Best Tent Camping near Shell, WY

Recent Tent Reviews near Shell, Wyoming

310 Reviews of 15 Shell Campgrounds

• 

  Dale G.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 14, 2019

  South Fork (wyoming)

  Beautiful

  Friendly host, beautiful and clean sites for rv and tent camping, nice river runs through the campgrounds which gives it a great view and ambiance.

• D

  David P.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 28, 2021

  South Fork (wyoming)

  Wonderful Little Campground

  We had made a one night reservation at this small campground as a stopover on our trip to Yellowstone.  As soon as we arrived we extended an additional night.  What a little gem, small clean quiet and campground host was extremely nice.  We were in Site #9.  There was a creek that ran through the campground, our site was not creek side but it was a short walk to a footbridge that crossed the creek to the tent sites.  The tent sites made us wish we were still tent campers.  There is a short trail, about 1.5 miles to a reservoir which was very nice, that ran along the creek.  It was an easy trail good for any age and kids.  The sites are very well maintained with table, cook station/table and lamp post/holder.  Vault toilets were immaculate and water spigots in several location in the campground.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 1, 2019

  Lovell Camper Park

  Not a destination, but excellent services

  What a gem this find was! Free camping with showers and bathrooms as clean as home, close to restaurants and a cute movie theater, and close to the Bighorn Canyon with great wildlife. I took advantage of its location to head towards Cody to visit the Heart Mountain Internment Camp interpretive center as well as to head up Bighorn Canyon to look for wild horses in the Pryor Range. There are about 8 RV pull through sites and about 5 or 6 tent sites, all with picnic tables available(although some tent sites share a table). The tent pads are not really dedicated pads, but they are covered in wood mulch, so they are nice and soft. You do get a little noise and dust from the nearby ballfields, and it was really windy the afternoon I showed up so I was glad I had extra tie downs for my tent. Once the sun set however, the wind died down. While the campground isn’t a destination site, it’s a great stop off while traveling.

• H

  Harold

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 25, 2024

  Five Springs Falls Campground

  Nice forest service campground

  1 RV site and about 10 tent sites. 2 mile narrow winding road is paved but not recommended for vehicles over 24'. Garbage and 1 common water source. RV site is about as sweet as they come. Water, dump, elect, picnic tables, fire ring, right by a stream. $7 per night

• 

  Ryu M.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 3, 2021

  Ten Sleep Brewing Company

  Cool Beer and Star

  They had an annual event with live music, and tons of people when we stayed, but we didn't mind the sound at all. Such a view of stars to sleep to, and amazing red rock cliff to wake up to. Was $18 per night for the tent site.

• 

  Sara H.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 12, 2019

  Lakeview Campground

  Beautiful Spot

  We stayed here for just a night. Our spot was in the lower loop, as we were just tent camping. The campsite overall is wonderfully kept; tables are newly painted, the area is very clean, and each site is maintained well. Our site was also right next to the lake, which was beautiful. We saw many people fishing on the lake. There are very few trees between sites however, so there isn’t very much privacy.

• A

  Anna E.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 2, 2016

  South Fork (wyoming)

  Nice little camp ground

  This is a great little camp ground with both RV camping and designated Tent Camping areas. the Campground is well maintained and with a creek running through. There a hike trails near by and easy access to fishing at Tie Hack reservoir. We try to go camp here at least once a year It is close to the main road, but insulated enough that you don't really hear the road noise. This fills up quick so reservations are a good idea.

• 

  Joel R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 21, 2019

  Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA

  Finally, a KOA without all the rock

  This is, finally, a KOA that isn’t covered in gravel and dust! There is real, green grass! The sites are small, and tight, but there is grass. They have mostly RV sites, with some tent sites and small cabins. Electric and water, some with sewer. There is a small store, game room and pool. The shower would be better with a real door, not just curtains. They have a good size dog park, plus an extra area for dogs to run, unfenced.

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 26, 2021

  Greybull KOA Holiday

  Smaller campground with all the amenities

  Near the base of the Big Horns Mountains, this KOA can make a great stop in between Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. This is a seasonal campground, opening on the 1st of May. This campground has cabins, full hook-ups(pull-thru, back-in sites) water-electric sites, long-term sites, and tent sites. Amenities include a heated pool, walking path, wi-fi, propane, firewood, pizza, and bathrooms. Campground Rec activities: Fishing, hiking, and golfing. 

  Overall, pleasant stay and the campground was clean and well cared for. The only negative thing is the noise of the trains through the night.

