Camping near Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park features a variety of established campgrounds within park boundaries, including Canyon Campground, Madison Campground, and Mammoth Campground, alongside several backcountry options. The park's accommodation types range from tent-only sites to RV-compatible campgrounds and a limited number of cabin facilities. Canyon Campground offers centrally-located sites with flush toilets, bear boxes, and shower facilities, while Fishing Bridge RV Park provides full hookups specifically for recreational vehicles. Campgrounds within the park operate on a mixture of reservation and first-come, first-served systems, with most requiring advance booking during peak season.

Seasonal operation significantly impacts camping availability, as most Yellowstone campgrounds are open only from May through September or October. Madison Campground typically opens earliest in May and closes in mid-October, while Mammoth Campground is the only year-round option within park boundaries. Each campground enforces strict food storage regulations due to bear activity, requiring all food and scented items to be secured in provided bear boxes or vehicle storage. Water, firewood availability, and generator restrictions vary between locations. The surrounding national forest lands offer dispersed camping options with fewer amenities but greater flexibility. As one visitor noted, "Yellowstone is an enormously vast park. Exploring the many valleys, geysers, and sights can mean hours of driving."

Campground proximity to major attractions influences visitor preferences, with Canyon Campground particularly valued for its central location near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Several reviewers mentioned Canyon's accessibility to major park features makes it an ideal base for exploration. Backcountry sites require permits and offer solitude away from developed areas, with Ice Lake and Grebe Lake sites receiving positive feedback for their scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. Most established campgrounds provide basic amenities including drinking water and toilets, though shower facilities are limited to certain locations. During peak summer months, campgrounds within the park frequently reach capacity early in the day, especially on weekends and holidays. A camper commented that Canyon Campground is "the perfect place from where to visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone but it could also be used as your base to visit all or most of Yellowstone."

Best Camping Sites Near Yellowstone National Park (246)

    1. Canyon Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    57 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    "Bathrooms nearby, shower and laundry at check in building. Crowded campground but plenty or room at our site. Nice place to stay inside Yellowstone National Park."

    "Canyon campground is almost in the dead center of Yellowstone National Park. By camping in Canyon you can easily visit every corner of the park and see all the major sites in a few days."

    2. Mammoth Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    57 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-2107

    $25 / night

    "Mammoth is not my first choice campground, but if you're looking for good proximity to enjoy Yellowstone national park, have an RV that you're ready to drop as soon as you get in so you can spend more"

    "It's not as big as Bridge Bay or Grant Village, in fact it is one of the smallest campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park."

    3. Madison Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    84 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    "Nothing particularly special about it but flush toilets and a close overnight to have easy access to the thermal region of the park."

    "Absolutely beautiful Campground within Yellowstone National Park. We had a completely level site with bathrooms and a dishwashing station."

    4. Bridge Bay Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    85 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    "The location and the lake views make this campground a perfect spot to stay while exploring the lower region of Yellowstone National Park."

    "This campground is centrally located in Yellowstone National Park. It has quite a few loops. We stayed at sites in loop C and loop G."

    5. Norris Campground — Yellowstone National Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    27 Reviews
    Yellowstone National Park, WY
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    $10 - $25 / night

    "There are a couple loops as well as some walk in sites."

    "Great campground close to a couple rivers and nice meadows. I’ve seen moose, bison and bears in and around the area. The walk in site are in a great spot and not far from the car."

    6. Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    46 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    18 miles

    "Great spot for travelers or people who didn't book a site in or close to Yosemite."

    "There's about three good spots up on the hill, the two out on the edge have reliable service. But as soon as you go back up a bit, it vanishes. Stunning views of Yellowstone and the mountains."

    7. Indian Creek Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    16 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-2107

    $20 / night

    "I believe this is supposed to be the Indian Creek Campground in Yellowstone National Park (which would put it in Wyoming), so I'm going to put that review here."

    "We felt so lucky to get a spot with a couple of days advance notice for Yellowstone National Park.  The campground was serene, beautiful, and remote.  "

    8. Fishing Bridge RV Park--Yellowstone National Park

    43 Reviews
    Yellowstone National Park, WY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    $89 / night

    "One must plan in advance for a reservation at Fishing Bridge RV Park in Yellowstone National Park. Full hookups available on paved sites."

    "Fishing Bridge is the only hard sided RV only, full hook-up campground that can accommodate big rigs inside Yellowstone National Park.  We were in loop E, which had concrete pads and picnic tables. "

    9. Tower Fall Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    15 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-2107

    $20 / night

    "This is a cool campground that is nestled up a small draw on the ridges above Tower Falls in Yellowstone National Park."

