Best Dispersed Camping in Wyoming

Wyoming is where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains, and the opportunities for recreation span thousands of miles. Home to the country’s first national park and national monument, visitors can witness spewing geysers, rolling prairieland, and almost everything in between. Get ready for an epic adventure camping in Wyoming!

Yellowstone National Park is the home of almost 3,500 square miles of nationally protected lands. From rushing waterfalls, roaring rivers, soaring peaks, and marvels of geology such as Old Faithful, the park has sights not even imagination even conjure. For this reason, hundreds of thousands visit every year. Plan ahead and experience once-in-a-lifetime camping in Wyoming in the process.

Although abundant, camping in Wyoming is extremely sought after, especially near the park. Twelve campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park provide adventurers with plentiful options, but planning ahead is vital. The Canyon Campground allows easy access to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a picture-perfect waterfall and river vista in the north-central region. Visit Artist’s Point and hike the 300 feet down to the lower falls to feel the rush of the Yellowstone River.

For a more touristy experience, snag a site in the Madison Campground. Being one of the largest in the park and less than 20 miles from the famous geyser Old Faithful, this area is a go-to for first time visitors. Sitting at an elevation just below 7,000 feet, the crisp mountain air will refresh. This area gets a lot of traffic, so pack in your patience and remember that the parks are for everyone to enjoy.

Camping in Wyoming also gives the chance to get off the grid. Grand Teton National Park is directly to the south of Yellowstone and allows for some easy-access backpacking. When done right, you can avoid the droves of humanity that flock to the Greater Yellowstone region.

For an easy trek into the backcountry, get a scenic spot along Leigh Lake or String Lake. These camping sites are often booked months in advance, so get them quick! A hidden gem tucked in the shadow of Mount Moran is Bearpaw Lake and is also relatively accessible from the same trail. Remember your bear spray and enjoy some genuine Wyoming camping!

Best Dispersed Sites in Wyoming (226)

    1. Shadow Mountain Dispersed Camping

    83 Reviews
    Kelly, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "A bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road."

    "Definitely a rough road and can be tougher to find a spot if you come later, but we made it up in a low clearance camper van by taking it very slow and the views are awesome."

    2. Upper Teton View Dispersed

    58 Reviews
    Moran, WY
    Website

    "With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up."

    "There’s beautiful views of the Teton mountains as people say, the roads are a bit rough and inclined but that’s everywhere in the west really:) no four wheel drive needed at all."

    3. Spread Creek Dispersed Campground

    51 Reviews
    Queens, WY
    Website

    "Nice Dispersed Camping. Doesn’t have Grand views of the Tetons but has nice grassy level areas and spots by the creek."

    "There are 14 campsites dispersed down a four mile long gravel road. Part of the National Forest. Great views of the Tetons from several sites."

    4. Forest Service Road 700 Designated Dispersed Camping

    37 Reviews
    Buford, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 745-2300

    "Just past the campground is dispersed primitive camping 🏕️. All sites are well established. There was a 🔥 ban so no campfires. Good hiking and rock climbing"

    "Free dispersed camping with easy dirt road access for any size RV.

    No worries about RV size. All camp sites located on roads which loop back to main road."

    5. Curtis Canyon Dispersed Camping

    31 Reviews
    Kelly, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "Great option if the Curtis Canyon campground is full, or if you would prefer something a little more remote. High clearance vehicles recommended - forest road 30440 is in pretty rough shape."

    "We camped at spot 5 which is a little harder to get too. the road too 5,6 is pretty rough. only attempt if you have 4wd, it looks like a pretty washed out road either way lots of holes."

    6. Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403

    20 Reviews
    Buffalo, WY

    "I stumbled on Grouse Mountain Dispersed Camping last Fall and made sure I visited again upon return this Summer."

    "We love dispersed camping but hauling a 25’ airstream makes a lot of sites inaccessible despite our lift and rugged tires! But not here!"

    7. Dispersed camping along Cliff Creek in Bridger-Teton National Forest

    20 Reviews
    Bondurant, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 739-5500

    "We stopped in this part of the National Forest on our way to Yellowstone by way of Jackson Hole, WY. The access is off of HWY 191."

