Are you in need of a campground near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, WY? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Turn into Headwaters lodge and cabins at Flagg Ranch and take the first right onto Grassy Lake Road."
"Great dispersed camping. Roads were well maintained. Drove the pickup back in for tent camping this August. Would recommend for a close spot by Yellowstone National Park."
"It comes with a bear box to store your food, a bear proof trash can, picnic table, metal fire ring, and last but not least, your own private pit toilet. Tons of space also."
"Convenient to the south entrance of Yellowstone, this camping area was very busy. We ended up driving many miles down the well maintained dirt road trying to find a spot."
"With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up."
"There’s beautiful views of the Teton mountains as people say, the roads are a bit rough and inclined but that’s everywhere in the west really:) no four wheel drive needed at all."
"A bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road."
"Definitely a rough road and can be tougher to find a spot if you come later, but we made it up in a low clearance camper van by taking it very slow and the views are awesome."
"Nice Dispersed Camping. Doesn’t have Grand views of the Tetons but has nice grassy level areas and spots by the creek."
"There are 14 campsites dispersed down a four mile long gravel road. Part of the National Forest. Great views of the Tetons from several sites."
"We had to drive super far to find a spot to stay. But we got lucky. They do have a fire pit and a lot of seclusion. Just a long drive on the dirt road."
"Prebuilt fire pits and a beautiful lake. No firewood around so bring some"
"There is a backpacking trail along the snake River near the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Right away there is a pretty wide stream crossing."
"Right next to a wonderful stream. Bring bug spray and you'll be fine. No water, no toilet of any kind."
"Plan ahead for this one, because you'll drive for what feels like forever. I have terrible shocks in my bus, so the gravel roads were slow going for me."
"The location is down a gravel BLM road that can be easily navigated with a low ground clearance vehicle. The entire road in is available for dispersed camping."
"Great spot, close to the park. I didn’t drive all the way to the coordinates just stopped at a spot by the road. Pretty peaceful, gravel road."
"We tried to access other dispersed camping locations in the Tetons first, but the roads were difficult to travel on with our RV. This was perfect."
LegendA bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road. There is a camping area at the base of the mountain but if you continue on up the mountain there are many, many dispersed camping pullouts. Beautiful views of the Tetons and excellent wildflowers. There are sites that have some shade and trees but several are pretty exposed. This is a very popular place on the weekends so make sure you get there early to set up camp (or avoid it if you like quite on a Saturday night). No water, no toilets, just a free place to camp with established fire rings! Dogs are welcome.
GuideI have not personally spent the night camping here, but I do work for the Forest Service and wanted to give more information about the Darby Canyon dispersed camping sites. I also had a friend stay here for three nights last September and they had a good time. There are about 10~ sites (I will check and edit when I can) all along the canyon road, some are just right off road and others require a short drive down beaten paths to find the sites. All of these sites (except 2 or so very close to the road) are past the cattle guard. Depending on the time of year, many of these sites may not be accessible. Snow typically stays in the canyon until mid-June and starts collecting in October. The area may also be buggy at the height of the summer (July 2024 had been atrocious). There is limited cell service down most of the road and it completely disappears the closer to the Wind Cave trailhead you get. This area has a 14 day stay limit, meaning that once 14 days (13 nights) have been reached you must move at least 5 miles away to continue camping on forest service land and cannot return to this canyon to camp for 30 days. This is in a bear food storage enforced area and any bear attractants (food, pet food, soaps, sunscreen, etc.) are required to be stored properly in a locked hard sided vehicle or other bear resistant containers. Fires are allowed but must be put out dead (cold to the touch) before leaving a campsite. This canyon is regularly patrolled by Forest Service staff and ranger law enforcement officers, especially on the weekends, to keep up with the food storage and fires out dead orders. Hope this helps weary travelers that are deterred by low-rated reviews.
RangerGreat option if the Curtis Canyon campground is full, or if you would prefer something a little more remote. High clearance vehicles recommended - forest road 30440 is in pretty rough shape. Town of Jackson is fairly close.
Same great views you'd expect anywhere near the Tetons; trailhead to Goodwin Lake is close by. Full Teton view is better at the trailhead, but its not far. Dispersed sites are spread out with plenty of space; although no one stayed in the site next to us on this rainy evening in June.
To get there, continue past the Curtis Canyon campground in Bridger-Teton National Forest (behind the Elk refuge) as if you were heading to the trail head. You'll start to see marked sites along the extremely rutted forest road. I would not attempt very muddy conditions.
