Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
While in Yellowstone, we ended up van camping at Madison Campground. This came as a surprise as we were looking for a last-minute spot in the park.
Despite all the hassle, we enjoyed a relaxing escape in the heart of the wilderness. We were surrounded by trees, mountains, and scenic views.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos from our stay. You might end up camping there too!
Getting There
We took a two-week road trip from the West to the Midwest in our camper van. On the way back, we’d pass by Yellowstone National Park, so we planned a visit.
From Cody, we took US-14/16/20 towards Fishing Bridge. Then we looped around to Madison Junction over to Madison Campground. It’s about 70 miles, but with the speed limit, it will take a couple hours.
Basically, we entered on the east side of the park. Madison Campground is 14 miles from the west entrance and 16 miles north of Old Faithful.
Camping at Madison Campground
The campground is open late spring through fall. It’s closed October 19 through May 2, and on major holidays. The registration booth closes at 10 p.m.
Madison is the largest campground in Yellowstone and near the Madison River. Here, you’ll camp at an elevation of 6,800 feet.
We paid around $30 to stay a night and made reservations through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. I tell you all about our journey getting a reservation in my other post.
Checking In
By the time we arrived at the campground, it was well into the evening. The sun was dropping beyond the trees, but there was still lots of light.
We saw signs that said to be bear aware and to register at the office upon arrival.
So, we pulled into the little parking area by the registration office. It’s next to a big bulletin board and looks like a portable.
A friendly staff greeted us and asked how our trip was going. After telling her about our bout with trying to find camping in the park, she gave us some good insider tips.
Then she gave us a map and showed us where our spot was. She emphasized that bears frequent the area, and gave us a list of rules.
While we were checking in, many people came up to the office asking for a vacancy. Sadly, the staff had to turn them all away.
Campground Vibes
As we drove to our campsite, Madison was filled to capacity. So the sign the “campground full” sign posted at the entrance was legit.
The hillside view of Yellowstone was amazing. Tall skinny trees lined the area, and the smell of pine greeted us.
When we pulled into our campsite, it was big enough for our extra-long van. They have a max length, but we had more than enough room in the standard site.
It was so nice to relax after the long day on the road. We were so exhausted, we just unpacked and planned out our next day.
Our area had many tent campers, who were in groups, hanging out and talking. So, there was a high level of noise.
The campground seems very family-friendly, as we saw many kids running around. With all the campfires and people playing games, there was a lot of excitement.
So if there were any bears in the area, all the commotion may have scared them away. I didn’t see any animals except for birds and squirrels.
The mosquitoes weren’t bothering us there, but my allergies got pretty bad. The smoke from the campfires didn’t help, so I tried to stay inside the van.
Campground Amenities
If you’re van camping, or RV-ing at Madison Campground, there are no hookups for electricity or water. That was fine because we have solar and a water tank.
You can get water at the spigots or at the fill-up station near the entrance. You can also dump your sewage, trash, and recycling over there.
There are no showers at this campground, but we had our own in the van. The staff said that they have showers at other campgrounds that you can pay to use.
They did have bathrooms, and we used them. There were only a couple stalls, and I had to stand in line sometimes.
It was dirty from the tent campers who were trying to bathe in the sinks. So there was hair and mud all over. Then they were using the hand dryers to dry off their bodies.
Next to the bathroom, they had a large sink to wash dishes. Only do your dishwashing here, because you don’t want to attract bears with the gray water.
Our camping spot also had a fire ring, picnic table, and food storage box. You’ll want to make sure that anything with an odor is locked up, including any kind of food, water, cooking utensils, trash, medications, etc.
By the way, we didn’t have a cell phone signal in the park. They had telephones by the registration office, but we used Starlink, and it worked well.
Overnight Stay
Although there was a lot of action from the campers when we arrived, it died down at night. So, it got quiet once darkness and quiet hours rolled in.
For dinner, we just made some snacks in the van. They only have an ice and vending machine at the campground, so you’ll want to make sure you have what you need for the night.
Smoke from the campfires lingered through the night. My allergies were really bad by this time, and I had to wear a mask.
I wish I had brought some stronger allergy medicines because mine didn’t work. Yeah, I’ll remember next time that our summer is Yellowstone’s spring.
We did see staff and Rangers drive by many times, checking for camping permits. Make sure you display your site card on your vehicle before turning in.
The staff at the check-in did say that they had a problem with squatters, so keep that in mind.
Luckily, I was able to sleep well, and it got cold at night. Good thing we brought our thick comforters, because we had to use them.
Checking Out
When the sun came up, it started warming up at the campground. I stepped out of the van and saw no paw prints or signs of furry visitors during the night.
We showered in the van and made breakfast. Then we were on our way to explore more of the park.
Check out time was at 11 a.m., and we dropped our site card off in the box. We almost forgot to do this!
The staff told us this was very important, as this is how they know you’ve checked out. Otherwise, they’ll charge a late fee.
And on the way out, we filled up our water tank. We were in line behind an RV, and the driver needed a little help.
He was confused on how to connect the hose. Luckily, some experienced van lifers and RV-ers came to his aid!
Travel Notes
Now, to stay in Yellowstone, you’ll need a reservation. We got ours last minute, but you might not want to do that. With their system, travelers can book a spotmonths in advance, and it was difficult to find anything.
The closest showers are located at Canyon Campground. So if you need a shower, you can go over there and pay to use theirs.
The campfire rules were typical of most other national park campgrounds. Be sure to use the fire ring.
We didn’t do any hiking around the area because my allergies were so bad. However, some tent campers told me they were hiking all day in the area, so there’s plenty to explore.
You’ll want to arrive at the campground when there’s light, as it’s very dark at night. Be sure to put your campsite card on your vehicle.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I thought that van camping at Madison Campground was a nice experience. Although the bathrooms were messy, the campground itself was nice and clean.
Plus, it didn’t cost an arm and a leg, and we felt safe. I’d return to go camping here again, but would like to try out the other places in the park too.
More Travel Adventures
I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- If you plan to visit the park, you might want to know how we got last-minute camping in Yellowstone.
- I share our firsthand van life lessons that might help you when traveling.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: September 5, 2025
