Camping in Yellowstone is an incredible way to experience the oldest federally managed park in the United States. The park is known for its wildlife, unique landscapes, and luckily for overnight campers, some of the best sunrises in the entire world. There are a few different ways to camp in Yellowstone, but keep in mind that all of them are subject to the rules of the National Parks Service and a fee.
Though reservations are easy to make in theory – you can generally do this online – these are some of the most popular campsites in the country and fill up quickly. Most of them are only open in the summer, stretching a bit into spring and fall.
Five campsites within the park are managed by the Yellowstone National Park Lodges, all of which need to be reserved well in advance. While the exact dates vary, they are only open during the high season, from about May until September.
The National Parks Service operates seven campgrounds within Yellowstone. Three of them require reservations. While all of them are subject to closure at any time for extreme weather or scheduled maintenance, they are generally open only in the summer. The one exception is Mammoth Campground, which is open year-round.
Backcountry camping is also permitted in Yellowstone. In the spring, summer, and fall, you can only camp in designated backcountry camping locations, and a permit is required. Backcountry permits are in high demand when the weather is favorable, and are usually allocated on a lottery system. In the winter, demand for backcountry permits dwindles, so they can be issued within a week. In addition, there are few restrictions as to where in the park you can camp: you can camp anywhere safe and accessible in the backcountry in the winter.
This page contains a list of all campgrounds, RV parks, and cabin rentals in Yellowstone, Montana.
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