Few national parks require as much advance planning for RV camping as Yellowstone. Designated the nation’s first national park in 1872, Yellowstone spans Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Campgrounds are split between those operated directly by the National Park Service (NPS) and those managed by concessioners, each with its own reservation process. Using official NPS API and Recreation.gov RIDB data, we compiled RV campground details, hookup availability, length limits, and reservation information.
Yellowstone National Park Basics
The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle for a pass valid for seven days, while an annual pass costs $70. Motorcycles are $30. The park has five entrances, but only the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, is open to vehicle traffic year-round; the others have seasonal opening dates. The West Entrance opens to regular vehicle traffic on the third Friday in April, the East Entrance on the first Friday in May, and the South Entrance on the second Friday in May. Yellowstone does not require a separate vehicle-entry reservation.
Travel Alert for Large RVs
According to an official NPS alert issued in March 2026, construction on the Gardner River High Bridge will result in around-the-clock, single-lane traffic from April 1 through late October 2026, with delays of up to 15 minutes possible. Oversize vehicles measuring 8 feet 6 inches or wider, 75 feet or longer, or weighing 80,000 pounds or more may not cross the bridge during that period. Travelers towing a large fifth wheel or travel trailer should recheck routes through the North Entrance in advance.
Fishing Bridge RV Park Is the Only Full-Hookup Campground
Among Yellowstone’s 12 campgrounds, Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only one with water, sewer, and electric hookups. All 310 sites are RV-only sites with electric service. Because grizzly bears are common in the area, tents and tent trailers are prohibited. The nightly rate is $89, with no Senior Pass or Access Pass discount. Reservations are available only through Yellowstone National Park Lodges at 307-344-7311. Amenities include coin-operated laundry, a dump station, and Wi-Fi at the nearby Lake Lodge Cafeteria. Campfires are prohibited.
Four Large Campgrounds Popular With RV Travelers, Without Hookups
Bridge Bay Campground, on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, has 432 sites and costs $33 per night. Senior Pass and Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount. A dump station operates seasonally, but there are no electric hookups.
Canyon Campground has 273 sites and costs $39 per night, including two showers per site per day. It is near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and has laundry facilities and a dump station.
Grant Village Campground has 430 sites, making it one of the area’s largest campgrounds. The $39 nightly rate includes two showers, and eight group sites are also available.
Madison Campground has 276 sites, including 117 tent-only sites, and costs $33 per night. RVs up to 30 feet in total length can be accommodated. The NPS advises calling to confirm when reserving because sites may not be level.
Reservations for all four campgrounds are handled by Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Under Yellowstone’s general campground rules, sites that can accommodate a combined RV-and-trailer length over 40 feet are very limited.
NPS-Operated Campgrounds Reserved Directly Through Recreation.gov
Some campgrounds are operated directly by the NPS rather than a concessioner and are reserved through Recreation.gov. Indian Creek Campground has 70 sites and costs $20 per night, with a 50% Senior Pass and Access Pass discount. It has 10 sites for rigs up to 35 feet and 35 sites for rigs up to 30 feet, and is located 8 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs toward Norris.
Lewis Lake Campground has 85 sites and costs $20 per night. Its combined RV-and-trailer length limit is 25 feet, among the shortest in Yellowstone, making it impractical for large RVs. It is 8 miles from the South Entrance. Reservations for 80% of sites open six months ahead, while the remaining 20% open two weeks ahead. Reservation pages: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/259304 (Indian Creek), recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/259309 (Lewis Lake)
Recreation.gov RIDB database results also list Mammoth Campground and Slough Creek Campground as reservable through Recreation.gov. Both are small campgrounds without electric hookups. Confirm exact RV-length limits and rates on the Recreation.gov page when booking.
Shared Campground Rules — What to Know in Bear Country
At all Yellowstone campgrounds, parking and camping outside designated sites are prohibited, and each site accommodates up to six people. Checkout is 11 a.m. at concessioner-operated campgrounds and 10 a.m. at NPS-operated campgrounds. Stays are limited to 14 days from July 1 through Labor Day and 30 days at other times of year, except at Fishing Bridge RV Park, which has no stay limit. Generators may be used from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. if they remain below 60 dB. Generators are prohibited at Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall campgrounds. Food, cooking equipment, toiletries, and trash that could attract bears must be securely stored in a bear-proof container or inside a vehicle whenever not in use.
Pre-Reservation Checklist
When planning an RV trip to Yellowstone, first measure the combined length of your RV and tow vehicle. Because Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground with full hookups, plan for water and holding-tank capacity, solar power, and generator use accordingly. The four Yellowstone National Park Lodges reservation campgrounds and Recreation.gov campgrounds use different reservation systems, so choose the campground first and then book through the appropriate system. Also check Gardner River High Bridge travel restrictions from April through October.
Data Source: NPS API developer.nps.gov / Recreation.gov RIDB. Official campground information: nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Photo: NPS / Jim Peaco / Original photo. Public domain. Photo date: June 1997.