Yellowstone National Park is a geologic wonder. Home to some of the largest hot springs and geysers in North America the unique sites will keep you on your toes! Then the waterfalls, canyons, and mountains add a scenic backdrop to the abundant wildlife roaming the park. A visit here is quite an unbelievable experience.

One of the best ways to see the park is by camping and an Escape Camper Van upgrades the average camping experience providing comfort and ease in your home on wheels!

With so many camping options in and around Yellowstone, it can be a little overwhelming to plan your trip. This guide goes over the pros and cons of camping both inside and outside the park, options for established and dispersed campgrounds, and tips to help your Yellowstone camping trip run smoothly!

Benefits of Camping in Yellowstone vs Outside the Park

Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 3500 square miles or nearly 2.5 million acres. That’s larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!

Because of its large size, camping in the park gives you close access to all the wonders you’ve come to explore! Of course, this means you must stay in designated sites for a fee. There’s not a chance of boondocking in the park. When weighing your camping options these are some things to consider:

Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park

There are 11 campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park with more than 2,000 campsites. Due to the popularity of the park and its premiere location, all park campgrounds require reservations in advance, as far as 6 to 13 months out. Only one campground, Mammoth Springs, has first-come, first-served sites available in the off-season from October 15 – April 1.

Bookings for Yellowstone campsites are run by two organizations. Some are privately managed and can be reserved through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. The others are managed by the National Park Service and reservations are made through Recreation.gov.

Recreation.gov Yellowstone Campgrounds

Of the 11 campgrounds in Yellowstone, six of them are completely managed and operated by the National Park Service (NPS). These bookings are made directly through recreation.gov. Usually, these campgrounds are more basic with flushing toilets and seasonal potable water. There are few to no amenities.

Mammoth Campground

Mammoth Campground is the only year-round Yellowstone National Park campground. It’s located in the northeast section of the park near Mammoth Hot Springs. It has 82 sites that require reservations from April 15 – October 15. For the rest of the year, the sites are available first-come, first-served. 

The campground has flushing toilets but no showers. Potable water is available seasonally.

Lewis Lake Campground

Lewis Lake Campground is located 8 miles from the south entrance into Yellowstone, just steps away from Lewis Lake. It’s a popular spot to go kayaking, canoeing, or motor boating.

The campground is open from mid-June to mid-October. There are 84 sites with vault toilets and seasonal potable water.

Slough Creek Campground

Slough Creek Campground is located in the northeast part of Yellowstone where Buffalo Creek runs into Slough Creek. It’s one of the best campgrounds in Yellowstone for wildlife watching.

The campground has 16 sites, vault toilets, and potable seasonal water. Slough Creek Campground is a popular area for hiking and fishing.

Tower Fall Campground

Tower Fall Campground is located in the central north part of the park in the Lamar Valley. The 132-foot plunging Tower Falls, Dunraven Pass, and the Tower General Store are near the campground. Hiking and horseback riding are popular in this region of the park.

The campground has 31 campsites with vault toilets and seasonal potable water. Tower Fall Campground is open from late May through late September.

Indian Creek Campground

Indian Creek Campground is a 70-site campground in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. It is currently closed for the 2025 season due to infrastructure work between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris. Check online to see when this campground plans to reopen.

Pebble Creek Campground

Pebble Creek Campground is a 27-site campground in the northeast corner of Yellowstone. Due to intense flooding in 2022, the campground is closed for flood recovery work. Check online to see when the campground plans to reopen.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges Campgrounds

Yellowstone National Park Lodges manages five of the Yellowstone campgrounds.

From the Yellowstone National Park Lodges homepage click “Book” in the top right corner to book a campsite. The NPS does not manage these five campgrounds at recreation.gov.

The reservation opening date for these campgrounds varies but they open as early as 13 months in advance.

Grant Village Campground

Grant Village Campground is a 429-site campground sitting along the south shores of Yellowstone Lake near Grant Village, home to shops, a gas station, a visitors center, a restaurant, and a boat ramp.

The campground has flushing toilets, seasonal potable water, and seasonal coin-operated showers.

Canyon Campground

Canyon Campground is located right in Canyon Village. It’s a very convenient spot off Grand Loop Road and close to Inspiration Point, Artist Point, and Ribbon Lake.

