Camping in Yellowstone National Park provides an experience unlike anywhere else. What could be better than sleeping under the stars and hearing the crunch of branches from a buffalo wandering through your camp, the rush of a nearby waterfall, or wolves howling in the distance? The air might have a faint “rotten egg” smell from the nearby thermal features!
Every year, millions of people from all over the world travel to Yellowstone expecting to have a magical trip. Proper research and planning are CRITICAL to successfully navigating the crowds of Yellowstone and having a great experience.
This camping guide is designed to give you all of the information that you need to confidently choose the perfect front-country campground.
What You Need to Know About Camping in Yellowstone
- Season dates may vary by year. Be sure to check the website for information on opening and closing dates while you are planning your trip.
- If you want to make a reservation for the summer, be sure to do it 13 months in advance. Campgrounds that accept reservations often fill many months in advance.
- Many of the first-come, first-served sites should be claimed by 7 a.m. during the summer months! Plan your trip so that you can get to the campsite early before it fills.
- Hookups are only provided in the Fishing Bridge Campground.
- Dump Stations are available in Madison, Canyon Village, Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge, and Grant Village.
- Each standard campsite only accommodates six people. If you have a larger group, you will need to book two campsites or look for a campground that offers double or group campsites.
- You cannot reserve a tent-only site if you will not be sleeping in a tent, even if your truck camper or van fits in that site.
- Yellowstone is bear country! Each campsite provides a bear box for you to store your food and other scented items in, but be sure to educate yourself on proper food storage practices before you go.
This article contains information on the frontcountry camping experiences that are available within Yellowstone National Park. In other words, it covers places you can get to with your car! If you’re interested in hike-in backcountry camping options, click here.
Getting to the Campgrounds in Yellowstone
Take a look at the map of campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park to plan your trip. This map updates in real-time as the campgrounds fill, providing you with the most up-to-date information. For your convenience, you can click on the name of a campground in the list below to read more about it.
How to Get a Campsite in Yellowstone
Many campgrounds in the park accept reservations. If you’re hoping to reserve something, you’ll find two different ways to make your reservation.
If you want to reserve something in Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, or Madison, click over to Yellowstone National Park Lodges to find a site. Reservations open up on the 5th of the month for dates up to 13 months in advance. (Yes, that means you will need to make reservations on July 5, 2023, for reservations in July of 2024!) You’ll want to sign in and pick out your site in advance so that you can be ready to hit reserve as soon as midnight hits.
If you want to reserve something in Mammoth, Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Slough Creek, or Pebble Creek, you’ll use Recreation.gov to find a site. Reservations open up 6 months in advance of the exact date you want to begin camping. Create an account and pick a site in advance so that you can be ready to hit reserve as soon as they open up at 8 a.m. MST. 20% of the campsites in these campgrounds are released 2 weeks in advance to provide for some last-minute options.
Yellowstone campgrounds that are first-come, first-served fill in the early morning hours. If you’re traveling during the main summer season, when you arrive, you will likely have to wait in line at the entrance kiosk until the campground host can assign you an empty spot. Snagging a first-come, first-served site in Yellowstone requires early mornings and a lot of patience!
To choose your ideal campground, take a look at the in-park options below:
Camping Near the West Entrance of Yellowstone (West Yellowstone)
Madison Campground
This campground is located next to the Madison River, a world-class fly fishing destination. Although Madison is large and popular, the sites are well-spaced and shaded. This campground has three group sites and a dump station and is a great choice if you want to be close to Old Faithful or the Norris Geyser Basin.
Open Season: Beginning of May to the middle of October
Max RV Length: Limited sites available for RVs greater than 40 feet
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $33 not including taxes
Number of Sites: 278
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Norris Campground
Norris Campground is tucked into a beautiful forest of lodgepole pines and is nicely shaded. It opens out into a beautiful meadow that is frequented by roaming buffalo. Its close proximity to the Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone makes it a fantastic home base for exploring what Yellowstone has to offer.
Open Season: Middle of May to the end of September
Max RV Length: 50 ft (limited)
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generator: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: No. First-come, first-served only
Fee: $25
Number of Sites: 100
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Camping Near the North Entrance of Yellowstone (Gardiner)
Mammoth Campground
This campground is a popular area for RVers because of the large pull-through spots it provides. It does not have many trees for shade and is located right next to the highway leading to Gardiner. The Hot Springs are nearby, as well as access to the Lamar Valley for world-class wildlife viewing.
Open Season: All Year
Max RV Length: 65 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $25
Number of Sites: 85
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Indian Creek Campground
One of the more primitive campgrounds in the park, Indian Creek provides a quiet experience with beautiful views of the mountains. This area is popular among fishermen and hikers and also provides some great wildlife viewing opportunities.
Open Season: Middle of June to the middle of September
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 70
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Vault toilets but running water is available
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Planning a trip to Yellowstone can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Yellowstone Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Camping Near the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone (Cooke City)
Pebble Creek Campground
This small campground near the Lamar Valley is isolated and provides a true wilderness experience.
Open Season: Middle of June to the end of September
Max RV Length: Varies but has some long pull-throughs
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 27
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Vault toilets but running water is available
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Slough Creek Campground
Slough Creek is a very popular campground in one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the park. It is located down a dirt road, providing a serene and peaceful experience.
Open Season: Middle of June to the middle of October
Max RV Length: 30 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 23
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Vault toilets but running water is available
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Tower Fall Campground
The Tower Fall Campground is a small campground located among some of the best hiking and views that Yellowstone has to offer. Centrally located near the 130-foot Tower Fall waterfall, Mount Washburn, and the Lamar Valley, this campground is a great starting point for exploring the north section of Yellowstone.
Open Season: Middle of May to the end of September
Max RV Length: 30 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: No
Reservations Required: No. First-come, first-served only
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 31
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Vault toilets but running water is available
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Camping Near the East Entrance of Yellowstone (Cody)
Canyon Village Campground
This campground is located in one of the most popular areas of the park and is ideally situated for exploring the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The Canyon area is bustling, but this campground is surprisingly secluded among the trees. Two showers per night are included in the rate, and a dump station is available.
Open Season: End of May to the middle of September
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $39
Number of Sites: 273
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Fishing Bridge Campground
This campground is located in the heart of grizzly bear country and is only for hard-sided RVs (no tent trailers). No picnic tables or fire pits are provided, but this campground has the only hookups you can find in Yellowstone. Two showers are included in the rate, and a dump station is available.
Open Season: Beginning of May to the middle of September
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Hookups: Yes
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $89
Number of Sites: 340
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Bridge Bay Campground
Out of all the campgrounds in Yellowstone, this one feels the most like a parking lot to me, but it still isn’t too bad. It is more open than other campgrounds so you can see your neighbors, but some sites in the trees are available. This area is very popular for boating and fishing enthusiasts because of its convenient location near the Bridge Bay Marina. Group sites and a dump station are available.
