NPS developed
Yellowstone (Madison, Bridge Bay, Grant Village)
All 12 Yellowstone campgrounds book at recreation.gov; bear-box at every site.
Per-state camping guide · cited .gov sources
Camping in Wyoming — Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind River
Wyoming hosts the densest grizzly population in the lower 48 — the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Camping here requires IGBC-certified bear-resistant storage, distance discipline, and an understanding that bear-aware camp setup is not optional. It's the difference between a normal trip and a euthanized bear.
Best season
Late June through September for Yellowstone/Teton high country; May-October for lower elevations.
Primary hazard
Grizzly bear encounters + hydrothermal injury (Yellowstone)
Permit complexity · 4/5
Involved — permits + timed entry
Wyoming has 4% state sales tax + variable local tax on camping fees; state-park camping fees include applicable tax.
Camping Wyoming in something you'd rent? See which RVs in Wyoming are listed →
Per-state regulations
Rules that shape your trip
Real rules with .gov source citations. Verify current status within 48 hours of departure.
Yellowstone food-storage order REQUIRES IGBC-certified bear-resistant storage (hard-sided vehicle, permanent bear box, or IGBC canister). Soft coolers and Ursack do not satisfy the order.
nps.gov — official sourceGrand Teton wilderness permits required for backcountry overnights — apply at recreation.gov.
recreation.gov — official sourceYellowstone thermal-area rules — stay on boardwalks, no off-trail in geyser basins, no thrown objects in pools. Violations are mandatory federal misdemeanors.
nps.gov — official sourceWyoming state parks operate on ReserveAmerica with 4-month booking windows.
wyoparks.wyo.gov — official source
Where to camp
Top 5 camping destinations in Wyoming
Mix of NPS, state park, USFS, and BLM — with the insider angle per site.
NPS developed
Grand Teton (Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Colter Bay)
Jenny Lake is hardest to book (49 tent-only sites).
USFS dispersed
Wind River Range (Trails End, Big Sandy)
Backpacking gateway to Cirque of the Towers, Titcomb Basin.
NPS developed
Devils Tower (Belle Fourche River Campground)
Small 46-site campground at the base of the tower.
State park
Sinks Canyon State Park
Lander climbing-area basecamp; Wind River foothills.
On the trail
Wildlife callouts
Real species, behaviors, and distance rules for Wyoming.
- 1Grizzly bears throughout Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem — IGBC food storage required by federal order; carry bear spray accessible (hip holster).
- 2Bison are responsible for more visitor injuries than bears in Yellowstone — 25-yard minimum distance enforced; gore wounds are common in summer.
- 3Geyser basins inflict fatal scald burns — every year visitors die from off-boardwalk thermal contact. Stay on boardwalks. Always.
- 4Cold mountain lakes — Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Lewis Lake — hypothermia risk after 5-10 minutes of immersion even in August.
Editorial edge
What the state agency doesn't tell you
Hand-curated insider context for Wyoming — the kind that comes from real trip experience, not press releases.
- 1Yellowstone food-storage order violations carry $5,000 mandatory fines plus possible criminal charges if a bear becomes food-conditioned and is euthanized.
- 2Bear spray statistics (Tom Smith / Brigham Young U. 2008): 92% effectiveness in stopping aggressive grizzly encounters. Carry on hip, not in pack.
- 3Yellowstone wilderness permits open online 48 hours after the lottery results — many backcountry zones available walk-in at ranger stations.
- 4Grand Teton's Jenny Lake Campground is tent-only and books out 6 months exact (the open-second) — RV campers should target Signal Mountain or Colter Bay.
- 5Sylvan Lake / Eleanor Lake (Yellowstone) are walk-in-only car-camping with no reservations — first-come, often available even in summer.
- 6Hot-spring legend (Boiling River, Mr. Bubbles) closure: many former soak spots have been closed permanently due to thermal injuries — check current open list.
Official state authority
Questions
Wyoming camping FAQ
Do I need a bear canister in Yellowstone?
For backcountry overnights, yes — IGBC-certified hard-sided canister required, OR you must hang food using the campsite's hang pole, OR use a permanent bear box at certain backcountry sites. Soft Ursack does NOT satisfy the Yellowstone food-storage order.
Can I see grizzlies safely?
From a vehicle or a designated observation point with binoculars, yes — Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley are reliable bear-viewing spots. NEVER approach a bear; maintain 100-yard minimum (300 yards is safer). Carry accessible bear spray. Most attacks are surprise close encounters; making noise reduces risk substantially.
What's the difference between Yellowstone and Grand Teton camping?
Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds spread across 2.2 million acres — book at recreation.gov 6 months ahead. Grand Teton has 6 campgrounds packed into a smaller footprint — Jenny Lake is the hardest to book, Colter Bay is easiest. Both require bear-aware camp setup.
Wyoming rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 16+ std · 21+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — no restriction
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-08:00
Your next step
Everything above assumes a rig.
Permits, season windows and pad lengths on this page all resolve to the same practical question — what you are driving. Wyoming owners list theirs on PickRV, and this is what that side of the trip currently looks like.
Tell us when you want to drive Wyoming.
Nothing in Wyoming is bookable today — PickRV opens for bookings on October 25. Dated requests are what we take to owners, so give us the window you actually want — you get one email the day a rig covers it, and nothing else.
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