Mammoth Campground — Yellowstone National Park

I stayed at Mammoth campground during a winter visit of Yellowstone mid March of this year. his is the only campground open in Yellowstone during the winter season.  Mammoth is a first-come, first-serve campground with a cost is$20 a night, cost is the same during the summer season. The campground can still fill up on the weekends, this is because only the first loop is open during the winter season cutting your campsite availability down quite a bit. The campground has paved roads with gravel parking pads. Sites have platforms for the tents. Dumpsters and recycling is available at the entrance. The campground has only one restroom open in the winter at the entrance. Each site has its own bear proof food locker, as well as a picnic table and metal fire ring. While the campground and Mammoth area had little snow on my March visit you could still be camping on snow easily in March, as heavy snows can happen at any time.  Visited the area 6 weeks later and it had much more snow, so be prepared to camp in snow as late at May.

Awesome

Great campground with plenty of sites (keep in mind this is October) but I arrived at 7pm and had no problem getting a spot, it was $25 for the night. Bathrooms were clean and flushing toilets were nice. Woke up in the morning to an elk in my campsite eating off some trees, very cool way to be greeted.

One thing to note at this time there was no AT&T service at the campsite so I had to leave the park and drive into the town to the north (about 15 min) to get service.

Really good location in north Yellowstone. We stayed in site 51 and it was level and has good view looking into Montana.

The morning we left Elk were in the campground, which was really cool to me. I loved hearing them bugle at night.

This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Yellowstone. The sites are mostly level and spacious. Some sites you do have to walk down a bit from where you park to the tent pad. The bathrooms are usually clean but could use some updates. They had the heat on which was very welcome in the winter. I had good service with Verizon. Elk are often spotted in the area and it is very close to the small town area in the park. There are water spigots and recycling services.

Access to so many great wonders this park has to offer. Also on a don’t miss drive into Montana for one of the most beautiful mountain drives ever.

Wooow, never seen that many elks that close! You cook your dinner while you watch them, listen to them while you sleep, and you wake up to cook breakfast while watching them eat their breakfast. No dishwashing sink and the bathrooms were a bit of walking up hill from the spot we stayed, but elk made our day so we didn't care what so ever. Personal bear proof food box for each site.

Broadcast News: One needs advance reservations as of this year to camp in Yellowstone.

This campground is less appealing than most of the others in the park; however, it is open all year and is close to the North entrance and the town of Gardiner. A plus is that it is also on the doorstep of the Mammoth area and therefore you have easy access to the information at the visitor Center there and the new coffee bar at the hotel.

We loved the location of this campground. It was very close to the hot springs and town. It was very hot when we stayed and would have loved if they had showers. Overall a great campground though !

It was a good campground to have somewhere to stay for a night. The bathrooms and firewood for purchase was a major plus. Highway sound and site proximity were two big negatives.

We were so excited to get a campsite in Yellowstone. It added so much to our overall experience. The campsite was easily accessible, had a tent pad and a bear box. We loved our night camping here!

This is not a campground for those who love being in real nature and quiet places. More of a stop over or to cut down your crack of dawn morning drive to see the wolf pack in Slough Creek (which is why we stayed). A road wraps around the campground, so you hear traffic into the night. But the elk come visit. They were right outside our tent in the morning which was fun to wake up to. Also elk poop everywhere, so bring a broom to sweep it way from where you lay your tent. The camp hosts that were there in September 2020 were soooo friendly!!! Very nice couple with great advice.

We tried to grab a spot on a Wednesday around 1PM and they were full! Woke up around 530 to get there early and were still the 3rd car waiting. Got a beautiful spot away from the main road, close to water spigots and well kept bathrooms. Fire pits, picnic tables and bear boxes at every spot. $20 per night, easy check out, and friendly rangers. Overall great location for a night or two at Yellowstone.

This campground is perfect for anyone who wants a guaranteed experience with wild life. There is a large herd of elk that bed in the middle of the camp and it is absolutely breathtaking. The entire camp is reasonably quiet and if you are lucky enough, you will hear the bugle of the male elk of the herd. As long as you don’t bother them, they will not bother you. The price to stay is very reasonable. They also have bathrooms, water, bear boxes and fire pits. It will be an amazing experience you will never forget!

