Camping in Badlands, Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone and Glacier
 

We are planning a trip starting in NH early next July. I'm most concerned with the Badlands to GTNP to YNP to Glacier. We have 8 & 10 year old boys and are driving a Pilot towing a pop up. Looking to camp in all the parks and avoid hotels to save money. I'm nervous about GTNP no reservations. Our plan now is:
2 nights Badlands/Mt. Rushmore
drive to GTNP - will we be able to get a stie later in the day or should we stay in Cody?
2-3 nights GTNP
3 nights Yellowstone
drive to Glacier - 1 day drive or 2?
3 nights in Glacier

Is this a doable itinerary?
Help with camping recommendations - especially GTNP is during July 4th.
Thanks!

Badlands/Mt. Rushmore is better if you split the 2 nights between 2 locations. Since you're coming from NH, it would make sense to stay at Badlands one night, then find a campground in the Black Hills (I would suggest Custer State Park).

Grand Teton - you can make reservations for Colter Bay (inside the park) or Flagg Ranch (5 miles north of the park, just outside Yellowstone). I would not show up and hope to find a site over July 4th weekend.

http://www.gtlc.com/camping

Glacier will be a one day drive from Yellowstone.

Given the record breaking crowds in Yellowstone and GTNP last year br sure to havr all camping reservations in advance.

If you leave your popup on a campsite to go on a day trip, lockup all food items and scraps so that a bear does not break in.
Lock the hitch so that no one steals the popup.

There is so much to see and do between Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier that there's no need to drive down south at all, especially when Zion and Bryce will be scorching hot in the middle of summer. I would take those 16 days and focus on the Northern Rockies. They offer more water, more wilderness and more wildlife. Glacier and Teton are considered the finest scenery parks in the lower 48. Thw Wind River Range, Beartooths and the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex are the wildest in the lower 48.

Thank you for all the responses and great tips! I see on the GTNP site that Colter Bay only takes reservations for groups so we may do Flagg Ranch just to be safe.
Anyone have suggestions for their favorite campgrounds in any of the NPs? GTNP, Yellowstone or Glacier? We have will tow a pop up and have two boys 8 & 10.

Not sure where you are getting that Colter Bay only takes reservations for groups.

"Reservations are accepted for group camping, the Colter Bay RV Park, and the Headwaters Campground & RV Sites at Flagg Ranch."

I would definitely choose Coulter Bay over the commercial Flagg Ranch!

It's a huge campground with hundreds of camp sites. They take reservations for their RV section which has full hook ups because it's most popular. I don't understand why because the motorhomes are lined up like an RV show!! I would strongly discourage you from "camping" in that section.

The rest of the campground is really very nice and one of my favorites. I would see if you can make reservations at Flagg that can be cancelled list minute. When you get to Coulter, if it's full, you the have fall back of Flagg. Coulter might fill by early afternoon over 4th of July.

There is also a campground between Yellowstone and Coulter Bay called Lizard Creek. I haven't looked at it in many, many years. It used to be fairly rustic and never filled. It has probably been upgraded over the years, but you can check on the Natl Park Website to see the facilities there.

"I would definitely choose Coulter Bay over the commercial Flagg Ranch! "

I agree!

We stayed at Coulter Bay in September and loved it. I stayed at Flagg Ranch five years ago and it was my least favorite place in either park. Can't wait to return to Coulter Bay and spend more time there.

I saw on this link http://www.gtlc.com/camping that you can't "book in advance" at Colter Bay which was concerning because we do want to stay in the park. I will call for a reservation.

Any recommedations for camp grounds in Glacier? I know there are a lot to choose from and just not sure which are best.

same question for Yellowstone.
Thank you!

You can make online reservations or call for the RV park at Coulter Bay. I agree the website is confusing, the main camping page says no advance reservations, but the RV page gives instructions on how to make a reservation.

http://www.gtlc.com/rv/colter-bay-rv-park
"To speak to our Reservations team, please call 800-628-9988. For online reservations please include the size and a short description of your RV in the Comments section of the reservation."

I did click on the online reservations link and it works so they do allow reservations for the RV park.

The rv park is where you are lined up like an rv show listening to generators.

appreciate the responses!