Camping in Yellowstone: Which Campground to Choose, Reservations, and Fees

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Yellowstone

Yellowstone has about a dozen campgrounds spread throughout the park, with several thousand sites in all. Yes, you can camp inside the park, and it's by far the best way to experience it at sunrise, before day visitors arrive. Most sites can be reserved through Recreation.gov; a few are first-come, first-served. During peak season, you'll need to book months ahead.

Campgrounds in the park (12)

• Campground Bridge Bay Campground see NPS · 432 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Canyon Campground see NPS · 273 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Fishing Bridge RV Park see NPS · 310 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Grant Village Campground see NPS · 430 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Indian Creek Campground recreation.gov · 70 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lewis Lake Campground recreation.gov · 85 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Madison Campground see NPS · 276 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Mammoth Campground recreation.gov · 85 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Norris Campground see NPS · 112 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Pebble Creek Campground see NPS · 27 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Slough Creek Campground recreation.gov · 16 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Tower Fall Campground recreation.gov · 31 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can You Camp Inside Yellowstone?

Yes, and it's highly recommended if you want to see bison and geysers without the midday crowds. The park has about a dozen official campgrounds, with varying opening schedules. Most operate from May through October, while one stays open year-round. Dispersed camping outside a designated site isn't allowed in the front-country. Backcountry camping follows its own rules, detailed below.

Campgrounds Inside the Park

Yellowstone covers nearly 3,475 square miles, so where you camp determines what you'll be able to see easily. Here's a breakdown by geographic area.

North Area: Mammoth and Nearby Campgrounds

Mammoth Campground is the only one open year-round. Located near the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, it accommodates tents and RVs but has no electrical hookups. It's our favorite base during the off-season, when elk wander through the campground without warning.

Indian Creek and Pebble Creek are more primitive campgrounds available on a first-come, first-served basis only. They're ideal if you want to get away from the crowds.

Tower Fall and Slough Creek round out the options in the northeast. Slough Creek is known for fly-fishing and fills up within a few hours of opening each morning.

Central Area: Canyon and Norris

Canyon Campground is one of the largest in the park, just minutes from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It offers tent and RV sites, restrooms, and easy access to trails, making it the most versatile choice for a first visit.

Norris Campground, near Steamboat Geyser, has a more intimate feel. Some sites can be reserved, while others are first-come, first-served.

West Area: Madison

Madison Campground sits where the Madison and Firehole rivers meet, near the park's West Entrance. It's strategically located: Old Faithful is 30 minutes away, and the geyser area is within easy driving distance. Even in the middle of July, evenings here are cool.

South Area: Grant Village, Bridge Bay, and Lewis Lake

Grant Village Campground and Bridge Bay Campground are the park's largest campgrounds, with several hundred sites each. Bridge Bay sits beside Yellowstone Lake, and you'll hear gulls at night. Lewis Lake, farther south, is the quietest and most secluded of the three.

RV vs. Tent Camping: Which Site Should You Choose?

Most campgrounds accommodate both tents and RVs, but they don't have hookups. If you need full hookups for water, electricity, and sewer, Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground in the park that offers them. Because of bear-safety concerns, it accepts hard-sided vehicles only. No tents or pop-up trailers. For a complete guide to road-trip options, see all the rules and facilities in the Yellowstone RV camping guide.

Camping Near Yellowstone: Campgrounds Outside the Park

During peak season, from July through August, Yellowstone campgrounds fill up weeks in advance. Gateway towns such as West Yellowstone, Montana, Gardiner, Montana, and Cody, Wyoming, offer private campgrounds with more comforts, including electricity, hot showers, and Wi-Fi. The guide to places to stay around Yellowstone covers the best alternatives, including lodges and unusual accommodations.

Dispersed Camping and Backcountry Camping

Yellowstone allows backcountry camping in designated areas accessible only on foot or horseback. A wilderness permit is required, and you can get one at the park's visitor centers in person or online. During the busy season, booking a few weeks ahead is recommended. Sites are numbered and assigned, so you can't simply pitch your tent wherever you like. For everything related to trails and planning an overnight in the wilderness, the Yellowstone hiking and backcountry guide covers the logistics.

How and When to Reserve a Yellowstone Campsite

The official reservation platform is Recreation.gov. Reservations open six months before your arrival date. A site for July 15 becomes available January 15 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. During peak season, you won't want to miss that window.

The first-come, first-served campgrounds, including Slough Creek, Pebble Creek, Indian Creek, and Tower Fall, don't accept reservations. Arrive early in the morning, before 9 a.m., for a chance at a site.

How Much Does a Night of Camping Cost in Yellowstone?

Standard sites cost between $20 and $30 per night, depending on the campground. Fishing Bridge RV Park, with full hookups, costs around $55. These fees are in addition to the park entrance fee of $35 per private vehicle. To compare all the costs involved in a Yellowstone trip, the guide to national park fees and passes explains entrance fees and passes.

Camping Safety and Best Practices

Yellowstone is home to black bears and grizzly bears. Food-storage rules aren't optional. The park requires them, and rangers enforce them.

• Bear box required: Store all food, scented drinks, and toiletries in the metal locker provided at each site, or in your vehicle's locked trunk. Never leave them in your tent or on the picnic table overnight.
• Trash: Pack out everything you bring, including food scraps.
• Required distances: Stay at least 330 feet from bears and wolves, and 80 feet from bison and elk. A bison can charge at more than 30 mph without warning.
• Unpredictable weather: Even in July, temperatures can drop by more than 18°F during a late-afternoon thunderstorm, and snow can fall in any month of the year. Keep a warm, waterproof jacket in your pack at all times. The Yellowstone weather guide by month provides monthly averages and seasonal risks.
• Campfires: Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings. The park may prohibit them during dry or windy weather.

For the complete rules on Yellowstone's wildlife, see the Yellowstone wildlife guide.

Which Campground Is Best for You?

For cabins, lodges, hotels, and other permanent accommodations, see the guide to Yellowstone hotels and lodges.

Frequently Asked Questions