Camping in Wyoming

A complete guide to camping in Wyoming

Majestic Wyoming mountains under starry night sky

Photo Credit: S Walker

Overview

Wyoming holds two of the most visited national parks in the country and some of the least populated land in between. Yellowstone's geothermal landscape and Grand Teton's mountain wall dominate the northwest corner, concentrating the heaviest camping traffic in a state that averages fewer than six people per square mile. Cody, Buffalo, and Lander sit along the access routes from the east, each serving as a base for different sections of the Bighorn and Wind River ranges.

The rest of Wyoming stretches across high plains, sagebrush basins, and isolated mountain ranges. The Bighorn Mountains in the north-central region, the Wind River Range in the west, and the Medicine Bow Mountains in the southeast provide mountain camping away from the national park crowds. Alcova and Glendo reservoirs in the central plains offer lake camping for the Casper area. Wyoming's camping happens almost entirely above 4,000 feet, with many campgrounds above 7,000 feet. The short summer season compresses most camping into a four-month window.

Browse All RV Parks & Campgrounds in Wyoming

Best Seasons to Camp in Wyoming

Spring

Mar-May

High 50°F · Low 38°F

Snow covers mountain campgrounds through May. Yellowstone's lower loops begin opening in late April. The plains dry out but wind is constant. Spring arrives late at Wyoming elevations.

Summer

Jun-Aug

High 70°F · Low 58°F

The camping season. Yellowstone and Grand Teton operate at full capacity. Mountain campgrounds open by late June. Wildflowers peak in July. Afternoon thunderstorms at higher elevations. Nights stay cool even in summer.

Season	Months	Avg High	Avg Low	Conditions
Spring	Mar-May	50°F	38°F	Snow covers mountain campgrounds through May.
Summer	Jun-Aug	70°F	58°F	The camping season.
Fall	Sep-Nov	50°F	38°F	September extends summer conditions.
Winter	Dec-Feb	29°F	17°F	January averages 21 degrees.

Camping Regions in Wyoming

Region	Terrain	Key Areas
Yellowstone and Grand Teton	Mountain	Yellowstone NP, Cody, West Yellowstone (MT), Jackson
Wind River Range	Mountain	Lander, Pinedale, Dubois, Riverton
Bighorn Mountains	Mountain	Buffalo, Sheridan, Lovell, Ten Sleep
Medicine Bow and Southeast	Mountain	Laramie, Centennial, Saratoga, Encampment
High Plains and Reservoirs	Plains	Casper, Alcova, Glendo, Sundance

Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Mountain · Yellowstone NP, Cody, West Yellowstone (MT), Jackson

The northwest corner holds both national parks and the heaviest camping demand in the state. Twelve campgrounds within Yellowstone and five in Grand Teton operate from late May through September. Geysers, hot springs, wildlife, and mountain scenery draw millions. Cody and West Yellowstone serve as access towns. Ponderosa Campground and Cody Trout Ranch Camp in Cody serve the East Entrance corridor, while campgrounds in Moran and Jackson cover the south.

Wind River Range

Mountain · Lander, Pinedale, Dubois, Riverton

The longest mountain range in Wyoming running 100 miles through the west-central region. Lander and Pinedale access the eastern and western slopes. The Cirque of the Towers and Titcomb Basin rank among the top backcountry destinations in the Rockies. Dispersed camping in Bridger-Teton and Shoshone national forests. Sleeping Bear RV Park and Campground and Twin Pines RV Park near Lander serve the eastern slope, while Rim Station in Pinedale covers the western approach.

Bighorn Mountains

Mountain · Buffalo, Sheridan, Lovell, Ten Sleep

An isolated range in north-central Wyoming rising from the plains to over 9,000 feet. Buffalo and Sheridan sit at the eastern base. Cloud Peak Wilderness provides alpine backcountry. Highway 14 crosses the range with developed campgrounds at multiple elevations. Less crowded than the Yellowstone corridor. Bighorn View RV Campground and Buffalo KOA Journey in Buffalo, and Peter D's RV Park in Sheridan anchor the eastern base of the range.

Medicine Bow and Southeast

Mountain · Laramie, Centennial, Saratoga, Encampment

The Snowy Range and Medicine Bow National Forest near Laramie provide the closest mountain camping to the Colorado Front Range. Vedauwoo Recreation Area has granite-tower climbing. The range tops out above 10,000 feet. Shorter drive from Denver than Yellowstone. Laramie RV Resort by Rjourney near Laramie and Nash Fork Campground near Centennial provide developed access to the Snowy Range.

High Plains and Reservoirs

Plains · Casper, Alcova, Glendo, Sundance

The open sagebrush plains covering central and eastern Wyoming. Alcova, Glendo, and Keyhole reservoirs provide lake-based camping. Devils Tower National Monument in the northeast corner offers the most distinctive plains camping. Wind, space, and isolation define the experience. Fort Caspar Campground in Casper and Windy Waters RV Park near Alcova serve the central Wyoming reservoir and plains camping.

Camping Tips for Wyoming

Yellowstone and Grand Teton campgrounds book months ahead for summer. Reserve as soon as the window opens on Recreation.gov. Canyon, Bridge Bay, and Grant Village fill first.
Grizzly bears inhabit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Bear spray is essential. All food must be in bear-proof containers. Know the difference between grizzly and black bear behavior.
Wyoming wind is no joke. The high plains and mountain passes regularly see sustained winds above 30 mph. Stake your tent thoroughly and bring wind-resistant shelter.
Elevation affects everything. Most Wyoming campgrounds sit above 6,000 feet. Altitude sickness, rapid temperature drops, and intense UV exposure are all factors. Drink extra water and acclimate.
Bison in Yellowstone kill more visitors than bears. Maintain 25 yards from bison and elk at all times. They are wild animals despite their calm appearance.
Dispersed camping on BLM and national forest land is widely available outside national park boundaries. The Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, and Bighorn national forests offer extensive free camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book Yellowstone campgrounds?

As early as the reservation window allows. Most Yellowstone campgrounds open reservations five months ahead and fill within days for July and August dates. Canyon, Bridge Bay, and Madison are the hardest to get. Same-day availability exists at first-come campgrounds but requires arriving before noon.

Is dispersed camping easy to find near Yellowstone?

Shoshone and Bridger-Teton national forests surround the parks and offer extensive dispersed camping with no fee or reservation. Popular dispersed areas along the Greys River, upper Wind River, and Beartooth Highway corridor fill on summer weekends but weekday availability is good.

How cold does it get at Wyoming campgrounds in summer?

Nighttime temperatures at campgrounds above 7,000 feet regularly drop into the 30s and 40s even in July. Frost is possible any month at higher elevations. A sleeping bag rated to at least 30 degrees is recommended for summer mountain camping.

Are grizzly bears a real concern in Wyoming?

Grizzly bears inhabit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and their range is expanding. Bear spray, proper food storage, and bear-aware camping practices are required, not optional. Both national parks provide bear safety information. The national forests surrounding the parks also have grizzly activity.

What is Devils Tower like for camping?

Devils Tower National Monument in northeast Wyoming has a small campground at the base of the 867-foot volcanic rock tower. The monument sits on the plains, separate from the western mountain ranges. Rock climbing on the tower draws a dedicated community. The campground is small and fills during summer.

Camping in Wyoming

Overview

Best Seasons to Camp in Wyoming

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Camping Regions in Wyoming

Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Wind River Range

Bighorn Mountains

Medicine Bow and Southeast

High Plains and Reservoirs

National Parks in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park