Which Campground In Yellowstone Is The Best?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The

Grant Village Campground

is one of the largest campgrounds in Yellowstone, with more than 400 sites available to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. It's regarded by longtime visitors as the best campground in Yellowstone thanks to being the campground closest to shower facilities.

When should I book Yellowstone campsite?

Please make your reservations early and/or plan to secure your campsite as early in the day as possible. Campgrounds may fill by early morning, especially during peak season (

early July-late August

).

Which campgrounds in Yellowstone are first-come first serve?

Yellowstone's first-come, first-served campgrounds include the 75-site

Indian Creek

open early June through mid-September. It accommodates RVs up to 35 feet. Accommodating RVs up to 25 feet, Lewis Lake has 85 sites on the south side of Lewis Lake and is open mid-June to early November.

Do any campgrounds in Yellowstone have electricity?

Highway 191 – Yellowstone West Entrance

Rainbow Point Campground – Reservations and electricity are available at this 26 site campground 10 miles from the park. Lonesomehurst Campground – Reservations available, and

5 of the 27 have electricity

. 12 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

Can you camp in a tent in Yellowstone?

Because the campground is located in the heart of grizzly country, only hard-sided campers (

no tents or tent campers) are allowed

, which makes for excellent bonding amongst you and your fellow RVers. Its 325 sites fit maximum 35-foot RVs and an 18-foot truck side by side.

How much does it cost to camp at Yellowstone National Park?

How much will it cost to camp in Yellowstone? Campsites cost as little as at

$15 per night, per site

. Most campgrounds with more amenities such as flush toilets and nearby laundry facilities range from $20 to $31 per night.

How many days do you need in Yellowstone?

You should plan to spend at least

2 to 3 days

in Yellowstone National Park. Two days gives you enough time to see the most popular destinations. Adding a third day gives you time to explore some less visited and off-the-beaten-path attractions.

What size RV is allowed in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone National Park Camp Site Information Fishing Bridge RV Closed 2021 – Will accommodate an

18 foot truck and a 35 foot trailer side by side

.
Grant Vehicle and trailer length – 40 feet Indian Creek Vehicle limit is 30 feet at 35 sites and 35 feet at 10 sites Lewis Lake All sites have a vehicle limit of 25 feet.

How strict is Yellowstone on tent size?

Large Tent-Only Site


Maximum of one small tent, 12 ft.

x 12 ft. or smaller or two small tents, each 8 ft. x 8 ft. or smaller.

Can you stay overnight in Yellowstone?


Yellowstone does not allow overnight parking in attraction parking lots, trailheads, or on the roadside

. Only visitors who have reserved rooms one of the many lodging options can park their cars overnight. Be sure to bring warm sleeping bags even in the summer because night-time temperatures can dip close to freezing.

Can you use a pop up camper in Yellowstone?


Yes, pop up campers are allowed in Yellowstone National Park

. There are some exceptions to this though. Hard-sided campers are the only campers acceptable at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone.

Where can you camp if Yellowstone is full?

  • Bridge Bay Campground.
  • Canyon Campground.
  • Fishing Bridge RV Park.
  • Grant Village Campground.
  • Indian Creek Campground.
  • Lewis Lake Campground.
  • Madison Campground.
  • Mammoth Campground.

Is RV Boondocking allowed in Yellowstone?


Yes, boondocking is allowed in Yellowstone National Park

. However, boondocking is limited to just tent only, and only in specific areas of the park. Yellowstone also requires campers to obtain permits. These boondocking permits require advance reservations.

Are there RV dump stations in Yellowstone?


Yellowstone's RV sites at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village and Madison campgrounds have dumping stations

and are either pull-through or back-in with limited width for slide-outs and may not be level. Mammoth is the only park campground open year-round and can accommodate RVs up to 75-feet-long.

Can you drive an RV through Yellowstone National Park?


This campground is the only RV park with hook-ups inside Yellowstone

. It is right along the Yellowstone River that feeds into Yellowstone Lake. Central park location and hook ups are the strengths of this campground. This is one of the very few parks that can accommodate 40 foot RV's with 50 AMP hookups.

How common are bear attacks in Yellowstone?

The park reports there is

an average of one bear attack at Yellowstone each year

. The most gruesome attacks at the park occurred in 2011 and 2015, where three people were killed by bears.

How long does it take to drive the loop in Yellowstone?

During the summer season, cars are the best option for taking a trip around Yellowstone unless you are riding with a bus tour or concessionaire that provides transportation. The Grand Loop takes between

4 to 7 hours

to drive in full.

Can you leave food in your car in Yellowstone?


It's okay to store food in your car as long as it's out of sight and the car is locked with all of the windows up

. If possible, don't store food in your vehicle during the evening, and clear the inside of wrappers, crumbs and garbage as well. Never leave food in the open back of a pickup truck.

How much does it cost to see Old Faithful?

To see Old Faithful, you need to pay

$35 for a Yellowstone entrance pass

. The fee is the same for autos or RVs and is $30 for motorcycles. The pass is good for seven days after you've entered, so you'll have plenty of time to explore the rest of the park.

Can I bring a gun into Yellowstone?


Yes, guns are permitted in Yellowstone National Park


Park

visitors are able to openly carry legal handguns, rifles, shotguns and other firearms per a federal law approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in February 2010. Concealed weapons are allowed by state statute.

Is there free camping in Yellowstone?


There is free camping located inside of the national park, the north entrance, east entrance, south entrance, west entrance

. The only location without free camping is the northeast entrance. There is a few spots but they are all around an hour and a halfway from the gate, which makes it pointless to camp there.

Is it better to stay in Yellowstone or outside?

Because Yellowstone has five different entrances into the park, it's easy to stay close to the park without actually being in the park.

I recommend staying outside of Yellowstone if you want nicer amenities, cheaper prices, or more dining and activity options

.

What is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park?

The best months to visit Yellowstone are

April, September, and October

. These “off season” months provide more chances to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife and enjoy thinner crowds. Bears emerge from hibernation between March and April, migrating birds arrive just before May, and the elk rut begins mid-September.

What is the best day of the week to visit Yellowstone?

6) Prefer visiting Yellowstone on

weekdays

. It is most popular on weekends and holidays. 7) Avoid visiting Yellowstone in July-August to avoid crowds. Just to make it clear, there are 5 times less visitors December through March.

What is the longest RV allowed in Yellowstone National Park?

On average, national parks will allow RVs with a maximum length of

27 feet

.

Where can I park my RV in Yellowstone?


Fishing Bridge, Wyoming

Fishing Bridge is the only RV park with full hookups that's actually inside Yellowstone National Park, which is the main reason to stay here.

What is the best length for an RV?

A

32-foot

long RV is perfect for those who still want a bit of space while also having access to national parks and other campgrounds with smaller sites. In fact, 32 feet is the average maximum length in most national parks.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.