Denver to Yellowstone RV Trip — 10-Day Route Through the Tetons
Typical rate: $3,500-$4,500 all-in for two people, 10 days
Take this route with you Tap to open the full route in Google Maps — save it or start turn-by-turn navigation from your phone. Open in Google Maps → The cheapest part of this iconic trip is where you start it. Our July 2026 pull of live listings found 48 rentals around Denver at a $152/night median — with a floor of $85 — noticeably cheaper than the Yellowstone-gateway markets of Bozeman ($274 median) and Jackson ($229). So the smart Rocky Mountain RV trip launches in Denver and drives up: Rocky Mountain National Park, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone across roughly 1,100 round-trip miles in 10 days.
What does the route look like at a glance?
Ten days, ~1,100 round-trip miles, four major mountain landscapes, best done late June through early September.
- Origin: Denver, CO — Destination: Yellowstone NP (return to Denver, or one-way to Jackson/Bozeman)
- Distance: ~1,100 miles round trip (~750 one-way to Yellowstone)
- Recommended class: Class C 26–30 ft — fits NPS campgrounds and handles altitude grades
- All-in budget: $3,500–$4,500 for two people
- Best months: late June–early September (Trail Ridge Road open, all campgrounds accessible)
Day-by-day route
Day 1: Denver pickup → Rocky Mountain NP
- Morning: Pick up the RV in Denver
- Drive: Denver → Estes Park → Rocky Mountain NP (Moraine Park) — 75 mi, 1h 45min via US-36 W
- Evening: Bear Lake or Sprague Lake sunset · Camp: Moraine Park ($30/night)
Day 2: Rocky Mountain NP — Trail Ridge Road
- Morning: Emerald Lake trail (4 mi round-trip) from Bear Lake
- Afternoon: Trail Ridge Road — highest paved road in any US national park (12,183 ft)
- Camp: Moraine Park
Day 3: Rocky Mountain NP → Lander, WY
- Drive: Estes Park → Lander — 250 mi, 4h 30min via I-25 N and US-26 W
- Camp: Sinks Canyon State Park ($20–30/night)
Day 4: Lander → Grand Teton (Gros Ventre)
- Drive: Lander → Gros Ventre — 200 mi, 3h 30min via US-287 N
- Stops: Wind River Range views; Dubois
- Evening: Mormon Row sunset · Camp: Gros Ventre ($30/night with electric)
Day 5: Grand Teton full day
- Morning: Jenny Lake; Hidden Falls / Inspiration Point via shuttle boat
- Afternoon: Cascade Canyon hike (3–7 mi)
- Evening: Schwabacher Landing sunset · Camp: Gros Ventre
Day 6: Grand Teton → Yellowstone (Grant Village)
- Drive: Gros Ventre → Grant Village — 90 mi, 2h via US-191 N
- Evening: West Thumb Geyser Basin · Camp: Yellowstone Grant Village ($35/night)
Day 7: Yellowstone lower loop — Old Faithful
- Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin, Black Sand and Biscuit Basins, Grand Prismatic at Midway · Camp: Grant Village
Day 8: Yellowstone north → Lamar Valley
- Drive: Grant Village → Mammoth — 65 mi, 2h 15min
- Afternoon: Lamar Valley wildlife (bison, possible wolf) · Camp: Mammoth ($25/night)
Day 9: Return staging
- Option A: back south to Grant Village → Tetons → Jackson · Option B: east exit through Cody for a one-way drop in Bozeman or Jackson
Day 10: Yellowstone → Denver
- Drive: Grant Village → Denver — 540 mi, 9h (or split with an overnight in Jackson or Rock Springs)
What does it cost all-in?
About $4,200–$4,700 for two people round-trip from Denver — the nightly rental is under half the total.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class C rental: $195/night × 10 | $1,950 |
| Booking fees + insurance + cleaning | $550–$750 |
| Fuel (1,100 mi @ 7 mpg @ $3.80/gal, 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 |
A one-way drop in Jackson or Bozeman adds $400–$1,000 — and remember those are pricier rental markets to begin with. Our RV rental cost guide shows the full method.
When do you need to book?
Six months ahead, to the minute — every NPS campground on this route opens at 8 a.m. MT and peak dates go within minutes. Moraine Park, Gros Ventre, Grant Village, and Mammoth all release exactly 6 months out on Recreation.gov. For July–August, set a calendar alarm for your arrival date minus six months.
Which RV class fits this route?
A Class C 26–28 ft — big enough to live in for 10 days, small enough for Moraine Park’s 30-foot cap.
| 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 | Skip — campground length restrictions |
What are the good variations?
Go one-way to Jackson to skip the long return, or stretch to 14 days for the Beartooth Highway. A one-way (fly into Denver, drop in Jackson, fly out of JAC) cuts the Day-10 haul. A 14-day version adds Wind River Range country, Bighorn Canyon, or the Beartooth descent from Cooke City to Red Lodge. Mid-September trades crowds for a chance of early snow.
Bottom line
Launch in Denver for the cheapest rig, run a Class C 26–28 ft, budget $4,200–$4,700 for two round-trip, and book every NPS campground six months out. See also our Denver city guide, Colorado state guide, Rocky Mountain NP, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for a Denver-to-Yellowstone RV trip?
Ten days is the comfortable round trip: two days in Rocky Mountain NP, two in Grand Teton, three in Yellowstone, and the driving between. A one-way version that ends in Jackson trims it to about seven by cutting the long return leg to Denver.
What does a Denver-to-Yellowstone RV trip cost?
About $4,200–$4,700 all-in for two people over 10 days: roughly $1,950 for a Class C at $195/night, $550–$750 in fees and insurance, ~$597 fuel for 1,100 loaded mountain miles, an $80 park pass, $275–$325 in campgrounds, and $700–$1,000 for food. A one-way drop-off adds $400–$1,000.
Is it cheaper to rent in Denver or at a Yellowstone gateway?
Denver. Our July 2026 data shows a $152 median in Denver versus $274 in Bozeman and $229 in Jackson — the gateway markets are smaller and pricier. Renting round-trip from Denver and driving up is usually the cheaper play unless you value skipping the return leg.
What size RV is best for this route?
A Class C, 26–28 feet. It handles the altitude grades, sleeps a family, and fits every campground including Moraine Park's 30-foot cap. Skip Class A motorhomes — length limits shut them out of several campgrounds on the route.
When do the campgrounds open for reservations?
Every NPS campground here — Moraine Park, Gros Ventre, Grant Village, Mammoth — opens 6 months ahead at 8 a.m. Mountain on Recreation.gov, and July–August dates can vanish within minutes. Set a calendar alarm for your arrival date minus six months.
What's the best time of year to drive it?
Late June through early September, when Trail Ridge Road and the full Yellowstone loop are open and every park campground is accessible. Mid-September is quieter with a risk of early snow; May and October often mean closed high roads.