to stretch their legs and play. You’ll see an image of this area in the following photo collage.
If you camp at Mammoth, there is a small school with a playground area for kids just north of the campground, hidden from plain view. Due East of Mammoth Campground is a small hill which offers a short walk up to get a spectacular sunset view and then you can also see the playground for kids located on the other side, as shown in the photo collage above.
Option 2: Enter Park and head south to see some sites, such as Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful. After a full day of seeing the sites, you can then head north to Mammoth to get camp setup and explore that area in the late afternoon/evening. We recommend this option to ensure you have time to see some of these popular attractions on your first day inside the park.
Note: The Yellowstone camping experience is much different than traditional camping that you may have done in the past. There is literally so much to do and see that you’re likely to spend very minimal time at your campsite and therefore getting it setup is not all that critical. You’ll find yourself unloading all of your extra gear, firewood, and bikes once you pull into camp in the evening, only to wake up super early and load it all back into the van and head out on another adventure. Bring foods that are easy to prepare and don’t require too much preparation and clean up. This will allow you to spend more time doing all of the fun stuff! You may think bringing a bike/strider to Yellowstone is very odd and you’re right, therefore we really only recommend this for small children (with small bikes) under the age of 5. Younger children often cope better with long days when they get a frequent dose of their normal day to day activities. We found that during our trip, 10-15 minutes of bike riding in the evening around the campground really helped get the kids decompress from a big day of driving/sightseeing and allowed them to connect with an activity they frequently do at home. Remember, this trip is all about the kids and you’ll find it much more rewarding if you do the little things like this to make sure they can still do some of their favorite activities each day.
Tip: Plan your visit to Old Faithful around the times it erupts, although it erupts multiple times each day. The Grand Prismatic view is best seen by hiking the Fairy Falls Trail, and there is a nice little streamside picnic area adjacent to the parking lot that offers an easy spot to stop and have lunch.
Day 3 - Yellowstone National Park
Get up early and head to Lamar Valley for animal watching. We found that early morning is the best time to view wildlife inside the park, so don’t be afraid to get up early and head out on an adventure that the kids will never forget. Bring your stocking caps and jackets as well as stuff to make coffee in your campervan while you wait for the animals to make an appearance. Lamar Valley is famous for the wolves, bison, and plenty of other species. Keep your eyes peeled and park in the nearest pull out if you see any active wildlife while driving up to Lamar Valley. Be sure to bring a few pairs of binoculars since much of the wildlife is quite far from the road and not easily viewed with the naked eye.
Another option for an early morning activity is to go to Boiling River Hot springs not far from Mammoth Hot Springs, less than 1 mile to the north. There is a parking area and walking trail for access. This was closed due to Covid in 2021, but looked really nice from the road above. Be sure to check the link for updates and hours of operation for the 2022 season. The short walk in is scenic and easy for the kids with very little chance of getting eaten by bears!
In the late afternoon, take a journey to Gardiner (the Northern Entrance) to explore this historic town and don’t forget the bathing suits! There are a variety of shops and restaurants in Gardiner to explore and pick up more supplies should you need something. Eight miles away from the Gardiner is Yellowstone Hot Springs, nestled between two mountain ranges and the Yellowstone river. The family can soak and relax in the heated, mineral-rich pools before returning back to Gardiner for dinner. This will give the entire family the opportunity to shower and clean up from the day's adventures and activities.
Day 4 - Yellowstone National Park
Pack up camp and plan to head to the Southern part of the park. Go See Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone Lake and other attractions in the area. Stop by the Lake General Store for a bathroom and midday ice cream break the kids will surely enjoy.
After you see the South Yellowstone sights, you can head back North to Mammoth or you can reserve a campsite in the Grants Village Campground for Night 4, which is just west of Old Faithful. Keep in mind that these campsites fill up well in advance so planning ahead is always a good option.
Before winding down for the day, take an afternoon trip to the historic Chico Hot Springs Hotel and soak in the hot springs pool. This is a 50 min drive but well worth the experience if you’re looking for something fun that the entire family will enjoy. We found that the kids sleep much better through the night with an hour of swimming and a hot shower afterwards! The better everyone sleeps in the van, the more enjoyable your trip will be. There is also a great restaurant onsite, but you will need to make reservations ahead of time. (406) 333-4933
2021/2022 Yellowstone Updates
For 2022, there are a few additional things to keep in mind when booking your accommodations and planning your Itinerary.
