12 Best Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park in 2024

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CAMPGROUNDS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK?

You are in the right place! Being from Idaho we have traveled to Yellowstone frequently.  We have traveled with our family in our RV since 2010 and bring you all the best Yellowstone campgrounds and everything you need to know to camp at each.

Camping in Yellowstone National Park is one of our favorite activities. All of the sites in the campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park have picnic tables (a great place for fun camping games!) and most of them have a fire ring that allows for open fires. Fishing Bridge does not allow open fires.

Yellowstone has some of the largest campgrounds with over 400+ sites and some very small and secluded ones for those who want to try and avoid the crowds.

Yellowstone is the world’s first national park with the best scenery, hot pots, geysers, and wild animals making Yellowstone National park one of the most beautiful and unique parks. We have traveled through and camped in Yellowstone many many times since we are from Idaho and love the outdoors, and we never get tired of the great place Yellowstone is.

There are so many great places to stay in Yellowstone National Park.

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What is the best campground in Yellowstone National Park?

The best campground can be different for everyone depending on the type of camping you are looking for. We love to camp in our RV, and because of this, we think the best campground in Yellowstone National Park is the newly remodeled fishing bridge campground or Mammoth Campground.

This is for a multitude of reasons. It fits our motorhome. We travel in a motorhome that is a little bit larger and we pull our car behind it. Because of this, we need a larger space so we can fit. The Fishing Bridge RV park can hold the largest of RVs and their tow vehicle. The Mammoth Campground can also fit big rigs and has a cell phone tower so we get better cell service there.

When we travel to Yellowstone national park, we also like to have hookups. The fishing bridge has full hookups. This includes electrical hookups, water hookups, and sewer hookups. If you are going to be staying at the park for multiple days hookups can be such a great benefit. You can get home from a long day and relax in your headed or airconditioned RV.

If you do not care much about hookups and you are looking for the best campground based on location the Canyon Village Campground will be your best campground in Yellowstone National Park.

It is very centrally located and in a great wooded section of the park and there are some great places for fun outdoor family games. Because of this it is very popular.

It is best to make your reservations as far in advance as possible especially if you have a larger RV. Large RV spots are limited so the sooner you get one the better.

Best Campground in Yellowstone National Park for RVs

The best campground in Yellowstone National Park for RVs is Mammoth Hot Springs Campground and Fishing Bridge RV Park. This is because they fit almost any size RV and Fishing Bridge has full hookups.

If you have a smaller RV your best RV camping in Yellowstone is going to be either Madison or Canyon Campgrounds because of their central locations.

Best Campground in Yellowstone National Park for Tents

Yellowstone can be an amazing place to camp. The best tent camping in Yellowstone depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking to be in a secluded spot not in the middle of everything and less visited, then your best tent camping in Yellowstone should be the Slough Creek Campground.

This campground is by the Northeast Entrance, and it does take reservations. Reservations for Slough Creek Campground can be made a recreation.gov. What makes this a great tent camping site is that it only has 16 available spaces and does not fit larger RVs. Generators are not allowed here, and it can be one of the best campgrounds for wildlife.

You can often hear the wolves howl in the distance and the campground is by a field of sage making it smell lovely.

Tower Fall Campground and Pebble Creek Campground are also great smaller spots for tent camping. Tower Fall Campground is like Slough Creek Campground because it does not allow generators and it does not have space for larger RVs.

Pebble Creek Campground does not have a ton of sites, but it does have more than Tower and Slough Creek. However, everything is spaced well. It can fit larger RVs, but the spacing and lower site numbers make it a good spot. It is right along the Absaroka River making it a great spot to camp and fish easily.

What is the most popular campground in Yellowstone?

The two most popular campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park are Madison and Canyon Campgrounds. This is because of their central locations, proximity to West Yellowstone Montana, and the amenities they offer such as flush toilets, dishwashing stations, pay showers, and access to laundry facilities.

All the campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park are now reservable online.

Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park

1. Madison Campground

Madison Campground is one of three Yellowstone campgrounds that have group sites. It is the only one of the three that is said to not have cell service.

Madison is one of the best campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park because of its central location. It is also open for a larger part of the season. Madison also has a dump station. There are 4 other campgrounds with a dump station.

Madison Campground is the closest Yellowstone Campground to the popular West Yellowstone, Montana. You will love its proximity to the Madison River and the West Entrance. This is also a great campground to set up your hammock because there are tons of great trees throughout the campground.