Open Season: Middle of May to the beginning of September
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $33
Number of Sites: 400
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Camping Near the South Entrance of Yellowstone (Grand Teton)
Grant Village Campground
This campground is located on the south end of Yellowstone Lake and is conveniently close to the West Thumb Geyser Basin and Old Faithful. Although this is a large campground, trees provide some privacy and lake views are also possible from your campsite. Two showers are included in the nightly rate, and a dump station and group sites are available.
Open Season: Middle of June to the middle of September
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Generators: Ok from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $39
Number of Sites: 430
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
Lewis Lake Campground
Bring your canoe, kayak, or motorboat and camp on Lewis Lake. Most sites are just a short walk to the lake, and a boat ramp is located near the campground for your convenience.
Open Season: Beginning of June to the beginning of November
Max RV Length: 25 feet {total truck/trailer combinations cannot be longer than 25 feet — strictly enforced}
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Generators: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $20
Number of Sites: 85
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yellowstone’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Vault toilets but running water available until the beginning of October
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes
More Yellowstone Trip-Planning Information
Yellowstone Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Yellowstone — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Yellowstone? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
12 Things You Can’t-Miss on Your First Visit to Yellowstone — the top spots
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Best Things to Do — activities for your whole group.
The Ultimate Yellowstone Trip-Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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Hi Ash,
Great information on the various campsites. This will be my first time to Yellowstone with a trailer. I have a 23′ trailer with a 20′ Tow vehicle. It sounds like most the RV sites are not wide enough for side by side parking unless it states “extra vehicle”. Is it better to book a 50′ RV site or the 30′ RV site with extra vehicle? Would the 40′ sites be a no go?
Hey Mark! I talk about this extensively in my Yellowstone Camping YT video here: https://youtu.be/dNpTOvjFM6Q?feature=shared It’s super confusing, but your setup is really similar to ours. I would not book a 30’…you’ll want 40′ or longer!
Great site! I have a reservation for a 12′ x 12′ tent site at Madison, but would like to bring a tent that is 10′ x 14′. Are they very strict on oversize tents?
As long as you can get it on the tent pad, you should be ok. Even though it says 12×12, each site is usually a little different. But yes, they will not want to see your tent set up on the plants or anything :)
Great information on your site. I have a site booked at Canyon and one at Grant for 1 night each. I booked a 20ft RV with a tent pad and will be camping with friends. I have a mid-size truck with a roof top tent and my friend was planning to bring his motorcycle and use the tent pad. We thought a 20ft site would be ok, but now he is considering just driving a car instead. I can’t seem to find anything on Yellowstone’s site that says the sites allow for two vehicles and the one person I spoke to from Xanterra said absolutely not allowed to park two vehicles on a camp site. Any official references you can point to to help me understand if we will be out of luck when we arrive?
I would go off what Xanterra said…I don’t think there is any way that you will be able to fit two vehicles at your site, especially if yours is a truck.
Hi Ash!
I’m going to be staying in Grant Village Campground for a week this July. If the campground doesn’t have a designated tent pad, will I be ok using multiple tents? I have one large tent and another medium size tent that I’d like to use.
Thanks!
– Derek
It totally depends on the site you booked. If you want to contact me here with more detailed info about the type of site you booked, I can probably give you a better answer to your question!
Hi Ash,
I booked an 8×8 tent site, only available at Grant Campground for my dates.
We’re a party of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids.
My tent is 9×7, is it going to fit? are there tent pads that strictly measure 8×8?
Thanks for the info and recommendations!
I would call the campground directly :)
Any tips on getting a campsite in Norris Campground? I am planning a trip, my ideal campsite would be Norris Campground. Roaming buffalo right where I would be staying would be a dream come true! What time/day of the week would you recommend getting to the campsite if it is first come first serve? It makes me nervous planning a cross country road trip with no reservation. Thanks!
You just have to get there super early! But I wouldn’t be surprised if they change that campground to reservation-only in the near future. They’ve been moving almost everything over to reservations now. Good luck!
Hi Ash,
You are an incredible resource! From camping to bear safety, thanks for sharing your expertise and for being so responsive to all of the comments!!
How does park entrance and re-entrance work when you’ve got reservations pre-secured? We’ve all come across the “line” to get in somewhere just to realize we were standing in the wrong line. Do camping reservations put you in a different park entrance line vs day trippers? What if we need to leave the park and come back?
With Yellowstone being 150 this year, I’m expecting massive crowds (and lines). Any pro tips to share here?
Thanks!!
Thanks Rob! You’ll be in the same line as everybody else. Sometimes the entrance stations have Pass-Only lines for people who have already purchased an entrance pass into the park (such as the America the Beautiful Annual Pass or if you’ve previously entered the park and already purchased a 7-day pass). If you leave the park and come back, you’ll just get in line and show them your pass again.
All of my tips for navigating through the crazy Yellowstone crowds can be found in my Yellowstone Itinerary. Have a great trip!
Hello! Thank you for all the wonderful information! We booked a site (the last one available) at Madison campground for a 20’ RV/extra vehicle/large tent (12×12). At the time I booked it, our travel trailer was 19’. But, we are getting a new one that is 21’. I called Xanterra and the lady I spoke with said we can unhook our tow vehicle and park it next to our camper as long as the camper is under 20’. Ugh, I’m so torn because there are no other sites available for when we’re going and I’m just not sure if we’ll get turned away for that extra foot. Do you think we would have enough space?
It’s hard to say, but I’d try to get to the campground right at check-in so that if the first site they assign to you doesn’t work, you could go back and get reassigned.
Thanks for all of the information, this write up has been incredibly useful. Only one question, can you car camp at Fishing Bridge RV Park? We don’t have a rooftop tent or tent that attaches out of the vehicle or anything like that. We have custom fit mattresses that fit in the back of a nice Jeep, would that be okay or would that not be allowed?
You’ll want to call them to be sure, but as long as your setup is completely hard-sided with no tents, you should be fine to stay there. Have fun!
Hi Ash,
I ordered the itinerary for Yellowstone Park for 4 days and also ordered an itinerary for Tetons Park. However, only received a one page about possible changes for Tetons for $35, is that correct?
Thanks, Linda Greer
Hey Linda, contact me here and we’ll make sure you have everything you need!
Hello,
How strict is the Max length? I have a 28′ trailer, but with my truck hitched it makes it 48’…could I unhitch and maybe park sideways with my truck? Would I be told to leave? I have a site booked that is 40′ but I am so worried that I will be told to leave and have nowhere to go.
If you have a large RV site reserved, you should be fine. Our truck and trailer are the same lengths as yours and we haven’t had a problem fitting into those largest sites! If you get there as close to check-in as you can, they’ll have more site options available for you so you can make sure you can get one that fits your setup.
We have the same issue. Our trailer is 32 feet with hitch. Total of 52 feet with truck and end to end trailer. We reserved 40 foot sites at Bridge Bay, Grant and Gros Ventre (one is a 37 foot site)….all have tent pads too. Are we allowed to park on tent pads in our site? Do you think our overall set up is too big? We have a smaller trailer too…but would rather take the bigger one!!
You can’t park on the tent pads…you have to be able to get all of your wheels on the pavement in your site. For those particular campgrounds, I think you’ll be ok. Worst case scenario is probably just that you would have to park your truck in overflow parking somewhere in/near the campground.
