Now that you’ve decided to go to Yellowstone, you’ll need to find a place to stay. You can stay in a vacation rental outside the park or a lodge inside the park, but the cheapest option is to camp. But what is the best campground in Yellowstone National Park and how do you make reservations?
In this guide, you’ll find the best camping sites in Yellowstone National Park, tips for camping, everything you need to know about making reservations, and more.
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Yellowstone Camping Guide
Table of Contents
Camping in Yellowstone Tips
Tips for Tent Camping in Yellowstone
- Yellowstone has lots of grizzly and black bears. There is a bear-proof food and gear storage box at each campsite. Never leave food, personal hygiene items such as deodorant or anything else with a scent in your tent. Always store them in the storage box provided.
- If you are car camping, Yellowstone, standard campsites are big enough for six people. If your group is bigger, you can book two campsites, a group site, or a double campsite. Group and double sites aren’t offered at all of the campgrounds.
- There is parking near each tent site unless it’s marked as a “walk-in only site”.
- Truck campers and vans are not allowed in tent-only sites – you need to have a tent that you’ll be sleeping in.
- A rooftop tent should be OK in a tent-only site as long as you can park completely on the pavement and don’t use a generator.
- Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 to Labor Day, and 30 days for the rest of the year.
Tips for Getting the Best RV campsites in Yellowstone National Park
- Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground with hookups.
- There are dump stations at Canyon Village, Madison, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village and Bridge Bay Campgrounds.
- Some RV sites don’t allow tent camping because they don’t have a tent pad – check to make sure it fits if you’re planning to pitch a tent next to an RV.
- You’re typically allowed one RV and one vehicle per site but your tires have to be on the pavement.
- Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 to Labor Day, and 30 days for the rest of the year. The exception is Fishing Bridge RV Park where there is no limit on how long you can stay.
Yellowstone Winter Camping
- If you’re looking for winter camping, Yellowstone National Park has two options.
- Mammoth Campground is the only regular campground that’s open all year. It is First-Come, First-Served from mid-October to the end of April.
- The other winter camping option is the Canyon Yurt Camp. This is set up when there is over-snow travel permitted in the park. It’s located half a mile from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Yellowstone Falls.
The camp is not a regular campground; you don’t bring your own tent or RV. There are two large heated yurts for communal areas for dining and gathering. There are also small individual cabin huts with propane heaters for sleeping, shower facilities and even a sauna. The yurt camp is operated by Yellowstone Expeditions and you can check availability and prices here.
- If you’re planning a winter trip to Yellowstone, read my Guide to Visiting Yellowstone in Winter.
Yellowstone Backcountry Camping
- This Yellowstone NP camping guide focuses on front-country camping. However, there are 293 designated backcountry campsites in Yellowstone.
- Permits are needed year-round. Learn how and when to make a reservation on the NPS website.
Camping in Yellowstone in June / Camping in Yellowstone in September
- If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone in the shoulder season, be sure to check whether your preferred campsite is open. They open/ close at different times and not all will be open in the ‘shoulder’ months.
- For more information on travel to Yellowstone throughout the year, read my Guide to When to Visit Yellowstone.
If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone, you can make your planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary. I’ve created 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-day itineraries for Yellowstone. You can choose your preferred activity level and take all the stress out of planning your trip.
Best Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming & Montana
There are twelve campgrounds in Yellowstone NP. I have organized them by location, but also indicated how to make reservations (if you can) for each one.
When choosing a location, think about what you want to do and what is nearby. You can drive around the park each day, but it’s quite big, so you can end up spending a lot of time in your car. You may choose to move from one campground to another so your drive time to see the sights each day isn’t so long.
Useful reading:
How long to spend in Yellowstone
Nearest airports to Yellowstone (to each entrance)
How To get To Yellowstone National Park
Campgrounds Near Yellowstone’s West Entrance
1. Madison Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Madison Campground is a large campground near the beautiful Madison River. It’s popular with anglers who enjoy fly fishing in the river (Read about this and more in my guide about Things To Do in Yellowstone). It’s also close to Old Faithful and Norris Geyser Basin.
Part of the campground is set among trees, so some sites are very shady. Others are sunny, so try to get a site in the woods in summer if you can.
There are 270 sites + 3 group sites, for RVs (up to 40 feet) and tents. RV sites are a mix of pull-through and back-in sites.
- No electricity, water, or sewage hook ups. There is a dump station.
- Flush toilets and faucets with cold water spigots and dishwashing stations
- No showers or laundry
- No cell service
- Group Sites: 3
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically early May – Mid-October
- Reservations are made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
2. Norris Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Norris Campground is right next to a large meadow that is a great place to see wildlife in the early morning and late afternoon. Bison often walk through the campground. It’s also next to the Museum of the National Park Ranger, where you can meet and talk to a retired park ranger. Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are all convenient to travel to.
