Camping in Yellowstone in 2024: Everything You Need to Know
PriscilaLeme A few years ago, I spent 10 days camping in Yellowstone National Park. It was sooo nice to wake up each morning in the park. It made getting out to see the sights or go for a hike MUCH easier since we didn’t have to commute into Yellowstone. And for me, camping is the best way to experience nature!
On my June trip, I spent 3 nights in Mammoth, 3 nights in the backcountry and 3 nights at Norris. It was a bit of a last minute trip so we made due with what we could get. However… I always want to make sure I’m choosing the best option. So while we were touring around the park, I checked out most of the other campgrounds to see which campgrounds were awesome… and which were not.
I’ve put together a truly MASSIVE guide to camping in Yellowstone for you, updated for the 2024 season. It’s got literally everything you need to know including:
- How to make reservations for camping in Yelllowstone
- My recommendations for the best campgrounds in Yellowstone
- A detailed breakdown of what you’ll find at each of Yellowstone’s 12 campgrounds
- A complete list of all the campgrounds outside Yellowstone
- Rules and tips for camping in Yellowstone
Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn
How to Make Camping Reservations in Yellowstone
There are three main types of campgrounds in Yellowstone: National Park-run campgrounds, privately-run Yellowstone National Park Lodges campgrounds, and backcountry campgrounds. You can drive up to the first two types but you’ll need to walk, paddle or ride a horse into the backcountry.
Yellowstone National Park-Run Reservable Campgrounds
These campgrounds are rustic – they don’t have showers and some do not have flush toilets. Scroll down for details about each campground.
A few years ago, all of these campgrounds were first-come, first-served. However as of 2023, all campgrounds run by Yellowstone National Park are reservable.
You can make reservations on Recreation.gov. You can make a reservation exactly six months in advance of the date you want to camp. So if you want to camp on July 15, the earliest you can make a reservation is January 15. If your dates are sold out, keep checking back. They do get last minute cancellations and sites open up again.
As well, some campgrounds have a handful of first-come, first-served sites. Some campground also have sites that can be booked two weeks in advance.
If you don’t get a reservation, don’t worry – you can use an app like Campnab to automatically scan the booking site, then send you a text or email when a site becomes available to book. Learn more about how these apps work in my guide to camping cancellation apps.