This campground is more developed than many other Yellowstone campgrounds. It has flushing toilets, hot showers, and potable water. Located in Canyon Village there is close access to restaurants and shops.

Madison Campground

Madison Campground is a 276-site campground located at the junction of the Grand Loop Road and the west entrance junction. It’s a perfect campground to base your trip for central access to much of the park. Madison Campground is just north of many park highlights including the Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful and a short drive from Yellowstone Lake.

The campground is open from early May to mid-October. There are flushing toilets and seasonal potable water.

Bay Bridge Campground

Bay Bridge Campground is a 431-site campground sitting along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. It’s open from mid-May to the beginning of September. From the campground enjoy views of the Absaroka Range and Yellowstone Lake, the largest, high-elevation freshwater lake in North America.

The campground has flushing toilets and seasonal potable water. The nearest laundry and shower facilities are located at Fishing Bridge RV Park, a 7-minute drive away.

Fishing Bridge RV Park

Fishing Bridge RV Park is also located on the beautiful shores of Yellowstone Lake. All 310 sites are set up for RV hookups. While tents and camper vans are not allowed, the Fishing Bridge RV Park has camping amenities that nearby campground users might want to use.

The RV park has flushing toilets, potable water, and coin-operated showers.

Dispersed/Car Camping in Yellowstone National Park

Overnight vehicle camping or car camping is not allowed throughout Yellowstone National Park. You cannot sleep overnight in parking lots, pullouts, or picnic areas. Park rangers regularly patrol these areas and will knock on your window at night asking you to move and sometimes give you a ticket.

Your best option for dispersed camping is outside Yellowstone National Park boundaries.

There are many backcountry campsites throughout the park. These campsites require hiking and backpacking experience to reach designated backcountry camping areas. Backcountry permits are required from Recreation.gov.

Camping Outside Yellowstone National Park

Just outside of Yellowstone, there are plenty of camping options. National forests border the park and therefore there are plentiful opportunities to camp at an established national forest campground with basic amenities.

There are some privately run campgrounds and RV parks near the bigger towns outside of the park. These often have more amenities than the national forest campgrounds.

There are also options for dispersed camping throughout the surrounding national forests. These areas have no services or amenities. You’re “roughing it” out there.

Yellowstone National Park has five park entrances. These suggested campgrounds are broken down by entrance region.

Yellowstone West Camping

Yellowstone West is a small Montana town located right outside the west entrance into Yellowstone National Park. Take a stroll through the historic downtown and enjoy the shops, cafes, restaurants, and events throughout the summer.

If you’re unable to snag a campsite in Yellowstone, or if you want more access to a town while camping then staying at one of the many campsites near Yellowstone West is a great option. There are some private campgrounds and many national forest campgrounds in Custer Gallatin National Forest, especially around Hebgen Lake.

Reservations for camping in the national forests open 2 weeks to 6 months in advance.

Bakers Hole Campground

Bakers Hole Campground is a national forest campground sitting alongside the Madison River. It’s a 10-minute drive to the park entrance. It’s open seasonally from the beginning of May through late September. Reservations are required for all but the first two weeks in May when the campground is first-come, first-served.

Bakers Hole Campground has water and toilets. There are no showers.

Rainbow Point Campground

Rainbow Point Campground is a national forest campground located along the shores of Hebgen Lake nestled among lodgepole pines. It’s a perfect spot for fishing, hiking, and boating. The campground is a 15-minute drive from the park entrance.

Rainbow Point Campground provides vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and campfire rings. It’s open from mid-May to the end of September. Reservations are required.

Lonesomehurst Campground

Lonesomehurst Campground also sits on the shores of Hebgen Lake. The national forest campground is only a 20-minute drive from the West Yellowstone Park entrance. It’s a great place to base yourself with fishing, boating, and hiking opportunities.

The campground is open mid May to the end of September. Lonesomehurst Campground has vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, beach access, and a boat ramp. 

Cherry Creek Campground

Cherry Creek Campground is a first-come, first-served campground, also located along the shores of Hebgen Lake. It’s a 25-minute drive from the campground to West Yellowstone. It’s open from mid-May to the end of September.

The campground features 9 shady sites that fill up quickly on holidays and weekends. Sites have access to toilets. There is no running water.

