Upper Teton View - Toppings Lake Dispersed Campsites #8 - 16

We stayed 3 days. Views are amazing I can’t deny that.. but the road was rough!! 8/10. Bumpy with bigs rocks. We have a 30 foot and we made it to the top fine. We saw bigger rigs made it too. I recommend you drive to the top without the trailer to see the road before going with your rig. It was not q busy weekend. For a moment we were the only rv there. Great views all over!

The access was easy but it was very crowded. We were in the upper area that normally has great views of the teton range but it was super smokey / cloudy when we were there. We could see them for a moment in the evening. We found a spot, but lots of last minute folks arrived after parking anywhere they could on the side. Not bad for free and quick overnight stay.

Beautiful views and good amount of space even though it gets pretty busy up front closer to the mountains to get the better view. Short drive up the mountain takes you to multiple campsites for tents and smaller rigs as well as a big open space for larger rigs. Campsite is exactly halfway between both park entrances and 30-40 minutes drive to Jackson but it’s a beautiful drive so it never feels that way and on the way you can hit the rest of the recommended spots to visit like Mormon Row. Two bars AT&T.

We arrived on a Monday around 3pm and were able to get a side spot on the HIGHLY sought after cliff side campsite. By day 2 we were able to move to the front and have panoramic views of the Grand Tetons. Truly breath taking. At night a lot of people from other sites came to the cliff site to watch the sunset, we loved meeting everyone. We had the BEST campsite mates here. Everyone watched out for everyone else.

Like everyone has said the road is rough, but manageable SLOWLY. But 100% worth the drive for the views.

Full boondocking. Closest water/dump is at the Shell Station in Jackson.

Would have stayed longer if we could.

Most of the RV and campgrounds were full around Grand Teton. We were lucky enough to find a spot here and it was free so you can’t really complain. There are several sites on the lower lookout not far from the gravel road entrance, but we decided to continue up to the upper lookout. The gravel/dirt road has some rough patches and big rocks that you may need to dodge. We were pulling a 21’ travel trailer and we made it, but we had to take it slow. We scraped the trailer in a few places. High clearance would be better. The upper portion is cool, but many trees have grown up which block the view for all except for a few spots. This place can get very crowded. We could hear the people in their RVs, but after 10p it was quiet. There is a view point you can walk to at the end to see the sunset. No restrooms, trash, etc. Not a bad alternative to paid sites. The location is about 40 minutes from some of the main sites, Jenny lake, Colter Bay.

planning our trip to the Tetons and I dreamed of having the best spot with the view! We arrived on Aug 12th, about 1030 am to the campsite. We were lucky enough to grab the spot that we dreamed of having. There was several other campers there as well, but not overly crowded. By about 2 pm the campground was FULL, and I mean FULL. People were just making up their own camp site. If it has any space they set up camp. During our 4 days there we noticed that many people would just end up staying one night, so if you're wanting this spot you will likely be in luck, you just need to get up there early to grab a spot. If the spot you want isn't open check back frequently.

Everyone would walk through our campsite, and bring their chairs and sit to enjoy the view. I found this disrespectful. Finally, after the 4th night I had got fed up and we decided to move. We had a family come and set up their tent right in our site! Literally, they were right next to our fire pit. We couldn't even have a fire if we wanted to. It was so disrespectful, and bad camping etiquette.

I was looking forward to meeting fellow campers, but I didn't meet a single person who walked through our site, who set up chairs in our site, and the guy who chose to sent up his tent in our site we never even spoke.
We did meet a few of our neighbors and they were all lovely.
I wanted to have our personal space and privacy with camping and this site just wasn't it. The View is incredible and everyone wants a piece of it.

I honestly would have had more privacy at colter bay or grow venture campground.

We ended up moving up the hill to a much better view, and only one other camper around.

I enjoyed the Topplings Lake area campground, but never again would I stay at the upper view.
Also- it says only has 9 sites, but it definitely has more than that.

Road is very rough, lots of ruts. I would recommend a truck- but I did see cars going up and down the hill so it's doable.

I was able to have cell service, 2-3 bars at best with Verizon.

the site can get very windy, and hot. There is very little shade or trees to block the wind. Campsite #7 looked like a good site, as it's surrounded by trees, and will provide shade and block most wind.

you're a good 35 to 40 min drive into Jackson Wy.
Closest dump was Gros Venture Campground- $10 to dump and fill up water. Took a good 30-40 minutes to drive there.
We would take our trash to Moose Junction to the Jenny lake visitors center most of the time. They have trash and recycle bins.

Heading north on US-HWY 191 look for the turnoff on your right Forest Road 30310 or otherwise known as Birch Creek Road. To your left is the Cunningham Cabin turnout.

Pass the lower Teton View campground and keep to your LEFT when the road splits about a mile in. Take your time and you will be okay with the bumps. You will be rewarded with the sweetest free campsite you will find in the Teton region. Great spot to make base camp if exploring Yellowstone (south gate entrance) and Teton Village/Jackson. This is a boondock site, with most having little rustic fire rings made of rocks.

When you hit the top veer straight ahead into the clearing. It has the open views of the Tetons and valley below, and not hiding behind trees like the sites on the right and left trails. We were very lucky to arrive just before lunchtime on a Friday, July 17th, 2020, at a mostly full campsite and secured a spot 2 rows from the edge behind two millenials tent camping and van conversion. The two girls were hogging the front edge of the bluff and wasting valuable space with their spread-out footprint.

The next morning they started to pack up about 7:00 AM. We sat there with our 29-foot 5th wheel and truck idling waiting for them to brush their teeth and pack out. By 8:00 AM we relocated our rig into the front row spot on the edge, along with two other trailers. (yes, that is how much space they wasted!!!) We stayed in our prime spot for a further 4 days. Each time we had to leave camp we would block off the space with storage tubs and tiedown straps to prevent those with tents and small pop-ups from trying to set up camp, thus blocking access for our truck to park. Everyone in this space followed this method to prevent those trying to encroach onto their campsite space. It was so worth it.

Before we left, a family approached us asking about our spot. We said we would hold it for them as they were heading out for the day up to Yellowstone. They gave us their easy-ups, folding chairs, and outdoor mats. All to make the space look lived in, so no-one would take the site after we pulled out. This practice was common amongst the campers along the front rows.

We were blessed with good weather, beautiful sunrises, and sunsets over the Tetons. Easy access to Jenny Lake and Jackson. Yellowstone and Moran Junction not far away either. It was so worth the trip up the road. It is not as rough as others make out. Seriously! Just take it slowly. It is fine for those with big rigs. There is a turn out about halfway up the hill if you encounter someone coming from the other direction. There is plenty of space to turn around at the top as well. Just do not miss that first left-hand turn just past the lower campground, or you will be in trouble finding a spot to turn around your big rig.