Now is the time to secure reservations for summer campsites in Yellowstone Park. Unfortunately, the days of just showing up to claim a campsite are over and you must have an advance reservation if you want to camp in Yellowstone. It is a sure bet that every campground will be full every night of the season. Make your plans now and get your reservations as soon as possible
Yellowstone Park Campgrounds
Yellowstone Park campgrounds are operated by two different entities. Most campground reservations are available now but a few don’t open reservations until Feb 15. The National Park Service takes reservations through Recreation.gov. for these 7 campgrounds:
- Mammoth Campground
- Slough Creek Campground
- Pebble Creek Campground
- Indian Creek Campground
- Lewis Lake Campground
- Norris Campground
- Tower Fall Campground
Yellowstone National Park Lodges takes reservations for these five campgrounds.
- Bridge Bay Campground
- Canyon Campground
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
- Grant Village Campground
- Madison Campground
Camping Outside Yellowstone Park
Since every campsite fills every night in the summer, you will have to camp outside the park if you don’t make advance reservations. Yellowstone is surrounded by national forest lands which offer many options for camping. There are also many private campgrounds in the surrounding communities.
Here is great information about campgrounds and campsites in Montana and Wyoming north of Yellowstone:
Camping and Campgrounds along the Beartooth Highway
Camping and Campgrounds in Montana’s Paradise Valley near Yellowstone Park’s North Entrance
Make Your Campground Reservations Early!
While Yellowstone Park campsites are reserved very early, many of the other campgrounds around the park also fill completely every night. Most of the national forest campgrounds take advance reservations and it can be very hard to find a campsite if you don’t have an advance reservation. As hard as it is to believe, now (February) is the time to make plans for your summer camping site.