We stayed at Mammoth campground during our last visit to Yellowstone as we were unable to get one of the back country campsites we were hoping for. Lucky for us we arrived in the park before 10am and Mammoth had plenty of spots available. Mammoth is a first-come, first-serve campground with a well organized check-in procedures, no need to search for open campsites, the rangers at the check-in station will let you know what is available and show you on the map the available sites. Cost is$20 a night. This campground like all the ones in the park fills up fast, so get their early. The 85 site campground has paved roads with gravel parking pads. Sites have platforms for the tents. Dumpsters are though out the campground, and recycling is available at the entrance. The campground has flush toilets and water faucets are through out the grounds. Each site has its own bear proof food locker, as well as a picnic table and metal fire ring. Their is a nightly ranger program at 9:30pm. We stayed in site 77 and found the campground to be very quiet, even with the park road running right by. The slow speed of 35 mph helps keep the noise down and after about 10pm we really didn't notice cars going by. Morning traffic does start up just after 5pm, but the noise did not wake this light sleeper. Another factor that help keep noise down was the quiet hours, while this tends to do little at other campgrounds to prevent campers, and kids from being loud or from generators being run at night, the strictly enforced notice and posted$50 fine really does the job. Fire wood is available to purchase for$8 a box, kindling for$3 a bundle and they will provide matches if you need them. You do have cell service at the campground.

Just after crossing into Yellowstone at the northern most outlet you will find Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, one of the most convenient and ONLY campground where you will find most of the comforts of home aka cell service.   Sure for those not caring about this service the campground might not be the most appealing as it is harder to get into because of prebooking, but for those who year round are looking for a convenient location with room to enjoy the local Fort Yellowstone area this is where it is at.

So with the added amenity of having coverage you might expect this to be one of the higher priced campgrounds, but the price of only $20 per night is extremely reasonable.   

There are no showers at this campground, however the bathroom facilities are very nice with flushing toilets and cold water in the sinks.     I found this to be one of better campgrounds when it came to bathrooms as they seemed larger than most.

Another unique feature of this campground was that a certain number of sites are set aside for those cycling of hiking the area, a very important feature considering so many visit this area on the Contential Divide Trail.     Also there are a select amount of accessible sites for handicapped featuring raised tent pads and water access which is right in the campsite instead of elevated on the hillside like some.

For those not wanting to book in advance, this campground fills very quickly.  I noticed that on weekdays the few sites reserved for day of use filled before noon, so make this your first stop of the day instead of exploring the park first.

Pull ins seemed large enough for mid to large units and the only thing I could say that might be a negative to those in larger units is that you are right on the roadway in some campsites if you are a big rig.   There are a few sites which have size restrictions so check on these before visiting.

For tent campers like myself the pull ins allow you plenty of room to spread out and enjoy yourself.    Sites include picnic tables, bear boxes and fire rings.     

In this area during the late summer and early fall you are likely to find elk very nearby, they tend to come down and graze in the area of Mammoth Hot Springs.    During these times you want to make sure you are remembering to stay at least 25 yards away from them and if you hear them they are likely protecting young or looking to mate so this is when they are more aggressive.  Being able to see them in person is something majestic however!!

TIPS:

• Check out the visitor center at the Mammoth community / Fort Yellowstone.   this center in my opinion was one of the more interesting when it comes to the history of the park.
• Visit the Hot Spring at sunset, it is something spectacular at any time of day but at this time as the clouds paint the skies it is the perfect photo opportunity.
• If you are visiting the park for only a short time, use the internet access at the camp to plan your time, this will really allow you to find the parts of the park you are interested in rather than having to pull off at each point to determine this.
• Remember west side of the park is more about the geothermal features, it is also the more crowded portion of the park.

We stayed at Mammoth campground during our last visit to Yellowstone as we were unable to get one of the back country campsites we were hoping for. Lucky for us we arrived in the park before 10am and Mammoth had plenty of spots available. Mammoth is a first-come, first-serve campground with a well organized check-in procedures, no need to search for open campsites, the rangers at the check-in station will let you know what is available and show you on the map the available sites. Cost is$20 a night. This campground like all the ones in the park fills up fast, so get their early. The 85 site campground has paved roads with gravel parking pads. Sites have platforms for the tents. Dumpsters are though out the campground, and recycling is available at the entrance. The campground has flush toilets and water faucets are through out the grounds. Each site has its own bear proof food locker, as well as a picnic table and metal fire ring. Their is a nightly ranger program at 9:30pm. We stayed in site 77 and found the campground to be very quiet, even with the park road running right by. The slow speed of 35 mph helps keep the noise down and after about 10pm we really didn't notice cars going by. Morning traffic does start up just after 5pm, but the noise did not wake this light sleeper. Another factor that help keep noise down was the quiet hours, while this tends to do little at other campgrounds to prevent campers, and kids from being loud or from generators being run at night, the strictly enforced notice and posted$50 fine really does the job. Fire wood is available to purchase for$8 a box, kindling for$3 a bundle and they will provide matches if you need them. You do have cell service at the campground.

