Hi all,

Just started planning a new trip, the forum hasn't let me down before and I hope it won't let me down this time....

Planning on driving from Ontario, Canada through the sites of South Dakota ultimately ending up in Yellowstone and Grand Teton - taking 2 weeks.
-Was thinking about camping in the Parks, and was wondering how cold it REALLY gets in mid September (especially at night)?
-Can anyone recommend a camp site within the park with facilities (shower/flush toilets)?
-If tent camping isn't recommended (too cold at night) - what about a cabin? Any recommendations?

We're thinking of camping because we want to experience the nature of it all....there will be 3 of us.

Many thanks!!

First of all, the best news is that you are going to Yellowstone and the Teton at a great time of the year. I think that area is the most beautiful in September.
As for the weather, yes, it can get cold in September. We were there the early part of the month and wore gloves during early morning activities. When we were departing on September 10, a snowstorm delayed our flight out of Jackson by 5 hours!
You dress in layers that time of the year. The same day we needed gloves at, say, 6-7 a.m., we were in shirtsleeves later in the day!
Another good thing about going in September is that you'll miss the crowds.
Oh yes, and it's mating season for the moose....another interesting fact about that time of the year.

Thanks for your reply HowardR - yes we are really looking forward to it.

When you were there, where did you stay??

We went in late September - we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn, then the Signal Mountain Lodge (in Grand Tetons), then the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. We left on the last day of September, taking the last flight out of the West Yellowstone Airport before it closed for the year. We had fabulous weather - almost unseasonably warm - but layers were the way to go - chilly in the early a.m. & p.m., warming up during the day. It could have easily snowed, however, its a risk at that time of the year. My husband gets all the outdoor stuff out of me that he can with the promise of a nice room and a hot shower at the end of the day - nice compromise!

On our first trip (the September one), we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Lodge in Yellowstone and the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Teton. On our second trip in August, we stayed in Jackson, since we were only going to the Teton and wanted the flexibility at night.

We actually camped in several places in Yellowstone one September. It was awesome - elk walked right through the campsite, Canadian geese flew over in the mornings (very early!), and the stars were incredible. But, it was definitely cold early in the morning and we usually woke to frost on the tent. We slept in longjohns and beanie type hats. I was so glad we camped there instead of staying in the lodges.