Thanks for the great info on these pages!
I’ll probably be car camping but I presume I’d be able to book a tent only site at Maddison and Canyon and sleep in car (since most sites you can park your car at anyway)? By doing this, will I be required to erect a tent as well?
Although there’s probably no way of knowing at time of writing, have you heard of any info about campgrounds reopening their shower blocks?
As long as it’s not a walk-in tent site…you can’t car camp in those sites. But if it’s just a regular tent site that you can park right next to, you should be ok in your car. I haven’t heard anything about the showers reopening. They probably won’t decide on that until late Spring when they can see what COVID is looking like at that time and if they’re able to hire enough people to get through the summer season. Have fun!
Hi I am staying in bridge bay and am curious if they have overflow parking areas? We have some friends that want to meet us out there and we have a site big enough for all of us but we have a trailer and a car already. So looking to see where they can park their cars. Thanks!
Yes, there is parking at Bridge Bay near the marina. Have fun!
I’m joining my daughter who will be arriving at Yellowstone’s Bridge Bay Campground. What is the closes airport for me to fly into? Trying to coordinate her picking me up at the airport but not missing her check-in at the campground or missing too much time spent there in order to pick me up.
Cody or Jackson Hole would be the closest to Bridge Bay. Have fun!
So glad I found your website, very helpful! We are a family of 6 (our 4 “kids” are grown – teenage to early 20’s) planning for our first trip to YNP in August. We have booked a Large tent only site (12×12) in Canyon, and a 20′ RV/Large tent (121×12) site in Bridge Bay. We own a 10×10 tent and were hoping to use that for 3 or 4 of us and buy an additional tent around the same size or maybe 8×8 for the rest of us. I see that the tent requirements appear to be one 12×12 or two 8×8’s or smaller. Will we be able to get by with using our 10×10 with an 8×8? Or do I need to go buy two 8×8’s? How strict are they on this? Thank you for your insight!
Hey Rob,
They’ll be strict if you can’t fit your tents on the tent pads provided in your site…and the tent pad sizes may vary a little bit. If the size is listed as ok on the site you booked, that’s what I’d try to stick with.
Hey – I booked an (8×8 tent site only) for my family of 4. I planned to have 2 sleep in the tent and 2 sleep in our RAV4. Is this allowed at Grant Campground in Yellowstone? We do this all over when we camp, but I want to make sure that the sites are like common campgrounds where the car is next to the tent spot/campsite. I’m going to try to call to ask the park, but in case I can’t reach them – I figured I’d ask you. I’m pretty sure when I made the reservation it said an 8×8 tent and one vehicle (within length limits). Are there sites there that require you to park away from the tent?
Thank you!
If there’s not parking right next to the campsite, it will usually indicate that it is a “walk-in only site”. If it doesn’t say that, you should be able to park near your tent or request a spot that allows that. They can be strict about what they’ll allow in the tent-only sites…if you’re just throwing a mattress in your Rav4 you should be ok, but they don’t allow any sort of truck campers/vans in those tent-only sites. Happy camping!
Hi, Ash,
I want to double check with you if we indeed can reserve a RV site with a minivan.
Thank you in advance.
You can reserve an RV site with a minivan, but if you plan on tent camping, you will need to get a site that also has a tent pad. Some RV sites do not allow tent camping because they don’t have a tent pad, so just check to make sure it will fit with what you are hoping to do. Safe travels!
Hey there! visiting yellowstone for the first time via campervan. I have a reservation in Bridge Bay. was wondering how easy it is or isnt to pull in and out of campsites there during the day in order to explore other areas of the park? tons of good info in this site, thanks for being so responsive
It depends on the site, but most sites are pull-through which makes it easy to get in and out of that campground. Enjoy your time in Yellowstone!
Hi Ash,
Great site!! We are heading to YNP right before the Labor Day. I have reserved at Site with 20 RV and 12×12 Tent to sleep in (half of the party). We will have two vehicles, one pickup camper (20′) that will remain parked in which half of the party will sleep and the other vehicle will be an SUV (15′) that we will use to travel to different points of interests. Will we be allowed to have both vehicles parked at the site? I have been trying to get Xanterra to answer, but they are not even picking up the phone (long waits during my work hours). Thanks in advance!
As long as your site driveway is long enough, it shouldn’t be a problem. They typically allow one RV and one vehicle per site, but your tires have to be on the pavement. Have fun!
I have reservations a Madison and Bridger Bay for this summer. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal but now I am wondering if it is. I booked a tent only site but we technically have a roof top tent. Do you know if that is allowed in tent only sites?
You should be ok as long as you can park completely on the pavement and don’t plan on using a generator :)
Hello! We are planning a trip for this summer (early August) and were hoping to get a reservation for a backcountry site. I have reviewed the Back Country Planner and I have the reservation application form. I’m curious what the best resource is to learn more about the length and terrain of the hikes to the back country sites. What would you recommend?
I typically use something like AllTrails for information like that. It at least gives you a pretty good idea of the elevation/terrain for the trail. Michael at the Big Outside also has a lot of backpacking advice on his site, and I know he has a lot of experience in Yellowstone. Something like this post might be helpful for that: https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-the-best-multi-day-wilderness-trips-in-yellowstone/ Hope that helps!
Hi Ash, thanks for the super useful info!! I had a question about the number of tents that fit in site. We are a party of 4 people, with 2 or maybe 3 small tents. Should we book two sites or is one just fine?
Thank you!!
The individual campgrounds will have guidelines for this, but in general, you’ll need to book a large tent site that will allow 2 smaller tents or one large tent. Have a great trip!
Thanks for all the helpful advice. We have booked a site at Canyon and Madison. We plan on 2 8×8 tents for our family of 7. My concern is that while we only have 1 car and not the 2 allowed, it is a 15 passenger Ford Transit, so it is big. Will that be a problem? Thanks!
It shouldn’t be a problem. When you get there, you can talk to them to see if they can get you a site with a long enough driveway. Have fun!
Always wanted to visit Yellowstone, it is so beautiful.
Is it possible to visit it entering with a bicycle? Or are there any particular restrictions?
Alex
Yeah, you can find the biking information for the park here: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm Have fun!
HI Ash, when we reserved our two sites, we linked the reservation codes. hoping to be next to each other. Should I call ahead to make sure the reservations are linked? I didn’t see this question answered earlier, but I apologize if I missed it.
I would call! They don’t usually assign specific spots when you make your reservation, so I would call and talk to a human :)
Hi Ash,
We had a site reserved at Madison campground but got a call today that it will be closed due to COVID.
The park representative recommended Lewis Lake campground as an alternative. Given that many others are likely in a similar situation, what time should we plan to arrive to get a site? What’s the earliest they give out sites and would it be better to arrive shortly before the 10am checkout time. We will be arriving next Tuesday after the holiday weekend, if that makes a difference.
Hey Frances, you can check the most recent fill times here: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm That will give you a good idea of when to show up!
