Five nights inside Yellowstone, two in Grand Teton and well over a thousand miles from Salt Lake City and back. On this route the biggest swing is not the rental, it is where you sleep: a Yellowstone park campground costs $38 a night plus tax, while a full-hookup RV park nearby can cost three times as much.
What does a 10-day fly-in RV trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton really cost for two people — once mileage, fuel, campgrounds, fees and the airport transfer are in? Below: every line for a loop from Salt Lake City, for a campervan and a Class C, then what changes if you fly into Bozeman instead.
Quick answer
- Campervan, 10 days, 2 people: about $2,200–$6,700 all-in for US residents, $2,400–$6,800 if you live outside the US [A].
- Class C, 10 days, 2 people: about $2,900–$8,300 (US residents) or $3,100–$8,400 (visitors from outside the US) [A]. Ranges are the table totals rounded outward to the nearest $100.
- Biggest swing factor: where you fly in and the month. Bozeman cuts roughly 450 miles and two long driving days, but has fewer rental vehicles in summer [A]. Most in-park campgrounds open only from May or late June and close by mid-September or mid-October.
- Not in these totals: flights, food and activities. Groceries for two, cooking mostly in the RV, add roughly $350–$700 [A — our estimate, not checked against a source].
- Prices checked: 2026-10-27.
Cost table (10 days, 2 people)
Low = off-peak, cheapest reasonable choices. High = peak season with every fee — most trips land in between. Ranges are for the whole trip, not per night.
| Item | Campervan | Class C | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle rental (base rate) | $1,100–$2,800 | $1,600–$3,800 | Pickup in Salt Lake City. ≈ $110–280 a night for a campervan, $160–380 for a Class C, with July–August at the top [A]. Benchmarks: Outdoorsy $100–175 / $150–250 a night; Go RV US average March 2026 $252 / $225; RVshare: peak season 30–50% higher |
| Mileage (~1,100–1,300 mi) | $0–$510 | $0–$510 | $0 if unlimited miles are included (common on marketplace listings); a fleet example charges $0.39 a mile, so ~1,300 mi ≈ $510. Its unlimited package is $845 for up to 21 days — only worth it on long routes [A] |
| Fuel | $240–$570 | $400–$760 | Campervan 15–20 mpg, Class C 8–12 mpg [A] × route miles × AAA averages on this route checked 2026-10-27: regular $4.41 (WY) to $4.66 (UT), diesel up to $6.56 (ID); elevation and hills push you toward the low mpg figure [A] |
| Campgrounds (9 nights) | $400–$950 | $400–$950 | Low: 1 night at an SLC-area RV park (~$50 [A]), 2 nights in Grand Teton (Colter Bay or Gros Ventre, $59 non-electric), 5 nights in Yellowstone at $38 + tax (Madison, Bridge Bay), 1 night near Idaho Falls (~$45 [A]). High: Colter Bay RV Park ($122–127), Fishing Bridge RV Park ($94 + tax, the only full hookups in Yellowstone) and private parks [A] |
| Park entry (US residents) | $70–$80 | $70–$80 | Yellowstone and Grand Teton charge $35 a vehicle each, valid 7 days ($70). The $80 pass only pays off if you visit another fee park within 12 months |
| Kits, prep, cleaning, generator | $50–$400 | $50–$400 | Low: a marketplace listing with kits included plus a cleaning fee [A]. High: fleet example — $50 prep, $125 vehicle kit, 2 × $75 personal kits, generator $8/night × 9 |
| Insurance / protection | $250–$400 | $300–$500 | RVshare's own budgeting guide: about $25–40 a day for a campervan, $30–50 for a Class C. Fleet rates usually include basic cover; upgrades cost extra [A] |
| Taxes and service fees | $80–$800 | $120–$1,090 | Low: Salt Lake City rental tax 7.25% on the base rate (fleet fee sheet; 16.75% for some smaller-vehicle bookings). High: 16.75% plus a 10–12% marketplace service fee (Outdoorsy: 10%) [A] |