As you can see from the map the road goes both in front of and behind the campsite. We had the pleasure of camping closest to the hillside so when the trucks opened up their belly’s to go up the hillside at 6am we heard them loud and clear. Same thing when they use their engines to brake going down the hill. If you have an RV I’m sure it’s great as it deadens some of the sound but I certainly felt like I was camped next to a city highway as a vagabond. Zero stars

We stayed at Mammoth campground during our last visit to Yellowstone as we were unable to get one of the back country campsites we were hoping for. Lucky for us we arrived in the park before 10am and Mammoth had plenty of spots available. Mammoth is a first-come, first-serve campground with a well organized check-in procedures, no need to search for open campsites, the rangers at the check-in station will let you know what is available and show you on the map the available sites. Cost is$20 a night. This campground like all the ones in the park fills up fast, so get their early. The 85 site campground has paved roads with gravel parking pads. Sites have platforms for the tents. Dumpsters are though out the campground, and recycling is available at the entrance. The campground has flush toilets and water faucets are through out the grounds. Each site has its own bear proof food locker, as well as a picnic table and metal fire ring. Their is a nightly ranger program at 9:30pm. We stayed in site 77 and found the campground to be very quiet, even with the park road running right by. The slow speed of 35 mph helps keep the noise down and after about 10pm we really didn't notice cars going by. Morning traffic does start up just after 5pm, but the noise did not wake this light sleeper. Another factor that help keep noise down was the quiet hours, while this tends to do little at other campgrounds to prevent campers, and kids from being loud or from generators being run at night, the strictly enforced notice and posted$50 fine really does the job. Fire wood is available to purchase for$8 a box, kindling for$3 a bundle and they will provide matches if you need them. You do have cell service at the campground.

Just after crossing into Yellowstone at the northern most outlet you will find Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, one of the most convenient and ONLY campground where you will find most of the comforts of home aka cell service.   Sure for those not caring about this service the campground might not be the most appealing as it is harder to get into because of prebooking, but for those who year round are looking for a convenient location with room to enjoy the local Fort Yellowstone area this is where it is at.

So with the added amenity of having coverage you might expect this to be one of the higher priced campgrounds, but the price of only $20 per night is extremely reasonable.   

There are no showers at this campground, however the bathroom facilities are very nice with flushing toilets and cold water in the sinks.     I found this to be one of better campgrounds when it came to bathrooms as they seemed larger than most.

Another unique feature of this campground was that a certain number of sites are set aside for those cycling of hiking the area, a very important feature considering so many visit this area on the Contential Divide Trail.     Also there are a select amount of accessible sites for handicapped featuring raised tent pads and water access which is right in the campsite instead of elevated on the hillside like some.

For those not wanting to book in advance, this campground fills very quickly.  I noticed that on weekdays the few sites reserved for day of use filled before noon, so make this your first stop of the day instead of exploring the park first.

Pull ins seemed large enough for mid to large units and the only thing I could say that might be a negative to those in larger units is that you are right on the roadway in some campsites if you are a big rig.   There are a few sites which have size restrictions so check on these before visiting.

For tent campers like myself the pull ins allow you plenty of room to spread out and enjoy yourself.    Sites include picnic tables, bear boxes and fire rings.     

In this area during the late summer and early fall you are likely to find elk very nearby, they tend to come down and graze in the area of Mammoth Hot Springs.    During these times you want to make sure you are remembering to stay at least 25 yards away from them and if you hear them they are likely protecting young or looking to mate so this is when they are more aggressive.  Being able to see them in person is something majestic however!!

TIPS:

• Check out the visitor center at the Mammoth community / Fort Yellowstone.   this center in my opinion was one of the more interesting when it comes to the history of the park.
• Visit the Hot Spring at sunset, it is something spectacular at any time of day but at this time as the clouds paint the skies it is the perfect photo opportunity.
• If you are visiting the park for only a short time, use the internet access at the camp to plan your time, this will really allow you to find the parts of the park you are interested in rather than having to pull off at each point to determine this.
• Remember west side of the park is more about the geothermal features, it is also the more crowded portion of the park.

Mammoth Campground is in the middle of a hairpin turn so be prepared for traffic on both sides of the campsites. I found it noisy for sleeping but my husband slept like a log. The sites are very large and I think all the RV sites were pull through. There are some sites that were more tent appropriate. Also this is a first-come, first-serve campground and it tends to fill up quickly. The campground driveway is paved but the sites are dirt/gravel and I found ours was level with some shade during the day (#58). Unlike a previous review the hosts we had were great. Very personable. The rangers also give presentations at night. One morning we had elk in our site and one evening a huge herd was across the street.

Beautiful campground near Mammoth Hot Springs and the surrounding village. Also an easy 10 minute drive to Gardiner which has an amazing little grocery store and quaint downtown with shops and restaurants. Some hikes within walking distance of the campground as well. We got there at 9:30am in mid-July and had no trouble getting a spot. There were still 40 available! Lots of history here: Ft Yellowstone is nearby as well as the original entrance arch. We also saw the most amazing double rainbow I’ve ever seen over our campsite!

The campground itself is very well maintained and clean with water spouts everywhere, garbage dumps, and (clean) flushing toilets. All pull thru sites which are very spacious. No reservations so keep that in mind, just get here early and you should haven't a problem getting in 😁.

Mammoth is not my first choice campground, but if you're looking for good proximity to enjoy Yellowstone national park, have an RV that you're ready to drop as soon as you get in so you can spend more time exploring the park, and don't mind camping right next to other people (safest from animals except elk) then this camp ground is for you!

