Hi Scampers
putting together our big trip and thanks for all your input-we are coming from yellowstone and heading back to az-any suggestions? We thought we would head throug Idaho------------we have never been there--suggestions are wlcomed
thanks
john and annette
Awesome lake and area to check out. Some good campgrounds in the lake area.
We came back to AZ on 93 on one trip straight down the eastern side of NV. Loaded with Nat and State parks through Elko and on down to Vegas. It is very unpopulated and beautiful scenery. Quite different from the hustle and bustle through Salt Lake.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Hi John/Ann: Just purchased my 1st RV (2015 13 Scamp) and joined SOI but have spent several months at a time tent camping and hiking all throughout the Grant Tetons and Yellowstone for the past 5 years.
My suggestion would be to exit YNP at the West Yellowstone exit and head due south down about 1-2 hours to the quaint little western town of Driggs, ID. I own a small piece of property in the town of Felt about 30 minutes north of Driggs so I spend a lot of time in the area. There's a great little campground called Teton Canyon Campground located right at the very end of the canyon at the base of the Tetons. Really beautiful and quiet. Not much in the way of amenities but if you're looking for a beautiful setting, offering short to long trails up into the mountains off several Trail Heads... this is the place. Most tourists don't even know about it. They have 20 RV and 20 tent sites. If there is no room or you don't like the RV sites, you can always park your Scamp in one of the tent sites. It's realy cool to camp under the lower numbered sites as they are located right under towering fir trees and close to the gurgling Teton Canyon Creek. About mid-July the wildflowers are a bloom high up in the mountains. The higher you go the more abundant they become up to about 9-10,000 feet. Absolutely incredible!!!
http://www.campingroadtrip.com/campgrounds/campground/campground/20528/i...
This is the link to this Targee national Forest campground. It's also just 15 minutes or so east from the center light in Driggs which has some nice little eateries like Tony's for Italian, pasta, pizza, etc. golf, fishing, etc. if you like. Jackson Hole is just 40 minutes over Teton Pass making it very convenient. All the touists and congestion is on the Eastside of the Tetons. Of course, if you haven't seen or spoent any time in the Tetons... you MUST take the drive over at least one day to see the awesome sites and animals of the Grand Tetons that Ansel Adams made so famous.
Another RV campground is just another 15 min. down the road from Driggs in the small town of Victor. It's called the "TertonValleyCampground.com" and it looks to have ALL the amenities you could want, but of course you'll probably have to pay for it. LOL Of course, camping here will put you even closer to Jackson Hole.
From this side of the Tetons in Idaho, you have a few options of making your way over towqards Idho Falls, etc.
NOTE: I attached a few Pics below for your enjoyment.
Happy trails!!!
Mike (I'll be traveling out with my new Scamp within the next 3-4 weeks or so to catch the wildflowers and if I stay long enough... the fall colors for photographing)
Michael Starke
thanks so much---your susggestions are GREAT-have fun with your new 13'-----------we will head to driggs and we can visit jackson hole-----------than head to idaho----this is all new to us too and------pictures are beautful!!!!!!!!!!
John & Ann... you're very welcome and glad you enjoyed the images.
Forgot to mention that when traveling from Idaho side of the Tetons to the Wyoming/Jackson Hole side you'll need to go over Teton Pass at an elevation of about 9,000 ft. which will be a tough haul for me pulling the 13 ft Scamp with my 4 cyl. Subaru. Best to unhitch the trailer if possible. Right over the crest of the pass there's a pull out providing an awesome view of the valley below weather permitting of course.
Follow signs for Jackson... 1st main intersection, make left and follow right into center of town where you can make a left turn at the light and beginning ofn the Town-Square. A short distance after leaving the main part of town, you can stop into the Grand Teton NP Visitor center for maps/info. About 10 minutes north of town you can make a left to enter the Park and main vistor center or just continue north for about 30 minutes (several pull-outs along the way like the famous Snake River Overlook 1st photo) to Moran Jct where you can make a left to enter tthe GTNP and see Oxbow Bend of the Snake River (the 3rd photo I sent). Just a short distance past Oxbow Bend, make a keft at the major intersection to follow the inside Park road and more great sights.
Alternate...
Since you mentioned possibly spending some time in GTNP... you might consider coming south directly out of YNP to GTNP by staying in WY.
If you were planning to spend some time camping in GTNP, I would recommend staying at Colter Bay Campground in the north part of GTNP just about a 45 min. drive outside the southern entrance of YNP. It's a very large full-service RV and tent camping ground and the camp sites offer amazing privacy. You'd have to check, but the tent sites are 1st come 1st serve. Don't know about for RV's yet, but I need to check.
Colter Bay, has a very small but nice gricery store, laundry mat, Shower facility, gift shop, large visitor center and semi-ok eatery. It's close to many of the great sites, trail heads, horseback riding, etc. I really like thye convience of putting the clothes in tyhe wash, jump in the shower right in thye same building... after showering, throw the washed clothes into thye dryer and then go food shoping and some ice cream to top it all off. Pure heaven when one is camping in tents for 2-4 months at a time.
Note Re: Idaho: if you need to do laundry, there's a public laundry mat in a small strip mall a few miles north of Driggs. If you're looking for a real treat... when in Jackson stop in the town's Athletic Facility in town. It's open to the public and visitors if you just pay a small 1-day fee of about $7.00. You can take a nice long hot shower, take a soak in their hot tub and then a nice swim in their heated indoor pool. A well-kept secret of the camper in the know! Or... You can even enjoy a nice shower for a small fee right in the up-scale Anvil Hotel just north of the square on the main trag.
Some nice gold nuggets have been found over the many months I've spent in GTNP and YNP.
Have a great trip!
Mike
Michael Starke