We are planning a trip to Yellowstone Summer 2021. We want to stay at canyon and noticed all the 40ft sites are gone all summer already. Even in other campgrounds. How strict are they with the length rules? Can we book at 30ft site even if we are 40ft long when adding truck and trail. We have a small 21 ft trailer but a large Ram 2500. Anywhere else we just park the truck perpendicular or next to the trailer.
They are pretty strict about the length limits! You can’t park off the pavement at all…everything needs to fit in the site. Your trailer is just a little smaller than ours, and we drive an F250. We book 40′ sites in Yellowstone and even then it can be a little tight. I personally wouldn’t risk booking a site that’s too small, being turned away, and then having nowhere else to go.
I am planning my first trip to Yellowstone in May 2021 and plan to tent camp. I see a lot of people use apps to get free camping outside the park or do first come first serve. The idea of not having a set in stone place to sleep for a planner like me doesn’t settle well. There are dates open in May at Madison campground and I see that you recommend that one to people in the comments since it’s centrally located for the most part. I plan to be there for 4-5 days and visit the north, south, east, and west parts of Yellowstone. If we stayed at Madison would we waste a lot of time driving to different parts of Yellowstone or do you recommend moving to other campsites? Thanks for all the help!
Nope, Madison is great! You’ll be very happy with that location!
Ash,
My girlfriend and I are wanting to tent camp near the park. We plan on hiking Tetons and Yellowstone for 4-5 days for the first time. I realize campgrounds are full in the park. Can you recommend any near the park. Great site.
Thanks, Gregg
My favorite site for finding campsites is Campendium. I’d check there and find a campground that will work for you!
We have booked a stay in our RV at Madison campground for July 2021. Do we still have to pay a fee to enter the park? Also, are there any flexible tours or services that would pick us up at Madison? We have small children. Thank you for your help.
Yes, you’ll still have to pay the park entrance fee. Not sure about flexible tours, but if you’re looking for something self-guided, my itineraries will help you navigate through the park without relying on a tour. Have fun!
Hi,
Great post. I’m traveling from California in a 32 feet RV and have reserved 30 feet RV campsites at Bridge Bay, Grant, and Canyon. Do you think the campsites will fit our RV? Are the rangers picky with the exact 30 feet RV? Or will be okay?
Thank you!
You should be ok. Each site is going to be a little different, so it will mostly depend on what they have available to assign to you. But two feet over should be just fine!
Hello – just curious how it worked out with your 32′ Motorhome in a 30′ reservation spot. We are considering doing the exact same thing and would appreciate any feedback on how it turned out!
Hi Ash, this site is an amazing resource. Thank you for taking the time to put it together and be so actively involved!
I’m looking into camping at either Yellowstone or Grand Teton NP for 4-5 nights from like Tues/Wed through Sunday in the middle of next month (a couple of weeks from now). I see that Yellowstone has the times that their campgrounds fill completely, implying that there is availability each day in these campgrounds. However, I can’t make reservations.
If I go and get there early for first-come-first-served campsites, would it only be for a one-night stay each time? Or would I be locked in for the duration of my stay? Is there anything else I need to know about this? Canyon Village seems to be a frontrunner for me and also seems to be one of the later ones to fill, but I still would like to be as prepared as possible before I go. Thanks again!
It’s a little misleading online, but since those campgrounds are reservable only, they typically are already full for the day (even though the website still gives fill times). Sometimes they’ll open up a site or two depending on last-minute cancellations/no shows, but the odds aren’t good. Realistically, I wouldn’t count on getting into any of the Yellowstone campgrounds without a reservation. If it were me, I’d find another option outside of the park that you’d be happy with or keep trying to snag a last-minute reservation. Good luck!
Hi, we are planning a trip to yellowstone in the future and I just have a question about booking a site. We have a tiny 13 ft scamp pulled by a Subaru Outback. Together they come to around 27” long. Would we have to actually book a site for a rv up to 30”. They would not stayed hooked together in the campsite. It seems like overkill to have to book that large of site.
Thank you
Even though they would not always be connected, you would need to be able to park both vehicles on the pavement. You may be able to get away with something smaller, but some of those sites can be tight!
Hi Ash,
On http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm it has fill times listed for all the reservable camping sites in yellowstone. I was assuming that this meant that during covid-19 there are FCFS sites at these reserveable campgrounds. Was I wrong to assume this based on the chart with fill times?
Thanks,
Corrine
They always post fill times, even for the campgrounds that are reservable. It can be very confusing! They don’t have first-come, first-served in those campgrounds, but sometimes a spot or two will open up the day before or the day of due to cancellations, which is why they’ll post a “full” time on the status page.
It’s gonna be my first time camping at Yellowstone. Going in a group of 6. We currently have one large tent/20ft RV site in bridge bay. We will be tent camping. Will there be room for 2 cars and if not is there overnight parking available elsewhere? I’ve read that there are overflow lots but I want to be sure. Also is one site enough for 6 people or is it recommended to get another?
Most standard sites allow up to 2 vehicles, so you should be good. A group of 6 is the max capacity for each campsite, so you won’t need another one unless you’d like to spread out a little more.
Hi,
We will be visiting the park the 3rd week of July, we have reservations for Grant Village and for Canyon Village campgrounds. Do we still have to be lined up at 7:00 am to get a spot or can we come at any time of the day? Your help is greatly appreciated!
If you already have reservations, you will not have to line up early to get a spot!
Hello! My daughter and I will be travelling in our minivan for 3 weeks and plan to spend a few days in Yellowstone. We’ll be there approximately August 2-4 and cannot find a campsite. It looks as though many are closed. Is there anywhere within the park boundaries or nearby that we can sleep in our van? Thanks!
You’ll need to be in an established campsite if you want to stay in the park overnight — they don’t allow you to spend the night in your vehicle unless you are in an actual campsite. There are campgrounds outside of the park on Forest Service land, as well as some boondocking spots a little further out. Good luck!
Hi Ash,
As you probably know, due to COVID, only four campgrounds in Yellowstone are open: Bridge Bay, Grant, Madison, and Canyon. I know that you don’t work for the park anymore, but maybe you have some insights or special intel. We are coming from Minnesota around July 14th and our dream would be to find a spot at Pebble Creek… or Slough Creek. They are closed, but part of me wonders if they will suddenly announce some more openings in the park — at these particular campgrounds as well as other sites. Do you have any thoughts, insights, or recommendations? Or… any suggestions for who I could call to find out if some openings might still be coming, this crazy summer of 2020? Thanks so much!
They might, but they probably aren’t able to staff all of the campgrounds this year. I wouldn’t count on those campgrounds being open by the time you go :(
Hi there! We are thinking of renting a 28’ RV and bringing a car that is 15’ – this puts us at 43’. I reserved sites at Madison and Grant for 40’ RV spots as we will be splitting time between the two. . Will they turn us away if we are 3 feet over total vehicle length? I’ve been trying to call to ask, but their phone line has been busy several days straight and I can’t get through! Thanks for any suggestions!
You should be ok! They won’t turn you away for that!
Hi! All the FCFS campgrounds in Yellowstone are listed as “closed” on the NPS website. Are any of the campsites run by the outside vendor FCFS?
Everything that is open right now requires reservations. If you want FCFS, you’ll need to be outside of the park. I like the Campendium website to find campsites nearby. Good luck!
Hi! This post is great! Thanks so much for all the info. I have a question about most of the campgrounds being closed. The NPS website currently list all the FCFS campgrounds as closed potentially because of Covid-19 so we are unsure of where to get current information about where to camp within Yellowstone. Does the “closed” designation just mean “full” or are they closed for the 2020 season?
Most of them are completely closed, not full. Due to staffing and safety issues, the campgrounds will be open on a limited basis this year. If you don’t have a reservation, you’ll likely need to camp outside of the park boundaries. Safe travels!
How late can you show up for a reservation at Madison?
If you have a reservation, they won’t give your site away until the next day if you don’t make it that first night. If you plan on getting in at night, just be sure to respect the quiet hours in place. Enjoy!
We are headed to yellowstone for the fourth of July and are tent camping at grant village. My question is how is about cooking. We have a campchef 3 burner stove and am not sure if the bear box is big enough to put it the stove in or even if each spot has a bear box. Thanks for any info.
I’m not sure how big your stove is, but the bear boxes can fit a good amount. Not every site has one, but many do. You can also store your stove in your vehicle if needed. Have fun!
Hi! We plan to bring a group to Madison campground at the end of July on a kind of environmental Learning Tour (our org is New Community Project). We hope to be there for 4-5 days. Wondering if you have a short list of the top hikes we should take? We may also plan a day at Grand Teton – is there one outstanding 5-8 mile hike you’re recommend?Also, I see all of the group sites at Madison are in one section – is there one that is preferable as to being away from the others or any other features? Thanks for any guidance!
You can find info for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone parks here: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks/ You’ll find the can’t-miss spots and some good hiking recommendations, as well as itineraries with insider tips. I don’t have a recommendation for the group sites in Madison…typically it’s just exciting to snag one haha. Have a great trip!
Do the RV sites in the FCFS campgrounds have tent pads? We will be in a 20′ mini motorhome and will need to set up a tent for the grandchildren. We would like to be on just one site. Thanks for your help
Most do, but you’ll have to check with the specific campground.
Hello, I will be traveling in a minivan, not an RV. Do any rules change if I want one of these spaces?
If you’ll be sleeping in your minivan, you cannot book a normal tent-only site and sleep in a vehicle. You’ll have to treat it as an RV in that case. Safe travels!
Hi Ash,
We’re scrambling to re-plan our summer since it looks like our RV trip to Alaska won’t be happening with the border closure. We’ll be coming from Grand Teton into Yellowstone on a Tuesday in July in our 25 foot motorhome. At this point everything reservable is already booked so we’ll need to do a FCFS. We’re not fussy about which campground, we just need to find a place to stay. Which campground would you recommend as our best shot of getting in and how early do we need to get there?
Thanks
If you’re coming in from Grand Teton, Lewis Lake is the closest FCFS campground. That one could be tight for your RV though. Otherwise, you’ll have to aim for Norris probably. It’s a great campground, but it does fill early. You’d probably need to be there by 6:30 a.m. Indian Creek has some larger spots that are better for RVs. We also like Mammoth, but that’s a REALLY long drive from Grand Teton. I’ve done that before though…we just left the Tetons at like 4:30 a.m. to get up to Mammoth in time. Good luck!
Hi Ash,
I wanted to ask about the RV
sites that say Large tent and /or RV site 30 ft total. Does this mean I have to have an RV to reserve this site or can I have just tents?
Thanks
You can just have a tent for those ones. As long as there is a tent pad, an RV isn’t required.
Thank you so much for your post! If we had around 3-4 nights in Yellowstone, how would you recommend splitting up our stay? We were hoping to stay a few nights in one place before moving on to the next, is this feasible? Trip is in August.
If you can get a site along the middle road of the park (Madison, Norris, Canyon), I’d stay there the whole time. If not, plan a couple of nights in the south end of the park, and then move up north for a couple more!
Hi Ash –
Thank you for the great article and feedback you give, it is extremely helpful. We are planning on heading to Yellowstone Sept 11-21 and meeting my brother and his wife. They are coming from Spokane, WA area and we are coming from Duluth, MN. Where is a good meeting point? How is navigating the roads with a small camper? Any helpful hints you could give us for this time of year? TIA
You could both enter through the North Entrance near Gardiner, otherwise I’d just pick a spot within the park to meet. Prepare for unpredictable weather at that time of year. It’s not uncommon to see snow in September. Have fun!
This is great information – thank you! We are planning to be there mid-June and wondering if we should make a reservation for Madison or risk Norris on first-come-first serve. This is our first time to YS and bringing out 8yr old.
I’d snag a reservation at Madison if there’s anything available. Because Yellowstone is so busy, I almost always make the reservation if a spot is available!
Fantastic information, thanks so much for your blog. My brother is planning a camping trip with his family and I was considering driving into the park from the opposite direction to join them for a few nights. Does the park allow 2 vehicles (plus small trailer) at the camp site as long as they fit into the campsite pull-in, or is each site restricted to a single vehicle?
It honestly depends on the camp host for the campground you are in, but technically, no. You are only supposed to have 2 vehicles total, trailers included in that count. But they often have some type of overflow parking available nearby if needed. And sometimes they don’t care as long as you fit and don’t try to park on the plants!
Thanks for all these GREAT tips! My family has reservations at Grant Village the last week of August. We’re renting a Wandervan (converted van where we’ll all sleep inside). I’m seeing typical overnight lows in the 30s. What kind of bedding do you think is prudent to have with us? Also, the end of our trip is Labor Day weekend. We have reservations in Grant, but we’re thinking of trying for a FCFS sir in Mammoth for our last night. How practical is that? It will take hours to get to Mammoth from Grant I assume, but if we had a shot at a site I suppose we could set off at 6 am for mammoth. Thanks!!!
Nice, warm sleeping bags or blankets and sweatshirts for the evening hours outside. It gets nippy in that park! If you are hoping to get a FCFS site over Labor Day weekend, specifically Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights, I think your chances are extremely low. Most people come and stay for the whole weekend, so you’ll likely see very little turnover of sites on those long holiday weekends!
Hi! Thank you for your very helpful site! We are considering a trip to Yellowstone mid-June this year. We wanted to do Mt. Washburn, but do you think it will be too cold/snowy? Does it stay open year round?! Also, we’ll be staying in West Yellowstone. How long does it normally take to get to Mt. Washburn? Thanks!
You should be able to get up there, but if you stop in at a visitor center then the rangers will give you more info on the current trail conditions. Plan on about 1.5 hours of drive time if you leave West Yellowstone early in the morning…more drive time if it’s later in the day. Have fun!
Ty!
Hi Ash! Do you know if they accommodate late check-ins for the reserved RV campgrounds, like Canyon? For example 7pm or 8pm, etc. Thanks for your help, love the blog!
Hey Rafa, yeah you should be just fine. Have fun!
