Powell, Wyoming Campgrounds and Camping Areas

The Powell, Wyoming area features a diverse range of camping options within an hour's drive, from full-service RV parks to remote dispersed sites. Billings Village RV Park and Lovell Camper Park provide year-round accommodations with hookups and amenities, while Deaver Reservoir offers more basic established camping with picnic tables and vault toilets. Heading south toward Cody, campers find several options including Cody Trout Ranch Camp with unique accommodations like tipis and sheep wagons, and Buffalo Bill State Park's North Fork Campground along the Shoshone River. For those seeking solitude, BLM dispersed camping areas between Cody and Greybull provide free primitive camping with stunning mountain views. Powell campgrounds offer excellent access to outdoor recreation, with many sites strategically located near hiking trails, fishing spots, and scenic overlooks.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "You will need 4-wheel drive or high clearance to access the best sites next to the river. If you're willing to endure the drive, the beauty of the site more than makes up for it." Summer temperatures can be intense, particularly at lower elevations like Horseshoe Bend Campground where shade is minimal. Spring brings muddy conditions on dirt access roads, while summer afternoons often feature thunderstorms. Bear activity is common in areas closer to Yellowstone, with several campgrounds providing bear boxes. Reservations are essential during peak season (May-September), especially for established campgrounds near water.

Wildlife viewing opportunities rank highly in visitor reviews, with multiple campers mentioning encounters with pronghorn antelope, coyotes, and various bird species. Fishing access is available at several locations, particularly along the Shoshone River and at Horseshoe Bend Marina. Campers frequently praise the cleanliness of Wyoming campgrounds, with one visitor noting that "bathrooms are very clean, which is typical for Wyoming campgrounds." Night skies receive special mention at desert camping areas, with one reviewer describing them as "very, very dark and you can see so much on a clear night. Great for anybody with an astronomy hobby!" Many campgrounds serve as convenient basecamps for exploring nearby attractions including Yellowstone National Park, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Beartooth Highway.

Best Camping Sites Near Powell, Wyoming (89)

    1. Billings Village RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Frannie, WY
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 248-8685

    "Clean, cheerful, easy to get in and out- convenient to the highway- highly recommend Only hiccup was how low to the ground the electric was- we had to bend the cord to connect"

    2. Cody BLM Dispersed

    21 Reviews
    Cody, WY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 578-5900

    "One tuck drove around us at a considerate distance. Around 9:30pm. No big deal. Was one other van parked where we first came in."

    "We pulled off of highway 16 to just explore and found that this area has a lot of options for camping. It is a vast stretch of BLM land between Cody and Greybull."

    3. Deaver Reservoir

    2 Reviews
    Frannie, WY
    9 miles
    Website

    "However, disrespect of the land and garbage in many places outside of the cans. Sound travels across the water and some disrespectful people."

    4. Cody KOA

    19 Reviews
    Cody, WY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 587-2369

    "This campground is just outside Cody, WY. Easy access for people just passing through, just off a main road."

    "Park is all gravel, thus neighbor driving at 4am around makes a bit of noise. Airport is next door too. Had an enjoyable stay"

    5. Absaroka Bay RV Park

    17 Reviews
    Cody, WY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 527-7440

    $40 - $90 / night

    "Close to town and the museum, which is why we stayed here. Sites are close together but we didn't care we were just staying one night. Easy in and out and there are eateries within walking distance."

    "Close to the east entrance to Yellowstone this park is also in Cody, a cool town. Staff is nice bathhouse is clean."

    6. Lovell Camper Park

    6 Reviews
    Lovell, WY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 548-6551

    "Free camping with showers and bathrooms as clean as home, close to restaurants and a cute movie theater, and close to the Bighorn Canyon with great wildlife."

    "Right next to the campground is a great park.  This is a wonderful community offering."

    7. Big Quiet Farm Stay & Campground

    1 Review
    Ralston, WY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 272-4681

    $65 - $150 / night

    8. Cody Trout Ranch Camp - RV, Tipi, and Sheep Wagon Camping

    5 Reviews
    Cody, WY
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 578-6757

    $46 - $135 / night

    "It's located just outside of Cody a few miles, so you don't have to deal with the traffic noise or the light pollution. Star gazing is excellent."

    "Close to a highway but pretty quiet. Nice little guns & ammo shop on site. Other than the power & wifi issue this is a great campground!!"

    9. Horseshoe Bend Campground — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Lovell, WY
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 548-7230

    "The spots are spread out enough so you’re not close to other campers. Bathrooms were adequate, flush toilets with soap/water/hand dryer."

    "This is a great campground if you're going to be out on the lake or hitting the off-road trails. Its literally a campground in the desert though there are some great views in the surrounding areas."

    10. North Fork Campground — Buffalo Bill State Park

    34 Reviews
    Wapiti, WY
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 587-9227

    $10 / night

    "This was a great stop on a national parks trip in the Wyoming area. The campground was less busy than in the national parks. Sites were clean and large."

    "Surrounded by mountains and right on the Shoshone River, this is a bit of Heaven on earth."

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Recent Reviews near Powell, WY

386 Reviews of 89 Powell Campgrounds


  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2026

    Lovell Camper Park

    Privacy

    There are 6 individual sites…free shower and flush toilets ! 3 day max stay

  • Sally T.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2026

    Big Game Campground

    Quiet Wooded Camping

    We were told by the ranger that we hit it perfectly to this small 14 site campground just outside of Cody on the way to Yellowstone. Right after a holiday and during the week! Dry camping. We chose site 8 which was the only one with a view of the North Fork Shoshone River. Bear boxes at each site as well as a cooking grill/firepit, and metal picnic table. As senior pass holder of America the Beautiful we only paid $7.50 in the envelope for the night. We would have been happy with any of the sites.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 27, 2026

    Dead Indian Campground

    Great views

    In the valley, close to Yellowstone, close to Beartooth Hwy…about 10 sites(we were the only ones) vault toilets clean! Road noise but next to a creek!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 24, 2026

    Green Creek Inn & RV Park

    Close to Yellowstone

    Side by side sites with trees.clean showers and bathroom. Laundry is $2 for washer $1.75 for dryer. Hostess is very nice and accommodating !

  • Jensen S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2026

    Sheep Mountain BLM

    Place to camp after visiting Yellowstone

    Two other campers in vans were right at the coordinates of the camp spot. However, we took a slight left turn where the trailhead sign is and kept left. You’ll see a big open area with a fire ring and a view of the reservoir. Very quiet! Beautiful views. Close to trailhead! Free campsite!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2026

    Parkside Campground

    Base of Beartooth

    Site are spacious and vault toilets are clean

  • Rob R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2026

    Lovell Camper Park

    Free city RV park

    For free this is a great little RV park provided by the city. Flush toilets, showers, pull thru sites, water and dump station. Three day limit. A little gem.

  • Rob R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2026

    Horseshoe Bend Campground — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

    Pretty nice campground

    Sites arrangement are a bit confusing. There are upgraded sites that have power and water, and there are dry sites. They’re all sprinkled together. Big rig friendly, two separate toilet buildings, and I saw a dump station right outside the campground. No cell service. Overall nice campground.

  • MrCopperhead1974 The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2026

    Cody BLM Dispersed

    Beautiful wide open space

    Lots of great spots and a good road


Guide to Powell

Camping spots near Powell, Wyoming range from high-desert landscapes to mountain-adjacent settings, with elevations between 4,500 and 5,500 feet in most locations. Summer daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90°F at lower elevations while dropping into the 50s at night. The area experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms from June through August, with rapid weather changes common in the mountain-adjacent camping areas.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Deaver Reservoir offers fishing access in a quiet setting away from busier locations. One camper noted, "This is a very clean and well maintained spot. Ideal for a campervan or truck camper. Also, the reservoir was quite a pretty spot."

Wildlife viewing: Cody BLM Dispersed camping areas provide opportunities to observe native wildlife. A visitor mentioned, "July 1 was dry and there were herds of deer and a small pack of coyotes wailing in the distance at night." Another camper reported, "We saw some prong horns on the way in too!"

Astronomy: Many camping areas offer exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. At Horseshoe Bend Campground, a camper observed, "Sky is very, very dark and you can see so much on a clear night. Great for anybody with an astronomy hobby!"

