Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Shell, WY

The Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site is maintained by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. I normally avoid campgrounds and prefer dispersed camping or backpacking, but I gladly camp here. Sites are well spaced out with Medicine Lodge Creek running through the campground. A walking/bike path goes end to end in the park following the creek. It does not have electrical hookups or dump stations for RVs. There are no shower facilities, but it does have vault toilets and drinking water. You can also buy firewood onsite as there is really nowhere to gather your own wood inside the park. You can go down the 4WD road at the north end of the park to Black Butte a bit and usually find your own firewood, however. All fires must be within the campsite fire rings.

The Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site is a perfect place to camp to explore the Bighorn Mountains, being relatively close to the Medicine Wheel and Shell Falls. If you enjoy craft beer, Tensleep Brewery -- located in a refurbished barn -- is located approximately 20 - 30 miles south in Tensleep.

We came here to Sheridan Wyoming in May 2021. Friendly people and camp was nearly full. Weather was windy and in the high 40’s in the daytime. The camp is very close to the highway and close to town. Easy to get to surrounding areas but you need a car. Our spot was near the pool but it was far too cold and not yet set up. The facilities were very clean and the showers we nice snd hot.I felt safe and comfortable. Very close to highway and train tracks so that you can easily hear both when sleeping (use ear plugs). Easy to get back on I-90 due to proximity of highway to camp. We were also charged an additional $11.00 upon check-in for reasons unexplained.

***CAUTION*** Unless you are over the age of 60 or only here for 1-2 nights then I STRONGLY do NOT advise you stay here. Peter D is rude, genuinely does not like anyone under 60, and runs the campground like a military boot camp. I’m all for a clean, quiet, well kept campground and the campground is great itself. BUT Peter D ruins this campground. There is a list of rules but then there is a list of unwritten rules that is continually pulled from his head or“just because I like the way this looks better”. Everytime you turn around, it’s something else getting“talked about” or asked to do or not to do. From him throwing dog screw in the ground tie outs so far under the camper we were on hands and knees trying to get(that he said we were welcome to have in the grass), having no power all night in 40 degree weather and turning on our generator to keep warm but yet getting yelled at the next morning and being told“you have extra clothes, bundle up, it’s unnecessary when a breaker trips(however half campground had no power for 8-10 hours even after several calls to the office). Never place anything in his grass, don’t drive or have bikes in the grass and nearly impossible to pull a large Rv or camper out of the spots. If you go in the grass just know your a** is grass… He allows only select“friends and people” to back their vehicles into their site even if they are still driving the correct direction. Favoritism at its finest. Him complaining to campers about other campers is rude. Everything and all the signs is MY WASHERS, MY DRYERS, MY CAMPSITES, MY GRASS, MY ETC.. his poor wife.. Peter D on the first day/night will be super nice, offering you a“cold beer or drink”, giving your dog a treat, etc. but it’s all for show. Telling your campers,“I’ll help them find another campground” is beyond rude. There were a couple seasonal campers next to us and the insults he said about them to us was astonishing.. it’s only a wonder what he said about us. The amount of circles he will do in his truck to monitor what you are doing and how you are doing it is beyond annoying. He will stop, get out of his truck, just to ask why you are moving the picnic table,“why are you are eating outside when you have a big nice camper”. To give an example of his hate for children.. Our neighbors were staying for about a month, they were in their mid 40s with a 23yr old son. Almost everyday we would here from Peter D“this is a kid free park for long term guests, don’t understand what’s so hard about understanding that”. Always asking the poor couple when they are planning to leave, it’s kid free. Even after they would explain to him that the“kid” is 23yrs old. The response from him was“well he’s still being cared for and under your supervision so he’s a kid”. I could go on and on with the list of negatives about Peter D. But just be advised, if you are not over the age of 60 or only there for a night or two, DO NOT STAY HERE!! You will not enjoy it, you will be lectured for every move you make, every coming and going even if it’s just for dinner plans. And ever having a guest come to visit or stay with you in the park? Forget it! You will get 50 questions and every hour him circling asking when are they leaving, are they leaving soon, I don’t like having anyone else here, they have been here for an hour, are they leaving yet. Yet once again there are NO WRITTEN RULES FOR WHEN GUESTS HAVE TO BE OUT BY.. it’s a rule in his head. One of the many..The park is pretty, dog park isn’t bad, sites are VERY VERY tight when pulling in and out, he will tear you a new one if you make any marks in the grass. Make sure you have an extension for the sewer and water connect as it’s mid to more front of the camper, they were not designed and installed to be towards the back like all the other campgrounds. Your neighbors sewer pipe and tank will be right out your front door..He is very defensive and rude when attempting to bring anything to his attention. Again, I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PARK. You will not enjoy it if you are there for longer than a night or two or under the age of 60