A guide to camping at Yellowstone

A guide to camping at Yellowstone

I created an updated (and I hope much better!) video: https://youtu.be/tBdzrcDYk2E Camping in Yellowstone is a GREAT experience, and a great way to see the park, but you need to be prepared! Yellowstone is HUGE and we want you to enjoy where you stay.

💥 We have a mission to make your trip to the West GREAT 💥

We have many RESOURCES for you if you’re visiting Yellowstone:👇
⚡ If you’re visiting Yellowstone and you need a game plan, click here for our travel guides, complete with itinerary and audio. They’re a game changer: https://wereintherockies.com/store/
⚡Our blog post on camping has all the campgrounds, maps, and links you need: https://wereintherockies.com/the-complete-guide-to-camping-at-yellowstone/
⚡Yellowstone playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbhuXgSSAbWYT9tkbzAGD84SNSb5YPjl-
⚡Grand Teton playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbhuXgSSAbWZ8_YQlDOB0T5ymQ9dZM2pB

⚡Campground Fill-Times: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
⚡Xanterra’s campgrounds: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/stay/camping/
⚡NPS-managed campgrounds: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2988

Stay up to date on what we’re doing!
⚡️Email list: https://rockies.ck.page/landing
⚡️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wereintherockies/
⚡️Subscribe on YT: http://youtube.com/c/wereintherockies?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters:
0:10 Campgrounds Available
1:28 Cost
2:08 Campsites
4:07 Amenities
5:29 Reservations
6:30 First come, First serve
7:40 Weather
8:01 Camping Season
8:26 Rules
9:38 Campfire Programs
10:30 Suggestions

Fishing Bridge RV park image: NPS website
Music from Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ooea2g

—————————–
If you also make YouTube videos, you don’t have to break the bank on production value! Audio is more important than video, but a nice video camera will blur the background a bit.

Gear I use:
I shoot with a Sony A6600: https://amzn.to/3Dc6xOY.
I use a basic tripod: https://amzn.to/32MXPtP
I use a RODE microphone: https://amzn.to/3o8ZC4t
For lighting, I use a basic ring light: https://amzn.to/3pc2FIt

Note: We are an Amazon affiliate and we may receive a small commission if you purchase through one of our links. This doesn’t cost you anything, and it helps us to keep going. If you’re considering buying something that we talked about, we really would appreciate it if you purchase through one of our links. Even just clicking on the links helps us.

37 Comments

  1. Ryan iverson on August 10, 2022 at 4:19 am

    We use a pac stove at some of those sites because you can actually use it as a bear proof locker.

  2. Brad Wedge on August 10, 2022 at 4:21 am

    This was the best video on Yellowstone ive seen to date. What campgrounds did you stay at?

  3. Ben Lopez on August 10, 2022 at 4:23 am

    Very informative. Thank you

  4. Susie Pittman on August 10, 2022 at 4:24 am

    Can you take dogs?

  5. Oleg Malashevich on August 10, 2022 at 4:25 am

    Can I stay on RV park with regular car?

  6. Fmlywgn on August 10, 2022 at 4:26 am

    I was looking on the website for the park. I didn’t see wherein said the first come first serve is closed for the year. My wife and I and my 3 year old are planning on going oct 4th-8th and throw in the tetons. Tent camping. Watching your other videos now . Thank you so much for the info

  7. walt Durling on August 10, 2022 at 4:29 am

    Excellent information guys! Mostly right-on info! Fishing Bridge will be closed for all of 2021. Tower Fall may also be closed for 2021 depending on road closure restrictions. Norris is the most centrally located of the CGs- FCFS so try to arrive at the gate NLT 6 a.m. There’s a 1 mile trail to the Norris Geyser Basin thru the woods – beats the hell out of trying to find parking at the Basin! I’ve seen bears on it so bring "de spray"! My favorites are Slough Creek and Pebble Creek, both in Lamar Valley. The former has only about 15 or so sites; the latter perhaps twice as many. Interestingly, Slough Creek has good cell (at least for Verizon, perhaps others, too) due to a tower on a high ridge across the Valley (almost impossible to spot). Both are FCFS so get there before sun-up. Finally, Indian Creek is located between Mammoth and Norris and is also FCFS and a very nice CG – not unusual to have grizzlies hanging around (things that go bump in the night). I volunteer with the rangers for the summer seasons so the info you and I provide is spot-on.

  8. Sean Leaverton on August 10, 2022 at 4:29 am

    We are staying at Beaver Creek Camp ground near the Madison River and Earthquake Lake, do yall know anything about this campground?

  9. Nicole Caudill on August 10, 2022 at 4:30 am

    The spreadsheet you’ve put together rocks. Thank you so much for sharing this! SUPER helpful!!

  10. Ricco Bitsue on August 10, 2022 at 4:31 am

    Have you tent camped in May in Mammoth?

  11. geri martinez on August 10, 2022 at 4:31 am

    Thank you very helpful we need to go this year its my sister dying wish I pray we can get there in a few months she has brain cancer

  12. We're in the Rockies on August 10, 2022 at 4:33 am

    Yellowstone is amazing! Camping is a great way to enjoy this incredible national park. But there are so many camping options, how can you make sense of it all? I break it all down for you.

    See my website for a chart of all the campgrounds in Yellowstone: https://wereintherockies.com/the-comp
    To book a campsite in Yellowstone: yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
    To find a Forest Service site outside of Yellowstone: recreation.gov

  13. Danielle Bollman on August 10, 2022 at 4:34 am

    Thank you for your info and expertise! This is exactly what I was looking for!