RangerWe spent one night mid May here on the way to Yellowstone. The view was awesome. With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up. Not sure when the road will open up to the main dispersed site. Be aware that there is only enough room for about 20 campers / vans in the lower area. There is room for about another 15 cars and tent camping. Arrive early! Plenty of hiking and well worth it if you get a spot!
TravelerWe stayed here 3 nights and absolutely loved it. Definitely a rough road and can be tougher to find a spot if you come later, but we made it up in a low clearance camper van by taking it very slow and the views are awesome. It’s quiet and super close to the Moose entrance for the NP. We were higher up (#10) and had great Verizon service. Bathroom all the way at the bottom also. Can only camp in designated spots. Definitely recommend
ScoutWe camped here in a 4x4 Sprinter van in early July and it was one of the best dispersed sites we’ve ever experienced. It took about 45min driving East from Antelope Flats Road to reach the site. The service road out to the turnoff is very easy, a 2WD crossover could make it in clear conditions. I wouldn’t be comfortable taking the turnoff itself down to the river without high clearance and 4WD as it’s steep and uneven.
There were two clearly defined camping spots with primitive fire rings, each directly on the banks of the river with views of the cliff side opposite the river.
Zero service and amenities but a wonderful experience. We got there at about 6pm on a Friday and the other site was filled.
RangerCampground Review
Alright. I was planning on staying in Grand Teton National Park, but since it was the Thursday before the 2017 Solar Eclipse the Park was full. And I am glad it was. I decided to just drive down a Forest Service Road and ended up on FS 30165 in a valley with wonderful views of the Tetons. There was even a creek a short walk away where I could filter water. The site I picked out was around 8 miles (20 min) from the main paved road into the park and around 50 min from the Visitor Center. Since it is in bear country you need to make sure you have a bear proof cooler or store everything in your car. While I was there the NFS had placed a fire ban due to the sheer number of campers in the area for the eclipse, I believe that fires are allowed otherwise.
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - over the summer I tested the Insulated Static V from Klymit.
I put this pad through the ringer for sure. I used it no less than once per week during June, July, and the first half of August. It still looks good as new. This pad is incredibly comfortable for all types of sleeping positions. At an R-value of 4.4, it packs down to just slightly bigger than a Nalgene water bottle and weighs only 25 oz. The bag that it comes with is slightly oversized, which means that you can actually get it back in the bag with little issues every time even if your roll is slightly sloppy. It also comes with a patch kit so you can fix it in the field should an issue arise, not that I have ever needed it.
I can also attest to Klymit's customer service as well. Prior to getting the Insulated Static V, I owned one of the original Static V pads. That pad survived from 2012-2016 until the valve developed a slight leak. I contacted Klymit to check out their warranty. They told me pads are covered under a lifetime warranty and after shipping it back to them I received a brand new pad within 2-3 weeks if I'm remembering correctly. So not only are the products great, but they stand behind them too!
GuideA good amount of dispersed areas here. All the areas in the open meadow area closer by the road was occupied. We choose a dead end road and had the area all to ourselves. Had to back up the road about 200 feet because there was no turn around for the size of our rig (36 foot 5th wheel). But it is doable.
GuideThe dirt road in is rough steep and narrow. Recommend high clearance as the road has ruts. They will close the road to snow and move the barrier up as it melts. Sites are spread out and numbered. The views are amazing. Spot 1 is in the aspen trees.
Dispersed camping near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway in Wyoming offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the region. With various options available, campers can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dispersed camping allowed along the Snake River in John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway?
Yes, dispersed camping is allowed in designated areas along the Snake River within John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Snake River Dispersed - Rockefeller Memorial Parkway offers primitive camping opportunities with stunning river access. For those seeking nearby alternatives with good water access, Spread Creek Dispersed Campground provides nice level grassy areas, though without direct Teton views. Remember that all dispersed camping in the parkway requires following Leave No Trace principles, staying in established sites, and properly storing food to prevent wildlife encounters.
Where are the designated dispersed camping areas in John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway?
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway offers several designated dispersed camping areas. The primary areas include Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road and Grassy Lake Dispersed Camping. These sites provide free camping with some basic facilities like vault toilets. For those seeking nearby alternatives with spectacular Teton views, the Bridger-Teton National Forest offers numerous options just outside the parkway boundaries. High clearance vehicles are recommended for most dispersed sites as access roads can be rough, especially in wet conditions or early season. Always practice Leave No Trace principles and check seasonal closures before planning your trip.
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway is Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway?
TheDyrt.com has all 98 dispersed camping locations near John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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