10 Best Campsites in Wyoming

With Wyoming’s location at the meeting point of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, there is so much for adventure seekers to see and explore. The fact that the state was the first in the country to have both a national monument and a national park says much about what tourists can expect to get in Wyoming. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, as the state is bubbling in the nature department. Rolling prairie land scenic locations and spewing geysers help to increase the general charm of the state.

In the summer months, Wyoming is one of the most visited places in America owing to its variety of vegetation, wildlife, and sights. There are two major spots where you can find great camping destinations in the state. These include the Yellowstone National Park, with a full range of twelve outstanding campgrounds and adventures that would leave you wanting more. Campgrounds like the Madison campground, the Canyon campground, and other interesting tourism hotspots make Yellow State National Park one of Wyoming’s most sought-after places.

If you are planning to come and camp in Wyoming, make sure to book a campsite in advance to avoid the mad rush of the holiday season. Talking about making reservations, allow us to guide you through the best campsites in the beautiful state of Wyoming and what they offer.

1. Brooklyn Lake Campground

One of the highlights of Wyoming is the Medicine Bow Mountains’ Snowy Range. This work of nature is located on the southern axis of the state. Nature lovers who are not willing to do strenuous hikes would love this area. Many campgrounds in the region have been shut down due to the unsafe nature of withering trees, meaning there are only a handful of camping destinations around the area. The best of these remaining campgrounds is Brooklyn Lake Campground.

Just a short distance away from the lake, the 19 camping spots on the campground show a nice glimpse of the lake. Similar to a lot of campgrounds on National Forests, the sites here are a bit rustic. Campsites on the ground vary in size, with some large enough to accommodate 35-foot recreational vehicles.

Water on the camp can be gotten from hand pumps, and hookups are not a part of the campground’s packages. The sites do not have a reservation plan and can get filled up pretty quickly during the weekends. Brooklyn Lake Campground is well over 10,000 feet in elevation and provides a vault toilet for campers.

Visitors can fish in the lake or hike the several trails within the area. Midsummer on this campground is a thing of beauty, as the wildflowers around the area pop up in different colors.

2. Granite Spring Reservoir Campgrounds

Located in the middle of Cheyenne and Laramie, Granite Spring Reservoir Campgrounds are a collection of different campgrounds in the Curt Gowdy State Park. The place is a great base point where you can explore any of the two towns around. There are three ponds in the park, and one of the 13 campgrounds would surely satisfy the adventurer in you. 

Curt Gowdy is famous for its mountain biking trails and the water sports activities that continue to attract people from all over the state and beyond. There are 38 miles of mountain biking trails in this park, and it is even recognized as an Epic Destination. Hiking on these trails can be pretty challenging because of the enormous bile traffic. Some horseback trails and an archery course are also available in the park. 

Every campground here offers a unique experience and different amenities. Some of the campgrounds are Happy Jack Loop, Tumbleweeds, and Aspen Grove. And while most of the campsites are walk-in, over 30 can be reserved. To get the best out of Granite Spring Reservoir Campgrounds, you should call the park office to know what sites are available and which would suit you.

3. North Fork Campground

Another campground located in the Snowy Range of Wyoming, the North Fork Campground is probably Wyoming’s best-kept. The campground is popular among locals and is great for families with little children. If you are planning on staying around the area for some time, this campground does not get a lot of traffic, even during the weekends, and is a great way to avoid the crowds at Sugarloaf and Brooklyn Lake during peak periods.  

There are 60 well-distributed camping spots on this camp, and big rigs are accommodated at the location. There are very limited utilities at the park, following the rustic nature of other camping destinations in the area. You will find hand pumps for drinking water and vault toilets at the location. The surroundings are still beautiful, despite the havoc caused by beetle damage.

Situated near the major trailheads at Lewis, Brooklyn, and Mirror Lakes, campers can hike in any of the trails, which differ in difficulty levels. You can also explore the many lakes in the area.

4. Slough Creek Campground

Each day at the Slough Creek Campground, several visitors stop by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the wolves that reside around the campground. Yes, there is a real wolf den located in between the access road and the campground. But it does not constitute a nuisance since the campground is a further two miles away from the wolf den.

The destination is often the last campground to open around the region, and rightly so. Wildlife viewing is a strong point of the park, considering its location around the Lamar Valley. Slough Creek offers rustic camping features and is the smallest campground in the Yellowstone region. Generators and Recreational Vehicles longer than 30 feet are prohibited from the location. Like other camping spots in the region, campers can only get water by a hand-operated pump, and the tent sites are quite small and primitive.

The location is generally quiet and serene. At night the skies are dark, in line with the campground’s isolation from the rest of Yellowstone. Campsites are mostly filled up in the mornings.

5. Lizard Creek Campsite

Lizard Creek Campground serves as the last point to stop if you are coming to Yellowstone National Park from Grand Teton. The campground’s remote location, combined with an absence of hookups for recreational vehicles, makes it relatively unknown and an ideal place for tent campers.