    "Most are near the river. Some are very large and flat. We saw quite a few 5th wheelers parked in the first few miles where the road is flat and suitable for a sedan."

    8. Storm Hill BLM Land Dispersed Site

    20 Reviews
    Devils Tower, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 746-6600

    "Site was flat and gravel.  Spot for tents just up the hill.  No fire ring, no picnic table, no hook-ups or garbage.  Dispersed camping / boondocking.  No fee.   "

    "The dirt road right off the highway is pristine, not even washboardy. Once you branch right for the last mile or so, there are a few small rocks and ruts but still smooth."

    9. Cody BLM Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    Cody, WY
    Website
    +1 (307) 578-5900

    "We pulled off of highway 16 to just explore and found that this area has a lot of options for camping. It is a vast stretch of BLM land between Cody and Greybull."

    "We bookdocked for 14 days in this beautiful spot along side a huge canyon! There was a stream at the bottom and 5 springs running out of the mountain across from our camping spot."

    10. Bridger-Teton National Forest

    18 Reviews
    Moran, WY
    Website

    "I decided to just drive down a Forest Service Road and ended up on FS 30165 in a valley with wonderful views of the Tetons. There was even a creek a short walk away where I could filter water."

    "I stayed in the Bridger Teton National Forest off Buffalo Valley Road to be close to the Moran entrance of Grand Teton National Park. There was a large pullout that had a couple of 'sites' below."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 226 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Dispersed Camping Reviews in Wyoming

922 Reviews of 226 Wyoming Campgrounds


  • Janelle K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2023

    Circle Road Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful spot, better for rent or car camping

    We ventured out here in our 26’ bumper pull camper for the night of 6/19. Several trailers and campers looked like they had been posted up there for a while. 

    Pros:

    -Lots of pull off spots accessible for car camping and very small campers

    -Beautiful wildflowers at this time of year-remote and peaceful!

    -main dirt was mostly manageable with our camper, some potholes and mud though 

    Cons:-

    very rainy, hence lots of mud, when we went

    -most of the campsites seemed to be washed out right now and unaccessible with our camper

    -no accessible turnarounds with the camper until Circle Pond Campground at the end of the road

    -bugs were really bad

    -no Verizon cell signal

    -single lane dirt road just had a couple sporadic pull offs to allow for passing vehicles from other direction

  • Natalie B.
    Aug. 14, 2017

    Shadow Mountain Dispersed Camping

    Awesome view!

    A bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road. There is a camping area at the base of the mountain but if you continue on up the mountain there are many, many dispersed camping pullouts. Beautiful views of the Tetons and excellent wildflowers. There are sites that have some shade and trees but several are pretty exposed. This is a very popular place on the weekends so make sure you get there early to set up camp (or avoid it if you like quite on a Saturday night). No water, no toilets, just a free place to camp with established fire rings! Dogs are welcome.

  • Izzy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2022

    Laramie Overlook Disperesed Camping

    Small, but mighty

    Great place to boondock for a few days. We stayed here for a week in our 20 foot skoolie. Short drive into the Medicine Bow National forest and you’re here. There are a couple of loops right as you enter, which are the most level places to park a rig. Then another path leads about a half a mile to a few other sites that are more secluded, but not very level. I wouldn’t recommend towing anything down there with the condition of the dirt road and low hanging tree branches. Those would be ideal for a camper van or tent. There is a lovely creek that runs along there. The dump/water is decommissioned at this site, but as you turn in there is dump/water at the forest station. During our stay there were a couple of RV’s and some off road fanatics. Quiet and cool summer evenings. Great cell service!

