52 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Shoshoni, Wyoming offers camping options around Boysen State Park and Lake Cameahwait, with both established and dispersed camping areas. The region includes several developed campgrounds along Boysen Reservoir and the Wind River, accommodating both tent campers and RVs. Lake Cameahwait provides free dispersed camping with a 14-day limit, while Boysen State Park offers multiple developed campground loops including Tough Creek, Poison Creek, Brannon, and Upper Wind River campgrounds. Most established campgrounds feature vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though amenities vary between locations.
Road access to camping areas varies across the region, with most campgrounds accessible via paved or maintained gravel roads. Summer temperatures can be hot and dry with frequent winds, while camping is available year-round at several locations. "This area is not a typical camping area, and feels more like a parking lot to a day-use park," noted one Lake Cameahwait visitor. Mosquitoes are frequently mentioned in reviews, particularly near shorelines. Most campgrounds require reservations through Reserve America, especially during peak summer months. Cell service is generally available but can be spotty in more remote areas of the reservoir. Non-residents pay higher fees at state park campgrounds.
Several visitors highlight waterfront access as a key feature of camping in the area. Campsites along Boysen Reservoir offer views of surrounding mountains and opportunities for boating, fishing, and paddling. Lake Cameahwait provides more primitive camping with fewer amenities but attracts visitors seeking solitude. "The stark beauty of this primitive camping area was beyond words," mentioned one review about Poison Creek Campground. Wind River Canyon's scenic landscape adds to the appeal of the northern campgrounds. Wildlife viewing opportunities include pronghorn and various bird species. The region experiences low light pollution, making it excellent for stargazing. When searching for campgrounds near Shoshoni, visitors will find that while some camping areas can get busy during summer weekends, particularly at the reservoir, more remote sites offer greater privacy.
"This was a lovely lakeside camp spot. There are vault toilets on site. The road was paved up to the site but a 10min drive off the highway. There were a lot of bugs/flies on our September evening."
"The downsides, the road paved but entrance into the campground is a little rough coming in and it is a long drive at night. Cows do wander freely so be very careful driving."
"Beautiful spot by the lake. Large sites well away from neighbours. We visited after the end of the season and just paid on entry."
"This is a huge lake with parks and cliffs all around it. The main thing to do is boat and fish, I don’t think there were any trails."
from $10 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availability"Pros and Cons to the location of this campground: great views of the Wind River and the tunnels, but right next to the highway and not much privacy between sites due to lack of underbrush."
"Lots of different options to choose from on lake or on river...my favorite is the one right next to the tunnels. Plenty of wildlife to watch come down to river in the evening or early mornings."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Right next to the river. The only downside is that you have to pay a reservation fee plus a day use fee, making it a bit exp for a site with no hookups. $40"
"So I drove around the park (which was mostly empty) and in spite of the giant signs screaming RESERVATIONS REQUIRED MAY 1-SEPT 30, I parked in very large site 71 which had midday sun for my solar and some"
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Basic sites, both drive through and back in, as well as several tent sites. Each site has picnic table and fire pit. Essentially just boondocking for $32.25 a night. Pay station takes credit cards."
"Pros: large Reservoir perfect for paddle-boarding and kayaking
- clean vault toilets close by
- great little marina with cute restaurant
- Brannon is one of the north campgrounds, which puts you closer"
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Enjoy your morning coffee with a view of the water, mountain range in the distance and curious herd of pronghorn, investigating your presence from a nearby ridge."
from $18 - $32 / night
Check Availability"There was water next to the electric and a dump station on the way out. The owners invited us up onto the porch of the house where we also met the caretaker and other campers."
"I took a walk around during the beautiful morning sunrise and couldn’t be happier with my stay."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Tucked back in a quiet neighborhood. Friendly, helpful office manager."
ScoutNothing in this world is free, yet here is a free camping area in the lovely little hamlet of Lander, WY. There’s tent spots, grass, a park, restrooms, picnic tables and quite a bit of room for people to park.
RangerFull hook ups with beautiful views at the edge of town. Lots of options for food, shopping and groceries in town and even a car wash with oversized bays for bigger rigs. Super convenient only about 15 minutes to Sinks canyon state park and it is breathtaking. Campground is beautifully maintained, clean and safe. Nothing but good vibes. Hosts are so friendly and helpful. 24hr coin laundry available (clean well working machines!)as well as very clean bathrooms and showers including a family bathroom. Small camp store in office with a bit of everything from necessities to snacks and souvenirs. Propane refills available. Large clean trash cans available throughout the park. Playground, picnic area and splash pad. Pet walking areas. Sites have wifi, water, electric and sewer. Mostly level gravel. Some back in and some pull throughs. We saw deer every day. Beautiful views.
