Best Campgrounds near Lysite, WY

Campsites are simple and flat and alongside the river, which is nice. The campground is adjacent to the road so there is some road noise, but the river drowns out a lot of that.

Lots of oak tree shade.

Nice fault, toilets, and clean sites

Free. Camped here one night in early September 2024. Except for the views, there is nothing remarkable about this primitive BLM campground. This is a good overnight stopover for those driving on the beautiful South Bighorn/Red Wall Back Country Byway. It appears that the campsites have not seen maintenance in a while. The his/hers vault toilet was okay and supplied. I did not see any trash receptacles; cleaned up the mess left behind by previous campers. No cell service in this remote region. There are no established hiking trails, although one can explore a few of the tracks in the vicinity.  Stayed at the site just past the vault toilets. Dirt surface; can get muddy. Not exactly level but close enough for my campervan. Unless you area hunter, I don't consider this to be a destination. However, the journey along the byway makes it worth while to camp here. The byway was in great shape; no issues for my AWD van.

We camped here in early October. The skeletal remains of the buildings were on private property, however the roads and such were on BLM land so we parked right across from the buildings and set up the Truck Camper. There’s a plaque that explains the history of the town up the road from the buildings, and just beyond that a ways is the cemetery. It was sad to see all the graves as they were children and infants who died from the Spanish Flu or Diptheria. One gentleman we ran in to said the town wasn’t merely bulldozed but also buried! We had fun walking around and camping there for the night. There were no sounds! It was VERY quiet! No birds, crickets, insects, or wildlife. Just the gentle breeze, and one lone coyote at about 2 am.

There are no toilets or water, so prepare accordingly.

There was also a burn ban in effect so we used our portable camping stove. Make sure to check burn bans before you camp! We had so much fun, and hope other people visit too. Please be respectful of this historical relic so it can be around for as long as it can! Don’t damage your History!

Definitely recommend 4 wheel drive to traverse this area. The roads are rocky, rutted, and worn down!

We recently stayed at Crippled Spider Ranch, and it exceeded all my expectations. Nestled in the beautiful landscape near Thermopolis, Wyoming, this ranch offers a truly unique camping experience that caters to adventurers, families, and solo travelers alike.

Campsites & Amenities: The ranch has 71 spacious spots, including full and partial hookups for RVs, and plenty of space for dry camping. The sites are well-maintained, and the full hookups provide everything you need for a comfortable stay. For those looking for an extended stay, they even offer 15% off for bookings over 7 days!

Activities & Attractions: One of the best parts of Crippled Spider Ranch is the variety of activities on-site and nearby. There’s something for everyone—whether it’s hiking on the BLM land that borders the property, petting zoo visits for the kids, or even learning to ranch and milk cows! The property is also a great base for rock hounding and exploring Wyoming’s natural beauty. You can even hunt (seasonal) or target shoot, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

For those interested in history, the ranch is near the historic Oregon Trail, and there are great opportunities for treasure hunters like metal detecting and exploring old ghost towns.

Staff & Hospitality: The hospitality here is second to none! The staff are friendly, welcoming, and go above and beyond to make sure your stay is enjoyable. You’ll feel like family from the moment you arrive. They even offer fresh, free-range eggs from their chickens and have a fun “catch-and-cook” option if you’re into farm-to-table experiences.

Sustainability & Eco-Friendly Focus: Crippled Spider Ranch also takes pride in its sustainable practices, from responsible livestock management to preserving the surrounding wilderness. This ranch is a great choice for eco-conscious travelers who want to enjoy nature responsibly.

Overall Experience: Crippled Spider Ranch is the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and Wyoming charm. Whether you’re a family looking for a weekend getaway or a solo adventurer seeking peace and quiet in the great outdoors, this place is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back for more!

Tip: Be sure to book early for special events, and don’t forget to check out the nearby mineral hot springs in Thermopolis!

