Free Camping Collection with

Camper submitted image from Targhee Creek - 1

Camper submitted image from Targhee Creek - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Targhee Creek - 3

Camping

Camper submitted image from Targhee Creek - 4

Activities

Camper submitted image from Targhee Creek - 5

People

Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Targhee Creek

17 Reviews

About

Suggest an Edit

Location

Targhee Creek is located in Idaho

Coordinates

44.66896703152247 N
111.31509898991499 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Poor

Site Types

Tent Sites
Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Firewood Available
Phone Service
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Targhee Creek needs a permit.

Try PRO for Free

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Amber R.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2023

Great site for Yellowstone

This is a great base camp for staying at Yellowstone! It was 25 minutes from the West Yellowstone entrance. The entrance to it comes up very quick on the road and people can get really aggressive on the connecting highway. We stayed at the most private site, most of them are more open. The road is bumpy, I was fine with my AWD Subaru but a regular 4 door would have to be really careful. We heard moose in the distance one night and you can hear cars very lightly sometimes. The wildflowers around the site and forest coverage was great.

Siteno numbered sites

Month of VisitSeptember

Opus 15 !.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 27, 2023

Excellent Dispersed Camping

Turn on FR 057. The end of the road is about 1 mile in. There are two very nice spots at the end of the road right along the creek. Across the bridge from the road closed sign there is also an excellent tent spot right along the creek. There are also at least 6-7 spots on the way in, as well as the large trailhead parking spot that others have mentioned. We got luck and got the best spot along the creek as a family was about to leave when we pulled in midday on a Monday. It was absolutely beautiful and very secluded at the end of the road. The spot is 12 miles from West Yellowstone entrance. Excellent Verizon service was a bonus that we don’t get at a lot of dispersed sites. Highly recommended!!

Month of VisitAugust

(5) View All

James B.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 7, 2023

Beautiful Area

This is a great place. I took first one open while driving up the dirt road but wasnt to tough to find spot.

SiteNA

Month of VisitAugust

Max

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 23, 2023

Awesome spot!

Lots of sites available. Approximately half have provided bear boxes. Sites are the end of the road are along a beautiful creek. Water rushing sound is fairly loud, relaxing for some, but not for us. We stayed at the trailhead. Beautiful views, provided fire pits. Road is a littleeee rough coming in but nothing even a passenger car couldn’t handle.

Sitetrailhead

Month of VisitJuly

Payton M.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 18, 2023

Gorgeous

Rough road entering site. We made it safely with 2WD. Most cleared spots filled with other campers as we drove in. We parked by the Targhee trailhead clearing (3 other vehicles present in spot)- We had ample room to ourselves. Fire ring available. Gorgeous gorgeous views! Patrolled by police.

Month of VisitJuly

Traildog A.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2023

Great dispersed camp spot near Yellowstone

Great dispersed camp area . Rugged 2 track with established ( flat clearing with rock fire ring) camp spots on both sides. We camped at the very end of the track, about 2 miles in, on the edge of a beautiful rushing stream. Site was level and had a bear box , very peaceful. Other sites were occupied on the way in, area was clean ( no trash) and there was a large group area and trail head just before the end. Area is about 9 miles from the West Yellowstone Park gate. No facilities/ dispersed, so be prepared to pack in/ pack out.

Siteno site numbers/ dispersed.

Month of VisitJuly

Jacob G.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 19, 2022

Destination > journey

Rough drive to a spot. We made it without incident and thankfully didn’t have to drive too far to find a spot. We landed at a group camp site at the trail head and had a lovely view of the mountains. Also we had cell service the whole night through Verizon.

Month of VisitAugust

Syndy Z.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 15, 2022

Rough road and nice views

Road is a bit rough, but a few sites available for dispersed camping

Month of VisitAugust

Mike

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 13, 2021

Dispersed camping

Nice location for checking out Yellowstone. We stayed here for 3 nights, as stated the road in is pretty rough but is manageable if you go slow. There are a few campsites along the road and a large site at the trail head. The site we stayed at was about half way up to the trail head. We use T mobile and seemed to work good. Will stay here again when in the area

Siteabout half way to the trail head

Month of VisitOctober

Kaitlin B.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 16, 2021

Perfect dispersed camping

This was a very nice area with big private spots! The road to get to these spots was rough, but that keeps it from being a place where everyone goes.

Month of VisitJuly

Kyleen

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 3, 2020

Dispersed camping in meadow near creek

This site is about 20 miles west of Yellowstone in Idaho. Great spot with easy access. Beautiful views and the blue mountains in the distance at sunset make this site a crowd pleaser. Gravel roads on the way in get a little more rough the further in you go and down towards the creek. About 8+ sites off gravel road including a group site. There are also a few dirt roads closer to entrance that may lead to more but we didn’t go up since they were a little closer to the road. The traffic was a bit loud at times but as the night went on and the traffic died down and this was a beautiful area overlooking a meadow. Unfortunately, a few people have forgot the importance of leave no trace and therefore be careful of the toilet paper scattered throughout this site.

Rhett B.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 7, 2020

Amazing Campground Next to a Creek

The road to the campgrounds are a bit rough, but if you have an SUV/Truck you’ll be just fine. Upon arrival Most of the campsites were already taken, so this spot is a bit popular. But we managed to find a spot at the very end of the gravel road. (turn around point also) At the end of the Road there is an amazing creek and trail. Such a beautiful place. Very quiet and friendly neighbors. Had a visit by the friendly park ranger, who checked near-by campfires. Make sure if you plan to leave camp, that you put out your fire completely. Decent cell signal at camp site (Verizon). Great place to camp.

Dylan A.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 5, 2020

Last minute treasure in the valley

We originally wanted to stay farther south in Idaho after leaving Jackson but we weren’t happy with the location. So we got on route 20 and started driving towards west Yellowstone when we came across the small Targhee National Forest sign. Fearful we weren’t going to be able to find a spot, we drove in anyways. We ended up going left up the second hill and found a nice big sight over looking the road and a cow pasture. The traffic on the road died down around 1030 which left us with a quiet star filled night in the valley. Later the moon rose up and lit up the mountain faces just enough.

(4) View All

nikki N.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

Cute spot

Very close to West entrance! Plug in directions to the Targhee trailhead. Google maps took us down the wrong road to a dead end. Lots of wild flowers! There’s about 8 single spots in the beginning that are singles with fire pits. In the middle of the road there’s a meadow that if you don’t get lucky with a single spot you can park next to neighbors. The road ends at the creek. We got one of the front spots and got to enjoy the view of the sunset over those blue mountains. Not terrible mosquitos since it wasn’t super close to water.

Cheyenne P.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 22, 2020

Great Spot

Perfect location, about 20-30 mins West of Yellowstone. There are some cool spots if you’re lucky enough to snag them. Nice 13 mile trail nearby, we saw some wild strawberries!

Brooke Z.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2020

Saved the day

We stumbled upon this place when we couldn’t find anything else and it was wonderful. If you plan on hiking, bring bear spray.

Carrie S.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 6, 2018

Free Dispersed Camping - One of the Closest Locations to Yellowstone

If Yellowstone is booked solid, you will likely find that every campground within a very wide radius of the park is full too. This Trailhead camping is free and open. Remember, this is bear territory, follow all bear safety guidelines. The road leading to the area is pretty well maintained.

Month of VisitSeptember