Many will argue that it doesn't get any better than camping in a national park. In Yellowstone, your choices are great, with a dozen campgrounds and hundreds of backcountry sites for a total of over 20,000 established sites.
All campsites require advanced reservations online or by phone through either recreation.gov (877-444-6777 daily, from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. EST) or Yellowstone National Park Lodges (307-344-7311), with the exception of Mammoth Campground which offers first-come, first-served sites from October 15 - April 1. Because of the popularity of this park, most campsites are reserved months in advance, so it is recommended that you make reservations as early as you can. If you are looking for a site in a specific campground and nothing is available, keep checking every day, because last-minute cancellations do happen.
List of campgrounds and amenities at Yellowstone National Park / NPS table
Below is a quick description of the campgrounds. Click on the campground name for more detailed information.
Campgrounds Requiring Reservations Booked Through Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Sites at Madison Campgr9und, Yellowstone National Park / Rebecca Latson
This is a sprawling campground set in a lodgepole forest at the intersection of the West Entrance road and the Grand Loop, one that feels like a small community with 276 campsites (117 tent only), including 3 ADA accessible sites. Set beneath National Park Mountain (7,500' / 2,286 m) and near the confluence of the Gibbon and the Firehole rivers, which then form the Madison River, this campground has some history, as the national park "creation myth" has it that America's national park movement was spawned in the early fall of 1870 during talk around a campfire near the confluence. There are also 5 group sites accommodating 1-19 ($165/night), 20-29 ($250/night), 30-39 ($325/night), 40-49 ($400/night), and 50-60 ($475/night) people, respectively. Campsites go for $33 per night, exclusive of taxes. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Use Promo Code PASS when booking a reservation. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night, exclusive of taxes.
Fishing Bridge RV Park sites, Yellowstone National Park / NPS file
Once upon a time there was a large campground here at Fishing Bridge, but its setting in habitat preferred by grizzly bears made it a bit too dangerous for tent campers. While they were moved in the 1980s, the RV campground -- hard-shelled rigs only, thank you -- remained, with 310 sites where you can plug in to electricity and water and avail yourself of showers and laundry facilities and a dump station. Sites run $89 - $99 per site exclusive of taxes.
A visitor at a Bridge Bay campsite, Yellowstone National Park / NPS file
Set across from Yellowstone Lake, this is a great location for anglers and boaters. There are 431 campsites here (including 3 ADA accessible sites), some that can handle RVs. There are also 5 group sites accommodating 1-19 ($165/night), 20-29 ($250/night), 30-39 ($325/night), 40-49 ($400/night), and 50-60 ($475/night) people, respectively. Campsites go for $33 per night, exclusive of taxes. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Use Promo Code PASS when booking a reservation. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night, exclusive of taxes.
The 272 campsites here (including 3 ADA accessible sites), some for RVs, are set in a nice lodgepole forest. Though perhaps exhibiting a crowded feel at the height of summer, you're a short walk from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Showers and laundry are available, and Canyon Lodge with its restaurants and stores are nearby. Campsites go for $33 per night, exclusive of taxes. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Use Promo Code PASS when booking a reservation. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night, exclusive of taxes.
A site at Grant Campground, Yellowstone National Park / Rebecca Latson
This is where the campsites removed from Fishing Bridge showed up. This location, with its 429 sites (including 3 ADA accessible sites), is slightly better than Bridge Bay if you like boating, as it's on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Along with the campground, you'll find a restaurant, grocery, visitor center, post office, gas station, showers, and laundry here. There are 8 group sites accommodating 1-19 ($165/night), 20-29 ($250/night), 30-39 ($325/night), 40-49 ($400/night), and 50-60 ($475/night) people, respectively. Standard campsites go for $39 per night, exclusive of taxes. Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Use Promo Code PASS when booking a reservation. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night, exclusive of taxes.
Campgrounds Requiring Reservations Booked Through recreation.gov
Sites at Mammoth Campground, Yellowstone National Park / Rebecca Latson
Offering 85 campsites (including 5 ADA accessible sites), is the only campground open year-round. It's next to park headquarters, just inside the park's North Entrance. Benefits of being here are the restaurants and stores at Mammoth. Most sites are pull-through but some are tent-only. The nightly fee for a standard site is $25 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night.
A site at Norris Campground, Yellowstone National Park / NPS file
Offering 112 sites set near the hottest and most colorful thermal basin in the park, this campground has flush toilets and allows RVs with generators. The Museum of the National Park Ranger is nearby. Some sites can accommodate RVS up to 50 feet. The nightly fee for a standard site is $25 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night. This campground is closed for 2024.
A site at Norris Campground, Yellowstone National Park / NPS file
This campground has only 31 sites, but it is close to Roosevelt Lodge with its restaurant and service station, and there's a camp store across the road from the campground. It has some sites that can handle RVs up to 30'. The nightly fee for a standard site is $20 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night. This campground is closed for 2024.
Slough Creek Campground, Yellowstone National Park / NPS - Jacob W. Frank
This is the park's smallest campground, with just 16 sites (including 1 ADA accessible site), but its location near wolf territories in the northeast corner of the park makes it much in demand. It can handle RVs up to 30' (9 m). The nightly fee is $20 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount.
This campground offers 27 sites, including 1 ADA accessible site. Some sites can handle RVs. East of Slough Creek in the Lamar Valley, this campground also offers the chance of hearing wolves howl, or even spotting them early in the morning or in the evenings. The nightly fee is $20 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night. This campground is closed for 2024 for flood recovery work.
A moderately sized campground with 70 sites, including 2 ADA accessible sites, Indian Creek Campground is located a bit south of Mammoth and across from Sheepeater Cliff. It has vault toilets. Some sites can handle RVs up to 40' (12 m) in length. The nightly fee is $20 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night.
A campsite at the Lewis Lake Campground, Yellowstone National Park / NPS - Neal Herbert
Located on the southern shores of its namesake lake, not far from the park's South Entrance, there are 85 sites here, some that can accommodate RVs up to 25'. There's also a boat launch, but no camp store. The nightly fee is $20 and Senior/Access passholders receive a 50 percent discount. Hiker/bicyclist sites are $10 per night.
Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping offers a solitude not found in frontcountry campsites, Yellowstone National Park / Kurt Repanshek
Yellowstone maintains 293 designated backcountry campsites, and a Backcountry Use Permit is required for all overnight stays. Each designated campsite has a maximum limit for the number of people and stock allowed per night.
The maximum stay per campsite varies from 1 to 3 nights per trip. Campfires are permitted only in established fire pits. Wood fires are not allowed in some backcountry campsites. A food storage pole is provided at most designated campsites so that food and attractants may be secured from bears.
For details on arranging a backcountry trip, reserving campsites, and obtaining the requisite permits, visit the park's backcountry page.
Nothing better than tenting under a starry sky at Yellowstone National Park / Rebecca Latson