GuideWell off the main road and right on the shores of the lake. Decent Verizon signal. Five cabanas with picnic tables and grill covered. No other people here.. or in sight. Pit toilet. Quiet with just the sound of thunder in the distance and the gentle lapping waters of the lake. Road to location blacktop and decent.
TravelerEven though the Dyrt states some sites have electricity, I checkers with the campground by phone and confirmed that none of the sites, other than that of the camp host have electricity.
ScoutNice paved roads with well laid out sites. Mostly level. Shared water spickets. Good shade from cottonwood trees. Right next to the river. The only downside is that you have to pay a reservation fee plus a day use fee, making it a bit exp for a site with no hookups. $40
ScoutI’ve read this campground described as a dirt field between a highway and railroad. I get it. Sites aren’t level. The water spigot is positioned oddly when hooking up. It’s dusty and the bathroom never had TP. The hot spring was nice and the only perk. If you’re passing through, it’s about the same price as the cheapest motel (in August). It’s not a destination.
ScoutBasically a dirt lot between the highway and the railroad tracks. Zero shade to speak of. Weak/intermittent WIFI. Very nice folks running it.... But that's a small consultation.
GuidePlenty of spots right on the lakefront which is a wonderful sight to wake up to. There are pit toilets and covered barbecue stations with picnic tables which are amazing amenities for free campground. The downsides, the road paved but entrance into the campground is a little rough coming in and it is a long drive at night. Cows do wander freely so be very careful driving. I noticed lots of rabbits and mice, it's the desert so it's to be expected. I would not leave things outside your camper. Overall very pleased with it
TravelerThe site costs 40$ and you’ll have to call and ask if there is a site available. The owner is very very kind and helpful, he showed us everything as we are beginners in camping, from the hookup to the sewer connection. He also allowed us to pet and feed his ponys. The owner also told us as there is zero light pollution in this area and if the weather is clear, you’ll see the Milky Way and in perfect conditions also northern lights over the Tetons!
Dispersed camping areas surround Shoshoni, Wyoming at elevations ranging from 4,500-5,000 feet in high desert terrain. The Wind River Canyon creates a natural corridor with temperature variations of 15-20 degrees between canyon bottom and reservoir areas. Summer highs regularly exceed 90°F while winter camping faces subfreezing nights and occasional snow.
Fishing at canyon spots: Lower Wind River Campground provides direct fishing access from riverside campsites. "If you enjoy fly fishing, you'll appreciate the easy river access right from the campground," notes Tim R. This stretch offers both wading and bank fishing opportunities.
Watercraft exploration: The reservoir at Tough Creek Campground supports various water activities. "Stayed right at the lake for one night with my small RV. No hookups, but ok if self contained," explains Angelika H. The lake accommodates motorized and non-motorized craft.
Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing from campsites. "Plenty of wildlife to watch come down to river in the evening or early mornings. Kids love the train that runs thru the canyon," shares Mickey J. at Boysen State Park Campground. Pronghorn herds frequently visit reservoir shorelines.
Train watching: Several campgrounds offer views of trains passing through Wind River Canyon. "Beautiful views, big old train going through the tunnel of a mountain. Wild little spot," writes Megan B. Train schedules typically include morning and evening runs through the canyon tunnels.
Canyon views: Upper Wind River Campground sites provide dramatic canyon scenery. "We stayed at upper campground and there were a lot of spots that overlooked the river. There's a good amount of open space in the middle of campground, surrounding the playground," writes Zach R.
Lakeside access: Many visitors appreciate the waterfront camping at Brannon Campground. "We camped at Brannon, site 104. This was a beautiful spot right on one of the Reservoir inlets," notes user canyongirl100. These sites offer direct water access for swimming or launching small craft.
Dark skies: The area's minimal light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. "Low light pollution, makes for beautiful star-gazing at night," comments canyongirl100 about Brannon Campground. Most sites away from the marina area provide unobstructed night sky views.
Open space: Lake Cameahwait provides spacious camping areas. "Plenty of room on a great little lake. Had a 34 ft A class and took in on dirt road which covers about 2/3 of lake," reports Andrew P. The lake perimeter accommodates numerous campsites with substantial separation.
