Spending 10 days in Wyoming this summer, what to do ? (Cheyenne: home, camping) - (WY) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

drawk04 · 01-12-2011, 12:38 AM

i guess its a possibility to rent a vehicle, but I defiantly want to take my GTO out there, It just wouldnt be the same in a different car, plus putting into consideration that the car is almost 4000 pounds and has 400+ horsepower, it actually does decent on the highway, 25 mpg if I'm good. I will have to see how much cash I have, I'm taking about 1600 but I might up it. Round trip in the car will be around 500 bucks so that leaves me with about a grand to spend. I'm going to try and camp the entire time too just to save money but I'll have to make sure I can get a site each day in time.

ElkHunter · 01-12-2011, 08:10 AM

I should mention that in Sheridan, on Coffeen Ave (main drag) is Washington park. Free over night camping. All of the state parks are cheap, I think $11 a night for a space.

I googled Free Camping Wyoming and come up with about 30 sites that list free camp grounds. Here is an example Free RV camping in Wyoming

WyoNewk · 01-12-2011, 10:30 AM

All of the national forests have campgrounds, most with potable water, outhouses, picnic tables and fire pits and/or grills. We often camp at a couple of them in the Bighorns. Last year they were $11 and $12 per night. On weekdays there are usually empty spots at most of them; on weekends you'd be wise to get a site early in the afternoon. (Check-in/check-out time is 2 p.m.)

Or you can boondock (dispersed camping) for free in all of the national forests. There are some rules to follow, and those vary a bit from one U.S. forest to the next. Basically you can't camp too close to a road or stream, campfires may or may not be allowed, and you must leave it as you found it. I think you can find most of the dispersed camping rules online for the national forest that you're interested in. As the fire season progresses into July and later there are often bans on any open fires, sometimes even in campgrounds.

Be sure to have a warm sleeping bag, a waterproof tent and a warm jacket, as a little rain in the mountains is pretty common, and nights get cold at high elevations, even in July and August -- sometimes near freezing.

ElkHunter · 01-12-2011, 10:36 AM

In the summer of 2009, we went camping North of Burgess Jct about 8 miles. 29 August. Got snowed on and that night it was 29 degrees. Daytime was t-shirt weather and lots of miles on the 4-wheeler.

As you go up the Mountain, there will be signs telling you what the fire danger is and if fires are banned or not. When we went up on 29 August we were dumbfounded that fires were still permitted. Usually as the summer progresses and grass dry's out, they'll put a fire ban on open camp fires about the 3rd week in July. Then a little later, about mid August, they'll put a ban on any open fires, even bar-b-q's and gas grills used while camping.

Happy in Wyoming · 01-12-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawk04

i guess its a possibility to rent a vehicle, but I defiantly want to take my GTO out there, It just wouldnt be the same in a different car, plus putting into consideration that the car is almost 4000 pounds and has 400+ horsepower, it actually does decent on the highway, 25 mpg if I'm good. I will have to see how much cash I have, I'm taking about 1600 but I might up it. Round trip in the car will be around 500 bucks so that leaves me with about a grand to spend. I'm going to try and camp the entire time too just to save money but I'll have to make sure I can get a site each day in time.

That's a car for the open road. Who wants some tin can for a vacation? I love my 6000# GMC PU with its big 8.1 liter engine and a five speed stick. Your GTO will be great out here.

NDak15 · 01-12-2011, 04:45 PM

If you decide to camp out in Yellowstone be sure to get a spot early. Also, as the other posters have said, it gets very cold there at night. I don't think I've ever camped there and not seen frost in the early morning (which I recommend getting up at dawn for wildlife viewing there). Also, if you camp in Grand Teton camp at the Gros Ventre Junction. I was there this summer and saw two huge bull moose in less than 30 minutes, lots of buffalo, elk, and antelope and got to hear a bunch of coyotes. You will also want to take the road behind it into the wilderness. Stunning views. I can't remember the price for a camp site in the national parks. Depending on how many parks you go to this summer consider a Golden Eagle Pass. They are about $50 (don't quote me) and can get you into any national park and lots of national monuments.

drawk04 · 01-12-2011, 04:47 PM

lol happy in Wyoming, love your responds. 8.1 is a lot motor and even better with a manual. Mines a stick too, 6 speed, thats how it can get the kind of mileage it does, its got so much power it can afford to run on such a low gearbox. I figured it would get pretty chilly out there, I have a nice tent and dont really ask much from the sites, just a place to stay. I'll pretty much just be sleeping and collecting myself each night. How much does a state park pass run ? Maybe it would be cheaper to just purchase a yearly pass and crash at each park as they come. In Wisconsin they are 25 dollars annually, or 7 dollars a day.

ElkHunter · 01-12-2011, 04:56 PM

State parks in Wyoming have an annual fee of $30, but it's for Residents only. There is no annual for a non-Resident. But again, it's only $11 a night. While in National Forest (Big Horns) you can get off the road and either drive back in or hike in one hundred yards and set up a tent for over night. The restrictions are 16 day limit. But you'll be moving each day so you'll be fine. You just can't set up right next to the road.

Like I mentioned, Washington Park in Sheridan is a nice little park. Good shade trees, creek runing through it. Has bathrooms, but no showers. Well worth the price of "Free". Limit is two nights.

drawk04 · 01-12-2011, 06:35 PM

doesnt it cost money to enter each park ? wouldnt it be cheaper to just drop whatever it is for an out of state pass?

ElkHunter · 01-12-2011, 07:11 PM

Some state parks charge a day use fee, but not all of them. I think ALL of them charge a nite use or camping fee. But it's very minimul.

Check out this (http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Permits/index.asp - broken link) website, it lists the parks that charge and what their fees are.