  14. Anyeli Silva on August 10, 2022 at 4:41 am

    This video is a gem! Thank you!

  15. Kai Gandall on August 10, 2022 at 4:42 am

    Love your videos! We are planning a trip next week and were lucky enough to reserve 2 camp sites. Lots of great tips, Thanks!

  16. Scott Phillipy on August 10, 2022 at 4:45 am

    Again a very helpful video, you are going to get tired of seeing my little backpack guy. Thanks again for sharing

  17. Kristy Moore on August 10, 2022 at 4:46 am

    Fantastic informative video. I was there several years ago now, naive to the lack of available campsites and I know it’s much worse now.. I was tent camping. Yes, I found an open site for one night eventually, almost dark and very stressed, and then had to be schooled by the camp hosts to basically stalk the grounds in the am, to find a site that I could claim for the rest of my stay. The experience was nerve wracking. Unless you like that kind of “I have nowhere to stay” thrill, I highly recommend leaving nothing to chance.

  18. bruce bryant on August 10, 2022 at 4:49 am

    Subscribed thanks for your efforts

  19. Laurence Krulik on August 10, 2022 at 4:50 am

    Thanks for the video! Very informative. Are there any cabins or "glamping" places to rent inside the park? Coming from NY and won’t have any gear, etc, for tent camping and likely aren’t going to rent an RV.

  20. Owen Jahn on August 10, 2022 at 4:51 am

    I will be traveling from the east (directly from Teddy Roosevelt NP) and plan to enter Yellowstone through the its north entrance. The issue is, I expect to arrive at the northern border of the park at about 6:30pm because of how far I am driving to get there. It is too late to reserve any of the reservable sites within the park, and I’m sure it’s safe to say that all first come first serve sites will be filled by that late in the day too. My plan is to stay in a hotel in the town of Gardiner (the town just outside the north entrance to the park), and then wake up very early the next morning to drive into the park and snag a site in the northern half to stay at (pebble creek or tower falls). We are tent camping, and will be there in the first week of June. Good plan you think?

  21. 7snakes on August 10, 2022 at 4:52 am

    Excellent overview! Thanks a bunch.

  22. liza bonilla on August 10, 2022 at 4:54 am

    I’m just starting my research for Yellowstone and I can’t thank you enough for these detailed videos!!

  23. Shruti Singhal on August 10, 2022 at 4:56 am

    Excellent video.. exactly what I was looking for 😃. Thankyou!!

  24. Boris Rybalov on August 10, 2022 at 4:57 am

    Great video, I have never been to Yellowstone and have only camped around my home in the Los Angeles area. I really want to visit Yellowstone since I was laid off. It’s very short notice, so I am planning to go sometime later this month or maybe in September. There’s for sure no reservations for on-site campgrounds, what would you recommend for off-site camping? It seems like I have to camp in the national forests nearby, do you know what time we should show up to those campgrounds/any recommendations. Thank you!

  25. Brian Montgomery on August 10, 2022 at 4:58 am

    We’ll be coming from NC, is there any place to rent camping equipment out there? Thanks

  26. We're in the Rockies on August 10, 2022 at 5:00 am

    I created an updated (and I think much better!) video. Please watch this instead: https://youtu.be/tBdzrcDYk2E

  27. Dragon Fly on August 10, 2022 at 5:01 am

    Great video information. Very well put together. Great job Man!!

  28. John B on August 10, 2022 at 5:03 am

    Personality issues. Almost fell asleep watching. WAKE UP!!!!

  29. Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries on August 10, 2022 at 5:04 am

    Grreat video and information

  30. Toni McPheron on August 10, 2022 at 5:05 am

    You know what goes through a bears mind while it’s looking at you asleep in your sleeping bag? "Hey look , they wrapped it to go." We stayed in Jackson,Wy.

  31. Elizabeth Sperin on August 10, 2022 at 5:05 am

    I’m curious about tent sizes. We have a large site booked in the Canyon campground that we are sharing with our friends. We saw that the size limit for tents was 12×12 for one tent or two 8×8 tents. Any tips?

  32. Maria Sierra on August 10, 2022 at 5:05 am

    What a breath of fresh air you two are! I’ve been watching videos in preparation for our much anticipated trip and you are both so spot on with the information you’re imparting, without the theatrics!!! We just purchased are first “retirement” RV and are as excited as kids! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

  33. Sam Micallef on August 10, 2022 at 5:07 am

    Where is the information about backcountry camping permits? Can’t find it in the description. Many thanks!

  34. Cornerstone fence Company,serving Tulsa/Broken Arrow/Jenks.... on August 10, 2022 at 5:09 am

    I am planing to go to yellowstone on the last week of Oct. Is that too cold there? I will drive a class c and hope to find a place to park.

  35. Brian Montgomery on August 10, 2022 at 5:10 am

    Do you have to worry about bears when tent camping?

  36. L Chan on August 10, 2022 at 5:11 am

    Hi there, If i reserve a camp site that is listed as "RV 20ft + tent up to 12×12", 1) do I set up the 12×12 on the parking spot of somewhere else? and 2) on the website to reserve, they said I could do RV, Tent, or RV with Tent. Rather than bring my RV, can I also reserve it if I bring my mini-van? Thanks and great video.

  37. matt rogers on August 10, 2022 at 5:13 am

    Will it be cold in a tent during August? Like next week?

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply