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Best Tent Camping near Shell, WY

360 Reviews

The Bighorn National Forest surrounding Shell, Wyoming offers several tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Shell Reservoir Camping Area provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with drinking water and toilet facilities, making it popular for primitive tent camping. Campers seeking more solitude can explore the Big Horn NRC Dispersed camping area, which offers free tent sites with minimal facilities but excellent water views. Ten Sleep Brewing Company, located about 30 miles southwest of Shell, provides an unconventional option with walk-in tent sites on their property.

Access to tent campsites varies significantly throughout the region. Shell Reservoir Camping Area requires high-clearance 4x4 vehicles according to visitor reports, with rough roads leading to the campsites. Most primitive tent sites in the area are available from June through September, as higher elevations experience snow until late spring. Tent campers should prepare for basic conditions at most sites, with vault toilets available at established campgrounds but limited other amenities. Fire rings are common at designated sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Water availability is inconsistent, with Shell Reservoir offering drinking water while dispersed sites require campers to bring their own supplies.

Tent campers at Shell Reservoir frequently mention the exceptional views and quiet atmosphere. One visitor noted staying "right across from the lake on a hill in the pines" with "amazing views" of the surrounding landscape. The area provides good fishing opportunities, with brook trout available in both the reservoir and nearby creeks. For backcountry tent camping enthusiasts, the 4x4 trail between Shell Reservoir and Lake Adelaide offers access to more remote sites. Those seeking a unique tent camping experience might consider Ten Sleep Brewing Company, where a camper reported that despite occasional noise from events, the "view of stars to sleep to and amazing red rock cliff to wake up to" made for a memorable experience. Current tent site fees at Ten Sleep Brewing were reported at $18 per night as of 2021.

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Best Tent Sites Near Shell, Wyoming (14)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Shell, WY

7 Photos of 14 Shell Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Shell, WY

360 Reviews of 14 Shell Campgrounds

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    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

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Shell Creek

    Paradise!

    Beautiful little campground with 15 spots. Each have a picnic table, fire ring and a charcoal grill. Some tent only sites and a few large enough for rvs. We're in 15 with plenty of space to not have to unhook our 26 foot trailer. Water is available and clean vault toilets. Campfire wood available at host for $6. Host is awesome! We spent a decent amount talking about the area and solar power stuff. Aside from the creek its mostly dead quiet here besides a group has some dirt bikes that come and go once in a while and the occasional camper or side by side coming down the road. 10/10 would recommend. Beautiful scenery and people seem to enjoy fishing here as well. There is a couple spots to park for just fishing. There is a couple bear boxes for tents campers as well. We havnt seen bears in the immediate area but we did see a mother and baby black bear about 10 miles down the road. Beautiful dear in the area. Chipmunks and birds too. Host said there are moose and coyotes in the area but we havnt seen any yet. Definitely lots of mosquitos so bring your spray or thermacells. It's mid August and it's starting to cool down. About 75 during the day and low 50s at night. No electric or rv dump here you must go to Burgess station to dump. (No posted price/donations appreciated) no dumpsters here but a few bear resistant trash cans for small amounts of trash. The water spigots dont have threads either and not meant to fill rv tanks.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    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

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2021

    Porcupine Campground (WY)

    Primitive High

    Fee:  $17.00 per night, additional vehicle $9.00

    Sites:  16 Accessible with 12 sites reserve 2 tent only

    Limit 14 days

    In Season: trash and water

    Out of Season:  No water or trash

    Open:  June

    Beautiful pine forest at the top of the mountain on a gravel road.  Camphost  is located at the Bald Mountain Campground.  Sites are small with picnic table, fire ring, back in sites.  Some sites are good for solar and some are shady.  The countryside and mountain back drop is beautiful.  Very peaceful.

    LNT

    BTYFI

    Travel safe

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2021

    Bald Mountain Campground

    Beautiful High

    Limit:  14 days

    June 1 - October 1

    Sites:  15 single accessible 

    Fee:  $17.00 per night, additional vehicle fee $9.00

    Reservations:  877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

    In season there is potable water, trash service, out of season NO water, NO trash.  Pack it in Pack it out, Host on site.  Picnic table, fire ring, lantern post, ped grill, pit toilets.  The views are amazing with the beautiful mountains for the back drop.  Sites are dirt and short and close together.  Some shade and some sun.  There is even a place to off load 4 wheeler out of back of truck without ramps.

    LNT

    BTYFI

    Travel safe

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Sitting Bull Campground

    Nice views of the Bighorn mountains

    On Highway 16 across from the lake. There are great views of the mountains with nice wooded sites. The vault toilets were really clean and there was some bit of privacy between sites. Each site had the usual picnic table and fire pit (no bear boxes). In the evening there was a lot of wildlife in the meadow to watch, so try and get a site on the outside of the loop so you can watch. Because it was early in the season (the campground had only been open for a week when I arrived), they were not collecting fees yet (I double checked with the campground host). North Cove was across the street from the entrance and was very popular with fishermen and boaters.