The campground is set in a lodgepole forest, so most of the sites are shady.
There are 112 sites for tents and RVs (5 sites for 30 feet and 2 sites for 50 feet). RV sites are a mix of pull-through and back-in sites.
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal flush toilets with spigots with cold water and dishwashing station
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell service
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically Mid-May – September
- Reservations are made through National Park Service
Campgrounds Near Yellowstone’s East Entrance
3. Canyon Campground, Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone Canyon Campground has a great central location in the park and is the best Yellowstone campground for visiting the popular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls.
Campsites are set amongst woods, which provides welcome summer shade.
The Canyon campsite (Yellowstone) has 273 sites for tents and RVs (up to 40 feet).
- No electricity, water, or sewer hook ups. However, a dump station is available.
- Flush toilets with cold water faucets and dishwashing stations
- Coin-operated laundry
- Pay showers (2 showers/ night are included in the rate)
- There is a cell tower nearby, though service is still spotty and not available for all providers
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically Mid-late-May – Mid-September
- Reservations for the Canyon Village campground Yellowstone are made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
4. Fishing Bridge RV Park, Yellowstone National Park
Fishing Bridge RV Park is located near the mouth of the Yellowstone River as it enters Yellowstone Lake, so this is a great place to see pelicans and other water birds. While it’s a popular place for Yellowstone Lake camping, it’s also in the middle of a major grizzly bear habitat, so it’s especially important to be bear aware. This is also why there is no tent camping allowed, and consequently no picnic tables or fire pits provided.
The campground, newly renovated for 2022, has 346 sites for hard-sided RVs only, up to 95 feet in length.
Fishing Bridge is often considered the best RV Park in Yellowstone because it’s the only campground inside the national park that has water, sewer and electrical hookups.
- Full hookups for electricity, water, and sewer (50 amp or 30 amp). Dump station.
- Paid showers (rates include 2 showers/ night)
- Coin-operated laundry
- There is a cell tower nearby, though service is still spotty and not available for all providers
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically Mid-May – Early-October
- Reservations are made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
5. Bridge Bay Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Located near Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake, Bridge Bay Campground is popular with anglers and boaters. The lower loop has open sites (not that appealing, TBH) and the upper loop sites are shadier, in amongst the woods.
Another popular Yellowstone Lake campground, it has 432 sites (including group sites) that can accommodate RVs (up to 40 feet) and tents or a combination of both. There is overflow parking at Bridge Bay near the marina.
- No electricity, water, and sewage hook ups. A dump station is available near the entrance to Bridge Bay Marina
- Flush toilets and cold-water faucets and dishwashing stations
- Picnic table and fire grate at each site
- No showers or laundry
- There is a cell tower nearby, though service is still spotty and not available for all providers
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically Mid-May – early-September
- Reservations are made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Campgrounds Near Yellowstone’s South Entrance
6. Grant Village Campground, Yellowstone National Park
The Campground at Grant Village Yellowstone is located on the southern shores of Lake Yellowstone near West Thumb Geyser Basin.
The campground is set in a lodgepole pine forest and there are lake views from some sites.
There are 430 sites for RVs (up to 40 feet), tents and combination RV/tents.
- No electricity, water, or sewage hook ups. There is a dump station.
- A picnic table and fire grate at each site
- Flush toilets with cold water faucets and dishwashing stations
- Paid showers (2 showers/ night are included in the rate)
- Coin-operated laundry facilities
- There is a cell tower nearby, though service is still spotty and not available for all providers
- Wi-Fi is available at the lodge in Grant Village for guests
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically Early-Mid-June – Mid-September
- Reservations for Grant campground (Yellowstone) are made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
7. Lewis Lake Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Located just eight miles north of the South Entrance to the park on the shores of Lake Lewis, this campground is one of the loveliest campsites Yellowstone National Park has, but it does involve some longer drive times to the northern parts of the park.
It’s great for kayaking, canoeing or boating on Lewis Lake if you have your own equipment (Find an inflatable kayak here if you need to buy one). The sites are all a short distance from Lewis Lake and there’s a convenient boat ramp.
There are 84 sites suitable for tents and small RVs (up to 25 feet).
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal vault toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell phone service
- No generators
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Typically open from Early-Mid-June – Mid-October
- Reservations are made through National Park Service
Campgrounds Near Yellowstone’s North Entrance
8. Mammoth Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Mammoth Campground is the only campground that’s open year-round. It has easy access to Mammoth Hot Springs and wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley. Visits by elk are common.
