RV Rental West Yellowstone, MT

Just south of West Yellowstone, across the border in Idaho, Caribou-Targhee National Forest is a good place to start your adventure. Canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking are just some of the activities on hand, and it is a good place for viewing the local animal life for those who enjoy a slower pace. Mesa Falls is also photo worthy. Most of the trails are not handicap accessible but those with mobility issues can take a time out to go fishing on the lakes or rivers. The trails are well groomed and the roads are too, so coming here in your West Yellowstone RV rental gives you the best of both worlds.

Twenty minutes from town, water enthusiasts will discover Hebgen Lake, Montana's premier stillwater fishing and popular recreation spot. The lake was originally created by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that blocked the Madison River, causing the water to back up and form the lake. Visitors can camp and go swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing. The lake is four miles wide by 15 miles long and has a good population of cutthroat, rainbow, and browns. Park your West Yellowstone camper rental close by, and you can fry up your catch for a nice home cooked meal, with the mountains as a scenic backdrop.

Visitors can get in some additional hiking at Sage, Hilgard, Echo, Imp and Koch Peaks. These peaks are also a venue for mountaineering and rock climbing for the really ambitious (or those who get a thrill from watching); maps are strongly recommended, and visitors need to remember that these peaks are in grizzly bear country and to be extra vigilant.

There are quite a few RV parks within West Yellowstone and even farther out, so finding a place to set up camp here is easy. This is not surprising, considering that tourism is an important industry here; the businesses tend to go out of their way to make tourists feel welcome.

RV resorts within West Yellowstone include Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park, Buffalo Crossing RV Park, Pony Express RV Park, Hideaway RV Park, and Fort Jax RV Park. Yellowstone Grizzly has sites for shorter RV's (25 to 45 feet) and larger units (60 to 80 feet), pull through or back in with full hookups. Most of their sites have full hookups but a few sites for small travel trailers have limited/no hookups; there are restroom/shower buildings, some of which have laundry. Buffalo Crossing has restrooms/showers, laundry, a convenience store and a large screen theater (60 foot by 80-foot screen).

Pony Express has some 35-foot sites, all with full hookups (30 or 50 amp), and 24-foot sites, plus restrooms/showers and laundry. Hideaway is a small, no-frills park with full hookups Fort Jax has sites, all with full hookups that are well shaded.

All of the RV sites near West Yellowstone are within walking distance to the town, the national park, and activities such as horseback riding, mountain biking, water rafting/water tours and guided tours (of the national park).

This is Montana, so what better way to celebrate than by firing off a few rounds? There is a locally owned and operated shooting range designed for novices and tourists. The owners and staff are knowledgeable and safety conscious, making this a fun, worry-free way to spend an afternoon. They have a variety of firearms and will guide you through the basics, offering suggestions and even training sessions if requested. One of the firearms is a 19th-century Gatling gun, which is certain to impress the teenagers.

One nice reprieve from a day spent trekking and enjoying the outdoors is a small theater with a small stage and amateur actors; the shows are always energetic, the cast great singers, and each show begins with a singalong to get everyone in the mood (customers are encouraged to join in). As there are limited props and equipment, computer-generated scenery is cast onto a white screen background. The company imports current Broadway plays as well as older, popular plays, and shows not one but three plays at a time, so guests can attend more than once. Don't forget to bring some souvenir theater guides back to your West Yellowstone motorhome rental, as you will surely be humming the tunes long after the show has ended.

The cuisine range in West Yellowstone is not as extensive as in some RV destinations, but there are still a variety of choices. There are Chinese restaurants, heaven after working up an appetite; several outlets have burgers and pizza, and at least one diner serving fish and chips. Eat in to enjoy the ambiance, or grab some takeout and finish your meal outside your travel trailer rental in West Yellowstone, watching the stars.