2. Bridge Bay Campground

Bridge Bay is located very close to Yellowstone Lake. The lake views from the campground are very good. Bridge bay does have some cell coverage and is suitable for group camping sites. If you are going to be boating, kayaking, or enjoying some water activities on the lake Bridge Bay is a great campground to look at.

This campground is a little more open and is the largest of the 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park. It is great for RVs and campers alike. This campground can often be very laid back because of its size and the location is an area that is slightly less trafficked by other people in the park.

3. Grant Village Campground

Grant Village is another large campground in Yellowstone National Park. It is the only campground with group sites that has nearby showers and Laundry Facilities. It is close to stores, a restaurant, a gas station, the visitor center, and a boat ramp

This campground is just south of Yellowstone Lake. It has everything you need to have a wonderful camping trip. The proximity to the lake and the nice lodgepole pine trees are wonderful. Elk and wild animals pass right through the campground. The Campground is close to the South Entrance.

4. Canyon Campground

The Canyon Campground is one of the most popular because of its central location. It is very close to the Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone, with stores, restaurants, and lodging. There are some great hikes nearby. These hikes include Cascade Lake, Mount Washburn, and Canyon Rim. It also has some Verizon cell phone coverage.

Some of the tent sites in Loop A can feel a little small. A great tip is to reserve a bigger tent space than you need. If you can get a large tent space, you should do it. This will allow room for your car and you will not have people as close if the campground fills up.

Another great camping tip is if you do not like your location you should ask the camp host if there are any other spots available. This campground has 273 spaces and other locations are even larger. There is a chance a better option is available. It never hurts to ask the camp hosts. They will have so much knowledge about the area. Don’t be afraid to ask them if you have questions or concerns.

It is important to always be kind to the camp host even if they don’t give you the answer you are looking for. A lot of these people can be volunteers and are doing what they are because they love the outdoors and like to see people have a good time. Be nice to them. Treat them with respect and they will help you if possible.

5. Fishing Bridge Campground

Fishing Bridge has just opened from being newly remodeled and these are large campgrounds. It can now fit the largest of rigs. You can triple tow and still fit into a spot here. They can fit up to 95 feet in length in some sites.

The other great thing about this campground is they have full hookups. You can experience Yellowstone with water, power, and sewer hookups. This campground is only for RVs that are hard-sided. This means tents and pop-up trailers are not allowed in this campground. This is because grizzly bears can frequent the area.

This year (2022) will be the first year since the new remodel. We have heard really good things about the new updates and the paved roads. If you are looking for hookups and space for large RVs this is going to be your campground.

Fishing Bridge is close to Yellowstone Lake and the East Entrance.

6. Mammoth Campground

This is the only campground that is in Yellowstone Park that is open year-round. It accepts reservations from April to October but outside of that, it functions on a first-come-first-served basis.

There are always a lot of elk and bison in this area. They can frequently pass through the campground. If you are looking for elk because you have not seen any in the park, it is almost a sure thing you will see them in the town of Mammoth which is frequently called Mammoth Hot Springs since they are so close together.

We have gone through Yellowstone so many times and always see elk in Mammoth. They like to hang out in the town. It is very important to not get close to the wild animals in the park including the elk. People are killed or severely injured every year because they get too close to the animals.

These are wild animals and can feel threatened when approached.

7. Norris Campground

This is a unique campground as it is situated close to a wonderful meadow. The meadows are great places to sit and look for wildlife with your binoculars (you can see our binocular recommendations here) if you brought them. The Norris Campground is also very centrally located making it a popular choice among park visitors.

There is great hiking close to the Norris Campground since you are only a 10-minute walk to the Norris Geyser Basin. There is also The Museum of the National Park Ranger that is close.

In the past, Norris Campground was not a reservable campground. This is also true about multiple other campgrounds inside Yellowstone National Park. However, this has recently changed. You can now make reservations at all the Yellowstone Park camping locations.

One thing to keep in mind when staying in this campground is that it is in the middle of the Norris Geyser basin which means it is very close to all the hots springs. This can cause the campground to have a little bit of an aroma of sulfur or rotten eggs inside the campground. This is generally not an issue for most people who stay here as your body quickly gets used to the smell making it not super noticeable.