  • Nicki S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2024

    Darby Canyon Dispersed

    Darby

    I have not personally spent the night camping here, but I do work for the Forest Service and wanted to give more information about the Darby Canyon dispersed camping sites. I also had a friend stay here for three nights last September and they had a good time. There are about 10~ sites (I will check and edit when I can) all along the canyon road, some are just right off road and others require a short drive down beaten paths to find the sites. All of these sites (except 2 or so very close to the road) are past the cattle guard. Depending on the time of year, many of these sites may not be accessible. Snow typically stays in the canyon until mid-June and starts collecting in October. The area may also be buggy at the height of the summer (July 2024 had been atrocious). There is limited cell service down most of the road and it completely disappears the closer to the Wind Cave trailhead you get. This area has a 14 day stay limit, meaning that once 14 days (13 nights) have been reached you must move at least 5 miles away to continue camping on forest service land and cannot return to this canyon to camp for 30 days. This is in a bear food storage enforced area and any bear attractants (food, pet food, soaps, sunscreen, etc.) are required to be stored properly in a locked hard sided vehicle or other bear resistant containers. Fires are allowed but must be put out dead (cold to the touch) before leaving a campsite. This canyon is regularly patrolled by Forest Service staff and ranger law enforcement officers, especially on the weekends, to keep up with the food storage and fires out dead orders. Hope this helps weary travelers that are deterred by low-rated reviews.

  • Katherine B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2018

    Curtis Canyon Dispersed Camping

    Solitude but close to town

    Great option if the Curtis Canyon campground is full, or if you would prefer something a little more remote. High clearance vehicles recommended - forest road 30440 is in pretty rough shape. Town of Jackson is fairly close.

    Same great views you'd expect anywhere near the Tetons; trailhead to Goodwin Lake is close by. Full Teton view is better at the trailhead, but its not far. Dispersed sites are spread out with plenty of space; although no one stayed in the site next to us on this rainy evening in June.

    To get there, continue past the Curtis Canyon campground in Bridger-Teton National Forest (behind the Elk refuge) as if you were heading to the trail head. You'll start to see marked sites along the extremely rutted forest road. I would not attempt very muddy conditions.

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2023

    Glacier Trailhead Campsites in Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area

    glad i stopped here

    The sites are down such a long road that I almost didn't believe they really existed, but I'm glad I persisted in driving all the way to the coordinates! Beautiful dispersed campsites right next to Whiskey Creek and some well-maintained hiking trails in the national forest and wilderness area. Wish i could stay longer. Also, I saw a bighorn sheep!

  • Jeremy H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2019

    Beartooth Scenic Byway Camping

    Perfect spot outside Yellowstone

    We were driving into Yellowstone from Billings and wanted something that would give us early access to the park. This was perfect. A nice pull off with several options to park a van, tent, or small trailer or RV. We fell asleep to the sound of the river and were into the park within 20 minutes the next morning. We were able see moose and a bear because of the early access to Lamar Valley. Wish we could have seen the surrounding area in the daylight but we got in late and were out early. From what we saw we highly recommend it!! It is dispersed Forest Service camping so you will need to have all of your own supplies and be sure to leave no trace (including your poop)

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2022

    Fossil Butte National Monument BLM

    Spectacular!

    Beautiful and remote area 10 miles up the road from the Visitor’s Center. Paved road that turns to dirt- both in great condition. High clearance vehicle needed, especially on the BLM land. Visitor’s Center provided a map showing the location of the dispersed camping (road off to the left at the top). Strong internet access. Spectacular views!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2024

    Upper Teton View Dispersed

    Awesome view

    We spent one night mid May here on the way to Yellowstone. The view was awesome. With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up. Not sure when the road will open up to the main dispersed site. Be aware that there is only enough room for about 20 campers / vans in the lower area. There is room for about another 15 cars and tent camping. Arrive early! Plenty of hiking and well worth it if you get a spot!


Guide to Wyoming

Wyoming offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of opportunities for dispersed camping, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to immerse themselves in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Tips for free and dispersed camping in Wyoming

Activities while free camping in Wyoming

Essential features of dispersed camping in Wyoming

  • Many sites, such as Spread Creek Dispersed Campground, offer fire rings and picnic tables for a comfortable camping experience.
  • Facilities like clean pit toilets can be found at locations such as Soda Lake WHMA, enhancing convenience for campers.
  • Most areas allow pets, making it easy to bring your furry friends along for the adventure, as seen at Cody BLM Dispersed.