| Airport ↔ depot transfer (both ways) | $40–$120 | $40–$120 | Taxi or rideshare between SLC airport and the depot, both ways [A — not checked] |
| Total, US residents | $2,230–$6,630 | $2,980–$8,210 | Sum of the lines above [A] |
| Park entry, visitors from outside the US | +$170–$180 | +$170–$180 | Both parks are among the 11 with a $100 per-person non-resident fee (16+) — $470 for two without a pass vs. $250 with the Non-Resident Annual Pass |
| Total, visitors from outside the US | $2,410–$6,800 | $3,160–$8,380 | Sum including the non-resident park cost [A] |
| Line | Campervan | Class C |
|---|---|---|
| Rental | $1,100–$2,800 | $1,600–$3,800 |
| Miles | $0–$510 | $0–$510 |
| Fuel | $240–$570 | $400–$760 |
| Campgrounds | $400–$950 | $400–$950 |
| Park entry | $70–$80 | $70–$80 |
| Kits & fees | $50–$400 | $50–$400 |
| Insurance | $250–$400 | $300–$500 |
| Taxes | $80–$800 | $120–$1,090 |
| Transfers | $40–$120 | $40–$120 |
Rental, insurance and fee lines are benchmarks from published price guides and a fleet fee sheet, not a live quote for your dates. Get two or three real quotes before you book [A].
Different trip length, group size, season or one-way? Plug your own numbers into the trip cost calculator. It uses the lines above.
Salt Lake City or Bozeman: what changes in the bill
The table above is for a loop from Salt Lake City (the sample route on the route guide). Picking up in Bozeman instead moves these lines:
| Line | Bozeman vs. Salt Lake City | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Route miles | ~650–850 instead of ~1,100–1,300 [A] | ~90 mi from BZN to West Yellowstone or Gardiner vs. ~290–320 mi from SLC, each way (route guide) |
| Fuel | about $100–260 less [A] | ~450 fewer miles at the mpg and AAA prices used above |
| Mileage fees | up to ~$175 less | ~450 fewer miles at the fleet example's $0.39 a mile; $0 if miles are unlimited |
| Rental tax | about $80–640 less [A] | The fleet fee sheet lists 0% for Montana vs. 7.25–16.75% for Salt Lake City — confirm on your quote |
| Base rate | often higher in July–August [A — not checked] | Fewer vehicles at Bozeman; the route guide notes BZN sells out in summer |
| Flights | often pricier [A — not checked] | Fewer routes into BZN than SLC |
| Campground nights | roughly the same [A] | The SLC and Idaho Falls nights become extra nights in or next to the park |
Bottom line [A]: if you find a Bozeman vehicle at a similar nightly rate, ground costs come out roughly $200–1,100 lower and you gain about two days in the park. If Bozeman rates or flights are much higher for your dates, Salt Lake City wins — and it is the better base if Grand Teton is a must.
One-way SLC ↔ BZN: the Cruise America one-way chart we checked lists $750 for one-ways from or to Bozeman [A — confirm for your dates]. It saves the drive back but rarely saves money.
No RV drop-off inside the park: NPS prohibits the delivery or pick-up of out-of-park RV rentals inside Yellowstone, so plan the handover in town.
What's included — and what isn't
Included in the totals above
- Vehicle base rate, mileage, fuel, 9 campground nights, park entry, kits/prep/generator, insurance or protection, taxes and service fees, and the transfer between the airport and the depot.
Not included
- Flights, food and groceries (see the quick answer), activities and tours, hotel nights before pickup or after drop-off, refundable security deposits, one-way fees (see below), and late-return or damage charges.
Season notes
Month by month, with temperatures and road seasons: best time to go.
- Roads: most Yellowstone roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late April. In 2026 the West Entrance opened April 17, and October 31 is the last day for most roads (NPS, Oct 21, 2026). Only the North–Northeast road stays open in winter. Late spring snow can still close roads [A].