All in all, this is a convenient location to camp for some of the best camping in Yellowstone National Park. Hopefully, things get worked out in the coming years and this campground will be as wonderful as it has been in the past. 

Unfortunately, this campground is anticipated closed for the 2022 camping season due to staffing issues.

8. Indian Creek Campground

 Indian Creek is close to Mammoth Hot Springs. It is a little bit off the main road near the base of the Gallatin Mountains. This gives the campground a laid-back, quiet, and primitive experience.

The campground is not super large so when full it can feel like you are a little close together. However, because this location is a little bit off the road and is not as popular as many other locations it can fill up slower. The camp host here is great. If you are having trouble finding a place to stay or want to stay close to the North Entrance this is a good camping location.

9. Lewis Lake Campground

Lewis lake is the Campground farthest south in Yellowstone Park. It is close to Lewis lake which is great for Canoes, kayaks, and motorboats. If you are going to be using those items in the lake make sure you get your boat permits and aquatic invasive species inspection performed by the nearby park staff.

Because of the Southern location of this campground, it is typically the last campground to fill up. The sites are smaller and there are not many pull-through sites. There are a few different loops in this campground.

The A loop sites are not a spread out. The B Loop sites are more spread out but depending on your location you can get a little road noise from the B Loop. There is also a C Loop that is available.

If you arrive and the campground is not full and you drove around and find a better spot that is open talk with the camp host and see if you can switch your location. There are 85 different options here.

10. Pebble Creek Campground

Pebble Creek is the closest campground to the Northeast entrance of the park. It is a smaller, more primitive, and isolated camping location. There are great day hikes and many wildlife viewing opportunities in this area.

This is also one of the cheapest places to stay in the YNP at only $15 per night. You cannot find a much better value for staying inside the national park. There are many locations outside the park that are $100 just for a tent site. 

If you want to do a good amount of day hiking and fishing this is a good option. There are hiking trails a short distance from your campsite. The low site numbers also make this a good area because you won’t have as many people driving around through the area.

This location is only open for about 4 months or less depending on the exact open and close dates. These dates can vary from year to year depending on weather and staffing.

11. Slough Creek Campground

Slough Creek is another very small campground with only 16 campsites. It is a couple of miles down a dirt road but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is not a good location. It is said this campground can have some of the best opportunities for watching wildlife and hearing the wolves howl.

At night you have an unprecedented view of the stars and lots of quiet time because of the small campground and the fact it is off the main road you get little to no traffic. The only traffic will be those who will be staying in the camp with you.

Do remember many of these campgrounds used to be FCFS but all now have the ability to be reserved. If you want a campsite inside the park that is last minute, it would be a good option to try these smaller locations or Lewis Lake if the main campgrounds are full.

These small campgrounds used to be first come first serve but because of the unknown and the havoc this created for some locations, this has recently been changed.

12. Tower Fall Campground

Tower fall campground is small and primitive, but it is close to some amenities so if you want to feel secluded but not too much this could be a good option. The Tower General Store is close to this campground and within a short drive, there are dining and horseback riding opportunities. Don’t forget that Tower Falls is a 130-foot waterfall that is close by giving you easy access.

One thing to keep in mind when looking for a campsite is that no matter where you stay you will probably see wildlife. We have never driven through the park and not seen something awesome. Staying inside Yellowstone National Park is amazing.

All these campgrounds are great for seeing all that Yellowstone has to offer. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the exact spot or location you want. To say there is a bad spot in Yellowstone is to say you are disappointed you only saw 50 bison instead of 100 bison.

Yellowstone National Park does a great job at working to keep the facilities clean and enjoyable for everyone. Tower Fall campground is no different. You will love the wonderful environment the Yellowstone campground has to offer. Don’t be in a hurry, don’t get too close to the animals and soak in the great outdoors and you will have a wonderful visit.

Map of the Best Campground in Yellowstone National Park

Backcountry Camping in Yellowstone

Backcountry camping in Yellowstone is an amazing experience. There are more than 1,000 miles of backcountry trails in Yellowstone and 293 campsites maintained for backcountry hikers.

If you are interested in staying overnight in the Yellowstone backcountry you must first have a permit to do so. The permit allows you and your group to stay in a designated location so depending on the permit you are able to get will determine the campsites that are available to you and your party.

How to Get a Backcountry Permit

There are three ways to get a permit to the Yellowstone backcountry. The first is through a permit lottery. This is called the Early Access Lottery. You can register for the lottery at recreation.gov. The lottery is a randomized process. If you are selected for the lottery, you will be given until April 24th to book your reservation for your backcountry trip.

