Car Camping in Yellowstone National Park

Car camping in Yellowstone National Park is one of the most convenient and enjoyable ways to experience the park’s natural beauty while staying close to the action. It offers visitors the freedom to sleep inside their vehicles or set up camp near them, combining comfort and adventure. However, Yellowstone has strict rules and designated areas for car camping to protect the park’s delicate ecosystem and ensure visitor safety. Understanding these regulations and options will help you plan a perfect Yellowstone car camping trip.

Quick Reference: Car Camping in Yellowstone National Park

Category	Details
Car Camping Allowed	✅ Yes, but only in designated campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park. Roadside or parking lot camping is strictly prohibited.
Number of Campgrounds	12 official campgrounds managed by the National Park Service and Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Popular Campgrounds for Car Camping	Madison, Canyon, Grant Village, Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Norris, Mammoth, and Pebble Creek.
Reservation Required	Yes, for most campgrounds (through Yellowstone National Park Lodges). Some sites like Pebble Creek and Slough Creek are first-come, first-served.
Facilities Available	Picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms (flush or vault), food lockers, and potable water (seasonal).
Vehicle Sleeping Rules	Sleeping in your car is allowed only within your reserved campsite inside an official campground.
Prohibited Areas for Car Camping	Roadsides, scenic pullouts, trailheads, parking lots, and picnic areas — overnight stays not allowed.
Best Time for Car Camping	Late May to early October, when most campgrounds are open and accessible by vehicle.
Winter Option	Mammoth Campground (open year-round and vehicle-accessible even in winter).
Nearby Outside-the-Park Options	West Yellowstone (MT), Gardiner (MT), Cody (WY), and Island Park (ID) — all have private and public car camping areas.
Bear Safety Rules	Store all food, coolers, and scented items in bear-proof lockers or vehicles; never leave them unattended outside.
Fire Regulations	Fires allowed only in designated rings or grills; must be fully extinguished before sleeping or leaving the site.
Quiet Hours	10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. enforced across all campgrounds.
Cost Range (Per Night)	$20 – $80 depending on location, amenities, and season.
Important Tip	Always plan and book early — campsites fill up fast, especially between June and September.

Car camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park. You cannot park along roadsides, pullouts, or picnic areas and sleep in your car overnight. This rule is enforced by park rangers to prevent wildlife disturbances, traffic hazards, and environmental damage. Yellowstone’s wilderness is home to bears, bison, elk, and other animals that frequently roam near roads, making unauthorized roadside camping unsafe for both visitors and wildlife.

There are 12 designated campgrounds within Yellowstone where car camping is permitted. Most of these sites are managed by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Xanterra) or the National Park Service, offering drive-up campsites that allow visitors to park their vehicles next to their tents. Campgrounds such as Madison, Canyon, Bridge Bay, and Grant Village are particularly popular among car campers because of their easy road access, restrooms, and proximity to major attractions. Each campsite typically provides a picnic table, fire ring, and food storage locker, and most have restroom facilities with either flush or vault toilets.

For those planning to camp inside their vehicles — whether in a car, SUV, van, or camper without hookups — it’s perfectly acceptable within designated campgrounds. However, sleeping in vehicles outside campgrounds (like parking lots or scenic overlooks) is prohibited. If you’re planning a multi-day visit and want to move around the park, you’ll need to reserve campsites in advance or arrive early at first-come, first-served locations such as Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Lewis Lake Campgrounds.

Reservations are highly recommended, especially from June through September, when Yellowstone is at its busiest. Many campgrounds fill up months in advance, and spontaneous car camping can be difficult without prior planning. Online reservations can be made through the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website for most major campgrounds. For first-come, first-served sites, it’s best to arrive early in the morning to secure a spot.

When car camping, visitors must follow strict food storage and waste disposal rules to avoid attracting wildlife. All food, coolers, cooking equipment, and scented items must be stored in bear-proof lockers or inside vehicles when not in use. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings, and campers should never leave them unattended. Quiet hours are enforced from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., allowing everyone to enjoy a peaceful night in nature.

If you prefer more flexibility or if Yellowstone’s campgrounds are full, there are also many car camping options outside the park. Nearby towns like West Yellowstone (Montana), Gardiner (Montana), Cody (Wyoming), and Island Park (Idaho) have numerous campgrounds, RV parks, and forest areas where car camping is permitted, often with fewer restrictions. Some national forests surrounding the park — like Gallatin, Shoshone, and Bridger-Teton National Forests — offer dispersed camping where you can park and sleep in your vehicle with fewer rules, though amenities are minimal.

Winter car camping in Yellowstone is extremely limited and not recommended unless you’re experienced with cold-weather camping. Most campgrounds close for the season except Mammoth Campground, which remains open year-round and allows vehicle camping even in the snowy months. However, temperatures can drop well below freezing, and vehicle access is restricted to certain roads, so preparation is crucial.

In summary, car camping in Yellowstone is absolutely allowed and can be an amazing way to explore the park — as long as you stay in designated campgrounds and follow park regulations. It offers convenience, affordability, and a front-row seat to the park’s geysers, canyons, and wildlife. By respecting the rules, planning ahead, and camping responsibly, you’ll enjoy the best of Yellowstone’s rugged beauty from the comfort of your own vehicle.