Booked what looked like a decent site by the river and found it to be unusable when we arrived. I was considering just occupying a different site since the place was nearly empty. Thankfully a sheriff's vehicle was driving thru (which I mistook for a park ranger). He told me he'd try to help us get a different spot by calling the park office but on realizing that he had no cell service, he volunteered to drive to the office to see what he could get done for us. He returned after a short while with instructions for us to camp in an empty pull-through spot. We were very thankful for his help.

The good-

Beautiful canyon!!

Shade from big cottonwoods (it was 97 degrees!)

Some sites well spaced

Vault toilet was clean and supplied

There's good fishing there for big trout but unfortunately I was fishing this time around

The bad-

No cell or WIFI

A lot of strangely laid out sites, some ridiculously close to one another and unlevel 

Sprinklers in some areas that sprinkle your site, tent or whatever's exposed

Highway noise is bad - in a canyon sound bounces off the walls, many trucks on the road with much use of jake brakes and to top it all off, the occasional 2AM freight train rolling by on the other side of the river

Most of the sites are flooded the pit toilets are good not sure if they are holding back the water as it is controlled. Only spent one night as we had a very strong wind and did not crank up our top on our slide in camper

Stayed right at the lake for one night with my small RV. No hookups, but ok if self contained. Campspots are spread apart enough that running generators from other campers ( it was a hot day) weren’t to noisy.

Nice free spot but mostly for RVs as there are lots of rocks/gravel. Spot to put in a boat too. They have picnic tables (most covered) and fire pits.

We didn't end up staying because it was too rocky for tent stakes and it was incredibly windy. The wind was everywhere though so not necessarily the location. We had heavy wind all day throughout our drive across NE and WY.

We found the spot on the west side by reading a previous review but there is another spot on the north side maybe.

Basic sites, both drive through and back in, as well as several tent sites. Each site has picnic table and fire pit. Essentially just boondocking for $32.25 a night. Pay station takes credit cards. On the plus side, it is next to a lake and the surrounding scenery (sagebrush country) is nice, like many BLM areas. Good Verizon connectivity.

We stayed here overnight in our truck camper (July 2023). This spot is basically a large fenced in gravel parking area right off U.S. Highway 26. No bathroom or official sites at this location, just an open lot. Only one other person camping with their trailer, otherwise it was very quiet. We were a little worried we would receive the dreaded knock, but had no issues. Should be good for an overnight bivy if needed.

Big dirt lot, nice views

I had reserved site 54 through recreation.gov but at the time I thought it odd the site would not let me put in my rig size.  So I just went with it.  Mistake.  My 30 footer wouldn't begin to fit since the pull off the road is shared between 54 and 55.  I've never seen a CG where a pull through is split into 2-3 'sites'.  So I drove around the park (which was mostly empty) and in spite of the giant signs screaming RESERVATIONS REQUIRED MAY 1-SEPT 30, I parked in very large site 71 which had midday sun for my solar and some shade in the late afternoon.  Did the kiosk sign in thing and no one has bothered to check me out.  The signage here is ridiculous, even in the bathrooms - lists of fines for everything!  I guess they've had to put up with stupid, rude and inconsiderate people.  Sad.  No dump station (there's one at park HQ down the road south) but there are several water hydrants through the park.  Mosquitoes were quite annoying along with a plethora of nonbiting flying critters my dogs enjoyed hunting.  The Wind River runs along the park with a railroad on the other side.  The 2x trains a day were NOT that loud and were gone in about 3 minutes.  Road noise from the highway is moderate but most city folk won't notice it.  Fishing isn't much fun because the river bank is steep with only 3-4 sets of stairs to the water.  The birds, however, are numerous and very happy to be here.  Had a momma turkey and 8 fledglings walk up to and under my trailer!   I would stay here again but at a cooler time of year.  The frequent breezes ameliorated the heat to a survivable level.  No T Mobile here at all.

We went in the winter so traffic was super low. Mostly just us at the park so we got the 2 giant hot spring pools to ourselves. Soak in mineral rich waters up to 110 degrees in some areas. Full hookups, but no water in the winter due to frozen lines.