How strict are they about the 6 people per campsite? We have five kids, and we are very accustomed to setting up our two tents and all sleeping together. Even if we reserved another campsite, I think we would still all sleep at the one campsite. How does this work?
On the reservation website, it states that the limit is 6 people or 1 family {parents with dependent children}, so you should be just fine! But if you were planning on going with friends or extended family, the limit of 6 people would apply. Hope that helps. Have fun!
Hi
My wife and I are travelling with 4 kids in mid July 2019. We tried to reserve a spot in Canyon or Madison but all the 40ft sites are gone. We have a minivan and a pop up. We noticed that there are still 30ft sites available. Do you know if you can reserve two sites that are side by side so that we can fit both the van and pop-up?
Luke
I would call the reservations office…you probably won’t be able to get two spots next to each other unless you talk to someone when you make your reservation.
Your post is awesome for first timers to YS.
Which site would you recommend for a popup camper, experienced campers but first time to YS. Love Hiking, day trips and views. Don’t necessarily need water or electricity and are accustom maintaining bear proof camping. We also cycle a lot, does YS allow bikes? Would like to be able to reserve a site, but welcome first come first serve suggestions.
Thank you,
I recommend Madison, Norris, or Canyon if it’s your first time and you will be exploring the busy areas of the park. When you go back, definitely try one of the campgrounds that are a little further off the beaten path…they’re fabulous!
How do I make a reservation for a campsite at Yellowstone? Could you link me? I can’t seem to find where to reserve. Thank you!
No problem! Just go to this website: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/ and click on the yellow “Book” button in the top right corner.
Hey Ashley,
Planning to stay in FCFS 2nd week in August. Understand we need to be at the campground at around 5:00am. To get there that early, is finding a motel outside of the park the best bet?
The closer you can be, the better :)
Hi Ash,
I’m planning a road trip through Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier mid-late September. Do campgrounds typically fill up mid-week the second half of Sept? Thanks for all the great info on your site!
They might fill but not as early in the day. Yellowstone will still likely be a little competitive though, so I’d still plan on getting there at a good time!
Hello,
We have a 30ft spot at Madison for June. We recently changed our rig and we are 35ft motorhome, if I found another place to park my rental car do you think they turn us away for 5ft? Thanks for your help and insight!
-LT
As long as you can keep your wheels on the pavement, you’ll probably be ok. But it will depend on who is checking you in…
Hi Ash,
Thanks for the helpful post! My boyfriend and I are travelling through North America next summer and plan on camping in Yellowstone. How feasible is it to travel through Yellowstone without a car? Thanks!
Hannah
You’ll need your own vehicle for Yellowstone unless you plan on just paying for guided bus tours. There is no shuttle system or anything like that in place. Have fun!
How early is “too early” to try to snag a FCFS site?
Check out this page: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm It has the fill times for the campgrounds so you can get an idea of when to be there!
Hi Ash-
Thanks for this helpful information. My question is about camping in FCFS campgrounds. I am planning to visit next summer (2019) with another family. The smaller, more rustic campgrounds are more appealing to me. But is it practical to think you can find two sites next to each other without using the reservation system? Or does that sounds like a terrible plan?
Thanks!
If you can get reservations in Yellowstone, I would. The FCFS campgrounds are so competitive and stressful. Since you are planning so far in advance, I’d book reservations for sure if it were me :)
We are camping outside the west entrance of Yellowstone On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend with the hopes that we can grab a FCFS spot Monday morning that is being vacated by those there for the weekend. I just saw that Norris campground is closed until further notice which makes me really nervous about getting a spot. How does the FCFS system work? Do you have to drive around looking for someone leaving, or is their check out date posted at the campsite? Or is there a central office that keeps track of all the campsites where you need to go and claim it?
You’ll have to drive around, though some campgrounds have hosts on duty to help with the process. Good luck….get there early!!
We are headed to Yellowstone on the 29of May and have reservations for 8 nights at Madison, canyon, and Bay Bridge (we took was available, we have a truck camper and my parents have a roadtrek van).
I would love to stay at smaller campgrounds and that is my preference, but we didn’t want to get stuck and made reservations. We figured if we could find a FCFS site we could just cancel our reservations.
Is it still super hard to get a site the first week of June? Could we get up, move to a campground and eat in the camper while waiting in line? We don’t want to move everyday, but I’d like to stay in Tower or that area and Norris instead of so many nights at canyon and Bay Bridge.
We are getting very excited and are checking the webcams regularly to see how much snow is left.
Thank you!
If it were me, I’d keep your reservations. Unless you just absolutely want to move. Snagging the first-come, first-served sites in Yellowstone is a huge pain LOL. Some of the campgrounds fill up by 7 a.m. during the summer! You’d definitely be better off using your morning hours to hit the busiest attractions so that you can avoid traffic and enjoy the park :)
Hi there,
Firstly thanks for the great website! So many great tips on here!
In June I am traveling over from Australia to do an RV road trip from Colorado, through Yellowstone, Glacier and Banff/Lake Louise with my mum. As our RV will be our transport we will have nothing to leave in a campsite to ‘claim’ it while we are exploring, and was wondering how you claimed a site when it comes to first-in-first-served? I understand you need to get there crazy early to get a spot, but I was wondering if you need a tent/vechicle to leave in your spot or if there is another way to say ‘Hey! I was here first, you just didnt see me!’?
Thankyou :)
Mel
In that case most people just leave an item in their site, such as some camp chairs, a tablecloth on the picnic table, etc. I’ve even seen some people put up a little sign that says the site has been paid for and is not vacant. I think it’s wise to put something there that you don’t mind leaving for the day!
Hi Ash! Such great information here, and luckily, reading it in so far advance I was able to book a site at Canyon Village for our first night at Yellowstone, Sunday 9/16. However, from there we planned on changing it up. We are renting an 18′ trailer, pulled by a Jeep Grand Cherokee (16′) and were hoping to get into Norris for two nights (Monday/Tuesday). Think we have a chance or should we try for another campground with more RV spots over 34′? Bridge Bay has spots available, but I know how you feel about that campground. :) Any advice would be great!
Haha Bridge Bay is fine. I think you could find something in Norris though. Of course, it’s a gamble with the first-come, first-served. But if you’re in Canyon Village you can get to Norris really early!
This really was helpful! Thank you so much!
My question is we will be traveling with a 1.5 year old and a 4 year old among our group. Is it possible to tent camp with such young ages in July or should we look into a RV/TT?
Yeah for sure, but it really depends on your comfort/experience level. I’ve taken my young kids tent camping and it’s been fun! But just know that it can get cold at night in Yellowstone {high 30’s/low 40’s} so be sure to bring some warm gear if you decide to tent camp!
Hi, I was looking at the campsites that are open till the end of september. and for those ones nothing is mentioned about showers. do you know if those ones have showers?
Canyon and Grant Village have them!
Hi there!