- Yellowstone campgrounds, 2026 dates: Madison May 1–Oct 17, Fishing Bridge RV May 8–Oct 17, Bridge Bay May 15–Sep 13, Canyon May 29–Sep 19, Grant Village Jun 26–Sep 26; Mammoth ($25) is open all year. Grand Teton campgrounds are all closed November–April (Gros Ventre 2026: Apr 27–Oct 10).
- Peak (July–August): top rental rates and full campgrounds. From the 2027 season the five lodge-run Yellowstone campgrounds move to Recreation.gov, bookable about six months ahead.
- Shoulder (late May–June, September): cheaper rentals, but not every campground is open and snow is possible at 7,000–8,000 ft.
Sources and how we checked
All figures checked 2026-10-27. Prices change; confirm with the provider before you book.
- NPS — Entrance passes (America the Beautiful: $80 US residents, $250 non-residents; $100 non-resident fee at 11 parks) — www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS — Nonresident fees FAQ — www.nps.gov/aboutus/nonresident-fees.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Yellowstone — Fees ($35 private vehicle, 7 days) — www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Grand Teton — Fees ($35 private vehicle, 7 days) — www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/fees.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Yellowstone — Campgrounds (2026: Madison/Bridge Bay $38 + tax, Canyon/Grant $45 + tax, Fishing Bridge RV $94 + tax; dates) — www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- Yellowstone National Park Lodges — Camping (2027: lodge-run campgrounds move to Recreation.gov, ~6 months ahead) — www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/camping (checked 2026-10-27)
- Recreation.gov campground listings (per-site nightly prices: Watchman $35/$45 electric, Zion South $35, Bryce North/Sunset $30, Mather $30, Colter Bay $59/$89, Colter Bay RV Park $122–127, Gros Ventre $59/$89, Mammoth $25, Devils Garden $25, Needles $20, Fruita $25, Timber Creek/Aspenglen/Glacier Basin $35) — www.recreation.gov (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Yellowstone — news release Oct 21, 2026: most roads close Nov 1 — www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/26026.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Yellowstone — Park roads (closed to regular vehicles early Nov to late April, except North–Northeast) — www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- NPS Grand Teton — 2026 season dates (Nov–Apr: all campgrounds closed) — www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/hours.htm (checked 2026-10-27)
- AAA state gas price averages (regular and diesel), checked 2026-10-27 — gasprices.aaa.com (checked 2026-10-27)
- Go RV Rentals 2026 RV Rental Price Index via RV PRO (US average March 2026: Class C $225/night, Class B campervan $252/night) — rv-pro.com/news/go-rv-rentals-releases-2026-rv-rental-price-index (checked 2026-10-27)
- Outdoorsy — RV rental costs broken down (Class B $100–175/night, Class C $150–250/night) — www.outdoorsy.com/blog/rv-rental-costs-broken-down-nightly-rates-fees-and-what-to-budget (checked 2026-10-27)
- RVshare — RV rental prices by type (updated Aug 19, 2026; peak season 30–50% more; insurance $25–40/day Class B, $30–50/day Class C) — rvshare.com/blog/rv-rental-prices (checked 2026-10-27)
- Outdoorsy Help Center — fees (guest service fee 10% of booking total) — support.outdoorsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/37981867822747-What-fees-should-I-be-aware-of (checked 2026-10-27)
- Cruise America 2026 summer terms via agent page usandcanadatravel.com (miles $0.39 each or 500-mile pack $155; prep fee $50; vehicle kit $125; personal kit $75/person; generator $8/night; 7-night minimum; local taxes by depot) — www.usandcanadatravel.com/motorhome_hire/cruise_america/rv_rentals_rates_4.shtml (checked 2026-10-27)
- Cruise America one-way chart Nov 2025–Oct 2026 via agent page motorhomeandrvhire.com — motorhomeandrvhire.com/camper_rent/cruise_america/one_way_chart.shtml (checked 2026-10-27)
- Private RV park rates and airport transfer costs: our estimates [A], not checked against a specific source.
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