    "It's a great spot to camp when exploring the Northern or Eastern edges of Yellowstone."

    10. Grant Village Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    84 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7311

    "Great location to explore Yellowstone National Park"

    "We just barely returned from our trip to Yellowstone National Park. I highly recommend it to everyone! We stayed a few nights at different hotel places inside the park. We did so many hikes!"

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Recent Reviews near Yellowstone National Park

1666 Reviews of 246 Yellowstone National Park Campgrounds


  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Yellowstone Holiday Resort

    Amazing place to watch sunrise and sunset

    Beautiful spot 13 miles from west entrance. Plenty to explore right outside the park in this area. Staff was super nice. Views made it worth just sitting outside. Would stay here again. A bit pricey, but not KOA Glacier expensive. Pick site 4,6,8 right off the lake.

  • e
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Yellowstone RV Park

    Beautiful and convenient

    Great little camp ground next to the river. Clean bathrooms, hot showers, laundry, wifi. A bit pricey, but probably due to the location being near the Yellowstone entrance

  • bThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    Remote but pretty

    There are no markings for campsites and I’m assuming the few pull-offs are the sites. They’re pretty remote and there were no other campers when I went. There was also a big pile of bones by the campsite. As a single girl it didn’t feel like a safe spot for me and the vibes just didn’t feel great, but it was a stunning view! I would however, recommend eagle creek campground instead. First come first serve with a bathroom.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and Resort

    Nice spot

    Very friendly and accommodating people work here. Very clean showers, bathrooms and showers. Small lots so no camp fires or wood burning; charcoal and propane is ok. Plastic like table tops so you cannot cook directly on top unless you use a barrier to protect the tables. Liked the place so much I extended the stay.

  • Caroline T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Hyalite Canyon Dispersed

    TENT CAMP ONLY - no drive in

    Came here looking to camp in our rooftop tent. These 3-4 camp spots are tent only because the spots are about a 5 minute walk into the woods and you cannot drive up. We unfortunately had to find camp elsewhere

  • Chris and Mallory
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Grassy Lake Reservoir Dispersed Camping

    Grassy Lake Reservoir Dispersed Campsite

    This spot was STUNNING! We were in a Mercedes sprinter van and easily pulled into the spot. There was a fire ring overlooking the reservoir and sunset was beautiful. The roads to the site were gravel and easily drivable for most rigs. It took about 40 minutes (driving slower). Probably wouldn’t take a large camper because you do have to go down a steep hill with tree coverage to get there. There’s also Flagg ranch campground close by with gas and convenience store. Short drive to both the Tetons and Yellowstone!

  • Chenoa E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road

    Minimal Camp Sites, Not Recommended

    Camping is only allowed in areas marked with signs which will tell you the camp number and the number of sites in said camp. We only traveled as far as “Camp 5” which is a single site location. Each camp has a different number of sites, ranging from 1-4 sites per camp. There’s also a good distance between camps as well.

    Since we only went so far as camp 5, there might be a chance other camps ahead are more abundant with sites.

    Each camp has a bathroom and bear proof dumpsters. Gravel roads are pretty well maintained, minor pot holes and some rippling. Camps have beautiful views and the night sky glows.

    Personally, I don’t recommend this dispersed camping spot. It’s really hard to find a site thats open. We were lucky enough some kind folks allowed us to camp in their site. Although I don’t recommend asking folks to stay in their site either.

    If you’re desperate to find a camp, theres a good chance you wont find one here.


Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Camping near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, offers a unique experience filled with stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking an RV, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

What to do:

  • Explore the park: Yellowstone is famous for its geysers, hot springs, and wildlife. Many campers enjoy hiking and fishing. One visitor noted, “This is a great location to explore the park, easily access hiking and fishing, and enjoy the wildlife which may even walk through the campground as did a family of Bison” at Madison Campground.
  • Visit nearby attractions: Check out the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone or take a scenic drive. A reviewer at Canyon Campground mentioned, “You are super close to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the campground itself has incredible amenities.”
  • Wildlife watching: Keep an eye out for bears, elk, and bison. One camper at Mammoth Campground shared, “Woke up in the morning to an elk in my campsite eating off some trees, very cool way to be greeted.”

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and dishwashing stations. A visitor at Canyon Campground said, “Bathrooms were good and each location had a dishwashing station with drinking water near it.”
  • Friendly staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. One reviewer at Grant Village Campground mentioned, “Staff was friendly, professional, and very busy. The campground and restrooms were super clean all the time.”
  • Scenic views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A guest at Bridge Bay Campground raved, “Beautiful view of Yellowstone Lake right across the street!”