Do you think the FCFS campgrounds would require us to be present at 730 am to secure a site during the first week in June? I’m debating about using the reservation system vs attempting to find a campground. Obviously, I’m a little late to the game but there are a few campgrounds with reservations still available (I think Bridge Bay, Canyon and Madison still have sites). I just don’t know if it’s better to be secure or to wing it and find something when we get there. I like the sound of the Norris camp as well as the others in the north closer to wildlife and trails.
Also, when you say a campground is open mid June, is that due to weather? Or is it possible to open earlier?
Thank you for your time and info!
Melissa
Hey Melissa,
Yeah you’d need to be there that early to secure a FCFS site in June. I’d probably book something if you can find any availability just because it can really be a hassle to get the FCFS sites. That’s what I’d do :) The opening dates do vary depending on weather, but most campgrounds will open within a few days of the posted date range. Hope that helps!
hi ,
your information is very helpful . i have a question on camping on may 25th , may 26 weekend this year . which one do u think is the best campground to choose since the canyon is closed at this time ? Thanks a lot
It’s hard to go wrong with a campground in Yellowstone. Since you’ll be there over Memorial Day weekend, I’d snatch up anything you can find!
Ash,
Your site has been super helpful! Thanks! Two questions:
1. Camping with six children (ages 8, 6, 3, and 3) for our first Yellowstone experience. Last year we did Acadia for a couple weeks and Rocky Mountain the year before. Which do you think would be better tent camping weather:mid-June or mid-July for Yellowstone? At RMNP we tent camped in low 40s. But looks like in June there’s a possibility of some night below freezing?
2. We’ll have about 8 days and would love to do 4 nights at one site in Yellowstone and 4 nights at one site in Tetons…any campground recommendations for first-timers? Reserve sites look fairly open still and I’d love the peace of mind of having our sites booked.
Thanks! It still gets pretty cold in June. Last time we were there at that time of the summer it was rainy and snowy, but if you want to risk it {plenty of people do} then I think June is more enjoyable for sight seeing in Yellowstone than July is…July gets soooo busy, but it is warmer. If you want to go when it’s warmer, go in July and take one of my itineraries: https://dirtinmyshoes.lpages.co/yellowstone-itinerary/ to help you navigate effectively through the crazy crowds!
For the reservable sites, I tend to stick to Madison in Yellowstone. It’s central to almost everything. But Canyon is nice too. Grant Village is a little too far south for my liking. Bridge Bay is hit or miss….many of the sites are open without much privacy.
I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have additional questions!
From the west entrance how long does it take to arrive at fishing bridge campground. Also would you suggest doing a couple of campgrounds along the 8 loop so you don’t have to backtrack. Can you suggest which campgrounds to consider with reservations on the8 loop. 20 foot roadtrek is what we’re driving in July 2018
It takes about 1.5-2 hours to get to Fishing Bridge. It really depends on how much time you have, but if you want to move camp every night as you travel around there’s not a problem with that. Any of the reservable campgrounds are nice…at this point many of them may already be booked up so I would take whatever’s open. The only one I don’t love is Bridge Bay just because there are very few trees. Hope that helps!
Is its safe to walk around fishing bridge campground with a dog or sit outside your rv in july
Yeah you can spend time outside!
I am wondering if is any chance a 28 ft TT and crew cab truck will be able to camp in Tower Falls or Slough Creek. I am guessing no, but figured I would ask.
So, it’s really hard to know…the information is so varied and unclear in my opinion. What I do know is that you can’t fudge the numbers too much with the Tower Campground. That one has a pretty sharp curve along the loop that limits the size you can be to safely travel through the campground. With Slough Creek, it would totally depend on the sites that are available when you get there. Some of the sites, like the ones in the meadow, have more leeway on how much your camper can jut out beyond the wheel base if you back all the way in. You might be able to get it to work, but it’s just so hard to know :(
When you book a camp site reservation in advance do they charge the full amount immediately or just a deposit?
I’m about 90% sure they charge the full amount at the time of booking!
We stayed in Grant Campground this summer and we were charged at time of booking.
Hey Ash! Great info!
I’m thinking of camping for the night with my motorcycle. How busy is it this time of year? Do I still need to arrive super early or is it fairly open mid-september?
Hey Konrad!
Things definitely start to die down around this time of year, so you shouldn’t have to be there terribly early. It does depend on the campground though…some still fill quite early. I definitely recommend taking a look at this map: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm. It includes a real-time update of when the campgrounds are filling in the mornings! Have fun!!
Hi Ash,
How does the first come first serve work for multiple days? Do we have to check out and check-in every day? or can we stay in a site for multiple days if we get a spot.
Thanks
Raghava
When you get there on the first day, you can reserve the total amount of days you need. No need to check in and out every day. Have fun!
What a great blog. I just bought your two day itinerary for July 18/19. We secured a room in West Yellowstone July 17 for an early start the first day. Are there are any first-come-first-serve campsites you think we could grab for the subsequent two nights that would fit into your two-day itinerary? And to save some money.
Jen
Hey Jen,
I really like Norris….I would shoot for that one if you can :)
HI Ash, We are trying to do a last minute trip with a RV. We have 1 night booked at fishing River. Everything else in the park looks booked. We have a 35ft RV. Are there any places inside the park that would do first come first serve on a RV of that size. Thanks
Yeah you could check out Norris or Mammoth :)
Hi Ash, great blog! Could you explain how the first come first serve works in Yellowstone – can’t find that anywhere. Is there a line by the ranger station and they assign the spot or do you have to find your own spot? Another question: does Canyon Village has any first come first served spots or are all sites reservable on line? Thank you in advance! JJ
The first-come, first-served often varies depending on what type of system the campground hosts have set up. Generally though, when you get there in the morning you’ll see which sites are going to be vacated (each site has a tag on it that has checkout dates). You’ll then need to pay for the site and put your payment tag on it (even if there are still people in the site — they have until 11 to checkout). You’ll likely have to leave for a few hours to give them time to leave and then you can go in and start setting up in the spot you paid for.
Some hosts have a system where you can actually see who is checking out that day at the campground entrance, rather than having to drive around and figure it out yourself. Most of the time the hosts will be out there helping people find sites. Canyon Village is only reservable…no first-come, first-served.
Hope that helps!
Love this article!!
You’ve got a lot of very helpful information on here. I’m looking to come up there the weekend of the solar eclipse (8/19-8/22). Every motel is booked from OR to SC. What do you think my odds are of getting a 1st come 1st serve site at Norris? I’d hate to get up there with 6 little kids and be forced to sleep in the car. I’m ok with it, but for whatever reason toddlers don’t seem to like it :).
Honestly, if it were me, I’d try for a different campground for a better chance of getting a spot at that time. It’s going to be absolutely crazy up there! My suggestion would be to look for something just outside of the park….Rainbow Point or Baker’s Hole for example. Those campgrounds have first-come, first-served sites just outside of West Yellowstone and will be a lot less competitive. I think you’d be a lot more likely to get a site somewhere like that than in the park. Good luck!!
HI! When you say arrive at the campsites early, meaning 5am? What time is “check in and check out in the first come first serve campsites
Not quite that early, but the most popular campgrounds will fill by 7:30 or so during the summer.