The second permit option is for general permits. After those selected for the lottery have booked their reservations, which have to be done by April 24^th, the general permit section becomes available on April 26^th. During this time you can get a permit for the remaining campsites.

The third option is a walk-up permit. Seventy-five percent of the permits are given out during the lottery and the general permit times. The remaining 25 percent is reserved for walk-up participants. These permits are given out in a first-come, first-served manner and can be received up to 48 hours in advance. These permits cannot be reserved online but are reserved by calling the recreation.gov call center.

If you are looking for more information on permitting and who you can call for questions you can visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/22004.htm.

A permit is required year-round if you are going to spend the night in the Yellowstone backcountry. If you are not going to be spending the night a permit is not required.

Yellowstone Backcountry Permit Seasons

The permits for Yellowstone backcountry hiking are broken into three different seasons. You have the winter season which is December to March. If you are interested in going into the backcountry during the winter the permits are free of charge and can be received by calling the backcountry office.

If you are interested in a permit during this season or want to learn more about it you will want to call the backcountry office.

Snowmobiling in the backcountry is prohibited but you can obtain a permit to ride a snowmobile on the park roads. More information about non-commercial snowmobile permits can be found here.

The next season is the spring season. This season is from April 1^st to May 14^th. These permits are available three days before your trip. If you are interested in a permit during this time you can call 307-344-2160 or you can send them an email.

The peak season is from May 15th to November 5th. This is where the lottery, general permits, and walk-up permits discussed above apply.

If you are interested in looking at all of the great backcountry campsites and hiking trails, you can see the map here. This is a very useful interactive map with trails and campsites.

Backcountry Tours

If you are interested in hiking the Yellowstone backcountry but do not know where to start or are not wanting to do the planning, there are many guided backcountry tours available. These tours come in many different options. They can help guide you on your hike or go on a longer hike where they use llamas or goats to pack your gear and the guides will cook your meals.

A guided backcountry trip is the perfect way to see the backcountry if you want to see the Yellowstone backcountry but don’t do backcountry hiking often. Even if you do hike often the experience is totally different having someone guide you, cook meals, and has animals that can pack your gear.

Group Campsites in Yellowstone National Park

There are only 3 Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park that allows for group campsites. These campsites are Grant, Bay Bridge, and Madison Campgrounds.

Grant has 8 available group campsites. Bay Bridge has 4 group campsites and Madison has 3 group campsites.

Do you have to reserve a campsite in Yellowstone?

YES!!!!! This is very important. There has been a change with the campgrounds in Yellowstone. Many blogs and websites have not updated their data. All of the Yellowstone campgrounds are now reservable. There used to be first come first serve campsites, but this has been changed. This is a quote from the National Park Service for Yellowstone

“Yellowstone National Park offers 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 established campsites. All campsites must be reserved in advance, with the exception of Mammoth Campground which offers first-come, first-served sites from October 15 – to April 1. If you arrive without a reservation, the chances of finding a campsite in the park are very unlikely. Most campsites are reserved far in advance, so it is recommended that you make reservations as early as you can. All dates are subject to change.”

Make sure you reserve a campsite before you go to Yellowstone National Park. There is nothing more stressful than arriving at a national park or any location without a place to camp. Being prepared is one of the most important things when traveling with your family. Don’t leave your campsite up in the air.

For a list of the campsites, their different amenities, and the length of RV they are able to accommodate check out this website.

How to book a campsite in Yellowstone

Booking a campsite in Yellowstone is easy. All of the 12 campsites can be reserved online at either Recreation.gov or Yellowstone National Park Lodges found here. You can also call 866-439-7375.

We would recommend reserving online. This is the fastest and easiest way to secure a campsite but if the computer is not working you should call.

Reserve with Yellowstone Park Lodges

• Bridge Bay
• Canyon
• Grant Village
• Madison
• Fishing Bridge RV Park

Reserve with Recreation.gov

• Indian Creek
• Lewis Lake
• Mammoth
• Pebble Creek
• Slough Creek
• Tower Fall

First-Come first-served campground in Yellowstone

There used to be seven FCFS campsites in Yellowstone. This is no longer the case. All of the 12 best campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park must be reserved in advance. Check with the Yellowstone National Park Services if you have questions about campground reservations. Their phone number is (307)-344-7381.

