West Entrance KOA, West Yellowstone, Montana

Above, the store and office of the West Entrance KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

25 years ago, we took a vacation trip to Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. My daughter Amber was just three at the time and has very few memories of that trip. We decided to go to Yellowstone for the first real vacation in our new Winnebago. We stayed at the West Entrance KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Above, the bicycle rental kiosk. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We decided to stay again at the West Entrance KOA on this trip. We weren't disappointed.

The KOA is one of the biggest I've seen and the 3-4-foot tall pine trees in 1990 were fully grown 25 years later and provided a lot of shade. The campground is located 6 miles from Yellowstone National Park's West Entrance. It is also a stop for the Buffalo Tour Company.

The campsite we were assigned was a large grassy back-up site with its own wooden border fence. We did not feel at all claustrophobic there.

Above, our campsite at West Entrance KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The campground has a pool, playground, and latte booth (open in the mornings) and bike rentals. If one doesn't feel like cooking, the campground has breakfast and dinner service. There is also a big (by KOA standards) gift store and convenience market. Nearby, there is a horseback riding stable (a 13 min. walk). The campground also has clean restrooms and showers.

The campground is owned and operated by the Steve Linde family. They also own the nearby Mountainside KOA. They have owned the campground since 1982.

When I was making my reservations for this year's stay, I mentioned to Steve Linde that we stayed there 25 years ago. He asked if I had any photos of the campground from that visit. I did and sent him some.

Above, a well maintained road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The West Entrance KOA is located at 3305 Targhee Pass Highway. West Yellowstone, MT 59758. For more information, go here.

This KOA is my favorite of all the KOAs I've stayed at over the years.

My grade: A+.