  • Becbecandbunny O.
    Jul. 20, 2022

    Lakeview Campground

    Great lakeside campground

    We enjoyed our two night stay in the tent only section of the campground. Sites were well spaced that provided a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit. All were walk-in. Water available. Pit toliet. Helpful camp host.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Prune Creek

    Busy campground

    I got lucky here and scored site #18 which was very private and at the end of a lollipop loop. While this site is further away from the creek and closer to the road, it was still quieter than sites on the creek(which were all taken anyway). There is a little trickle of a creek nearby that did a nice job of drowning out the road noise in the evening. There was a nice little trail that went up the hill and overlooked the bigger Prune Creek and all of the people floating and tubing down the creek. If you want a site on the creek, the best ones seemed to be#6-9. My site had the usual picnic table and fire pit, and nice hammock trees. I did find it interesting that while the dumpsters were bear proofed, there were no bear boxes at every campsite. There were two bear boxes and both were next to the water pumps. The vault toilets were not especially clean, most likely due to the heavy use by creek floaters and tubers. While walking down to the creek I noticed that there was some dedicated parking for fishermen, which I guess means that there may be some people in the campground that are not camping.

Guide to Shell

Tent camping near Shell, Wyoming offers multiple options in the Bighorn National Forest at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet. The camping season typically runs from late May through September due to significant snowfall at higher elevations during winter months. Most dispersed camping areas require visitors to pack out all waste and bring their own water supplies.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Shell Reservoir provides brook trout fishing in both the lake and surrounding creeks. According to Tyler R., there's also "a 4x4 trail that makes a large loop between shell reservoir and lake [Adelaide]" for accessing more remote fishing spots.

Climbing access: Ten Sleep Rock Ranch serves as a hub for rock climbers with 70 tent sites available from May through October. One visitor noted it's a "climbers campground" with "a really nice large pavilion with lots of picnic tables and lots of beta for climbers."

Brewery visits: Ten Sleep Brewing Company combines camping with craft beer about 30 miles from Shell. The brewery features "live music, eating from the food trucks (2), and sipping on beers" according to Tom C., who added the space was "very family friendly with lots of outdoor seating."

What campers like

Community amenities: At Ten Sleep Rock Ranch, campers appreciate the shared facilities. Anthony D. mentioned "showers, toilets, community fridge, wifi, good vibes, everything you'll need!" while another reviewer highlighted the "outdoor kitchen with sink, two fridges for camper use" and "free wifi in the pavilion."

Budget-friendly options: Big Horn NRC Dispersed SR offers free tent sites with water views. While basic in amenities, John H. describes the location as providing "amazing views" for those willing to forego facilities for cost savings.

Night sky viewing: The clear mountain air creates exceptional stargazing conditions at many sites. Ryu M. described sleeping at Ten Sleep Brewing Company with "such a view of stars to sleep to, and amazing red rock cliff to wake up to."

What you should know

Facility conditions vary: Some campgrounds show signs of neglect or changed usage. At Bighorn National Forest Cabin Creek Campground, Monica W. reported, "It appears this was at one time a campground. Now overgrown and has one pit toilet that has been neglected."

Vehicle requirements: Many Forest Service roads require appropriate vehicles. The access roads to some sites demand high-clearance or 4x4 capabilities, particularly after rain or early in the season when snowmelt creates muddy conditions.

Noise considerations: Campgrounds near businesses may experience evening activity. At Ten Sleep Brewing Company, one camper mentioned "folks camped in new site # -1 ended up coming and going all night with loud rumbling vehicles pulling in and out next to us with tons of noise at 3am."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly spaces: Some locations offer designated play areas for children. Tom C. noted that Ten Sleep Brewing Company had "a sandy playspace with toys for the kids" making it suitable for family outings despite being attached to a brewery.

Water recreation: Shell Reservoir Camping Area provides opportunities for shoreline exploration and fishing, with sites positioned for lake views. The reservoir maintains consistent water levels through summer months.

Temperature planning: Expect significant temperature swings between day and night, especially at higher elevations. Nighttime temperatures can drop below 50°F even in summer months, requiring proper sleeping gear for children.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Shell offer primitive camping without electrical or water hookups. Greybull KOA Holiday provides an exception with "cabins, full hook-ups (pull-thru, back-in sites) water-electric sites" according to one reviewer.

Dump station locations: RVers should note the Burgess RV Dump Station location for servicing needs when staying at more remote primitive sites. This facility provides drinking water but limited other amenities.

Road noise considerations: When selecting sites, consider proximity to highways and train tracks. One camper at Greybull KOA noted "the only negative thing is the noise of the trains through the night" which may disturb light sleepers in RVs without solid insulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Shell, WY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Shell, WY is Greybull KOA Holiday with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Shell, WY?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Shell, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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