Yellowstone RV Camping: Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring America's First National Park

Taylor Rosty
Oct 16, 2025
3 min read

Yellowstone National Park—home to steaming geysers, vivid hot springs, and vast herds of wildlife—is a must-explore destination for RV travelers. Whether you’re a seasoned motorhome adventurer or renting an RV for the first time, Yellowstone offers unforgettable camping experiences surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

Best RV Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone spans over 2.2 million acres, making an RV one of the most flexible ways to explore. The park contains 11 developed campgrounds with more than 2,150 sites, including options suitable for large RVs.^[1]

Top RV-Friendly Campgrounds Inside Yellowstone

Fishing Bridge RV Park: The only campground in Yellowstone with full hookups (water, electric, sewer). It accommodates hard-sided RVs only up to about 40 feet. The campground recently underwent major renovations with improved amenities such as showers, laundry, and a modern dump station.^[3]^[4]
Madison Campground: Conveniently located near the West Entrance; offers pull-through sites and easy access to geyser basins.
Canyon Campground: Centrally located with flush toilets, laundry, and showers. Ideal for exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Bridge Bay Campground: Near Yellowstone Lake, great for larger motorhomes, though no hookups are available.

Pro Tip: Campgrounds fill quickly! Reservations for Yellowstone Lodges–managed sites (Fishing Bridge, Madison, Canyon, Bridge Bay, Grant Village) open 13 months in advance, while NPS-managed campgrounds open up to 6 months in advance via recreation.gov.^[5][1]

RV Parks Near Yellowstone Entrances

If in-park campgrounds are full, excellent options near entrances include:

West Yellowstone, MT: Full-service RV parks just outside the West Entrance.
Gardiner, MT: Access near the year-round North Entrance.
Cody, WY: Full-service RV parks about 52 miles from the East Entrance.
Jackson, WY: Premium RV resorts close to the South Entrance and Grand Teton National Park.

Geysers, Hot Springs, and Geothermal Wonders

Old Faithful and Geyser Basins

Yellowstone features over half the world’s active geysers. RV parking areas are available near the main basins. Old Faithful erupts roughly every 45–90 minutes, and nearby you can explore:

Grand Geyser – tallest predictable geyser on Earth
Castle Geyser – conical eruptions and steam plumes
Riverside Geyser – erupts picturesquely over the Firehole River

Colorful Hot Springs

Accessible geothermal marvels include:

Grand Prismatic Spring – the largest hot spring in the U.S.
Morning Glory Pool – brilliant orange and red tones
Mammoth Hot Springs – terraced travertine formations near the North Entrance

Arrive early during peak season for easier RV parking, especially at the Midway Geyser Basin.

Wildlife Viewing from Your RV

Lamar Valley: Known as the “Serengeti of North America,” ideal for bison, wolves, and bears.
Hayden Valley: Great for bison and elk sightings.
Tower-Roosevelt Area: Black bears, coyotes, and bighorn sheep often visible.

Always view wildlife safely—stay inside your RV or use binoculars and telephoto lenses.

Hiking Trails Accessible from Campgrounds

Upper Geyser Basin Trail: Family-friendly boardwalk loop.
Artist Point Trail: Short, iconic overlook of the Grand Canyon.
Fairy Falls Trail: Moderate 5.4-mile trail to stunning waterfalls and a Grand Prismatic overlook.

After your hike, you can return to your RV for a hot shower and dinner—comfort on wheels!

Scenic RV Drives

The Grand Loop Road—a 140-mile scenic circuit—connects Yellowstone’s key features, suitable for most RVs. Highlights include:

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Dunraven Pass (8,859 feet)
Yellowstone Lake overlooks

Plan Your Yellowstone RV Trip

Best Seasons

Summer (June–August): Warm, fully open roads, peak crowds.
Spring (April–May): Quieter, lower rates, some closures remain.
Fall (September–October): Cooler weather, elk rut, fewer crowds.
Winter (December–March): Limited RV access; mostly confined to the North Entrance to Cooke City.

RV Size Regulations

Most park roads accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, though a few smaller campgrounds have shorter limits (e.g., Lewis Lake, 25 feet). The Tower–Canyon route is not advised for long RVs or trailers.^[6][7]