Hello. I am planning a trip to yellowstone with the family (kids 5 and 12), this summer (2003), We would be camping, and driving all the way from the Washington DC area (stopping in Wisconsin and again in SD on the way). our itinerary is somewhat flexible, but we expect to stay in Yellowstone about a week.

My questions: which campground would you recommend staying at? would you highly recommnd staying in two different campground, or stay in one place the whole time (given the hastle of moving a fairly large tent, plus gear, plus two kids). would you recommend staying in the KOA campground outside the park (more luxurious, but we're used to primitive camping.. still, the hot tub sounds tempting, and activities for the kids... plus while kids and I enjoy the rougher style of camping, husband is tempted by luxury.. but it's clear across the park from where we would come in...

finally, regarding the Grand Tetons... would you recommend actually staying there, or is that a reasonable day trip from wherever we might be staying in yellowstone?

Thanks for any help and advice.

Oh, one last thing... is there the possibility of natural hot springs to soak in.. I know not in the park, but in the area? I mean like where water from a hot spring trickles into sme basin where people can soak in it, not a luxury spa but natural, or almost so. I've been in such places elsewhere, and would love to experience something like that on this trip!

I would probably stay in two different Yellowstone campgrounds, in order to avoid so much driving around. Many of the roads are twisty, and summertime traffic can really slow things down in some areas. Here is a map: http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/camp2.htm

Also, because of problems with bears, there are some campgrounds where only 'hard-sided' (RVs) camping is permitted. You won't be allowed there with a tent - I don't remember which campgrounds had this specification.

I would make reservations to stay inside the Park, as you will be closer to things, and the campgrounds and views are much more attractive.

I would also definitely move my tent to camp in the Tetons, which is fairly far from Yellowstone. There are some fine campgrounds there. I really like Jenny Lake, a tents-only campground with only about 50 sites. This one is a killer to get into during the summer though. Colter Bay is the big campground nearby.

The kids will love the boat ride across Jenny Lake, then you can hike around a bit before returning. There is also a fine early morning wildlife rafting trip along the Snake River.

Here is a list of hot springs near Yellowstone:
http://www.mountainzone.com/trails/a...0104BC9463C%7D

Sorry I can't address Yellowstone campgrounds in terms of specifics. I can't remember which one I stayed in. I do remember that we had to go somewhere else to take showers, but I think we might have combined that with swimming(?)

If you were staying in hotels, it would be worth moving. I wouldn't be willing to break a camp for convenience, however. It's really nice to get settled in in one place. I'd try to camp in the park, even if the amenities aren't as good as at KOA.

On a long camping trip, we try to work in a night in a hotel every few days, just to get cleaned up, watch the news, etc. My husband and I did that at Yellowstone. You may consider doing that at the beginning and/or end of your visit to get closer to specific areas of the park without having to set up camp again.

I would recommend actually staying in the Grand Tetons. The Jenny Lake Campground is most popular, and fills up by 8am in the summer.

We've tent camped many times in Yellowstone and like staying in Canyon because it is centrally located and has a lot of services--showers, laundromat, stores, gas station, cafateria, deli, etc.

Grant Village is our next choice because it is on Lake Yellowstone and has good services (including showers) too. It just isn't as centrally located.

I'd stay in one spot. You know how nice it is to spread out with all your camping gear and stay in one space a while. IMO, it isn't worth the hassle of packing it all up and moving.

Yellowstone is so large that it will take you an hour to get from West Yellowstone to anywhere in the park. Plus, it is just pretty special to stay IN Yellowstone.

The grocery stores in Yellowstone are small but have a nice variety and surprisingly decent prices.

Actually, there is a hot spring IN Yellowstone--Firehole River, just south of Madison campground. They have an area to swim in on the Firehole Canyon Drive.

I think you can do the Tetons as day trips but if you want to stay there, we have never had any trouble getting into Gros Ventre campground. There are no services there but has a great view of the Tetons. Like others have said, the other campgrounds are very hard to get into. We've pulled in late in the afternoon and gotten a site more than once. It's also closer to Jackson than the other campgrounds.

The days are long in the summer and you will find so much to do in Yellowstone that I doubt you will find time for any KOA campground activities.

We've done it both ways, some years we have camped in one location and other years camped in a couple of locations within in the Park. When we had the tent-trailer we stayed in one location and went off for long day trips. When we had a trailer and motorhome that was easier to move we moved to different parts of the park. One thing to keep in mind, unless you have reservations you will have to move early in the day to get a sight. It might be a lot less hassel to just stay in one spot.

We like Madison and Bridge Bay. Madison has some loops that are for just tents. There was also a place near the campground for soaking in a hot spring. I don't know if they still allow it there. Our RV's limited us from some of the other smaller campgrounds that are first come first serve campgrounds and they fill up early in the day. On days we were near the shower locations in the park we made sure we took our shower stuff and change of clothes especially when we were camping on the other side of the park.

I would do the Grand Tetons as a day trip.

Your kids are going to love this trip. Make sure you are around Hayden Valley either early in the morning or a dusk to see a wide varity of wildlife.