The campsites are set among juniper and Douglas fir trees, which provide some sites with welcome shade in summer. However, many sites don’t get much shade, so they can get hot. There are tiers, so most sites have views of the mountains. However, the campground is right next to the highway to Gardner. Try to get a site in the shade away from the road.
There are 85 sites for tents and RVs (up to 40 feet in most sites, though some accommodate up to 70 feet; maximum size in winter is 30 feet). RV sites are a mix of pull through and back in. Because it has large pull through sites, it’s popular with RVs.
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal flush toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- There is a cell tower nearby, though service is still spotty and not available for all providers
- Free, public Wi-Fi is available at the nearby Albright Visitor Center
- Generators allowed from 8:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Open year-round. Reservable from May 1 – October 15
- Reservations are made through National Park Service
9. Indian Creek Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Indian Creek Campground is eight miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs and has wonderful views of Electric Peak. It’s more primitive than most of the other front country campgrounds, but tends to be quieter too. Its location makes it popular with anglers, hikers, and for wildlife viewing.
The campground has 70 sites for RVs (up to 35 feet) and tents.
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal vault toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell phone service
- No generators
- Wheelchair accessible
- Season: Open from Mid-June – Mid-September
- Reservations are made through National Park Service
Campgrounds Near Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance
Useful Reading: Guide to the Lamar Valley Drive
10. Slough Creek Campground, Yellowstone National Park
With just 16 sites, this is the smallest Yellowstone RV Park and campground. It’s in a lovely, peaceful spot at the end of a 2-mile dirt road and is a great place for seeing and hearing wildlife.
Slough Creek is suitable for tents and small RVs (up to 30 feet).
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal vault toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell phone service
- No generators
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Season: Open from Mid-June – Mid-October
- Reservations are made through National Park Service
11. Pebble Creek Campground, Yellowstone National Park
This small campground is in the Lamar Valley near the beautiful Absaroka Mountains. Not surprisingly, given its name, Pebble Creek runs right through and beside the campground. It’s a great location to see wildlife.
It has 27 sites for RVs (including some long pull throughs) and tents.
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal vault toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell phone service
- No generators
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Season: Open from mid-June – late-September
- Reservations for all sites are made through National Park Service
12. Tower Fall Campground, Yellowstone National Park
Set amongst trees and conveniently close to Tower Fall (one of the Best Waterfalls in Yellowstone), the Tower General Store and Roosevelt Lodge, this is one of the prettiest campgrounds Yellowstone Park has. It’s a convenient location to visit nearby Lamar Valley and for a large number of great hikes, including nearby Mount Washburn.
It has 31 sites for RVs (up to 30 feet) and tents.
- Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and food storage locker
- Seasonal vault toilets with spigots for dishwashing
- No showers or laundry
- No hookups or dump station
- No cell phone service
- No generators
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Season: Open from Mid-May – Late-September
- Managed by the National Park Service: First-come, first-served
Best Tent Camping in Yellowstone National Park
What the best campground is for you will depend a lot on what you’re looking for and where you plan to go. Things to consider include:
Location
Since Yellowstone is quite big, if you’re going to spend a few days in the park, it might make sense to move campgrounds at least once. However, if you’ve got a large setup and prefer to settle in and make yourself comfortable, traveling around the park each day would make more sense than moving mid-trip.
For a central location to see the popular highlights, Canyon Campground is very popular and Madison is convenient to Old Faithful and the Upper, Mid and Lower Geyser Basins.
Activities
Your choice will also depend on what you like to do. If you’re planning to do lots of hiking and want to see wildlife, one of the northern campgrounds would make the most sense. However, if you’re into boating, you’d want to be at one of the southern campgrounds near Yellowstone Lake.
Reservation system
You will also want to think about whether or not you can reserve a spot. Making reservations can be stressful, but waiting in line for a first-come, first-served site can be even more stressful. You can also spend quite a long time waiting in line at the campground for a place to open up – which is time you can’t spend doing other more fun things. And there is always the possibility that it will fill up before you nab a spot.
Best RV Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park
The best Yellowstone RV camping will depend on the above considerations plus some additional factors.
- Mammoth Campground and Fishing Bridge are the best Yellowstone RV camping options for long rigs/ combos. Mammoth has large pull through sites – up to 70 feet from some sites in summer – and Fishing Bridge can accommodate up to 95 feet in total length at some sites.
- If you’re looking for Yellowstone RV Parks with hookups, Fishing Bridge is your only option, as it’s the only one of the RV Parks in Yellowstone with hookups available.
- The Yellowstone National Park RV campgrounds with dump stations are Bridge Bay Campground, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Canyon Campground, Norris Campground, and Madison Campground.
- Mammoth is the only one of the RV campgrounds in Yellowstone Park that’s open year-round.
