Yellowstone National Park destinations, parks and attractions
Are you going on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?
Here are some of the top destinations in Yellowstone National Park and tips about visiting them
Yellowstone National Park - Twice the size of Delaware, in northwest WY, spilling over into Idaho and Montana. On March 1, 1872,
Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders. People from around the world have been
drawn to Yellowstone to witness these wonders for themselves. Now, millions of people come to Yellowstone each year.
Yellowstone National Park Seasons, bugs, topography and climate
Located in the Rockies and at the edge of the plains, Wyoming has both landscapes. In the summer, it tends to be semi-arid, hot during day and cool at night. Winters can be brutally cold. Many roads are closed or impassible in the winter. Bugs are thankfully few!
Camping tips
First, get reservations ASAP. They usually fill up weeks in advance. And while there are a few last minute cancellations, those go instantly. Prices are about $30 a night; $21 if you have the national park pass.
If you're not from the Rockies, you may not realize that even in the middle of July, the air gets cool at night when you are a mile high, like in
Yellowstone and the Tetons, and much of western Wyoming. It will dip to the 50's or 60's most summer nights. Summers tend to be dry with occasional popup
evening thunderstorms.
Yellowstone... well camping or lodging in Yellowstone is a topic unto itself. After COVID, the rangers went on a spree shutting as much down as they could. You have to realize that many of them are idealists who think they should shut the park down to visitors as much as possible... which is the opposite of President Roosevelt's vision.
In any case, they even turned off all the showers in all of the campgrounds in the park. The bathrooms remain open, toilets, sinks, etc. But no working showers. Still closed at the end of the 2021 season. Which means, if you are tent camping, you will need a battery operated pump and popup shower tent. And here are the best ones available for the price! They work great! I've used them in Yellowstone!
Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone offers 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 sites. Yellowstone National Park Lodges takes reservations for five of these campgrounds. Not all of these campgrounds have laundry or showers (and none have showers working in 2021). Madison is the most central location.
- Bridge Bay Campground
- Canyon Campground
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
- Grant Village Campground
- Madison Campground
The National Park Service manages the other seven campgrounds. Beginning in 2021, reservations for three of the campground managed by the National Park Service can be done through Recreation.gov.
- Mammoth Campground (Reservable)
- Norris Campground (Closed for 2021)
- Slough Creek Campground (Reservable)
- Pebble Creek Campground (Sites 1-16 Reservable)
- Tower Fall Campground (Closed for 2021)
- Indian Creek Campground
- Lewis Lake Campground
Additionally, Yellowstone offers backcountry campsites for people who prefer to explore and camp along less traveled routes.
Campground Details
| Campground | 2021 Dates | Nightly Fee* | Sites | Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Bay | 6/11–9/6 | $27 | 432 | A,B,F,NS,D,Gn,Gs |
| Canyon | 5/21–9/19 | $32 | 273 | A,B,F,S/L**,2S**,D,Gn |
| Fishing Bridge RV Park | CLOSED ALL 2021 | 346 | A,F,H,S/L**,2S**,D,Gn | |
| Grant Village | 6/18–9/12 | $32 | 430 | A,B,F,S/L**,2S**,D,Gn,Gs |
| Madison | 5/14–10/17 | $27 | 278 | A,B,F,NS,D,Gn,Gs |
* - Listed fee does not include taxes or utility fees
A - Accessible sites available
B - Limited number of campsites set aside for bicyclists and hikers; check
availability at campground
F - Flush toilets
D - Dump station (may close
when temperatures are below freezing)
Gn - Generators allowed from 8 am to 8pm (60db limit)
Gs - Group site available (reservation required)
H - Full hookups
NS -
Showers not included
S/L - Pay showers/laundry onsite **Pay
showers not available currently in 2021
2S - Two showers included each night **Pay
showers not available currently in 2021
| Campground | 2021 Dates | Nightly Fee | Sites | Amenities | RV Information** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth | Year-round1 | $25 | 85 | A,B,F,Gn | 30' (9.1 m) winter limit§ |
| Norris | CLOSED ALL 2021 | 111 | A,B,F,Gn | 2 @ 50' (15.2 m) and 5 @ 30' (9.1 m) | |
| Pebble Creek (Sites 1–16) | 6/15–9/27 | $20 | 16 | A,B,V | Some long pull-throughs |
| Slough Creek | 6/15–10/12 | $20 | 16 | A,V | 14 @ 30' (9.1 m) / Walk through first to assess |
** - Sizes are for total length of vehicle and towed
equipment
1 -
Reservation-only 5/1–10/15
§ -
mid-October through April
A - Accessible sites available
B - Limited
number of campsites set aside for bicyclists and hikers; check availability at campground
F - Flush toilets
Gn - Generators allowed from 8 am to 8pm (60db limit)
V - Vault toilet
| Campground | 2021 Dates | Nightly Fee | Sites | Amenities | RV Information** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | 6/11–9/13 | $20 | 70 | A,B,V | 10 @ 35' (10.7 m) and 35 @ 30' (9.1 m) |
| Lewis Lake | 6/15–11/1 | $20 | 84 | B,V | 25' (7.6 m) or less |
| Pebble Creek (Sites 17–27) | 6/15–9/27 | $20 | 11 | A,B,V | Some long pull-throughs |
| Tower Fall | CLOSED ALL 2021 | 31 | B,V | 30' (9.1 m) or less / Loop has hairpin curve | |
** - Sizes are for total length of vehicle and towed
equipment
A - Accessible sites available
B - Limited number of campsites
set aside for bicyclists and hikers; check availability at campground
V - Vault toilet
In nearby Cody, WY, an excellent campground is Ponderosa campground, and reservations are not needed for tent camping there!
There are both state parks and private campgrounds.