Denver to Yellowstone RV Trip — 10-Day Route Through the Tetons
Typical rate: $3,500-$4,500 all-in for two people, 10 days
Denver to Yellowstone makes one of the great Rocky Mountain RV trips — Rocky Mountain National Park, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone in 10 days. The route covers four major mountain landscapes in 600+ miles.
The route at a glance
- Length: 10 days
- Origin: Denver, CO
- Destination: Yellowstone NP (return to Denver or one-way to Jackson/Bozeman)
- Distance: ~1,100 miles round trip, ~750 miles one-way to Yellowstone
- Recommended class: Class C 26-30 ft (fits all NPS campgrounds, handles altitude grades)
- All-in budget: $3,500-$4,500 for two people
- Best months: late June through early September (Trail Ridge Road open, all park campgrounds accessible)
Day-by-day route
Day 1: Denver pickup → Rocky Mountain NP
- Morning: Pick up RV at Denver rental (see Denver city guide)
- Drive: Denver to Estes Park, then Rocky Mountain NP (Moraine Park Campground) — 75 miles, 1h 45min via US-36 West
- Afternoon: Set up at Moraine Park; first wildlife drive
- Evening: Bear Lake or Sprague Lake sunset
- Camp: Moraine Park Campground ($30/night)
Day 2: Rocky Mountain NP — Trail Ridge Road
- Morning: Bear Lake area hiking (Emerald Lake trail, 4 mi round-trip)
- Afternoon: Trail Ridge Road drive (highest paved road in any US NP — 12,183 ft)
- Evening: Alpine Visitor Center; descend back to Moraine Park
- Camp: Moraine Park
Day 3: Rocky Mountain NP → Lander, WY
- Drive: Estes Park to Lander, WY — 250 miles, 4h 30min via I-25 North and US-26 West
- Afternoon: Sinks Canyon State Park camping
- Evening: Lander dinner; Sinks Canyon evening
- Camp: Sinks Canyon State Park ($20-30/night)
Day 4: Lander → Grand Teton (Gros Ventre Campground)
- Drive: Lander to Gros Ventre Campground — 200 miles, 3h 30min via US-287 North
- Stops: Wind River Range views, Dubois (longest single-strand wooden sidewalk in the world)
- Afternoon: Arrive Grand Teton; set up at Gros Ventre
- Evening: Mormon Row sunset; iconic Tetons photography
- Camp: Gros Ventre Campground ($30/night with electric)
Day 5: Grand Teton full day
- Morning: Jenny Lake; Hidden Falls / Inspiration Point hike via shuttle boat
- Afternoon: Cascade Canyon hike (3-7 miles depending on turnaround)
- Evening: Schwabacher Landing sunset (best Teton reflection)
- Camp: Gros Ventre
Day 6: Grand Teton → Yellowstone (Grant Village)
- Drive: Gros Ventre to Grant Village in Yellowstone — 90 miles, 2h via US-191 North
- Afternoon: Arrive Yellowstone; set up at Grant Village
- Evening: West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Camp: Grant Village ($35/night)
Day 7: Yellowstone lower loop — Old Faithful area
- Morning: Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin (Castle, Grand, Riverside)
- Afternoon: Black Sand Basin + Biscuit Basin
- Evening: Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring)
- Camp: Grant Village
Day 8: Yellowstone north → Lamar Valley
- Drive: Grant Village to Mammoth Hot Springs (via Grand Loop) — 65 miles, 2h 15min
- Stops: Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley
- Afternoon: Lamar Valley wildlife drive (bison, possible wolf)
- Evening: Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
- Camp: Mammoth Campground ($25/night)
Day 9: Yellowstone → Cody, WY (or back south)
- Option A: Return south to Grant Village → Tetons → Jackson (drive back to Denver Day 10)
- Option B: East exit through Cody (one-way drop-off in Bozeman or Jackson)
- Drive (Option A): Mammoth back to Grant Village — 60 miles, 2h
- Camp: Grant Village
Day 10: Yellowstone → Denver return
- Drive: Grant Village to Denver — 540 miles, 9h (long driving day)
- Alternative: Split with overnight in Jackson Hole or Rock Springs WY
- Late afternoon: Return rental at Denver
All-in budget breakdown
For two people, 10 days, Class C 26-28 ft:
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class C rental: $195/night × 10 nights | $1,950 |
| Booking fees + insurance + cleaning | $550-$750 |
| Fuel (1,100 miles @ 7 mpg @ $3.80/gal — heavier loaded mountain trip) | $597 |
| NPS America the Beautiful pass | $80 |
| Campground fees (NPS $25-35, state park $20) | $275-$325 |
| Food, propane, dining (2 people) | $700-$1,000 |
| All-in 10-day round trip | $4,152-$4,702 |
One-way drop-off in Jackson WY or Bozeman MT: add $400-$1,000 to total.
Reservation timing
- Rocky Mountain NP Moraine Park: opens 6 months ahead at 8 AM MT via Recreation.gov
- Grand Teton Gros Ventre: opens 6 months ahead at 8 AM MT
- Yellowstone Grant Village, Mammoth: opens 6 months ahead at 8 AM MT
- Critical for July-August peak: all the above book within minutes of release
Variations
One-way to Jackson WY
Common variation:
- Fly into Denver
- 7-day route through Tetons
- Drop rental in Jackson, fly out of JAC
- Saves the Day 10 long drive back to Denver
Extended 14-day version
- Add Wind River Range backpacking adjacent area
- Add Bighorn Canyon for an extra 2-3 days
- Add Beartooth Highway descent (Cooke City → Red Lodge)
Off-season
- Mid-September: cooler, fewer crowds, possible early snow
- Late June: spring elk calving, wildflowers, possible road conditions
- May or October: Trail Ridge Road may be closed; Yellowstone interior limited
Class choice math
| Class | Denver-to-Yellowstone fit |
|---|---|
| Class B | Fits everywhere; cramped for 10 days |
| Class C 26-30 ft | Sweet spot — fits all campgrounds |
| Class C 30-32 ft | Tight at Moraine Park (30 ft cap) |
| Class A any | Skip — campground length restrictions |
Bottom line
The 10-day Denver-to-Yellowstone trip covers America’s most iconic mountain landscapes. Budget $4,200-$4,700 for two people round-trip. Class C 26-28 ft. Book NPS campgrounds 6 months ahead.
See related: Denver city guide, Colorado state guide, Rocky Mountain NP, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP.