Best Tent Camping near Laramie, WY
The Medicine Bow National Forest surrounding Laramie offers several primitive tent camping options, including dispersed sites in Upper Blaire and established tent areas at Lake Hattie Public Access Area. These Wyoming sites provide access to mountain landscapes approximately 20-30 minutes from town, with most requiring no reservations. Upper Blaire Dispersed Camping sits within forest terrain that features both secluded sites and more open areas.
Tent campers should bring sufficient water supplies, as drinking water is unavailable at most locations. Forest roads accessing Upper Blaire can be rough with washboard sections that improve closer to the camping areas. Most dispersed sites in the Medicine Bow National Forest come with established fire rings but lack other amenities. Lake Hattie provides vault toilets but no running water, and the 5-day camping limit is enforced. A review mentioned that "the shoreline is a little muddy in areas and there are a few cliffs to keep a little distance from." The wind can be substantial, particularly at more exposed locations like Lake Hattie.
Walk-in tent sites at Upper Blaire offer greater seclusion among boulder formations and trees, creating natural separation between camping areas. Sites closest to parking areas sometimes contain broken glass, according to camper reports. One camper noted that "there are at least three camp sites I saw that are all secluded by boulders and trees" at Upper Blaire. Weekends see higher usage, with Sunday typically less crowded. Free-range cattle occasionally roam through the Upper Blaire area, sometimes appearing unexpectedly near tents. Summer temperatures remain comfortable at higher elevations, but wind exposure creates challenging conditions at some tent sites. Cell service with T-Mobile is reported as adequate in some areas but spotty or nonexistent in others, particularly around Lake Hattie.