- One of the best RV Parks in Yellowstone National Park for small RVs if you’re looking for peace and quiet is Slough Creek.
Yellowstone Camping Map
Check the map of campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park to where in the park they’re located.
How to Make Yellowstone National Park Camping Reservations
The only campground that is open year-round is Mammoth. All of the other Yellowstone camping grounds are seasonal. The exact dates are different each year. Check the NPS website for the dates to be sure they’ll be open for your planned trip.
Some of the Yellowstone Park campgrounds are managed by the Yellowstone National Park Lodges (who are owned by Xanterra and who also manage all of the lodges and cabins in the park). All of these can be reserved in advance. The other campgrounds are managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Some of the NPS-managed campgrounds can be reserved and some are only first-come, first served.
The reservation schedule is different for Yellowstone National Park Lodges and the National Park Service.
Yellowstone Campgrounds reserved through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Yellowstone National Park Lodges takes reservations for five campgrounds:
- Bridge Bay Campground
- Canyon Campground
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
- Grant Village Campground
- Madison Campground
Reservations open 13 months in advance on the fifth of each month for the same month in the following year at midnight MST/ MDT online. So, for example:
- April 5, 2023 >> reservations open for April 1-30, 2024
- May 5, 2023 >> reservations open for May 1 – 31, 2024
- June 5, 2023 >> reservations open for June 1 – 30, 2024, etc.
You can also reserve on the phone – the lines open at 7:00AM MST/ MDT on the 5th of each month, but I recommend doing it online if possible, since reservations become available at midnight online.
Tips for getting Yellowstone National Park campground reservations for these sites:
- Sign in at least 15 minutes before midnight
- Pick your preferred site (and have a backup just in case)
- Be logged into a second computer if you have one, with your backup site selected
- Have a reliable clock (that gives time to the second)
- Hit Reserve the second the clock turns midnight
- If you get one reservation, don’t proceed with the backup
Yellowstone Campgrounds reserved through National Park Service
The National Park Service manages the other seven campgrounds. Reservations for four (technically three and a half) of the campgrounds managed by the National Park Service can be made through Recreation.gov.
The NPS campgrounds that you can reserve are:
- Mammoth Campground
- Slough Creek Campground
- Norris Campground
- Pebble Creek Campground (Sites 1-16 are reservable)
Reservations open 6 months before your arrival date at 8:00AM MST/ MDT.
Tips for getting reservations for campsites in Yellowstone National Park managed by the NPS:
- Create your recreation.gov account in advance (you can do this any time – do it right now if you don’t have an account yet. If you’ve made any reservations with the NPS before, you will already have an account and can use the same one).
- Be logged into your recreation.gov account at least a few minutes beforehand
- Pick your preferred site (and have a backup just in case)
- Be logged into a second computer if you have one, with a second account and your backup site selected
- Have a reliable clock (that gives time to the second)
- Hit Reserve the second the clock turns 8:00AM MST/MDT
- You have 15 minutes to pay before your reservation is cancelled, so don’t stress about needing to enter your credit card info. But be sure to complete your transaction within the 15 minutes
- If you get one reservation, don’t proceed with the backup
- If you miss out, try again at 8:15AM. If someone timed out, a campsite will be freed up and become available
First-come, First-served Campgrounds in Yellowstone
The remaining three (and a half) NPS-managed campgrounds are first-come, first-served:
- Tower Fall Campground
- Indian Creek Campground
- Lewis Lake Campground
- Pebble Creek Campground (Sites 17-27 are first-come, first-served)
Tips for getting a first-come, first-served campsite in Yellowstone National Park
- Check the NPS website for recent fill times and to see the status of all of the campgrounds in the park
- Get there by 7:00AM MST/MDT at the latest for a chance of getting a spot, especially at the height of summer
- You will likely need to wait in line at the entrance for the campground host to assign you a spot as one opens up
- At some campgrounds, the host may give you a ticket to put on a small sign at a campsite of your choosing. Drive around and key an eye out for people packing up (but don’t hover and make them feel uncomfortable). Once your ticket is placed on the sign, that spot is reserved as yours. Check with the host for the system they use, as it can vary a little.
- Have a backup plan for a campground outside the park in case you miss out on a spot
How do you make Yellowstone RV reservations?
Yellowstone National Park RV camping reservations follow the same system.
Travel Insurance for Yellowstone Park camping
You should always consider getting travel insurance when you travel, so you have coverage against theft, loss, medical, emergency repatriation, trip cancellation, etc.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can swap this link for either choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Happy camping!
What are your top picks for the best campgrounds at Yellowstone National Park? I’d love to know. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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Yellowstone Camping Guide
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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