Sixty campsites are available, and vehicles longer than 30 feet are not allowed entrance into the grounds. The camping spots are typically set far from the lake area. Although you can swim in the lake, bathing there is not allowed.

Each site is provided with picnic tables and bear boxes to store food. Camp sinks and toilet facilities are also present in the camp. This location is a bear area, so you have to be careful about keeping food in the tents. The weather at Lizard Creek is largely unpredictable, so be prepared.

The destination does not offer spots for reservations. Jackson Lake, which is along the ground’s edges, offers opportunities for paddling and swimming.

6. Madison Campground

Arguably the most well-known campground at Yellowstone National Park, Madison Campground, sees the highest level of traffic among the campgrounds in the area. The Geyser Basin region, which is an outstanding attraction to the area, contributes to the popularity of the campground, as it is the nearest camping spot. Madison campground caters to every type of camper and pretty much every vehicle. If you plan to visit the campground, make your reservations very early to get the nicest spots. 

The campground is segmented into eight distinct loops, with two of them exclusively for tent camping. Each campsite’s location determines how good it is. The best sites are the ones on the outer loops, as they are more spacious and secluded. However, some of these outer loop sites are a bit close to the road and can occasionally be noisy. All eight segments of the campground have their bathrooms and potable water, although there are no showers.

Fishing, alongside the camp’s proximity to the geyser basins, is a major attraction to the campground. The wildlife areas of Gibbon Falls, West Entrance Road, and Norris Geyser Basin make the campground a good base to sight animals.

Booking a spot on short notice might be difficult, but reservation cancellations are always prone to occur, and some sites are available daily. Make inquiries at the office upon arrival.

7. Gros Ventre Campground

There are seven great campgrounds in Grand Teton Park, and it can be challenging to pick just one to camp on. If given a chance to select only one of these listed campgrounds, many people who have visited the area before will pick the Gros Ventre as their ideal camping spot.

Of the 7 campgrounds in the Tetons, Gros Ventre is the closest camping destination to Jackson. Despite the many utilities at the location, it still manages to maintain an air of seclusion around it. With no villages or settlements around the area, traffic is very light, and congestion, minimal. Jenny Lake, Mormon Row, Snake River, Schwabacher’s Landing, and other attractions around the park are, at most, a 30-minute drive away. Located close to the Gros Ventre River, this campground sees a lot of wildlife passing by or even venturing into the grounds.

The campground is a large expanse with many sections spread evenly across two sides of a major road. Some of the segments cater to only tents. A favorite among campers is the “A” loop, which is very spacious, offers a great view of the Tetons, and attracts lots of wildlife. An on-site amphitheater hosts many ranger programs on the campground.

8. Circle Park Campground

The Bighorn National Forest is situated in northern Wyoming, along the Montana border, and plays host to Circle Park Campground. Managed by the U.S. Forest service, the campground offers access to the magnificent Cloud Peak Wilderness. 

With only 10 rustic sites available at the campground, there is always fierce competition to fill up these picturesque camping spots. Best suited for tent campers, there is no electricity available in the camping sites.

Some amenities at the park include potable water and toilets from hand pumps. Each camping spot is provided with a picnic table and a campfire ring. Whenever you visit Circle Park campground, make sure to take a drive on the beautiful Cloud Peak Byway, or take a chance driving off-road along the canyon routes.

9. Two Moon Campground

Glendo State Park is home to several campgrounds in Wyoming southeast. Famous among boating and fishing enthusiasts, the park is a haven for lovers of outdoor recreation. With its location along the shores of the North Platte River, there is never a lack of outdoor fun to enjoy at the park.

Glendo State Park’s largest campground is named Two Moon Campground. There are over 200 rustic camping spots in the campground, with no electricity. Trailers, tent campers, and recreational vehicles frequent the campground. Campers have access to drinking water and flush toilets, and the campground offers a gorgeous view of the reservoir.

The camping spots are properly shaded, and from here, you can access the state park. You can also try out another popular campground pitched to the east of the reservoir, Sandy Beach Dune Campground, to participate in different watersports.

10. Grant Village Campground

With Yellowstone Lake being a mere two minutes away and the Geyser Basin accessible via a twenty-mile drive, Grant Village Campground holds lots of adventures that are better experienced than explained.

Among the biggest campgrounds in the Yellowstone National Park, Grant Village campground has over 400 sites that trailers can enjoy recreational vehicles, and tents. The location grants campers some of the most unique hiking trails in the area. Visitors have access to potable water and flush toilets.

Campers can access laundry and shower facilities down the road, and there is also a well-stocked store that contains everything you might require throughout your stay. Each Campsite at Grant Village can be booked one full year ahead.

Conclusion

Wyoming is a paradise for nature enthusiasts, and though most of the camping spots listed here are primitive-style spots, every camper would find something that suits them. You do not need any further invitation to explore the attractions that abound in the Wild West. Choose whatever campground appeals to you and you are in for an adventure of a lifetime.

FindCampingGear.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic.