Madison Campground
The Quick Take
Madison sits at the crossroads of Yellowstone's greatest hits — roughly equidistant from Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the West Entrance — which makes it the park's most strategically located campground. The trade-off is that you'll know it: this is one of Yellowstone's largest camps, and the loop roads hum with traffic during peak season. But the setting earns its reputation. The confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole rivers is right at your doorstep, and the meadows at dusk deliver bison grazing and elk bugling without requiring a single mile of hiking. There are no showers, no hookups, and no cell service, so you're roughing it by front-country standards. Choose Madison if you want a central base camp for hitting every major geyser basin and canyon overlook without burning half your day driving.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 276 sites are reservable.
Book at Yellowstone LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Three accessible campsites (reservable), with an extended picnic table and a raised fire grate. The closest accessible shower is at Old Faithful Inn (16 mi. south). Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:Unless posted otherwise, wood and charcoal fires are permitted in all campgrounds except the Fishing Bridge RV Park.
- Generators:Where permitted, generators may only be operated from 8 am to 8 pm (60 dB limit).
- Bear Safety:All odorous items that may attract bears, including food, cooking gear, toiletries, and garbage, must be kept secured when not in use.
- Checkout:Checkout time is 11 am.
- Occupancy:Campsite occupancy is limited to six people per site.
- Stay Limit:Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 through Labor Day, and 30 days for the rest of the year.
Pro Tips
Reservations open on a rolling window and Madison fills fast — set a calendar reminder for your exact travel dates the moment the booking window opens through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Cancellations do trickle in, so check obsessively in the two weeks before your trip if you struck out initially.
The Madison River right below camp is legendary fly-fishing water. Evening hatches draw rising trout from late June through September, and you don't need a Wyoming license — just a free Yellowstone fishing permit from any visitor center. Walk five minutes from your site and you're casting.
No showers means you'll want to plan around them. The nearest pay showers are at Old Faithful Lodge, about a 30-minute drive south. Stock up on firewood at the campground since gathering dead wood in the park is restricted, and bring a bear canister or use the provided food lockers religiously — grizzlies work these river corridors regularly.
Photos
NPS/Renkin
NPS/Renkin
NPS/RenkinGetting There
Directions
This campground is reached by the Grand Loop Road and is near the intersection of the road that leads to the West Entrance. It is 14 miles east of the West Entrance and 16 miles north of Old Faithful.
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