What campers like

Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness is frequently mentioned in reviews. At Lovell Camper Park, a camper appreciated, "Showers and bathrooms as clean as home, close to restaurants and a cute movie theater, and close to the Bighorn Canyon with great wildlife."

Proximity to attractions: North Fork Campground at Buffalo Bill State Park serves as a convenient base for exploring. A visitor mentioned, "Close to Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife. Great views. Family suggested this campground and I would go camping here again- one of our favorites near Yellowstone."

Unique accommodations: Cody Trout Ranch Camp offers distinctive lodging options beyond standard camping. A camper shared, "The tipis are gorgeously appointed and so comfortable to sleep in. They are right on the Shoshone, definitely a great and five star experience."

What you should know

Weather conditions: High winds affect many camping areas in the Powell region. At Horseshoe Bend Campground, one camper reported, "The second night was incredibly windy so we couldn't have a fire and had to park our truck in front of our tent to block the wind."

Road quality: Access to remote camping areas often requires appropriate vehicles. For BLM dispersed camping, one visitor advised, "The road is rough in just a couple of spots, but we saw vans and a large Class C make it up here no problem."

Reservation needs: Billings Village RV Park offers convenient options with varying availability. A camper noted, "Super easy check-in process. Nothing special but a clean, easy stop for a night. There is a train that goes by if you're sensitive to noise. We only heard it a couple of times."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds provide dedicated play areas. At Buffalo Bill State Park, a visitor mentioned, "Great campsite. Lots of room. Facilities were very clean. Nice playground for the kids."

Safety considerations: Wildlife awareness is important when camping with children. In the Cody BLM area, one camper noted, "There were some bullet casings around which is almost a given in BLM territory," suggesting families should choose sites carefully.

Comfort amenities: Absaroka Bay RV Park offers facilities that appeal to families. A reviewer shared, "The restrooms were very clean and the laundry was in good shape. Cody has so much to do you need at least a week."

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Consider space requirements when selecting campgrounds. At Absaroka Bay RV Park, a camper observed, "Sites are short. When we checked in they asked us to park behind are bumper pull camper. The site was too short. So they said we could park in the next site over."

Electrical considerations: Check electrical hookup details before arrival. At Billings Village RV Park, one RVer noted, "Only hiccup was how low to the ground the electric was- we had to bend the cord to connect."

Water access: Not all sites provide direct water hookups. One camper at Buffalo Bill State Park mentioned, "We got a pull through site with electricity but no water hookup. Potable water was available throughout the park, however."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in Powell, Wyoming?

Powell offers excellent access to some of Wyoming's most scenic camping areas. North Fork Campground — Buffalo Bill State Park is highly recommended for its picturesque location along the Shoshone River with stunning mountain views. Sites are clean, spacious, and reasonably priced compared to national park options. For those seeking unique experiences, Cody Trout Ranch Camp provides RV sites, tipis, and sheep wagon camping just outside Cody with excellent stargazing opportunities. The area also offers dispersed camping options like Little Sunlight Camping Area for those who prefer more remote settings, though these require navigating rough roads.

What amenities are available at Powell, Wyoming camping areas?

Camping areas around Powell vary in amenities based on location and type. Parkside Campground offers clean sites with picnic tables, fire pits, fresh water spigots, and clean restrooms, plus helpful camp hosts who sell firewood. For those seeking more developed facilities, Wapiti Campground provides approximately 40 sites, many with electric hookups, and accommodates both RVs and tent camping. Most established campgrounds in the region include vault toilets, while some like Buffalo Bill State Park have flush toilets and paid shower facilities. Dispersed camping areas typically offer minimal to no amenities, so come prepared with all necessities if choosing these more remote options.

When is the best season to go camping in Powell, Wyoming?

Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the best camping weather in the Powell area. Summer provides ideal conditions with warm days and cool nights, but this is also peak tourist season. Little Sunlight Camping Area showcases some of Wyoming's best views during summer months, though be prepared for dusty access roads. Early fall brings spectacular colors and fewer crowds at places like Cascade Campground, which provides a peaceful setting with beautiful scenery. Winter camping is possible but challenging due to harsh conditions and limited access, as many campgrounds and roads close seasonally. Always check road conditions when planning trips in shoulder seasons.