Yellowstone and Grand Teton Planning Essentials
Most people visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in the summer when the weather is warm, must-see sites are easy to get to, and campgrounds are open. Read on for practical tips about flying into Bozeman, parking and operating your RV, park fees, cell service, and other details that can make your trip easier.
When to Go
Summer draws the biggest crowds because it’s the only season with every road, campground, and visitor service open. Spring and fall have cooler weather and partial closures, so check route before you go. Blacksford’s Bozeman hub rents May–October.
Spring
Roads open by late May
Most campgrounds still closed
Summer
All roads, campgrounds & services open
Fall
Campgrounds & roads start closing Sept–Oct
Winter
Most roads, campgrounds & services closed
Where to Fly In
Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is the largest airport close to Yellowstone, and it’s where you’ll pick up your RV.
Quick Planning Facts
Airport location: Belgrade, Montana (10 miles to Bozeman)
Bozeman to Yellowstone’s North Entrance (Gardiner, MT): 80 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes
Bozeman to Yellowstone’s West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT): 90 miles, 2 hours
Bozeman to Grand Teton: 192 miles, about 5 hours
Seasonal access: Most park roads are open mid-April–October. North Entrance to Cooke City, MT open year round.
Bozeman, Montana has the largest nearby airport, and it's where you’ll pick up your RV.
Bozeman to Yellowstone’s North Entrance: 1.5 hours
Bozeman to Yellowstone’s West Entrance: 2 hours
Parking During Your Trip
Parking is one of the most common questions customers have, but with a little planning, you’ll park easily.
In both parks, parking lots before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. have high turnover. A 25–30 foot rig can usually find space. If you use pullouts, make sure to pull completely off the road.
In Yellowstone, Old Faithful has several large lots and the easiest RV parking in the park. Canyon Village fits a big rig without much circling. For lunch, the picnic areas at Madison, West Thumb, Bridge Bay, Mammoth, and Canyon Village have larger pullouts, tables, and restrooms.
In Grand Teton, Colter Bay (at the north end) has the most oversized spaces in the park and the shortest waits. The Visitor Center at Moose (at the south end) turns over quickly. For lunch, the picnic areas at String Lake, Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Dam, and Cottonwood Creek all have tables and restrooms.
Driving & Operating Your RV: It’s Easy!
Most first-time renters worry about running out of power, dumping their tanks, or navigating mountain roads. But every Blacksford customer hits the road feeling confident in driving and operating their RV. Your hands-on orientation covers every system before you leave, and we’re available 24/7 if you have any questions on your trip.
Using RV Power
Your RV departs with full power and fuel levels that last for several days. We suggest spending one of your first nights off grid so you can see just how little power you’ll actually use.
House batteries (separate from the engine battery) run the lights, water pump, fan, and outlets. They recharge as you drive, at any site with hookups, and from the generator if you want a top-off.
At orientation you’ll learn how to start your generator and read your battery levels to know when to top off.
On rigs with generators, keep your generator’s fuel supply above 3/8 full. A good rule of thumb is to refuel earlier than you would on a car trip.
The EKKO runs on solar-charged lithium batteries instead of a generator. We’ll show you how to read its levels so you can track it across back-to-back cloudy days.
Operating an RV at Altitude
Your rig is built for mountain driving, and thousands of RVers vacation in these parks every year. Both parks are at higher elevations, with most roads between 7,000 and 8,000 feet.
Thinner air changes how a few components behave, and the calls we get from renters inside the parks tend to land on these:
Water heaters might need their settings adjusted to fire and hold temperature at elevation. Call the number you’re given at check-in and we’ll send the settings for your rig.
Generators can be slower to start or run rough up high, and keeping the tank above 3/8 solves most of it.
Refrigerators operate fine at higher elevations. Every unit in the fleet runs a 12V fridge, which isn’t affected by altitude.
Emptying Your Tanks
Dumping your black and gray tanks only takes about ten minutes, and we’ll show you the simple sequence (connect hose, open valve, close valve, rinse & store hose).
Yellowstone has free dump stations at Fishing Bridge, Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, and Madison campgrounds, open to any visitor whether or not you’re camping there. They often close in early spring and late fall in freezing temperatures.
Grand Teton has dump stations at Colter Bay, Gros Ventre, and Signal Mountain. Colter Bay’s is free for campground guests and charges a fee otherwise.
Headwaters RV Park at Flagg Ranch and Colter Bay RV Park both have full hookups, so you can dump right at your site.
Whether you’re just starting to plan your vacation or you have a question on the road, we’re here for you.
Getting Around in Yellowstone & Grand Teton
Yellowstone and Grand Teton have no rideshare services or shuttle systems, and most attractions are a long distance from campgrounds. That means your RV is your hotel, living room, dining room, and transport to Old Faithful.
If you’d like a break from driving, book a wildlife tour, horseback ride, or guided hike with licensed outfitters who will show you these national parks from a different perspective. Some will even pick you up at campgrounds outside the parks.
Before You Go: Fees, Cell Service, and Bear Spray
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Yellowstone charges $35 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Grand Teton also charges $35 per vehicle, separately.
As of 2026, a $100 surcharge applies to each non-U.S. resident aged 16 and older entering either park, on top of the standard entrance fee. It is charged per person and per park.
The America the Beautiful annual pass now has two tiers: $80 for U.S. residents and permanent residents, and $250 for nonresidents. Both cover an entire vehicle and waive entrance fees. The $250 nonresident pass also waives the $100 surcharge.
For a two-park trip, the math favors the pass for most international parties. Two nonresident adults visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton pay $400 in surcharges alone before entrance fees. The $250 annual pass covers the whole trip. A solo nonresident visiting only these two parks is closer to break-even and may be better off paying at the gate.
Buy your pass in advance at Recreation.gov or at any entrance gate.
Neither Yellowstone nor Grand Teton has a timed-entry or vehicle reservation requirement in 2026. Entry is available during operating hours with your pass.
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Cell coverage ends at or near the park boundaries in most directions, and stays unreliable throughout both parks. Coverage inside campgrounds is inconsistent even where nearby roads have a signal.
Renters who need to reach Blacksford's 24/7 trip support line from inside the park have driven out to the boundary to get a signal. A growing number travel with Starlink, which works at most in-park campgrounds with open sky.
Most renters download the National Parks App, offline maps, and campground reservation screenshots before entering the park since service is usually nonexistent.
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You’ll want bear spray on your trip, but the TSA prohibits it in both carry-on and checked baggage. The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport confiscates an estimated 300 to 400 canisters each summer from travelers!
Blacksford sells bear spray at the Bozeman location, so renters flying in can pick it up with the RV. Renters who prefer not to buy can rent canisters inside Yellowstone at Canyon Village and at Old Faithful.
Blacksford will also take your bear spray back at the end of a rental, which solves the disposal problem: canisters cannot go in the trash and cannot go home in a suitcase.
Ready to Reserve Your RV?
You'll get a hands-on orientation covering every system before you drive off, and our support line stays open 24/7 for anything that comes up on the road. Pick up in Bozeman, three minutes from the airport and 80 miles from Yellowstone's North Entrance.
Need help? Whether you’re just starting to plan your vacation or you have a question on the road, we’re here for you.