Dry camping RV for the summer Jackson (Hoback: sales, home)

[rob piccillo]

How realistic is it to stay in my RV and boondock/dry camp for the summer working in Jackson? I know the town itself has a ban on camping in public spaces, but outside of town are there places that I would be left alone, i.e. BLM land or similar where I can dry camp for free ? I am doing exactly that in Moab, Utah currently and it has gone well , but I am concerned about the excessive heat coming quickly. I have been through Jackson in the past and loved the town , but have no idea if I would be able to accomplish what I'm trying to do and am looking for advice. Thanks!

[sunsprit]

there are a number of Nat'l Forest sites near Jackson where they have campgrounds (fee per night) and a limited number of sites where you can boondock along the way for "free". First come, first served ... no guarantee that you'll be able to find a spot, especially on weekends and around the times of major holidays.

Google "RV camping for free in Wyoming" and you'll see the sites around Jackson.

Keep in mind that this is a major tourist destination area with an economy that runs on tourism. So it's geared to extracting as much money as possible from tourists in season. That means that a lot of old stand-by boondocking resources, such as box store parking lots are frowned upon if not outright banned. You may be able to get by for a night or two, but relying upon finding such places for an entire summer is pretty slim.

The big obstacle you're going to run into is "Free" camping. Better to be prepared to have the appropriate State and Nat'l parks passes and count on paying for a campsite each night. I have done so with my Class B Roadtrek in the area when making sales calls ... and most of my "free" nights were by stealth camping with permission in my client's parking lots where I was self-contained and did not require a hook-up but could refill my 35 gallon water tank as needed. The key here is that I was staying at each site for only one night and in the area for a maximum of 5 days per trip (it's 400 miles from home to Jackson, and I wanted to be home on weekends when I couldn't make sales calls).

IMO, planning on several months of "free" boondocking in the Jackson area could be problematic. There's just not that many free sites in the area.

[jody_wy]

Most all camp sites are in fee areas unless you go more then 30 miles.Then there either a 5to10 or 14 day limit in ALL camp grounds that is strictly enforced.....

[NW Crow]

Some places that could get you started https://freecampsites.net/#!jackson,+wy but not intended to be long-term. Some people can pull off a rotation of areas but it is getting watched and supposed to be enforced against. If you drive an hour out, probably far less chance of hassle. But that adds up on gas and time. Might be better to camp / work elsewhere in WY and just visit Jackson before, after your work or occasionally in-between. Probably one of the less likely places for long-term boondocking to work.

[Ltdumbear]

Been awhile since I worked/lived in that area, but I know of two places where RV's were a common site: Hatchet Bar/Lodge - gas-station (east of Moran Junction) had a few places to park...and Colter Bay, located a few miles north of gate (Moran Junction) going into Grand Teton National Park....


...but they are both a few miles north of Jackson, so...there's a fair amount of travelling back and forth...but as far as scenery...one COULD do far worse.


Hoback Junction (south of Jackson) is probably a bit more developed, than I remember...so that might no longer be an option.