Reservation requirements: Most Boysen State Park campgrounds require advance booking during peak season. "You have to reserve them online through Reserveamerica.com, and it is NOT an easy site to navigate," warns Molly about Tough Creek Campground. Non-peak season typically allows walk-up camping.
Weather challenges: Wind presents a significant challenge for tent campers. "It was suuuuper windy but we had spectacular views," reports Robert B. about Brannon Campground. Tent campers should bring extra stakes and guylines for stability.
Insect conditions: Mosquitoes persist throughout summer months near water. "Great place to stay if you can work around the mosquitoes. We stayed for a week and a half and it was very quiet and the water is very clear," notes Wayne H. about Lake Cameahwait. Bug pressure increases in June and July.
Varied campsite quality: Some designated sites work better than others. "Booked what looked like a decent site by the river and found it to be unusable when we arrived," reports Bill R. about Upper Wind River Campground. Late afternoon arrival may limit site selection during busy periods.
Playground access: Lower Wind River Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Campground has a park for kids. No showers but plenty of water so we set up privacy tent and were able to shower when we wanted," shares eli R. Most park campgrounds include playground equipment.
Swimming spots: Several campgrounds offer swimming access. "The campground is adjacent to the road so there is some road noise, but the river drowns out a lot of that," explains Erik B. about Lower Wind River Campground. River swimming requires caution due to currents.
Shade importance: Summer temperatures require shade planning. "Lots of oak tree shade," notes Erik B. about Lower Wind River Campground. Upper Wind River provides "trees that provide lots of shade for the summer months" according to Zach R.
Sprinkler awareness: Sprinkler systems operate in some campgrounds. "Shortly after 9 am on Monday, sprinklers came on! In the sites, 51 was OK, possibly due to a plugged sprinkler but site 53 was soaked," warns Melissa K. about Upper Wind River Campground. Position tents away from lawn areas.
Generator use: Lake Cameahwait permits generator operation during hot weather. "Campspots are spread apart enough that running generators from other campers (it was a hot day) weren't too noisy," reports Angelika H. Generator hours typically run from 8am-8pm.
Cell service: Connectivity varies by location and carrier. "Verizon cell phone service was surprisingly great at the campsite," reports Shari G. about Lake Cameahwait. Canyon areas experience reduced reception while reservoir sites maintain better signals.
Water access: Limited water hookups require planning. "No hookups, but water spigots are available throughout the campground to fill your tanks," notes Tim R. about Wind River Canyon Campground. Most campgrounds provide potable water at central spigots but not individual sites.
Site selection: RV campers should choose sites based on level ground. "Sites are level and easy to get into. Nothing fancy - just a good overnight spot," comments Liza T. about Wind River RV Park. Most state park campgrounds accommodate rigs up to 35 feet with some pull-through options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping near Shoshoni, WY?
The Shoshoni area offers several camping options within a short drive. Boysen State Park Campground provides convenient access with multiple campgrounds including Tough Creek and Upper Wind River areas. Just north of Shoshoni, Lake Cameahwait offers water-adjacent camping opportunities. For those willing to drive a bit further, Bull Lake north of Riverton and Thermopolis' campgrounds to the north provide additional options. Most campgrounds in the region are accessible via drive-in sites, though road conditions on unpaved routes may vary seasonally. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months, particularly for weekend stays, as these Wyoming destinations can fill quickly during tourist season.
What amenities are available at campgrounds near Shoshoni?
Campgrounds near Shoshoni offer varying levels of amenities. The Crippled Spider Campground near Thermopolis provides a unique ranch setting with well-maintained facilities. For those seeking more developed options, Fountain of Youth RV Park offers soaking pools and has consistently maintained facilities over many years. Many area campgrounds provide basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Water availability varies by location, with some offering potable water and others requiring you to bring your own. Electrical hookups are primarily available at RV-focused campgrounds. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly in canyon areas, so plan accordingly if connectivity is important for your stay.
What is the best season for camping in the Shoshoni area?
Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the best camping weather in the Shoshoni area. Summer provides warm days and cool nights ideal for outdoor activities, though this is also the busiest period. Sinks Campground — Sinks Canyon State Park is particularly beautiful in summer with its rushing river and shaded sites. Early fall brings spectacular color changes and fewer crowds. Sleeping Bear RV Park & Campground near Lander makes a good base during shoulder seasons. Winter camping is possible but challenging due to Wyoming's harsh conditions and limited services. Spring can bring unpredictable weather with occasional snow even in May. Always check road conditions and campground seasonal closures before planning your trip, especially outside the summer months.
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