Best Tent Camping near Kelly, WY

Tent camping near Kelly, Wyoming provides access to some of Grand Teton National Park's most scenic backcountry areas and established campgrounds. Jenny Lake Campground, a tent-only facility within the national park, offers 49 sites with mountain views and proximity to hiking trails. Antelope Springs Designated Dispersed Camping Sites provide a more primitive tent camping experience with basic amenities including fire rings, pit toilets, and bear boxes. Both locations serve as gateways to the Teton Range and surrounding wilderness areas.

Tent campsites in this region require proper bear safety protocols, with bear boxes provided at most established sites. Jenny Lake Campground operates from mid-May through mid-September and features level tent pads, flush toilets, and drinking water. According to reviews, sites fill quickly, with campers often arriving by 6-7 AM to secure a spot when the gates open at 8 AM. Antelope Springs and other dispersed camping areas typically lack potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Summer evenings can bring heavy mosquito activity, particularly in July and August. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with restrictions common during dry periods.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Kelly offers exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities and solitude. One visitor noted that Jenny Lake Campground "is relatively quiet due to it being a tent-only campground" with "deer and bear frequently traveling through the campground." Walk-in tent sites at places like Phelps Lake require backcountry permits but reward campers with increased privacy and direct lake access. Primitive tent camping areas like Buffalo Valley Designated Dispersed Camping provide what one camper described as "beautiful views of the valley and mountains" with sites that are "quiet and peaceful." Most backcountry areas require proper food storage and adherence to Leave No Trace principles, with all waste packed out.

Best Tent Sites Near Kelly, Wyoming (44)

    1. Jenny Lake Campground — Grand Teton National Park

    65 Reviews
    Moose, WY
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 543-2811

    $13 - $57 / night

    "Bathrooms were heated and had hot water. We have a teardrop camper and was disappointed at blocks to keep us out of campfire area. We were in short RV and tent site with no generator."

    "It was far enough of the bathrooms for reduced noise. There are enough trees to put up a rain fly and a clothes line. The water faucet is a short walk."

    2. Colter Bay Tent Village at Colter Bay Village — Grand Teton National Park

    65 Reviews
    Moran, WY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 543-2811

    $105 / night

    "Everyone seemed to respect quiet hours here, which you don't always find, and it was so quiet all night--definitely the best sleeps I've had camping!"

    "This was a spontaneous trip into the park, at the entrance it shows which campgrounds inside the park still have sites available. The ranger suggested Colter Bay as his favorite with availability."

    3. Antelope Springs Designated Dispersed Camping Sites 1-8

    18 Reviews
    Kelly, WY
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "They have two clean vault toilets as well. The afternoon rain does create mud throughout your campsite and the bottom of your tent will be wet and muddy."

    "Designated spots with fire rings, pit toilets, and bear boxes. Ron, the campsite ambassador was awesome! He came by every day to check on all his campers. The spot is hopping—so come early."

    4. Shadow Mountain - Dispersed Campsite #10

    10 Reviews
    Kelly, WY
    5 miles
    Website

    "One night got as low as 16 degrees with other nights ranging around the low 30’s. Has a fire ring. Plenty of flat areas for a tent. Message me on IG @themattsphotography with any questions!"

    "Shadow mountain dispersed camping has approximately 15 sites in designated areas along a back gravel road that is not for everyone."

    5. Taylor Ranch Road Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Kelly, WY
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "Happy to have a ranger visit us soon after setting up camp to remind us of bear precautions. Luckily no bear sitings but a few foxes ran around our site. Beautiful place."

    "Very convenient spot for visiting Teton, just outside of Kelly. If you come to the bridge, you’ve gone too far."

    6. Curtis Canyon Dispersed Camping

    7 Reviews
    Jackson, WY
    8 miles

    "Lovely views with a bear box and campfire ring. The sites were also spread out enough that it never felt crowded."

    "When driving up the gravel road you first come to the Curtis Canyon campground ($10/nightly) but if you continue on the road you will come to the Curtis Canyon dispersed campsites (free)."

    7. Buffalo Valley Designated Dispersed Camping

    9 Reviews
    Moran, WY
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "Another one of the “Designated Dispersed Camping” areas we’ve been seeing around here, not to be confused with the nearby developed Turpin Meadows campground, which has a fee and regular sites with tables"

    "We drove down our truck down a dirt path at the turnout and came upon two sites overlooking the Tetons and a winding river. It was the best place we have ever stayed at."

    8. Phelps Lake — Grand Teton National Park

    1 Review
    Moose, WY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-3399

    "Death canyon trail head is the starting point for the hike. Permit is required. You can get one at the visitor center."

    9. Open Canyon — Grand Teton National Park

    1 Review
    Teton Village, WY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-3309

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Roughly 3/4 up the Open Canyon trail the trees open up to a good spot to grab water.  Just further up the trail this camp site was a 50-75ft hike down to this great open spot for setting up your tent."

    10. Phillips Bench Trailhead

    5 Reviews
    Wilson, WY
    17 miles

    "Open space for parking. There are two other vehicles here with us and we are not on top of each other."

    "Steep 3 miles up highway outside Jackson. Pull off on RIGHT small area with a beautiful waterfall fed pond !"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Kelly, WY

1329 Reviews of 44 Kelly Campgrounds


  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Riverside Park Campground

    Riverfront spot

    This was perfect. I got a spot right on the bank of the Snake River. It has all the basics.. a picnic table, fire ring, most sites also have bear boxes for food storage; there are vault toilets, firewood for sale, and potable water available.

    $20/ night for sites, $40 for some sites that are double tables/parking.

    I didn’t have any neighbors, and I would guess maybe only a quarter of the sites were occupied. In the evening it did get a little annoying with lots of moth‘s flying everywhere. They seem to like to land on my white truck and I had to cover my food while I cooked, and kept the tent closed. Not a big deal, but they were noticeable.

    While not this campground per se I thought it’s worth mentioning that just across the river there are also a large number of free dispersed campsites, some right on the river, some along the road as you travel away from the river. To get to the bridge you still take the Riverside Campground exit off the highway below the damn. Pass the campground cross the bridge and you’ll see them on your right for about a mile. I didn’t stay there. It looks like they have firings and nothing else but they’re free and plentiful.

  • Karen A.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Gros Ventre Campground — Grand Teton National Park

    Large quiet sites, bathrooms, water, no reservations so get there early!

    7 loops with 318 sites, RV and tent friendly. Bear safety/food storage necessary! Quiet. Clean bathrooms, no showers. First come, first served with site availability. Some electric sites available for a fee. Dog friendly. Near great scenic routes and hikes.

  • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2018

    Hoback Campground - Bridger Teton National Forest

    Nice, clean place, easy access

    Pro: easy access, right off the highway. Con: right off the highway, traffic noise. Located right off Hwy 189/191 about 8 miles from Hoback Junction the WEST side of the highway. I camped here for 1 evening before a Grand Teton summit trip. I chose this campground for decent proximity to GTNP (45 minutes away) and the availablity and easy access of sites. I believe there were 12 sites that all had picnic tables and fire rings. There were several other cleared sites, some without tables and grills, that had alpha identifiers other than the 12 numeric sites. Not certain how many alph sites, but looked like tent only sites. They were all $15 nightly and an additional $7 for extra vehicle. They had one site with electricity, right next to the camp host. this one site is $25 a night. The campground has pit toilets, bear boxes, water, dumpsters. The Hoback Runs next to several of the campsites. I would highly recommend getting as near the river as possible to drown out the noise from the highway. Camp hosts were very nice! I only had a $20 to pay my fee with. They brought $5.00 in change back to my campsite after I placed it in the depository. They have firewood for purchase for $6.00 a bundle. I was a runner up in a Dyrt camping contest last month. with my REI gift card I purchased the Big Agnes MountainGlo tent lights and a Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner. Fun to try these out!

  • Fern
    Jun. 6, 2022

    Gros Ventre Campground — Grand Teton National Park

    Convenient location to the NP

    Large campground. Sites are pretty small, bear boxes, picnic table and fire pit provided. Flush toilets, no showers. Bathrooms were clean. Threaded Water spigot available by the bathrooms. I was charged $6 for water when I reserved ~ no clue why. They had firewood for sale as well. Stayed in the No Generators loop, since I’m off grid, it was great they had that to offer. Staff was very friendly. Stayed 3 nights.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Targhee National Forest Warm River Campground

    Warm River (which isn't very warm)

    Camping on the banks on the banks of the Warm River, which actually is quite cold, can’t get much better than this! There are several options here- tent camping in a tent only walk in area along the river banks and under some pretty good hammocking trees (best sites are #12, 13, 16, and 8 because they have some space from neighbors and are right on the river); RV sites with what looks like at least electric hook ups (best sites for river views and/or privacy are #2, 4, 6, 19); from what neighbors say is pretty good fishing; and an awesome alternative to camping at Mesa Falls if that campground is full. Walk down the road and cross the river to check out a protected area of the river where the fish are HUGE and you can stand with your toes in the river while you feed them bits of bread. The sites all have the usual picnic tables and firepits, with nice level tent pads, clean vault toilets, and firewood for sale from the campground host. The only two downsides are no showers and the campground is wedged between the road and the river, so there is quite a bit of road noise in the day which fortunately dies down once dark sets in. At that point the river covers the road noise (also helpful in the morning). The campground is close to a lot of hiking trails, but there are no trailheads in the campground (so I guess that makes three bummers). All in all, a cool place to camp.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2024

    Cave Falls Campground

    Nice campground along Fall River

    $13 (paid $6.50 with senior pass). Camped in site #13 on Sept 22, 2024. Forest Road 582 is washboarded most of the way toward the campground; access to the forest road is from Idaho, east of Ashton. Campground is a short drive from Cave Falls in Yellowstone National Park (NP fee required). Pull thru sites, some leveling required. Some sites are large, some are small. Sites along the river are nice. Clean and stocked vault toilets. Potable water station in center of campground. No electric, sewer or water hook-ups. Each site has a bear box, table and metal fire ring. Site driveways are gravel. Site #13 is a very large campsite with partial view of Fall River. The river is down a steep bank; may be difficult to access. No trails at the campground, although there are excellent trails in the national park.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2016

    Gros Ventre Campground — Grand Teton National Park

    Gros Ventre campground

    Gros Ventre is close to the southern end of Grand Teton National Park entrance. It's a large mixed use campground with lots of RV and tent sites. They get busy as do all of the campgrounds in or near the park, so get there early to get a site. Even getting there at 11am, we got stuck pitching the tent on an RV loop. Sites all had fire pits and picnic tables and were level. The campground is next to the Gros Ventre River and across the street from Antelope Flats. We were duly warned about bears and food storage (keep your cooler in the car), and bison have been known to wander into the campground in the past. No showers on site, but you can visit one of the other park campgrounds or just drive into Jackson and go to the Recreation Center. For less than $10 you get a day pass that gives you access to the showers, pool, etc.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2021

    Granite Creek Campground

    Stunning views!

    Absolutely gorgeous campground with amazing hosts especially Ben the cat!!! Super quiet and sites are spacious and far enough away from others you still feel secluded. It is incredibly dark at night, I've never seen so many stars in the sky! No light pollution at all. I really wish I had brought my telescope. Very nice park approved fire rings at each site and firewood available for sale at the host lot. Also large bear resistant food boxes and large picnic table available at each site. Water is available to fill your fresh tank but there is no where to dump grey or black tanks so be mindful of that especially when you have to travel 8 miles down a rough dirt road. Hosts did however reccomend we could empty a couple buckets of grey water in the vault toilet if we had to and even offered to let us use one of their buckets. There are vault toilets available and bear resistant dumpsters. Also no cell service at all but I didn't mind. Beautiful waterfall and hot springs you can walk or drive to. Many beautiful trails to walk as well. This is real camping folks; no hookups, no wifi or cell service ...only fresh water and firewood available. Make sure to bring everything you need as it's nearly an hour from town. Generators allowed until 10pm. $15 a day and I believe it was a 16 day limit. First come first serve, no reservations.

  • K
    Aug. 24, 2020

    Pacific Creek Campground

    Great Little Campground

    Stayed at Pacific Creek campground Aug 13-15. There are 8 dispersed campsites and 6 (I think) “official” sites. The cost was $10 per car.

    We stayed in spot #4 of the official sites because there was a fire ban in place unless you stayed in a campsite with a metal fire ring.

    It was a nice alternative to the larger campsites within Grand Teton Park. Because it was slightly out of the way it was much quieter and didn’t fill up as quickly.

    Our site had a picnic table, metal fire ring, and bear box for storage. The site also had a communal bathroom. Nearby was a creek and a small trail. There also seemed to be a company doing trail rides not too far away.


Guide to Kelly

Tent camping near Kelly, Wyoming offers a stunning backdrop of natural beauty, with access to various campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Hiking enthusiasts will love the proximity of Jenny Lake Campground to scenic trails that lead into the Grand Teton National Park.
  • Wildlife watching is a highlight at Box Creek, where visitors have spotted moose and deer during their stay.
  • For those looking to explore more remote areas, Buffalo Valley Dispersed Camping provides access to serene landscapes and opportunities for solitude.

Tent campers enjoy these local attractions

  • The breathtaking views of the Grand Tetons from Colter Bay Tent Village make it a perfect spot for photography and relaxation.
  • Adventurers can embark on a hike to the stunning Garnet Canyon from the Moraines camping area, known for its incredible vistas and challenging terrain.
  • The Death Canyon Camping Zone offers a unique hiking experience with secluded sites and abundant wildlife, ideal for those seeking a backcountry adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kelly, WY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kelly, WY is Jenny Lake Campground — Grand Teton National Park with a 4.7-star rating from 65 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Kelly, WY?

TheDyrt.com has all 44 tent camping locations near Kelly, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.