Best Campgrounds near Wapiti, WY
Camping options around Wapiti, Wyoming span both established campgrounds and dispersed sites along the route to Yellowstone National Park. The area includes the North Fork Campground at Buffalo Bill State Park, offering pull-through RV sites with electrical hookups as well as tent camping areas along the Shoshone River. Several developed campgrounds such as Rex Hale, Big Game, and Wapiti Campground provide mixed-use sites for both tent and RV camping. Sheep Mountain BLM land offers free dispersed camping options for those seeking a more primitive experience about 30 minutes from the east entrance to Yellowstone.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from May through September or early October due to Wyoming's mountain weather patterns. Buffalo Bill State Park campgrounds provide amenities such as picnic tables, fire pits, drinking water, and sanitary dump stations, while dispersed areas on BLM land offer no facilities. The Yellowstone Valley Inn & RV Park represents one of the few year-round options with full hookups, though at premium rates during high season. Road access throughout the area is generally good, with paved highways and maintained gravel roads leading to most established sites. According to one visitor, "We used Buffalo Bill State Park as a home base since we could not get a spot in Yellowstone for our rig. We were able to leave our rig to tent camp in Yellowstone."
Campers consistently praise the scenic mountain views that characterize the area's campgrounds. Several visitors mentioned the North Fork Campground offers "immaculately manicured" grounds with "stunning 360-degree views" and peaceful riverside settings. The tent sites at Buffalo Bill State Park feature "huge tent pads with privacy walls" and are "spaced very far apart, so you never feel cramped." While proximity to Yellowstone National Park is a major draw, campers should note that the drive from Wapiti area campgrounds to major Yellowstone attractions can take 1-2 hours due to mountain roads and park traffic. The region experiences significant wind at times, particularly at lakeside campgrounds, where campers are advised to secure equipment properly.
