The best camping near Yellowstone National Park

This land of bubbling hot pots, shooting geysers, carved canyons, and wildlife-filled meadows barely needs an introduction. Yellowstone National Park was America's first national park and constantly ranks among the most visited for good reason. With thousands of hydrothermal features, including the iconic Old Faithful, miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife viewing, Yellowstone will wow even the most seasoned campers. To make the most of your visit, stay inside the park at one of many campgrounds, get a permit for one of hundreds of backcountry camping spots for those interested in backpacking Yellowstone, or opt for a private campsite right outside the park with easy access to kayaking and horseback riding. Most of the park is in Wyoming, while some access points are in Montana and Idaho.

• Best for families: Grant Village Campground offers Yellowstone Lake views and ranger programming, and bathroom facilities. (Madison Campground has group sites too).
• Best for RVs: Fishing Bridge RV Park features pull-through RV sites with full hookups, dump station access, and laundry facilities.
• Best for classic park views: Pebble Creek Campground offers just 27 sites with vault toilets near the Northeast Entrance and the Lamar Valley.
• Best for access to amenities: Bridge Bay Campground's 400+ sites are set near Yellowstone Lake and a general store.
• Best for a central location: Canyon Campground sits in a Canyon Village lodgepole pine forest near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

1. Yellowstone National Park campsite reservations are notoriously difficult to score, with sites often filling a year in advance. Book as soon as you know your travel dates—advance reservations are required.
2. Check the NPS and Yellowstone National Park Lodges reservation systems often for cancellations, or try searching the system for the next available dates. It’s best to be flexible with your dates. 
3. Yellowstone is huge, so book a campground near the attractions you most want to see. This may mean staying in more than one campground during your trip to Yellowstone. 
4. Nine lodges are spread throughout the park, often booking up a year in advance for the peak summer season.

Yellowstone National Park is open year-round, but access is limited in the winter months. July and August are the most popular and busiest times for Yellowstone camping. September and October, when summer crowds have gone home and daytime temperatures are still pleasant, are among the best times to go. Most Yellowstone campgrounds are only open from May through September, while the lodges typically stay open later in fall. Mammoth Campground is the only campground open year-round and set near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, the only entrance open all year.

• Amenities vary at Yellowstone National Park campgrounds, but many include picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, and access to paid showers. The Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only Yellowstone campground with full hookups.  
• Yellowstone can get chilly at night even in summer. Come prepared with warm sleeping bags and extra layers. 
• All Yellowstone National Park campgrounds have strict grizzly bear safety rules. Don’t leave food unattended, and store all food, toiletry items, and garbage in your vehicle or bear-proof storage lockers when not in use.
• Pets are allowed in campgrounds but are not to be left unattended at any time. Pets are not allowed on park trails, boardwalks, or in backcountry areas.
• The West Entrance, set in West Yellowstone, Montana, is the most popular way to access the park, while the South Entrance is only about a 30-minute drive from Colter Bay Village in the Grand Tetons for those who want to see both parks in one trip.