• 

  Andy

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 19, 2022

  Middle Fork

  Small but beautiful campground

  We pulled in to get out of the snow storm and get an early dinner. Beautiful campground but very small, only 9 sites. The first site was the only one open and listed as a double. Other than two picnic tables, not sure what makes it a double. Not much room for two vehicles and certainly not multiple tent sites. But it served it’s purpose for us. There is a little road noise from the main road, but hard to hear over the rushing creek just behind the site. Amazing well water is worth the effort to hand pump.

• 

  Art S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 7, 2019

  Lovell Camper Park

  Wonderful free camping right in town

  It’s hard to believe that a town creates a free campground for anybody to use. This is well laid out with RV and tent sites. Water, restrooms and showers are all available. There is a donation box for people to offer their own fair value price. Perhaps all towns should offer donation based camping. With the effort the town put into this place, it’s a blessing. 

  Town is a wonderful place. There are some unique small stores and restaurants. The families sitting in their yard wave as you pass. Right next to the campground is a great park. 

  This is a wonderful community offering.

• N

  N I.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 31, 2021

  Bighorn National Forest Sibley Lake Campground

  Country Time

  Reservations: 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov 

  Sites: 25 15 single with electric 9 single without electric 1 tent site 

  Fee: $18.00 $23.00 for electric $10.00 additional vehicle 

  Reservable sites: 16 single (14 with electric) 

  Open: June with electric, during winter electric loop is closed 

  Limit: 14 days 

  Bear Aware, potable water, pit toilets, host on site, bear box, lantern pole, picnic table, fire ring, grill, fish cleaning table. There is a "small" lake in the campground. The pit toilet is very clean. While closed for season the amenities are closed the campground remains open. It runs on a Pack it in, Pack it out. Beautiful pine forest with amazing mountains for the backdrop.

   LNT

   BTYFI 

  Travel safe

• 

  Greg N.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 27, 2024

  Worland RV Park & Campground

  Right for you if…

  This is a great RV park with access to Worland and all it has to offer. If you’re in an RV it’s super convenient, very easy to find, and affordable with average size lots. Tenting wise, if you don’t have any other tent choices it’ll do, but tent sites- while cozy grass and intended to be private- were close together, between two busy lanes, somewhat distant from bathrooms/shower/laundry (which were all immaculate), and towards the front of property where highway traffic, train, and downtown noise were a factor. If you want space and quiet keep heading out of town an hour (nearly any direction) to make it to a USFS campground, but if you can’t Worland RV Park will be fine for an overnight stop. Staff was very friendly and all facilities, including WiFi, were secure also.

• 

  Davidson L. H.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 13, 2022

  Shell Creek

  Bighorn Makes Big Dreams

  Bighorn National Forest is one of my all time favorites to visit in the country. Dare I say that I enjoy it more than Yellowstone? I like it better than Yellowstone, but I do prefer National Forests over National Parks. We stay one night before heading through Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Jackson Hole. This is a very good campsite for the inexperienced and experienced. We had one of the tent sites and it was lovely to wake up next to the creek. There is also great history in the area like a tornado that ripped through the area. Find the plaque that explains more about that wild phenomenon when heading towards Cody. This is a great place to stay one night or fourteen.

• N

  N I.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 19, 2021

  Lakeview Campground

  Beautiful

  Camp Host on Site

  Fee area $19.75   

  Reservations 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov 

  Open June close Sep

  14 day limit 

  20 sites 11 single 1 double 8 tent only 

  Picnic table drinking water fire ring/grill fish cleaning station lantern pole trash wood for sale tent camping site only (loop A) 

  Campground is covered with pine for nicely shaded sites. Gravel and not exactly level. Most are not conducive for solar. 

  Lake View lives up to it’s name. We had a beautiful view of the small lake and the mountains behind. Access to the lake is by walking a distance or going out to the highway and driving a short distance to the boat ramp which is about 1/10 of a mile. The boat ramp is also a day use fee area with a pit toilet. 

  Directions: From Ten Sleep, WY take Highway 16 for about 21.3 miles, turn right at the campground sign

  LNT

  Better than when ypu found it

• 

  Art S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 8, 2019

  South Fork (wyoming)

  River sounds fill the air amidst forest beauty

  Perfectly located, South Fork creates a sense of peace and adventure. Buffalo is 25 miles away if you need supplies or a cell signal. Hiking trails are all around. Mountain vistas are prevalent. The Bighorns are mighty big. 

  The campground is one road with campsites on each side. We were not next to the river but it’s sound quieted all else. The end of the loop has a parking area for tenters. Over the bridge there are a group of beautiful tent sites. 

  The camp host made it a point to personally greet each camper. Shaking hands, she welcomed us to this sacred space. 

