tom_mn

I'm looking to camp in Grand Teton Nat'l Park, but none of the 5 campgrounds allows reservations. I will have spent the night before in Boise. The first night of camping will be Friday, Aug. 20th. What are the choice campgrounds, and how soon do we have to leave Boise to get a spot? We are in a tent.

PaulRabe

Here's the official word on how quickly the campgrounds at GTNP fill up:
www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
For a Friday night in August you may have to take what's left when you arrive, not where you'd LIKE to stay. For example, Jenny Lake will probably be completely full even if you arrive at 8 am.

When you get to the entrance station, all info on campground availability will be posted, and the Ranger will able to give you decent advise on which campground will likely fill up soon.

tom_mn

If something is available. We had a bad experience at Great Sand Dunes NP (COLO) last July. I made the assumption that if the park doesn’t take reservations, they don’t fill up. Well, they were all full by 2 PM (a Thursday) and it was totally chaotic in the campground. The volunteers in charge of the campground had no idea which sites were or were not occupied, and it was a musical-chairs type free-for-all of people careering thru the camping loops trying to nab the last spots. We got the last one, but it was stressful. I do not want to repeat that again, especially right at the end of the trip.

Sara

I just looked at the website that PaulRabe posted the link to, and it says that Flagg Ranch campground takes reservations - in fact, it recommends getting them. So you could do that, if you're worried about availability.

boom_boom

Usually the first campground to fill is Jenny Lake and the times I've been there last to fill are Gros Venture and Lizard Creek.

tom_mn

Sara: I don't stay at private campgrounds like Flagg Ranch due to noise, drunkenness, generators running all night, etc. So that's out.

boom boom: When do the last sites go?

Considering staying an additional night in Idaho Falls or Jackson to get a better position for a campsite.