Hi Ash,
We are thinking of going for the July 4th weekend, Thursday to Sunday. Last minute idea to hit Yellowstone since neither my boyfriend or I have been, but have always wanted to go. I’m wondering- for the first-come first-served spots,
do you think we’ll have a good chance of finding a spot if we get there on Thursday morning?? We are looking at entering the park from the South Entrance and camping at Grant Village.
I really like your blog- thanks for the great reads and invaluable tips you have provided!
Hi there Mani,
You actually need reservations to camp at Grant Village, but Lewis Lake is nearby and is a first-come, first-served campground. If you do decide to head to Yellowstone, just be sure to get there really early to snag a spot. Most everything will be gone by 8 a.m. in the most popular campgrounds. Have fun!
Ash,are you still posting ? Your expert advice is great ! We are a couple age 73, in good health and plan on taking our grandson on a National Park tour next May through the summer (2018) We will be traveling in a 28 ft. Camper. Any suggestion for planning our trip would be wonderful ??
Hi there Brenda! That sounds like a lot of fun! I have a Yellowstone itinerary (find that here: https://dirtinmyshoes.leadpages.co/yellowstone-itinerary/ ) to help you see all the main points of interest in the park. It has all of my tips and tricks and will help you immensely with your trip planning. Good luck!!
Hi!
Considering a last minute trip over the 4th of July weekend (June 30 – July 4) – No reservations to be found. Am I crazy to think we might be able to find sites on the first come/first serve basis over that weekend? Not sure if we should even try.
The park has many first-come, first-served sites so I think it’s definitely possible to find one. You’ll just need to be at the campground really early to snag a spot!
This is all very helpful! We camped at yellowstone a few years back at Canyon Village and loved out site, do you know if there is a way to reserve specific sites?
You might be able to if you call and talk to a reservation agent. Depending on the person, they may be willing to accommodate specific requests :)
Thanks for all of the information. My husband and I plan on converting his work Van and using that as our RV for a couple week road trip this Septmeber. Are the campsites still packed that time of year? At the first come first serve campsites, can we leave and come back without our spot being gone? We really won’t have anything to leave behind to say the spot is taken.
Sounds like fun! If it’s after Labor Day, the campgrounds will be less busy. It’s a great time to be there. If you have paid for your campsite, it will have a tag on it to indicate it’s not available, though you may still want to find something to make the campsite look taken (a tablecloth on the table for example). Have fun!
Your posts are the most informative I have read I have learned quite a lot from your blog thank you so much for sharing your knowledge
Thanks Gary, happy to help!!
Great information. Thanks! I’m planning a camping trip with three small kids and am looking at staying the whole week in Norris Campground. We are slated to get in on Tuesday, August 1st, and I’m wondering if there is a particular day of the week that is better to arrive? I had this thought that people might be more likely to leave on Sunday, but I’m not familiar with Yellowstone.
Arriving on a Sunday-Thursday will help your chances, but the thing that will make the most difference will be getting there before 7 a.m. the morning of your first night. Everything fills up super quick so you’ve really got to get there early!
Hello, Your information on campsites was very helpful. I’m planning a trip to the Grand Tetons (2 days)/Yellowstone (3 days) for the end of July/first of August. I was wondering your opinion on Yellowstone camping. Would you recommend having a reservation in on place for the entire 3 or 4 nights I am there (somewhere central like Canyon)? Or going to a couple different campsites, ie doing 2 nights in one site and 2 at a different site? Thanks!
To be honest, it really depends on if it’s easy for you to pack up and move. Canyon is a good place to stay for the whole time. If you plan on moving around, just make sure you get to the new campsite before 7 a.m. if it’s a first-come, first-served otherwise there’s a good chance everything will be full already! Sometimes I just don’t like the hassle of having to be up so early to get a campsite, but if you’re able to get reservations at a few different sites then that would make it pretty easy to move around.
Hello,
Your information has been very helpful, thanks! We did National Parks in Arizona and Utah last year with an RV and trailer with motorcycles. We parked our RV in campground and drove our motorcycles to trail heads to hike which worked great for us.
We are doing Grand Tetons (3days), Yellowstone (4 days), and Glacier (4 days) this year and wanted to go with the same plan. One question is do you think we should anticipate difficulty with wildlife on our motorcycles in these parks? Second question, with Yellowstone being so large is it reasonable to think we could explore much of the park if we parked our RV at one location – for example if we camped at Grant village or Madison or should we try to move? What are your thoughts on how we divided our days between the parks (driving days are not included in these numbers) Thanks!
Hey Danielle! In general, wildlife in these parks is always a concern whether you are in a car or a motorcycle. I could see it being a little unnerving if you got caught in a “bison jam” and didn’t have the protection of your car, but many people travel these national parks on motorcycles without any issues. I think the amount of time you are planning in each park looks fabulous and would give you a great overview to what each one has to offer :)
I think whether or not to move your RV would depend on where you are camping and what you want to see while you are there, but somewhere like Madison would be more centrally located if you want to hit the northern end of the park too….otherwise it’s a pretty long drive from Grant Village. Personally I generally try to stay somewhere like West Yellowstone, Madison, Norris, or Canyon Village if I plan on staying in the same place for my whole trip.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions. You can always email me at ash(at)dirtinmyshoes(dot)com if you’d like!
Hi Ash, thank you for the awesome run down of camping in the park! So here’s my question…
I’m traveling cross country with my kids from NC on a multiple national park trip next summer, and I’m trying to avoid being tied into too many reservations because I want to leave us open to stay longer in places if we want to and to have more flexibility. I found a little state park just outside of west Yellowstone in Idaho called Henry’s Lake state park which still had plenty of open sites in July when we’d be coming through, so we could snag a spot without reservations.
What’s your opinion on staying outside of the park? Is it not worth the extra drive time? I don’t want to be penny wise and pound foolish about this after making it all the way out there…
Thanks for any advice you can give!
Hey Jen! I would say that one of the biggest mistakes people make in Yellowstone is underestimating the amount of driving you have to do to see the park. I’ve done both….stayed outside the park by 15 or 20 minutes and stayed in the park. Staying in the park is sooo nice haha. I’m wondering if maybe you could do half and half — maybe make reservations for a few days in the park and then if you decide you want to stay longer, get a first-come, first-served campsite (you could probably get one in the park if you were already staying nearby, but Henrys Lake would work too). That’s probably what I would do. Hope that helps!
Ash
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, that’s a great suggestion!
Hey Ash!
Going to be visiting yellowstone from out of state over summer and was wondering what the best campground would be to stay at for getting a jump on hiking Mt. Washburn first thing in the morning. We will be approaching the park from the South Entrance. It is just my boyfriend and myself with one small two person tent & we want to book a campsite ahead of time because we won’t be arriving to the park until late on Friday. Just curious what your expert opinion would be ! Thanks!
Hi Simone, the nearest reservable campground to Mount Washburn is the one in Canyon Village. I would try for that one first and then work your way out to the others. First-come, first-serve won’t be possible if you don’t get there first thing in the morning so I wouldn’t even count on that!