I stayed here because it was surprisingly the only one not filled in the early months of summer so I gave it a go. Staff was friendly, check in was easy, and the spots were all pretty decent as far as size goes. It was fun to spend a little more time exploring the town of mammoth as well, since I usually just drive through.

Campground Review:

Camping in Yellowstone is a bucket list item for many, but in the spring and summer, campgrounds fill up fast! Many are first-come first serve, and a fun family vacation can turn into a stressful search for a campsite. Then there's the weather...winter conditions can occur anytime of the year. One fantastic solution: the reservable Mammoth Cabins in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. 

The scenery around the cabins in other-worldy. Plus, we were there during elk calving season, with elk and their babies wandering through the area... although stay away from those mean mammas! I had one stalk me around the bathrooms during the night; she was none to pleased I was moving around in her area! Owls and pygmy rabbits are just some of the wildlife you'll also see here without venturing too far. 

On one hand, you do have to reserve pretty far out to get your cabin for holiday weekends...but you're guaranteed a reservation in a WARM cabin, no matter what the weather (June-u-ary exists in Wyoming, it snowed 17inches this past weekend). Since I was made aware of these, I have noticed that they are available from time to time if you want to make a last minute trip. Some of the more pricy options have bathrooms and showers in the cabin (such luxury), but there are three separate bathroom building complete with showers. Reserve cabins here: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/mammoth-hot-springs-hotel-cabins/

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this trip, I tested the Eclipse Equinox Hoodie. 

https://eclipseglove.com/collections/frontpage/products/equinox-hoodie-beach-cover-up

As I mentioned, weather can be variable at any time of the year - but the sun is pretty strong at high elevations and sunscreen can be a pain to reapply; and who really wants to once you have that wolf family in your spotting scope??? No, you're going to want to watch the action and not worry about your sizzling skin. This is where the hoodie comes in. Soft, cool fabric protects your arms while allowing air circulation when the temperature heats up. The hoodie itself can protect your neck too on this particular garment. Plus, it can fold up into an easy to pack bundle with a hidden pocket on the front. I spent hours watching wildlife in the sun with no adverse affects. 

The main downside is their sizing. For adults, there really isn't any on any of the cover ups or shirts. The hoodie did not fit my 6 foot 7 inch tall husband I'm afraid. I'm only 5 foot 8 inches, and I felt it fit me great.

Really wonderful spot close to my favorite place in Yellowstone—the boiling river. Great place to catch the north side of the park. Wake up early and go see the wolves play in the Lamar Valley. Stay late in the boiling river.

Bonus when you have a buffalo outside your tent when you wake up in the AM!

This camp ground has bear boxes for food storage, ample space for tent and vehicle and a great fire ring at each camp site. Check in and payment is first come first serve and super painless. Tons of great tips provided on local hikes nearby and the convenience store in town is relative costs for items outside the park. 10/10 will stay there again!!

Very good location, pretty level, fairly close to other campers but not terrible. We would stay here again.

This campground is in the northern part of the park, so if you're coming in or leaving by way of Wyoming, this is the most convenient place to sleep! The bathrooms are very well-maintained and have running water. The spots, while they don't offer much privacy, are spacious especially if you have a tent instead of an RV. This campsite puts you at a prime location from which to explore the springs which are a major destination within the park. Since the campground is so close to the springs, you can get a leg up on the tourist bus crowds that start rolling in around mid-morning. The campsite is in a busier area and is surrounded by a road on both sides, so if you're looking for something a bit more remote, try Indian Creek or Tower Falls.

Get here early. The campsight is ran as a first come first serve and typically fill up extremly fast in the summer. There are a lot of rvs here but they are very strick on generator use at night. all in all, its a great location with a high change of elk walking through your site.

I love this campground because it’s super close to the boiling river and it’s cheap! Its first come first serve so you have to get here early in the summer to get a spot. We came here in late August and got a spot around 4pm. Mosts of the spots have a nice view and are pretty spacious. Be careful of the one with the unlevel tent pad. There is a great ranger program and the bathrooms are decent.

There was more privacy here than we were expecting, so that was good. The bathrooms were good, but often really far away. What really sucked though is that a common Yellowstone storm hit while we were away and blew our tent over and soaked everything. We were able to dry everything eventually, but I was a little disturbed that no one helped us, including not a single one of the 3 hosts on site, I also found them to be slightly on the rude side when we checked in. Bring guidelines and rope because there was no easy way to stake our tent in the rocky ground.

There are different loops on this campground. The loop that is always open, is basically in a field. Blah. The other loops, are in some trees, and often have elk roaming through camp, but they are only open during peak season. Speaking of which, good luck ever getting a spot at this campground. If you do manage to, it is close to Mammoth, and also close to Gardiner... it can make a good base camp for exploring the Northern half of Yellowstone National Park.