First, there are twelve campgrounds total in Yellowstone, and as of 2021, eight of them will take reservations. However, three are closed for the season: Norris, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Tower Fall. Second, there is road maintenance happening in 2021 that will likely extend into 2022. Some will just cause delays – in addition to bison traffic jams. One, however, will potentially still remain closed between Tower Roosevelt & Canyon Village completely.
You can find more information on where to stay in (and near) the park in this blog. However, please check the NPS website here for the most up-to-date information on closures and road maintenance. Because things are frequently changing and you may be planning for trips in 2022 and beyond, we are leaving the information below. Please keep in mind that some of the places listed may not be accessible during 2022.
Day 5 - Leaving Yellowstone and Heading to the Tetons
Head south on 191, and stop by Grants Village for a break and let the kids explore the beach while you take in the views of the lake.
Afterwards, you’ll be leaving the park at the S. entrance, and we recommend you continue south down to the Colter Bay area to explore and camp for the night. You can reserve a campsite in the RV park, or stealth camp near the lake along Bathing Beach road, or park in a nearby parking lot along Colter Bay Marina Road. This is a great place to take a hot shower and do laundry (Colter Bay Village Road near Colter Bay RV Park) while exploring the surrounding areas. Take kids along Lakeshore Trail for a gorgeous walk along the lake.
We found that the kids really enjoyed the simplest of activities like playing with rocks and sticks along the lake, digging in the last bits of snow that still remained around the campgrounds, and taking short nature walks to explore the surrounding areas. The activities we chose for our kids were consistently very basic, easily accessible, and required no planning or reservations. This technique keeps the parental stress levels to a minimum, which you’ll find is very critical during a multi-day adventure with small children!
Next, drive down to Grand Teton Lodge and grab a coffee or cold beverage and take in the amazing views while you explore the lodge.
Day 6 - Grand Teton National Park
Reserve a spot in Signal Mountain Campground if you’re able. Some sites lie just above Jackson Lake, and other sites are a short walk from the lake. Try to get a spot near the lake side if you can as this is a great area to take the kids down by the shore to explore while you enjoy spectacular views of the northern Teton Range and Mount Moran. There is a small market for food and beverage needs and also a place to do laundry or take a hot shower. Stop by one of the Visitor’s Centers and pick up a Junior Ranger workbook so kids can can have some fun at the campsite.
Beware of Grizzly Bears!
In this part of the country you simply never know what you’re going to see. Our family has a strong passion for viewing wildlife, particularly we were hoping to see some Grizzly Bears. During our time in Yellowstone we chatted with a few other nature lovers that share this same passion, and during a few different conversations we heard stories about a mama Grizzly and her four cubs that had been spotted recently south of Yellowstone in the areas around Jackson Lake. This was none other than Grizzly Bear 399 (born in 1996) is a bear inhabiting Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest. Grizzly 399 is the most famous brown bear mother in the world, with her own Facebook and Twitter accounts. She is followed by as many as 40 wildlife photographers, and millions of tourists come to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to see her and the other grizzly bears.
Little did we know that a few days later we’d be right smack dab in the middle of the excitement during our adventure, on multiple occasions. While having a picnic and the historic Jackson Lodge we heard rumors that Bear 399 and her cubs were only a few miles south of us. Naturally we packed up our lunch in a hurry and headed down the road in a flurry in hopes we’d catch a glimpse of the famous bear and her cubs. It was so fun to see the kids get so excited to view wild animals in their natural habitat, and little did they know that there were plenty of other people that shared this same passion. When we came around the bend near Jackson Lake, we saw a line of cars that seemed to go on for a mile! There were hundreds of tourists and photographers lined up along an open field with patches of brush, all seeming perched in waiting for Bear 399 to make an appearance.
We parked and jumped out of our Wandervan to rush down the road to get a better view of the action. In life they say timing is everything, and this could not have been more true in our case. As we walked up on the large crowd we miraculously found a little opening where our family could stand and get an unobstructed view. Within a few seconds Bear 399 popped out of the brush only a couple hundred yards away, and a few minutes after the four cubs slowly found their way out into the open.
Our entire family was in awe of how big the mama grizzly bear was, and even more shocked when we saw all four cubs slowly trailing behind her!
The kids simply had no idea that there would be this much excitement around catching a glimpse of the famous bear that they had heard so much about. While sitting and watching we began chatting with a young lady and she told us a brief story about her adventures over the past 2 years where she had taken multiple trips to the region in hopes of getting an up close and personal look at Bear 399. It turned out that like us, this was her first time actually seeing the bear in person, and we came to quickly realize that we had dramatically underestimated the passion that people had for this famous bear and her 4 cubs.