  A hiking trail leaves the tent area and goes to Tie Hack reservoir. A multi-use trail is at the front of camp. A mile down the road is the turn off to Circle Park. 3 miles of bumpy forest roads and the trailhead appears. Amazing hikes into the Cloudpeak Wilderness can be found. Closer to Buffalo is the Mosier Gulch trail. All are perfect ways to spend your time. 

  Don’t miss out on this place!

• 

  Ashlee L.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 19, 2018

  Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA

  Decent campground

  This was a fairly decent private campground; it one of the best KOA's I've stayed at. The few employees I encountered were very pleasant, and overall the campground was pretty quiet, even though it's not really in a "wilderness" area (although what KOA ever really is?). The tent sites were nicely designed, but the grouping I was in was downwind of the dump station :(

  The bath/shower houses here were some of the best designed of any campground I've visited - they were very modern and clean. There were at least 4 toilet stalls and 4 shower stalls, all housed in the same building. And the shower stalls actually had locking doors AND shower curtains, so my belongings stayed dry (a rare find, let me tell you!).

  If you need to stay in the area this campground would be a good choice, but you could go a few hours in any direction and be in more "woodsy" campgrounds.

• 

  Marty J.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 4, 2021

  Ten Sleep Brewing Company

  Camping and Beer near climbing? Sign me up!

  We stayed here on a Friday and Saturday in July of 2018 while on a climbing trip. The brewery offered dispersed tent camping on their spacious front lawn for $5/night and, given the number of vans present in the parking lot, I'd imagine they offered van camping at the same price. As far as standard camping amenities go, campers have access to an indoor restroom until the brewery itself closes, after which there are porta potties available. There is clean water available.

  Some of the non-standard camping amenities include beer (duh), a food truck, several picnic tables, and board games. They also sell the official Ten Sleep climbing guidebook inside and are dog-friendly (must be leashed). The staff are really nice as well!

  The only downside to camping here was the noise of a wedding afterparty that the brewery hosted one of the nights. However, this only lasted until 11pm and comes with the territory (I mean, you are camping at a brewery!). While it's certainly not the most remote spot that you could find to camp around the Grand Tetons, it's tough to beat the atmosphere, price, and beer!

• 

  Kari T.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 30, 2017

  Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA

  Ranger Review: LedLenser MH10 Headlamp at Sheridan/Big Horn Mtns KOA

  Campground Review: The Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA in Sheridan, Wyoming, is a clean, well-kept establishment. Whether you are an RVer or a tent camper, there is plenty of space for you to enjoy this campground. We stayed on a rainy/snowy weekend in September in our 17-foot RV and found that even though we had neighbors, there was plenty of room to move, and we heard little outside noise at night.

  Just off the highway, this campground is conveniently located close to both historic downtown Sheridan and the remote Bighorn Mountains. There are about 60 RV sites, 25 tent sites, and 10 cabins. Each tent site has its own covered picnic shelter, which we thought looked unique. We had to eat inside our RV due to the rain all weekend, and were a bit envious of the tent campers being able to eat outside - one of our favorite camping activities - without getting wet! The campground sits along the Big Goose Creek, where campers can fish (mostly for carp).

  There is an outdoor swimming pool and spa, which we missed out on by two days when the weather decided to dip below freezing, but it was a nice size and located next to the main building, along with showers, laundry, and a small store. The host is very nice and knowledgeable about the area’s activities. There is also a small, somewhat dated, playground at the entrance to the campground, and a cute mini-golf course near the office. Unfortunately, due to the weather over our stay, we did not get to test out either one! For those that like to stay online while camping, the Wi-Fi was tested decent for web browsing, but leave the YouTube devices at home.

  Product Review: The LedLenser MH10 Headlamp was a perfect choice to bring along for our camping trip to the Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA. Since it rained/snowed for our entire weekend in Wyoming, this 600-lumen headlamp was able to cut the drear and allow us to walk safely around the whole campground at night. Even with a wool winter hat on, this headlamp fit lightly and securely on my head.

  The MH10 is only 5.6 oz in weight and yet has the capacity to put out 600 lumens of LED glory, which believe me, thanks to my son aiming it at me, could definitely blind someone! At the high setting, the beam can reach to 150 meters (almost 500 feet!), and spreads nicely to the sides, or can be focused with a twist of the lens. Even the medium setting at 250 lumens will give you up to 100 meters (about a football field) of glow power. There are three flashing settings that can be found by holding down the power button for increasing length of time, from one flash to three, and then removed again in the same manner. Great choice for emergency signalling.