What you should know:

  • Crowded sites: Many campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak season. A camper at Madison Campground advised, “You definitely need to be comfortable being close to your neighbor as sites aren’t private & close together.”
  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds lack showers and electric hookups. A visitor at Grant Village Campground noted, “While the sites don’t have hookups, the facilities are great!”
  • Reservations are a must: Many sites fill up quickly, so plan ahead. A reviewer at Bridge Bay Campground mentioned, “Reservations need to be made way in advance.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for sites with amenities like playgrounds and clean restrooms. A camper at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park said, “Great showers and a large kids area.”
  • Plan for activities: Bring games and outdoor gear to keep kids entertained. One family at Bakers Hole Campground enjoyed the “beautiful view of Madison River” while relaxing at their site.
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having food on hand can make outings easier. A visitor at Fishing Bridge RV Park mentioned, “Clean and quiet, plenty of bear-proof garbage cans.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Some campgrounds have size restrictions for RVs. A reviewer at Grant Village Campground noted, “Many sites are pull-through ‘banana’.”
  • Be prepared for road noise: Some sites are close to busy roads. A camper at Bridge Bay Campground mentioned, “Depending on what site you get, you may hear road noise from the main road.”
  • Utilize dump stations: Make sure to know where the nearest dump station is located. A visitor at Mammoth Campground appreciated the convenience of nearby facilities for RV maintenance.

Camping near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, is an adventure filled with natural beauty and memorable experiences. Whether you're a family, a solo traveler, or an RV enthusiast, there's something for everyone in this stunning area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the best campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park?

The best campgrounds in Yellowstone offer a mix of locations and experiences. Indian Creek Campground — Yellowstone National Park is highly regarded for its seclusion and recent renovations, plus its convenient proximity to Mammoth Hot Springs. Grant Village Campground — Yellowstone National Park provides an excellent home base for exploring the park with its central location. For those seeking backcountry experiences, Yellowstone's designated backcountry sites offer more solitude. Most campgrounds within the park provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The best campground often depends on which park attractions you plan to visit, as Yellowstone covers a vast area with diverse ecosystems and features.

Do Yellowstone campgrounds have showers and other amenities?

Most campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park do not have shower facilities. They typically offer basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. For upgraded facilities, Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and Resort near the West Entrance provides full amenities including showers, though it's located just outside the park. Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch between Yellowstone and Grand Teton also offers more extensive facilities. For supplies, West Yellowstone and other gateway towns provide stores where you can purchase essentials, though be prepared for higher prices. Water is available at most developed campgrounds, but services are generally minimalist as the park focuses on preserving natural experiences.

How do I reserve a campsite in Yellowstone National Park?

Reservations for most Yellowstone campgrounds can be made through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance and are highly recommended during peak season (June-August). Mammoth Campground — Yellowstone National Park and several other developed campgrounds within the park are reservable. Bakers Hole Campground near West Yellowstone offers an alternative with proximity to the park entrance. Some smaller campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. For these, arrive early in the morning (before 8 AM) for the best chance of securing a site. Backcountry camping requires separate wilderness permits, which can be reserved starting March 1st each year. Campgrounds typically fill by mid-morning during summer months.

Is dispersed camping allowed in or around Yellowstone National Park?

Dispersed camping is not allowed within Yellowstone National Park boundaries except at designated backcountry sites, which require permits. However, there are excellent dispersed camping options surrounding the park. Fish Creek Dispersed Camp offers free camping about 45 minutes from the West Entrance with open areas to set up. Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone provides free options near the North Entrance. These surrounding areas typically follow Forest Service or BLM regulations, which generally allow 14-day stays. Always practice Leave No Trace principles, pack out all trash, and check for fire restrictions. These dispersed sites become particularly valuable during peak season when park campgrounds fill quickly.

Where can I find camping near Yellowstone's North Entrance?

Several good camping options exist near Yellowstone's North Entrance (Gardiner, MT). Loch Leven is located about an hour from the Roosevelt Arch entrance with pull-through sites, making it convenient for those with RVs. It offers good TV and cell coverage though limited shade. Beaver Creek Campground is another excellent option about 30 minutes from the park, improving your chances of finding availability during busy seasons. It's situated along the Madison River between Hebgen Lake and Earthquake Lake. For those wanting to stay within the park, Mammoth Campground is the closest to the North Entrance and is open year-round, unlike most Yellowstone campgrounds which close during winter.