Spring Creek Campground

Spring Creek Campground is a first-come, first-served forest service campground. It is located a little further north along the shores of Hebgen Lake, a 30-minute drive from the park entrance.

The campground is open from late May to mid-October. The campsite has toilets but running water is not reliable.

There are only 15 campsites at Spring Creek Campground and they fill up quickly on weekends and holidays.

Beaver Creek Campground

Beaver Creek Campground is a forest service campground alongside the Madison River. It’s a 30-minute drive from the Yellowstone West entrance. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. The campground has vault toilets, drinking water, and trash collection. Reservations are required.

Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park

Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park is a private campground right in the heart of West Yellowstone, minutes from the park entrance. The campground has dry sites, perfect for camper vans. The facility has many amenities including bathhouses with hot showers, a spacious pavilion, a playground, picnic tables, and wifi. It’s open from mid-May to mid-October.

Dispersed Camping

There are many forest service roads around West Yellowstone. Check the Upper Cherry Creek and Targhee Creek areas for dispersed camping. Dispersed camping is usually restricted around reservoirs and other bodies of water. Therefore, camping in the Hebgen Lake district is restricted to the designated listed campgrounds.

Gardiner Camping

Gardiner is a cute wild-west Montana town located north of the park. This entrance is famously known for the Roosevelt Arch, a gateway to the park and recognition of Yellowstone as the first national park.

The town is small but has gas stations, shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. It’s located along the scenic Yellowstone River. There are a handful of camping options in this region.

Eagle Creek Campground

Eagle Creek Campground is a national forest campground on the Yellowstone River near Gardiner. It’s one of the few campgrounds open year-round which is convenient because the nearest entrance into Yellowstone is one of the few entrances open year-round, weather permitting.

Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season. Reservations are required from late May through early September. Sites have toilets but there is no running water.

Yellowstone Riverfront RV Park

Yellowstone Riverfront RV Park is a private campground in Gardiner, near the north entrance to Yellowstone. It’s open from early May to early October. The campground has bathhouses with hot showers, laundry, wifi, running water, and picnic tables. The campgrounds boast stunning views of the Yellowstone River.

Dispersed Camping near Gardiner

Custer Gallatin National Forest covers a lot of the area outside of the Gardiner Park entrance. Dispersed camping sites are commonly found along Little Trail Creek Road and Travertine Road. Roads into these areas can get rough so don’t push it with your Escape Camper Van! Obey all posted signs because dispersed camping regulations can change at any time.

Silver Gate & Cooke City Camping

There are a few camping options at the northeast entrance of the park near Silver Gate and Cooke City. This is a rural area and there are minimal services near this entrance. There are a couple of gas stations, a few lodges, and a small general store.

Soda Butte Campground

Soda Butte Campground is 15 minutes from the Yellowstone Park entrance. The forest service campground has 27 first-come, first-serve sites available from early July to early September, weather dependent.

This is a hard-sided vehicle campground only, meaning tent camping is not allowed. There are toilets and water.

Colter Campground

Colter Campground is another hard-sided vehicle national forest campground. Tent camping is not allowed. It’s about 13 minutes from the park entrance. The 18 sites are available first-come, first-served from early July to early September. The campground has water and toilets.

Crazy Creek Campground

Crazy Creek Campground is a 16-site forest service campground along Crazy Creek. It’s open from late June to early September. It’s a 25-minute drive from the park entrance. Sites are available first-come, first-served. It’s a basic campground with vault toilets. There is no drinking water.

Dispersed Camping

Beartooth Scenic Byway is one of the best options for dispersed camping near the Cooke City entrance into Yellowstone. Look for spots along the many forest services roads. There are no amenities or services here.

East of Yellowstone

Just outside the eastern entrance of Yellowstone are several campgrounds along the North Fork of the Shoshone River. Many of these campgrounds are first-come, first-served. There are a few private campgrounds as you continue east. The nearest town to the east Yellowstone entrance is Cody, about one hour and 15 minutes from the park.

Eagle Creek Campground

Eagle Creek Campground is minutes from the eastern park entrance along the Shoshone River. The national forest campground is first-come, first-serve. The 20 sites are available from late spring (weather-dependent) to mid-October. The campground has potable water and vault toilets.