  The headlamp comes with two color lenses that can be placed in the installment ring and snapped to the front of the beam. It seems to fit securely, and they snap in and out with ease. Red LED is a great way to keep your night vision intact if you need to read a map or spot an animal making noise around you, and it will allow you to see again in the dark even after turning off the headlamp. It is also great at a campground like the KOA because it will not shine into your neighbors’ tents or RV’s and wake them up! We had to do some research on the green lens, and it turns out that green will not scare wildlife, including fish, and in fact could attract them. We also read claims that a green LED is useful for trailing a wounded animal, as the blood trail may be easier to spot. Regardless of the real reason, we thought it was fun to run around seeing everything in a green tint!

  The MH10 is USB rechargeable and comes with everything you need to get using it right out of the box. At the high setting, this headlamp will last up to 10 hours on one charge. We used ours for two nights, about 1-2 hrs a night, and never charged it out of the box. It lasted the entire time and even back at home another hour or two over the next week. At the lowest, 10-lumen setting, this powerhouse can last for 120 hours. That’s five DAYS of constant use!

  The head strap is completely adjustable. My husband, my 10-year-old, and I were all able to make use of this product with an easy transition between us. The set comes with a nice carrying sleeve for the cords, battery, instructions, and lenses, which can be attached to your belt or a backpack strap. As with any tool, be sure to read the enclosed warnings - 600 lumens is NOT an LED strength to shine in the face of others!

• S

  Shawn O.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 12, 2021

  Little Goose Campground

  Worth The Drive But Beware…

  This campground is an amazing off grid location for those looking to escape for a little while. The directions in the description is correct, however the GPS coordinates are not, so I will try and fix that through Dyrt. I was able to cross reference the name of the campground with USFS maps on OnX to find the actual coordinates, this led us down a nice easy dirt road that eventually lead to a pretty rough Jeep trail. You wouldn’t want anything less than a stock Wrangler or equivalent to take this road. In our rig we bottomed out a few times, and by the time we made it to the campground we weren’t sure how we would make it out if it were to snow or rain.

  However, that being said, we had the whole campground to ourselves, in a beautiful creek filled with trout. A vault toilet with his and her designations was on site, and nice little hiking trails followed the river. It was a wonderful place to stay for a few days off grid.

  I would totally recommend this campground for anyone who is overlanding or has a camping setup that is capable of four wheel drive. There are about 3 sites available for truck and trailer (our trailer is 12ft and is the biggest I’d ever consider bringing down this trail, I will also note it has 33” off road tires and high clearance). As well as a number of tent sites, all with either rock fire rings or metal fire rings with cooking grates.

  We were able to crawl our way back out of the camp area after an overnight steady rain, we kept in in 4 low and made it safely.

• 

  Carrie C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 30, 2018

  Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA

  Ranger Review: Natures Coffee Kettle at Sheridan Big Horn KOA

  Campground Review:

  This KOA is easy access from I-90. That being said, bring your ear plugs, you are near the interstate. I stayed here for 3 nights while attending the American Legion State Baseball Tournament. I chose this campground because they have WiFi and shower facilities.

  The camp ground managers are very nice folks! I talked baseball every day with the host and he shared stories of his baseball days. Very nice man who had his work cut out for him battling all the down branches and mess from the thunderstorms that rolled through each day. Cost was $32.88 w/ tax each night for a tent site without power (add $5 if you want a power source). Considering the WiFi and free shower facilities and only 1 mile from the ball park, it was the best value for me. If traveling with family/friends, the campground offers quite a few activities on site. They had a basketball court, horseshoe pits, mini golf, swimming pool, and some fun looking tricycles!

  This place was very clean! The bathrooms were spotless each time I used them, regardless of time of day. The showers were very clean, the temperature fluctuated some while using, but nothing to complain about. Free coffee in the office. Laundry facilities do cost, but i didn't use these during my stay, so I can't say much about them. Sites are close together, that would be my only disappointment, but that is very normal for these kinds of commercial campgrounds. Which is the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5.

  The Big Horn Mountains are very close by and full of adventure. The town of Sheridan has a very nice downtown area with quaint shops and cafes. There are numerous museums in the area with relics of the history of the area.

  Product Review: Natures Coffee Kettle - Brazilian Mountain Blueberry https://nckstore.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/nature-s-coffee-kettle-brazilian-mountain-blueberry-with-1-mountain-blueberry-refill-pack Bear with my product demo video…i was half asleep. Round 2 went much smoother! So, how this works: You are provided a Mylar bag that had a spout and a zip-lock seal. There are 2 compartments, in the upper compartment you will find a large bag of coffee grounds tea bag style. The slower you pour the water over the grounds, the stronger your brew will be. Once you have your water added and it has ran through into the bottom chamber, you can seal the zip-lock and hold the bag upside down to brew the coffee even stronger. I highly recommend doing this. The Mylar bag is not insulated, so I would recommend storing the brewed coffee in a thermos or insulated mug once you've completed the brewing process. I wasn't a huge fan of the Mountain Blueberry flavor, but really enjoyed the Guatemalan coffee I tried the next morning. I will be taking Natures Coffee Kettle with me in a couple weeks when I climb the Grand Teton! Coffee at Base camp and at the high camp on summit day! Cheers!

