Mammoth Campground
The Quick Take
Mammoth is Yellowstone's utility player — the only campground open all twelve months, sitting at a relatively mild elevation near the North Entrance. The trade-off is real: you get year-round access, walkable proximity to Mammoth Hot Springs, and elk that treat your campsite like their living room, but you give up flush toilets, showers, and any sense of backcountry seclusion. The scattered juniper and Douglas fir offer decent shade in summer, though sites are closer together than you'd find at the park's more remote options like Slough Creek or Indian Creek. At twenty-five dollars a night with no hookups, it's squarely mid-range for Yellowstone. Choose Mammoth if you're visiting in the shoulder season or winter, if you want a base camp near the park's northern attractions, or if you're the type who'd rather watch a bull elk bugle from your camp chair than hike five miles for solitude.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 85 sites are reservable.
Book at Yellowstone LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 40 feet. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Paths in the campground area are compacted gravel/dirt with some gradient change. In some cases, boardwalks have been constructed to provide easier access to facilities. 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 10 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
The campground switches to first-come, first-served after mid-October, which is your best window for snagging a site without a reservation — and the park is beautifully empty. Arrive before noon on a weekday for the best odds.
Sites along the outer loops tend to back up against open sagebrush with views toward the Gardiner Basin. Request these if you want wildlife sightings from your chair — elk herds move through this corridor daily, especially at dawn and dusk.
There are no showers at Mammoth, but the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (a short walk away) sometimes offers pay showers to non-guests when open. Confirm availability at the front desk. In winter, the hotel's dining room is one of the only places to grab a hot meal in the park.
Photos
NPS / Neal Herbert
NPS/Renkin
NPS/Renkin
