Powell sits at the eastern edge of Wyoming's Bighorn Basin at 4,388 feet elevation. Summers reach 90°F while winters drop below freezing with moderate snowfall. The area serves as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, approximately 90 miles west, with most rv parks near Powell, Wyoming offering seasonal operations from spring through fall due to the harsh winter conditions.
What to do
Fishing at Horseshoe Bend: Located at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the marina offers kayak, canoe and boat rentals for lake access. "The marina/boat dock has a tiny store and there is a great area for day use (bring mosquito spray!)," notes one visitor. Devil's Canyon is nearby for scenic views.
Western history exploration: Powell is 24 miles from Cody's Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum. When staying at Buffalo Bluff RV Park, ask for local recommendations. "Lois in the office is a life long resident of Cody and full of great information on local places to see and things to do," recommends a camper.
Stargazing opportunities: With minimal light pollution, the night skies are remarkable. At Horseshoe Bend Campground, campers note "Sky is very, very dark and you can see so much on a clear night. Great for anybody with an astronomy hobby!"
What campers like
Clean shower facilities: Many Powell area campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses. At Perry's RV and Campgrounds, "the bathroom and shower facility is perfect and everything on the site is always well maintained," according to reviews. Expect modern amenities at most commercial parks.
Proximity to Yellowstone: The eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park is accessible via Cody. One visitor notes, "Stayed here for a few days while visiting Cody, Yellowstone and The Tetons," making Absaroka Bay RV Park a convenient base for national park exploration.
Riverside camping options: Several campgrounds offer water proximity. At Perry's RV and Campgrounds, "tent sites give you a primitive feel and are right on the heavy flowing Rock Creek making sleeping nice," according to a recent visitor who enjoyed the natural soundtrack.
What you should know
Limited shade: Most rv campgrounds near Powell feature exposed sites with minimal tree coverage. At Horseshoe Bend, campers advise to "pay the extra couple bucks for a site with the covered picnic table to get some shade." Buffalo Bluff reviews mention "no shade" as a consideration during summer months.
Seasonal considerations: Most parks operate from spring through fall. Cody Trout Ranch Camp runs from April 1 to September 30, while Absaroka Bay operates May 1 through October 1. Parkway RV Campground offers year-round access but with limited amenities during winter.
Reservation needs: Summer months require advance booking. One Buffalo Bluff visitor notes they "called the office to see if early arrival would be permitted. Since we were arriving on a Monday, well into September, our site was empty and we were told to come on in," suggesting shoulder season offers more flexibility.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: Some campgrounds offer family-friendly amenities. At Cody Trout Ranch Camp, one parent shares, "My littles (6&8) loved the playground, the fishing pond, it's far enough from the road to be quiet and safe." The ranch also offers unique accommodations like tipis.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region provides chances to see native animals. A visitor to Billings Village RV Park "loved the quiet and birdsong!" while another camper reported spotting "bighorn sheep and Pryor Mountain wild horses" near Horseshoe Bend.
Payment policies: Cash is still king at some establishments. Horseshoe Bend operates on a self-registration system where "you pick an open spot and deposit the payment in the provided envelopes by the bathroom and put it in the Iron Ranger." Perry's RV and Campgrounds is noted as "cash only."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: RV parks vary in how sites are arranged. Billings Village RV Park has "sites are tightly-spaced without so much as a place for more than one camper to park while checking in," according to one reviewer, while Buffalo Bluff offers pull-through sites that are "very level."
Utility placements: Hookup locations affect ease of connection. One Billings Village visitor mentioned "how low to the ground the electric was - we had to bend the cord to connect," while Buffalo Bluff features utilities "placed in the middle of the site which was nice."
Internet connectivity: WiFi quality varies significantly. Absaroka Bay RV Park offers "fantastic WiFi" according to reviews, with one visitor reporting "ooo LTE for t-mobile, and oooo LTE for Verizon" signal strength, important for remote workers or those needing to stay connected.
