If you’re planning an RV trip to Yellowstone National Park, there’s one big decision to make before you ever pull out of the driveway: Where should you stay?
For our Yellowstone adventure, we stayed at Red Rock RV Park in Island Park, Idaho and it turned out to be a great base camp for exploring Yellowstone while still giving us a peaceful place to come home to at the end of the day.
And those views? They might convince you to spend a little more time at the campground than you originally planned.
Why stay in Island Park when visiting Yellowstone?
One thing I liked about staying in Island Park was getting away from some of the congestion around Yellowstone while still being close enough to head into the park for the day. Red Rock RV Park is located about 22 miles from Yellowstone National Park, with convenient access to the West Entrance.
That makes it easy to get up in the morning, grab your coffee and head toward Yellowstone for a full day of exploring. That’s the beauty of having a great home base, wake up, pour yourself a cup of coffee and hit the road for a full day of Yellowstone adventure.
● Old Faithful? Absolutely.
● Grand Prismatic Spring? Put it on the list.
● Bison traffic jam? There is a pretty good chance.
Then, after a day of hiking, sightseeing and wildlife watching, head back to Island Park and relax at your campsite.
Pro tip: Yellowstone is BIG. Start your days early and group the attractions you want to see by area instead of driving back and forth across the park.
The Views at Red Rock RV Park are Incredible
One of my favorite things about Red Rock RV Park was simply looking around. The campground sits near the base of Sawtelle Peak, with mountains, forests and those huge Western skies surrounding you. The RV sites have open mountain views and the grassy areas around the campground make it an especially beautiful place to watch the sky change in the evening.
This is the kind of campground where you want to sit outside. Morning coffee tastes a little better when you’re looking at the mountains. And after a long day in Yellowstone, sitting outside your RV and watching the sun go down is exactly the kind of ending you want.
There’s also plenty of room for stargazing. Once the sun disappears and the sky gets dark, look up. You’re far enough away from city lights to really appreciate those Idaho skies.
RV Sites at Red Rock RV Park
If you’re traveling with a larger RV, Red Rock offers options that make settling in much easier. The campground offers full-hookup RV sites, including pull-through and back-in options. Some sites are designed for big rigs and premium sites offer large concrete patios.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort. For us, having a comfortable home base was important. Yellowstone days can be long. By the time you return to your RV, it’s nice to have everything you need right there. There are also tent sites with water and electricity, plus cabin options for friends or family members who may want to join your trip but aren’t traveling in an RV.
Amenities at Red Rock RV Park
Red Rock isn’t simply a place to park the RV and sleep. It has enough amenities that you’ll probably want to plan some campground time, too.
Some of the amenities include:
● Full-hookup RV sites
● Free Wi-Fi
● Clean laundry facilities
● New bathhouse
● Camp store
● On-site propane
● Pickleball court
● Large playground
● Ping-pong and foosball
● Covered gathering patio with a propane fire ring
● Dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs
● Dog wash station
I especially appreciate campgrounds that understand you may want a slower day during a big road trip. You don’t have to be running from attraction to attraction every single day. Sometimes it’s nice to stay put, do some laundry, enjoy the campground and take in the scenery.
Traveling With Your Dog?
Red Rock RV Park is very pet-friendly. In addition to the dog park and dog wash station, they now offer Bark’N Stay RV sites. These sites include full hookups and a private, fenced dog area, plus outdoor features such as Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. Some Bark’N Stay sites also include a patio and picnic table. If you RV with dogs, you know how nice having that extra space can be.
There’s More to Explore Than Yellowstone
Here’s something I wouldn’t overlook: Island Park deserves some of your vacation time too. Yellowstone may be the headliner, but there is plenty to explore around Red Rock RV Park.
Henry’s Lake is only about half a mile away and the area is known for fishing, wildlife, and beautiful scenery. Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is also nearby. If you enjoy riding ATVs or UTVs, this is an especially fun place to stay. Off-road trails can be accessed directly from the campground area, so you can bring your own machine and head out exploring. Nearby rental options are available too. I would absolutely build an extra day into your itinerary just for exploring Island Park.
Pro tip: Don’t make every day a Yellowstone day. Give yourself one day to explore Island Park, Henry’s Lake and the surrounding area. It’s a completely different experience and a great break from Yellowstone’s busiest attractions.
A Quiet Place After Busy Yellowstone Days
This may have been one of the biggest advantages for me. Yellowstone can be busy, especially during summer. You’re driving, hiking, looking for parking, watching for wildlife and squeezing a LOT into your day. Then you drive back to Red Rock. The campground sits away from the main highway, giving it a quieter atmosphere than you might expect from a campground serving Yellowstone visitors. You can sit outside, look toward the mountains and start talking about everything you saw that day. And chances are, you’ll already be planning tomorrow’s adventure.
Is Red Rock RV Park a Good Base Camp for Yellowstone?
For RV travelers, I think Red Rock RV Park hits a really nice balance. You’re close enough to Yellowstone to make day trips into the park easy, but you’re also staying in an area that feels like a destination of its own. You get mountain views, full hookups, amenities that make a longer RV stay comfortable, Henry’s Lake practically next door and most importantly you have a quiet place to return to after exploring one of the busiest and most incredible national parks in America.
My Pro Tip
Stay longer than you think you need.
Give yourself several days for Yellowstone and at least one day when you don’t have a big agenda. Sleep in. Drink your coffee outside. Explore Island Park. Take a drive around Henry’s Lake and come back to enjoy the campground.
Because sometimes the best part of an RV road trip isn’t checking another attraction off the list. It’s sitting outside your camper, looking at the mountains and realizing this is exactly why you brought the RV in the first place.
Brandy Gleason
Heartland Pathfinder: Sundance 294BH Travel Trailer