Newtown Creek Campground

Newtown Creek Campground is a 31-site first-come, first-serve forest service campground sitting 20 minutes from the east entrance to Yellowstone. Located along the North Fork of the Shoshone River it boasts great views. The campground has potable water and vault toilets. It’s open from late spring (weather permitting) to mid-September.

South of Yellowstone

Just south of Yellowstone is Bridger Teton National Forest. 10 minutes south of that is Grand Teton National Park. Camping in this area is a great idea if you’re planning to visit both parks!

Sheffield Campground

Sheffield Campground is a Bridger Teton National Forest campground about 10 minutes from the southern entrance of Yellowstone. This is a 12-site, first-come, first-served campground. It’s open from late spring to mid-September. The campground has seasonal running water and toilets.

Dispersed Camping Near Yellowstone National Park

Dispersed Camping or wild or primitive camping is camping outside of designated camping areas on free public lands. This is common in national forests and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

Luckily enough, Yellowstone National Park is surrounded by national forest land. Custer-Gallatin National Forest borders the north and west sides of the park. Shoshone National Forest is on the east side and Bridger Teton National Forest borders the south/southeast.

Each of these national forests have established camping areas but many also offer plentiful opportunities for finding your site!

How to Find Dispersed Camping Near Yellowstone

You can always pull out a map and start searching for forest service roads. Or zoom in on a satellite map to find flat pullouts along forest service roads. Or even better, you can use some camping apps to find suggested dispersed camping sites! The Dyrt, Campendium, and iOverlander all offer great suggestions for camping.

These apps list locations and coordinates with reviews about each spot. Some valuable information they include is the terrain to reach the spot and if 4-wheel drive is necessary, the natural environment surroundings, how large the area is, and if there is cell service. Some pins show photos.

Tips for Dispersed Camping Near Yellowstone

Dispersed camping is a whole different world from campground camping. You have to do research to find your spot. Sometimes it takes minutes, other times hours. These tips will help you when choosing a dispersed campsite near Yellowstone.

• • Find your campsite before dark. If you’re unfamiliar with the area it helps to check out the campsite in daylight. It feels safer and as the evening goes on places get more crowded.

• Pack enough food and water. There are no services when dispersed camping. Make sure you have enough supplies to get you through, and extra supplies in case something happens, like if your vehicle gets stuck.

• Drive smart – don’t take a low clearance 2-wheel drive vehicle on rough roads. If you get stuck on a dirt road without cell service you’re going to have a fun time finding your way out. Many have learned it the hard way – most tow trucks will not come up remote roads in the middle of a forest, miles from town.

• Store all food and scented items in your car. When dispersed camping you won’t have access to bear boxes. So, the next safest option to avoid animals getting into your food is by sleeping with it! Sleep with your doors locked and if an animal tampers with your vehicle at night, sound the alarm. In most cases, this will scare the animal off.

• Follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. It’s important to leave the areas you visit pristine. When you leave it should look like you were never there. This means packing out everything you bring, including all trash, and properly burying or disposing of human waste. Camp on durable surfaces. Don’t park your vehicle in a meadow on vegetation. Stick to dirt. Leave what you find for others to enjoy unless you find trash to pack out!

• Obey fire regulations. The Yellowstone region has strict fire regulations in place, especially when the risk of fire danger is high. The last thing you want to do is start a wildfire.

• Dispersed camping areas can change. As areas become more heavily trafficked more regulations are put in place, especially when damage is done to an environment. Sometimes roads are closed due to storms and damage. Follow signs and have a backup plan if you can’t find a place to camp.

• Some areas are very strict about dispersed camping. Near natural bodies of water and reservoirs, camping is usually limited to established sites. Many trailheads prohibit overnight camping.

• When in doubt, ask a ranger. There are forest service offices in many of the towns outside of Yellowstone. Pop into one to ask a ranger for camping suggestions and local dispersed camping regulations.

Best Time of Year for a Yellowstone Camping Road Trip

Yellowstone is beautiful year-round and offers different opportunities to explore but from fall to late spring the park has pretty limited access due to its high elevation and snow. During the snowy months, most roads are only accessible on guided over-snow tours.

Therefore, it’s best to visit during the drier months from mid-May to mid-October. Expect cool weather in May and October.

From June to September temperatures are fairly comfortable. Lower elevations in the park average in the 80s while higher parts of the park may only hit the 60s to 70s.