After that day, Bear 399 had continued south, the same direction as we were going. While camping only a few miles south at Signal Mountain Campground, we had 3 other occasions where we spotted the crowds of tourists while seeing other sites in the area, and we were actually able to spot Bear 399 and her cubs on 2 of those occasions. While it was certainly cool to see the Bear and her cubs, it was even more fun to see the excitement within the kids and observe their growing passion for nature. What a memorable experience.
Day 7 - Jackson, WY
So much more to see, so little time! After so much excitement, we drove south towards Jackson, and stopped at Jenny Lake for a nature hike and picnic. Park at Jenny Lake Overlook, and take Jenny Lake Trail north for an easy, relatively flat hike for the kids. Continue all the way up to String Lake if you choose. The path can be a little muddy with skifs of snow remaining throughout the area in May, so be sure to wear good shoes, or boots for the kids that repel water. This area offers some amazing scenery and gives the kids a chance to explore and stretch their legs.
There are not many campgrounds close by near Jackson, so you’ll have to reserve a spot north of Jackson. You might try getting a spot at Gros Ventre Campground which is the closest to Jackson. This campground does not have showers but there are bathrooms and a small store.
Just north of Jackson is the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which is with the quick stop before getting to Jackson. The Museum is located amidst a wildlife habitat that overlooks the National Elk Refuge. If you are looking to explore areas around Jackson, you might head over to Teton Village where they offer a variety of services, with hiking trails, biking, and paragliding.
There is so much to see and do while in Jackson, but most of the activities are not that appealing for young kids. If you’re not sure what to do to entertain the kids, there are a few playgrounds sprinkled throughout the town and a couple of easy hiking trails on the outskirts of Jackson. If you plan to eat at a restaurant, be sure to make reservations well in advance. Even though there are dozens of restaurants, we found that Jackson was altogether a very busy place packed with tourists. There is absolutely nowhere to stealth camp inside of Jackson city limits, so it’s not really even worth trying. There are signs in every direction that prohibit overnight camping so you’re better off reserving a campground to the north, or just stopping in Jackson for the day and heading out to your next destination.
The Final Day and Drive Back to Boise
After 7 days of fun, excitement and adventure we finally had to head back home. We found ourselves somewhat sad that our trip was coming to an end, and honestly had expected that after 7 days in a campervan we’d be more excited to get back home to the comforts of modern day living that we’re all accustomed to. That simply wasn’t the case. We found ourselves trying to find ways to extend our trip….”maybe we can go back up and get a campsite at Gros Ventre for another night…. maybe we can find a dispersed campsite…..” Ultimately we had to go home and there were very few good options for extending the trip for another day or two. The message here is simple, if you have more time available to take an epic adventure with your family, TAKE IT. If the weather is looking good and everything lines up on the reservations side of things, you can easily do a 7-10 day trip to this region.
With our van all packed up we headed back towards Boise. We hadn’t exactly broken the news to the kids yet, but they overheard us talking about topics that alerted them to the fact that the trip was coming to an end. They seemed confused and were hoping that we were just heading to our next campsite rather than actually going back home. Our 3 year old kept asking if we could go to another campsite, and eventually broke into tears that lasted off and on for nearly 45 minutes. This is the moment where both parents just look at each other and smile. A rare moment where you embrace the sound of crying while driving down the highway and revel in the joyous feelings you are experiencing while listening to the sad whimpers and sniffles coming from the back seat. We found ourselves overjoyed with the fact that our kids had absolutely loved this adventure so much and were so very very sad that the trip was coming to an end. This moment strongly reinforced the fact that taking these types of adventures when your kids are young is so critically important and so very much worth all of the effort. Don’t just take our word for it, now is the time to start planning your next family adventure to Yellowstone and make some amazing memories of your own.
Additional Resources for Exploring Yellowstone in a Campervan:
For more information about touring Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in a Wandervan, check out THE STOKE FAMILY CAMPERVAN ADVENTURE SITE AND PODCAST or the STOKE FAMILY WEBSITE where they outline more details about trip planning, alternate itineraries, and so much more that will enhance your experience while traveling to this area. They provide a vast array of information on so many topics, we recommend you take a quick look and take notes on any details that you might find useful throughout your adventure. If this is your first time to Yellowstone, you need to take a few hours and do some pretty thorough research to ensure you and your family have the best experience possible. Trust me, it’s worth it.