When are the Yellowstone National Park campgrounds open?

Each campground in Yellowstone National park opens at different times. Below you will find the dates that each campground is open. These can change from year to year so we also recommend visiting the National Park website for updates and more information.

2022 Current campground open and close dates

Bridge Bay: May 20^th to September 5^th
Canyon May: 27^th to September 18^th
Fishing Bridge: May 27^th to October 8^th
Grant Village: June 3^rd to September 11^th
Madison: May 5^th to October 16^th
Indian Creek: June 10^th to September 11^th
Lewis Lake: June 15^th to Oct 14^th
Mammoth: Open Year-Round
Norris: Closed 2022
Pebble Creek: June 15^th to September 25^th
Slough Creek: June 15^th to October 10^th
Tower Fall: TBD

Glamping Near Yellowstone

If you want to experience the outdoor without some of the uncomfortable aspects, then outdoor glamping is your friend. With glamping, you can experience high-class tents with real beds and views that are not rivaled by many.

Many of the Glamping locations such as Under Canvas supply a great restaurant menu, open fires, smores, music, yoga, and the ability to still use your devices in case you need to stay connected as we do.

Under Canvas is just outside of West Yellowstone their address is 890 Buttermilk Creek Road, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. They have a beautiful set-up with lots of great amenities just outside the park.

Check Prices for Under Canvas Glamping Here!

Yellowstone Collective Retreat is another excellent glamping option but it is a little farther away from the Yellowstone park itself but still close enough to spend time in the park.

Another reasonable glamping option is if you are not wanting to go all out and still want to be close to the West Entrance of Yellowstone you can check out the glamping tents at Fox Den RV Park and Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Campground in Yellowstone National Park

How to Keep Your Campground Safe in Bear Country

The best way to keep your campground safe from bears in Yellowstone National Park is to keep it clean and not leave food or fragrant items outside or in your camp. If you are staying in a tent do not leave these items in your tent. Place them in your car. Bears have a great sense of smell.

Any food or anything that has a strong smell should also be kept inside a bear-safe container. Many campgrounds inside Yellowstone provide bear storage containers.

We really enjoy our Yeti coolers and many of them are certified bear-resistant if they are locked properly.

Check Prices for Yeti Coolers on Amazon Here!

While hiking it is best to go in groups and to make some noise. If you have kids noise is probably not a problem. If you do not have kids we recommend wearing a bear bell or attaching it to your backpack. It makes noise while you walk.

Check Prices for Bear Bells on Amazon Here!

It is also important to bring bear spray. If you do encounter a bear this is the best way to deter a bear from coming toward you. Please make sure to watch videos or read instructions on how to properly use the bear spray.

Check Prices for Bear Spray on Amazon Here!

 Bringing A Pet Camping in Yellowstone National Park

Yes you can have a pet while camping in Yellowstone National Park. All 12 Campgrounds allow for pets as long as they are kept on a 6-foot leash.

Yellowstone is not a very good national park for bringing a pet. Your animals are not allowed in many parts of the park. We have taken our dog before, and we were limited on where we could go because of the animal restrictions in the park.

There are some dog daycare facilities in West Yellowstone if you want someone to watch your pet while you are exploring the park.

Is Yellowstone good for an RV?

YES!!! Yellowstone is one of the best national parks for RV camping. They have huge spaces in some of the campgrounds for large RVs. They also have an RV park that is only available for hard-sided RVs and motorhomes. Yellowstone is the best national park for RVs. The park is also very large giving a little more space for your RV to get around.

Where can I camp with full hookups in Yellowstone?

Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only RV park with hookups in Yellowstone National Park. There are RV park locations just outside the park that have RV hookups. West Yellowstone, Montana has a plethora of RV park options with full hookups.  

Conclusion: Best Campground in Yellowstone National Park

We hope you are able to find a great campsite for your needs. Depending on the time of year finding a spot can be difficult in the summer months but anywhere you end up that allows you to visit Yellowstone National park you will be pleased.

If you are going to have some extra days off or are looking to visit more than one national park, Grand Teton National Park is not that far away. Just remember advance reservations for your campsites are best and all campgrounds are now reservable campgrounds.

More Yellowstone Resources

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The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
Planning an Epic Roadtrip From Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park RV Length Restrictions
17 Best RV Parks Close to Yellowstone National Park
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