Mammoth Campground is in the middle of a hairpin turn so be prepared for traffic on both sides of the campsites. I found it noisy for sleeping but my husband slept like a log. The sites are very large and I think all the RV sites were pull through. There are some sites that were more tent appropriate. Also this is a first-come, first-serve campground and it tends to fill up quickly. The campground driveway is paved but the sites are dirt/gravel and I found ours was level with some shade during the day (#58). Unlike a previous review the hosts we had were great. Very personable. The rangers also give presentations at night. One morning we had elk in our site and one evening a huge herd was across the street.

Beautiful campground near Mammoth Hot Springs and the surrounding village. Also an easy 10 minute drive to Gardiner which has an amazing little grocery store and quaint downtown with shops and restaurants. Some hikes within walking distance of the campground as well. We got there at 9:30am in mid-July and had no trouble getting a spot. There were still 40 available! Lots of history here: Ft Yellowstone is nearby as well as the original entrance arch. We also saw the most amazing double rainbow I’ve ever seen over our campsite!

The campground itself is very well maintained and clean with water spouts everywhere, garbage dumps, and (clean) flushing toilets. All pull thru sites which are very spacious. No reservations so keep that in mind, just get here early and you should haven't a problem getting in 😁.

Mammoth is not my first choice campground, but if you're looking for good proximity to enjoy Yellowstone national park, have an RV that you're ready to drop as soon as you get in so you can spend more time exploring the park, and don't mind camping right next to other people (safest from animals except elk) then this camp ground is for you!

I stayed here because it was surprisingly the only one not filled in the early months of summer so I gave it a go. Staff was friendly, check in was easy, and the spots were all pretty decent as far as size goes. It was fun to spend a little more time exploring the town of mammoth as well, since I usually just drive through.

Campground Review:

Camping in Yellowstone is a bucket list item for many, but in the spring and summer, campgrounds fill up fast! Many are first-come first serve, and a fun family vacation can turn into a stressful search for a campsite. Then there's the weather…winter conditions can occur anytime of the year. One fantastic solution: the reservable Mammoth Cabins in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. 

The scenery around the cabins in other-worldy. Plus, we were there during elk calving season, with elk and their babies wandering through the area… although stay away from those mean mammas! I had one stalk me around the bathrooms during the night; she was none to pleased I was moving around in her area! Owls and pygmy rabbits are just some of the wildlife you'll also see here without venturing too far. 

On one hand, you do have to reserve pretty far out to get your cabin for holiday weekends…but you're guaranteed a reservation in a WARM cabin, no matter what the weather (June-u-ary exists in Wyoming, it snowed 17inches this past weekend). Since I was made aware of these, I have noticed that they are available from time to time if you want to make a last minute trip. Some of the more pricy options have bathrooms and showers in the cabin (such luxury), but there are three separate bathroom building complete with showers. Reserve cabins here: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/mammoth-hot-springs-hotel-cabins/

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this trip, I tested the Eclipse Equinox Hoodie. 

https://eclipseglove.com/collections/frontpage/products/equinox-hoodie-beach-cover-up

As I mentioned, weather can be variable at any time of the year - but the sun is pretty strong at high elevations and sunscreen can be a pain to reapply; and who really wants to once you have that wolf family in your spotting scope??? No, you're going to want to watch the action and not worry about your sizzling skin. This is where the hoodie comes in. Soft, cool fabric protects your arms while allowing air circulation when the temperature heats up. The hoodie itself can protect your neck too on this particular garment. Plus, it can fold up into an easy to pack bundle with a hidden pocket on the front. I spent hours watching wildlife in the sun with no adverse affects. 

The main downside is their sizing. For adults, there really isn't any on any of the cover ups or shirts. The hoodie did not fit my 6 foot 7 inch tall husband I'm afraid. I'm only 5 foot 8 inches, and I felt it fit me great.

Really wonderful spot close to my favorite place in Yellowstone—the boiling river. Great place to catch the north side of the park. Wake up early and go see the wolves play in the Lamar Valley. Stay late in the boiling river.

Bonus when you have a buffalo outside your tent when you wake up in the AM!

This camp ground has bear boxes for food storage, ample space for tent and vehicle and a great fire ring at each camp site. Check in and payment is first come first serve and super painless. Tons of great tips provided on local hikes nearby and the convenience store in town is relative costs for items outside the park. 10/10 will stay there again!!