Any road and weather closures are posted as a banner at the top of the Yellowstone National Park website.

Wildlife Safety – Bear Country & Beyond

Grizzly bears, black bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, wolves, bison, elk, and moose are only some of the wildlife you might see while visiting the park. These animals call Yellowstone National Park their home and it’s important to respect it.

Therefore, food safety is especially important. Whether you’re hiding your food from the big bears or the little bears (rodents and such) it’s important to understand how to safely visit and store food in bear country.

Bear Storage Lockers

Bear management is a huge part of park rangers’ jobs to reduce the number of bear-human conflicts. Therefore, bear-proof storage boxes are placed at every campsite in the park to ensure proper food storage.

When camping in Yellowstone you MUST store ALL food and scented items in your designated campsite storage box. Otherwise, you might awaken to a curious knock from a furry friend in the middle of the night!

When properly locked these boxes are guaranteed to keep your food safely stored and protected. Of course, a bear can still smell what’s inside but the goal is to prevent them from reaching it.

Viewing Wildlife While Driving

The first time you see a bear, moose, elk, etc. is an incredible experience! Often a first sighting happens from your car window rather than out on a trail. Driving and pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance when viewing wildlife from the road.

If you’re on a windy turn do not stop to look at the animal. The chance of a collision is high. Unless there’s a safe designated pull-off or designated lane for wildlife viewing, keep driving.

You’ll quickly learn that the biggest traffic jams in the park are caused by wildlife crossings. In areas where cars can legally pull off to view animals, drive very slowly in case pedestrians walk into your lane.

Do not get out of your car until you are safely parked and far away from the animal. Follow directions from rangers and park staff directing traffic. We all LOVE to see wildlife but let’s stay safe doing so.

Wildlife Viewing

Always remain a safe distance from wildlife. Never approach wildlife as animals are wild and have unpredictable behaviors. A car is the safest place to view animals. If you’re out on food, stay at least 300 feet from bears and wolves and at least 75 feet from bison, elk, and other animals. Stick to designated boardwalks and trails.

Do not feed wildlife. Animals quickly become aggressive toward people especially when they smell your food. People end up injured or worse.

The phrase “a fed bear is a dead bear” means once a bear interacts with humans it must be relocated. This decreases its chance of survival in the wilderness. Avoiding contact and keeping distance from animals is important for the lifespan of the animals.

Selfies with any wildlife are strictly prohibited. The best photos you see in the parks are taken by photographers with very expensive lenses, from hundreds of feet away. Without this equipment, your smartphone will never safely capture an animal the same way. Buy a postcard at the gift shop instead!

Camping in Yellowstone Tips

• • Book your sites well in advance. If you plan on camping in the park, campgrounds book up early. The sooner you plan your trip, the better!

• Grocery shop before reaching Yellowstone. The little shops in the park are expensive and have limited options. Do a big grocery shop in a city before heading into the park.

• Fuel up! Fill up your gas tank before you enter the park for the best price. There are gas stations in the park if you’re in a pinch.

• Bring a rechargeable battery pack. Keep your devices going with a battery pack. You can only charge your device in an Escape Camper Van while it’s running.

• Pack clothing layers. Yellowstone sits up high with an average elevation of around 8,000 feet. Day and nighttime temperatures vary throughout the park and weather is constantly changing. Pack moisture-wicking base layers, insulating fleece or down mid-layers, and a rain and waterproof shell.

• Break in your hiking shoes. Arrive at the park with already broken-in shoes. You’re likely to spend a lot of time walking or hiking. Whether you prefer hiking boots or trail runners they should be comfortable and sturdy.

• Pack a headlamp, first aid kit, hat, multitool/knife, and sunblock. These are some small items people often forget.

• Check the weather and road closures before you head out. Heat spells, wind, rain, and occasional snow storms can happen at any time of year in Yellowstone. Check road and weather conditions before embarking on your trip to avoid travel disruptions.

Why Rent an Escape Campervan for a Yellowstone Camping Trip?

An Escape Camper Van is a great way to embark on a Yellowstone camping trip. It’s your home on wheels! These vans are mobile, easy to drive, and comfortable. You can pick up an Escape Camper Van in either Salt Lake City or Denver then hit the road! With hiking, iconic sites, scenic drives, and unbelievable wildlife this is sure to be a trip of a lifetime!