If you're planning a family-friendly outdoor excursion, consider reserving a site at one of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts. Each of these campgrounds is independently owned, but is part of "a franchise network of campgrounds focused on providing great family vacations." There are Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts located in many cities and towns throughout the United States and Canada, each one offering camping facilities for RV and tent campers. Some also feature vacation rental properties.
Staying at a Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
Finding a Location
There are more than 75 Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in the U.S. and four in Canada. It's easy to find out if there is one in the area where you will be traveling; simply review the Find a Park page on the corporate website for a map and state-by-state list of campground locations. This will provide you with park-specific contact information and a few details, along with a link to the park's website.
The company also prints a directory each year. If you'd like to receive a printed directory, simply click the Free Directory link near the top of the page and provide your mailing address to have one sent to you.
Making Reservations
You cannot make reservations or check on availability from the corporate website. Rates are set by each park and reservation requirements vary. Once you identify a park you're interested in from the corporate website, you'll need to visit the particular park's website or contact the park directly to get details on what that park has to offer or to make a reservation.
Family Friendly
No two properties are identical, but each one must be focused on family camping and meet franchise standards for amenities. TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews are overwhelming positive. For example, Yelp reviews for the Luray, Virginia location describe it as "a great place for kids" and a "wonderful place to take the family." TripAdvisor reviews of the Sturbridge, Massachusetts location include similar praise, with a number of reviewers reporting that they visit the park year after year because of their positive experiences.
Character Visits
The Yogi Bear theme is licensed via Warner Brothers, and characters from the popular cartoon series - like Yogi, BooBoo, Ranger Smith and others help bring the camping "experience to life" for youngsters. Yogi Bear visits each location, making appearances daily during peak tourist season. Other characters from the cartoon series may also 'visit' at some campgrounds.
Amenities/Activities
All campgrounds that carry the Jellystone Park-Resorts brand feature a number of amenities and activities that will appeal to kids and adults. As one Yelp review of the location in Fremont, Indiana points out, "For all of those of us that are still kids at heart this is the campground for you."
Each campground in the franchise has the following:
- Swimming pool
- Game room with arcade games
- Camp store
- Clean restrooms
- Modern show facilities
- Outdoor theater
- Pavilion picnic facilities
- Playground
- Areas for outdoors games (specifics vary by park; may include places for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, etc.)
- Arts and crafts activities (extra fee may be required)
- Theme weekends (such as Christmas in July, Mardi Gras, Easter Weekend and more)
Many campgrounds bearing the Jellystone Camp-Resorts brand offer additional amenities and activities, such as:
- Boating
- Gem mining
- Miniature golf
- Musical entertainment
- Water activities
- Water slides
- Additional entertainment options
Rewards Program
If you decide to spend your next vacation at a Jellystone facility, be sure to register for the Club Yogi Rewards program. You'll be able to enjoy rewards points that can accumulate for free accommodations every time you visit one of the parks.
Accommodation Options
Tent Campsites
The spacious tent camping sites you'll find at Jellystone campgrounds are situated in beautiful settings, providing an ideal location for outdoorsy vacations. Tent campers can enjoy their choice of improved campsites that feature electricity or rustic spots that provide a true back-to-nature experience. Each site includes a picnic table and a fire ring. A TripAdvisor review of the location at Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Indiana describes the tent sites as "clean and spacious."
RV Campsites
Yogi Bear Jellystone campgrounds offer RV spaces that are fully equipped with water, electricity, and sewage hookups. RV campsite options are available that can accommodate recreational vehicles of all sizes. A TexasOutside.com review of the Rusty Creek Ranch location in Fort Worth Texas praises the quality of the RV campsites at the park and also notes that "big rigs and long trailers should not have any problem maneuvering throughout the park" (though of course this may not be the case at all locations).
When you make your RV reservation, be sure to specify the size of your camper and indicate whether you need access to 30 or 50 amp electricity, as well as your hook-up needs. This will ensure that you'll be placed in a campsite that is the ideal size for the type of unit you'll be traveling in.
Vacation Rental Options
If you want to enjoy an outdoorsy vacation but would prefer not to travel with a tent or recreational vehicle, a Yogi Bear campground vacation rental might be a good option for your next family getaway. Options include rustic cabins for a true outdoorsy experience, full-service cabins with all the comforts of homes, and park model RVs and cottages. Some locations even offer yurt rentals.
- View examples of cabins and yurts on the website for the Kozy Rest location in Harrisville, Pennsylvania.
- See park model examples on the website for the O'Connell's location in Amboy, Illinois.
A Yelp reviewer who stayed in a deluxe cabin at the Quarryville, Pennsylvania location reported that it "exceeded our expectations." She describes the cabin as clean and centrally located to kid-friendly amenities and activities in the park.
Not every location has vacation rental options available, and the choices are not the same at the locations that do have them. Be sure to verify availability and make a reservation before you begin your travels.
Great for Family Vacations
When you set out on a family vacation, you want to be sure that the place you stay will have plenty of activities to keep the children occupied, as well as amenities that the adults will appreciate. One visitor to the Gatlinburg, Tennessee location went so far as to say on TripAdvisor, "between the activities, the arcade, and playground, we were never bored" and ended her review by saying "If you have a camper and kids, this is the place to stay."
If you're looking for a way to ensure that the campgrounds you choose will appeal to kids and adults alike, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Camp-Resorts are a great option. Since each park has to meet franchise standards, you can expect a certain level of quality and service, as well plenty of ways to help keep your kids entertained.