• 

  Tyler R.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 12, 2020

  Shell Reservoir Camping Area

  High clearance 4x4 needed

  Beautiful campsites, brook trout fishing in the lake and the creek below, as well as a 4x4 trail that makes a large loop between shell reservoir and lake Adelaide. We’ll definitely be back!

• 

  Kate G.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 16, 2020

  Bear Lodge Resort

  Great place in a pinch!

  We were hoping to camp at Sibley Lake campground but it was full. And so was the next one and the next one... Finally it was after dark and we pulled into Bear Lodge Resort. For just $17 they gave us a pull through site with full hookups and a fire ring. It was just what we needed. The next day as we were leaving they helpfully gave us a tip about a great local sightseeing stop at Shell Falls.

• T

  Todd S.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 1, 2020

  Bighorn National Forest Tie Flume Campground

  Amazing

  This place is amazing. Make sure you get a spot near the bubbling mountain stream...sites 23 and 24 were right on the waters edge. The camp host and family were awesome. Great hosts. It’s a no hook up facility but amazing . Bathrooms were very well kept. Firewood for sale. Beautiful spot . The drive up , it’s 8400 feet in the Bug Horn is spectacular and then the drive down if you are heading west is amazing too with the Shell interpretive waterfalls park. This is a must see !

• 

  Jennie S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 13, 2020

  West Tensleep Lake

  Nice National Forest Campground

  I’m giving this 5 stars but my review still comes with a warning. Campsite #9 is next to the outhouse and you can definitely smell it when the wind blows or if it is getting heavy use. That being said, you are camping in the high country. I used my campsite to day hike trail #63 to Lake Helen and back. It was an 11.3 mile hike from my tent. I was not lucky enough to see any moose or elk BUT there was much evidence of both. People with campers that are on the large side definitely struggled to park and level them. This sometimes required help from multiple other RV folks that were already onsite. Just like the reservations say, you pack in and pack out your own garbage. Some campers were unaware. The facilities were clean and my camp was clean. The camp host was lovely. Wood is purchased from the camp host miles away at the Island Park Campground. It’s easier to stop on your 7 mile dirt drive up, than it is to drive 5+ miles down and back for it. I camped here in a tent alone. I felt completely safe and secure in my surroundings. I was the only camper that didn’t live in Wyoming. Generators are allowed until quiet time. There were a lot of bats to watch at dusk. The wildfire smoke sadly blocked the views of the night sky.

• 

  Cheyenne P.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2020

  Island Park Campground

  Small quiet campground with a beautiful view!

  We were referred to this campground by some friends who had stayed here previously. We were on our way to Yellowstone during a 10 day road trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado and they insisted we stop and camp here at least one night and I’m so glad we did! This was my first time ever camping in the mountains and I got spoiled! Island Park is small and quiet with only 10 sites. It is near a river with crystal clear water and the most beautiful backdrop. Our friends had stayed here a year or two before we did (we were here in 2017) and mentioned there were moose in the campground. Sure enough, we had not even got our tent sat up and there they were! The Bighorn National Forest is on my list of places to return and if we do, we’ll camp at Island Park again for sure!! I am not a photographer...these pictures were taken with my iPhone and they still don’t do justice.

• P

  Preston Y.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 10, 2016

  Five Springs Falls Campground

  Quiet and picturesque

  There are only small sites available and the road up would not accommodate a very large rig. Any car could make it as long as there isn't any snow or ice. All sites are next to a small beautiful stream. All sites have picnic tables, fire rings and small trails between sites along the stream. The falls is maybe less than a mile up the trail. The trail was moderately easy with few obstacles but some small grade climbs. My 9 year old made it fine. There is a single vault toilet in the center of camp and no other facilities. Once they close the highway for the season access will be cut off until thaw. Great place to get away for a few days, daytrip to medicine wheel, Burgess junction, big horn canyon, shell falls, wild horse range and several other smaller attraction. Probably three hours from Yellowstone. Id recommend it for a quiet get away or a stop on the way through. It's about 30 minutes to the nearest store. Bird and wildlife watching, reflection and solitude would be the things you could find easiest here. Very pretty scenery. Cannot stress that enough.