Camping in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland spans elevations from 5,500 to 12,000 feet across southeastern Wyoming. Winter temperatures often dip below zero, while summer days reach the 80s with significantly cooler nights. Seasonal access varies dramatically, with snow closing many forest roads from late September through June at higher elevations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The North Platte River running alongside Deer Haven RV Park provides excellent fishing access. "This place is just georgeous, surrounded by rolling hills and a river right out the front door, you can rent a bike and honestly stare at the breathtaking sky. Prone to storms so pack a rain jacket!"
Alpine lake exploration: Several alpine lakes near Sugarloaf Campground offer excellent day hikes. "Lots of lakes and very peaceful. Only open a short window of the year due to being high altitude and road closes in the winter," notes one camper about the surrounding terrain.
Wildlife viewing: The forested areas around Deep Creek Campground provide frequent moose sightings. "We had six moose, one with a very tiny baby come through our site at night and in the morning and the site next to us to feed in the big meadow."
What campers like
Natural hot springs: The Hobo Hot Springs near Saratoga provide a free soaking option popular with campers. "It's also only 4 minutes away from hobo Hot springs. And there is a wonderful ice cream shop downtown that makes their own ice cream it's delightful," mentions a Deer Haven RV Park visitor.
Dispersed camping options: Laramie Overlook Dispersed Camping offers flexible, no-cost alternatives to developed campgrounds. "There are a couple of loops right as you enter, which are the most level places to park a rig. Then another path leads about a half a mile to a few other sites that are more secluded, but not very level."
Stargazing conditions: The minimal light pollution at many campgrounds creates excellent night sky viewing. A camper at Sugarloaf noted they "bundled up and stargazed and felt so lucky to have detoured to this spot," highlighting the astronomical viewing quality.
What you should know
Weather variability: Mountain weather changes rapidly throughout the season. At Lake Hattie Public Access Area, "The wind was a variable as were the gnats, but they did not bite," providing insight into typical conditions.
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be particularly intense at certain times and locations. At Bow River, one camper reported, "It was like a horror movie with them covering the windows of our RV and then sneaking down the Refrigerator ventilation shaft. We are sucked dry."
Water availability: Some campgrounds have unreliable water sources. A Bow River visitor noted, "We also quickly discovered that no water could be collected from the handpump. Thankfully, we brought some water with us, but our friends had none."
Cellular connectivity variability: Signal strength varies dramatically by provider and location. At Laramie Overlook, "Great cell service!" contrasts with Lake Hattie where campers report "No cell phone service with Verizon."
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities: Lake Hattie Public Access Area offers swimming and shoreline play for children. "Beautiful Mountain View, swimming and fishing. No running water has restrooms and lots of camp/picnic tables," making it suitable for family outings.
Campsite spacing: Choose campgrounds with adequate space between sites. North Fork Campground offers "Spots are a pretty good distance apart," providing families with privacy and room to spread out.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Schedule early morning walks for the best wildlife sightings. Deep Creek Campground visitors often report moose sightings: "We really enjoyed our stay at Deep Creek Campground--lots of trees, polite campers, and signs of moose!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Many rv campgrounds in Medicine Bow-Routt NFs have varied leveling requirements. At North Fork Campground, sites are well-maintained with "picnic tables and fire pits. They do have pit toilets as well. Cost is $10 per night."
Seasonal closures: Most forest service campgrounds close by early October. Sugarloaf Campground has a particularly short season, operating only from "Jul 15 - Sep 10" according to forest service information.
Size restrictions: Several campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. Phillips RV Resort reports, "The site that we were in as a little short but adequate for an overnighter. Water and electrical services were located conveniently but sewer was quite a ways away from my hose connection."
Low clearance access: Forest roads often present challenges for larger rigs. A camper at Laramie Overlook noted, "Road was very iffy for my 2wd sedan, but I made it. Perfect on the way in or out of medicine bow."
