Yellowstone National Park is one of the most famous camping locations in the United States. It is so famous for good reason! You can find some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world there and enjoy them firsthand by immersing yourself in nature. To prevent pollution and preserve nature, there is a limited number of camping grounds in Yellowstone. This brings about some challenges when it comes to camping. They are mainly related to tent size.
Yellowstone limits the size of the tent you can set up in the park and they’re pretty strict about it.
The tent size will depend on the number of people who will sleep in it and the space available at the camping ground. You will have to reserve the spot at the campgrounds and report the size of tent you’ll bring. You can’t put up a larger tent than the one you reported.
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Are Tents Allowed in Yellowstone?
Yes, you can camp in a tent in Yellowstone National park. This is one of the best camping solutions for a national park. It is better than hammock camping since it is less intrusive on the environment and easier on the trees. Tents are also the best option when camping in an organized camping site. They provide the best protection considering the circumstances and are the most comfortable option you can use in a national park.
What Is the Best Tent for Your Needs?
Tents come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. Getting a good tent is crucial for your adventure since you’ll be sleeping in it. You’ll want a reliable tent that will last a long time and that won’t get torn or damaged at first contact with rocks or sticks.
When considering the right size for your tent, you should think about how many people will go camping with you. If you’re looking to get a tent for your family, you’ll need different things than if you were looking for a solo tent. A family tent can be anything from a 4-person tent to an 8-person tent, depending on how comfortable you’d like to be.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to carry and set up your tent when out on the trail. So, you don’t want a huge tent that takes forever to set up. You want something large enough to provide comfort for everyone using it, but not too large so it becomes cumbersome or a liability when you have to carry it.
What Tent Size Should You Use When Camping in Yellowstone?
There is no single tent size that is the best for every situation. However, there are a few popular tent sizes that work especially well when you’re camping in Yellowstone. What you’re looking for is the most compact tent possible, that will suit your needs. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider:
- The number of people using the tent – even though you’ll want to reduce the size of your tent as much as possible, you’ll still want to be comfortable. Yellowstone tent size regulations were put in place to ensure people don’t use a 12 by 12 foot tent for 3 people.
- The space you’ll be able to reserve – when camping in Yellowstone, you’ll need to call in advance and reserve a spot for your tent. If your tent is larger, you might not be able to reserve a spot in every camp in the National Park. Some camping grounds allow larger tents than others.
- How you’re traveling to the campsite – if you’re driving to your camping location, you can bring a heavier or bulkier tent. If you’re hiking to your campsite, you should stick to lighter tents which will be easier to carry and move around. This is also the case if you plan on switching campsites while at Yellowstone. You don’t want to be lugging around a 70l backpack just so you could fit your tent.
Reserve Your Campground in Advance
All campgrounds and campsites in Yellowstone National Park require you to reserve a spot in advance. When reserving your camping spot, you’ll need to provide some information. Apart from giving your name and contact information, you’ll need to tell the staff how many people will be camping and how long you’ll be staying. Both pieces of information are crucial in determining whether or not there’ll be enough room for your group at the campsites.
After making the reservation, you will need to respect what you reserved. Do not increase the number of people you said you’d bring. Sure, if there is room, the staff will allow you to set up a larger camp or take up more space. However, if you want to bring additional people with you, you’ll have to inform the staff in advance to check whether or not there’ll be enough room.
Work With What You’ve Got
When camping in a national park, you will need to make do with the camping spot they give you. Be prepared to improvise to adapt your spot to your needs and preferences. You might need to get creative when it comes to lighting a campfire or preparing your food.
Luckily, there are a lot of common areas where you’ll be able to cook, grill, hang out, and light bonfires. Just make sure you don’t take up these spots for too long. you’ll need to give the other campers a chance to use them, as well. Or, you can all do these things together. Some of the best stories and the most fun encounters happen around common campfires in large campgrounds.
Where Can You Camp in Yellowstone National Park?
When camping in Yellowstone National Park you’ll need to go to a designated campsite. There is absolutely no wild camping allowed. These rules are there to protect both the national Park and you. The locations are free from animal life and have proper sanitary installations. Some of the major campsites even have laundry facilities you can use for an extra fee.
There are twelve campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park divided into over 2000 campsites:
- Bridge Bay Campground
- Canyon Campground
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
- Grant Village Campground
- Madison Campground
- Mammoth Campground
- Norris Campground
- Slough Creek Campground
- Pebble Creek Campground
- Tower Fall Campground
- Indian Creek Campground
- Lewis Lake Campground
The first five campgrounds are managed by the Yellowstone National Park Lodges and they also take reservations for them. The other seven are under the management of the National Park Service and you can make reservations with them or online at Recreation.gov.
Alternatives to Camping in a Tent
Even though camping in a tent is the best way to enjoy the natural beauty of Yellowstone, in some cases, you won’t be able to fit a tent in any camping spot you get. If this is the case, you’ll need to find an alternative shelter. In most cases, it is smart to bring several shelter setups if you’re not sure what conditions you’ll be expecting. Understandably, carrying the extra weight of another shelter is a drag. So it’s a good idea to confirm with the national park staff that your tent will fit in your designated camping spot.
Apart from not being able o fit their tents in the camping spots, some people just prefer to camp with a different shelter set up. This also makes sense, because while tents are good all-round shelters, more and more experienced campers around the world opt for different shelter setups.
Hammocks Are Increasingly Popular
The hammock is the shelter of choice for most experienced campers, hikers, and backpackers. This is because they are easy to use, extremely comfortable, and weigh almost nothing. They can find a spot in any camping gear, even when they’re not the primary shelter. Hammocks are so popular that some people even use them when they’re not camping. Lately, using the hammock as a bed at home has been on the rise.
Unfortunately, hammocks come with their set of drawbacks, as well. the main one being that you cannot set them up unless there are trees around. So, when you’re hiking down a mountain slope, with no trees in sight, they may not be the best option.
Tarps Are Versatile and Lightweight
Tarps are a great alternative to tents. This is because you can set up a tarp in any configuration, including a primitive tent. All you need is a long branch or your walking stick, and a few feet of paracord, and you’ll be able to make the perfect shelter for any conditions. Also, it is easier to stop condensation under a tarp than under a tent. This is a real lifesaver if you’re camping in rainy, cold, or humid conditions.
In addition to all this, tarps are much lighter than tents which means you’ll have a lighter pack. This means you can cover more miles each day, or that you can get to your campsite earlier and enjoy yourself and the scenery.
Quilts
Quilts are a good combination of thermal efficiency and small weight. They are the shelter of choice for hikers and mountain climbers who face tough conditions on mountainsides.
