Lakeview Bighorn Campground: Van Camping near Meadowlark Lake

On our road trip through Wyoming, we van camped near Meadowlark Lake. And we got lucky in two ways! 

Well, we found the last available spot that evening at Lakeview Bighorn Campground. And it turned out to be peaceful, pretty, and full of deer!

And I’ll tell you all about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos!

Getting There

We were coming from Deadwood, South Dakota, taking the I-90 West and ending up on the US-16 West. 

Things got really scenic as we went into Bighorn National Forest. This was a beautiful drive, and we stopped at many lookouts. 

Make sure your vehicle can handle the mountain driving and incline!

Camping at Lakeview Bighorn Campground 

This campground is open from June to September. I’d get a reservation if you can.

It closes for the cooler seasons, and I can understand why. You’ll be at an elevation of over 4,500 feet, so that explains it. 

When we stayed during the summer, it wasn’t very warm. It was around 50 degrees. Brrr!

Camping Fees

Before I discuss the price, I have to tell you how we got lucky! Well, we pulled in at the campground at 7 p.m., and it was full.

We drove around and grabbed the last first-come, first-serve spot! Some hopefuls drove in after us, searching for a spot. 

The whole campground only has a few sites, so if you’re trying to get a non-reserved spot, I suggest you get there early.

After we parked, we paid the fee of just over $20 near the information and welcome sign. The campground host is over there too. 

Campground Vibes

When we stepped out of the van, the weather was cool and refreshing. It was so quiet, and it felt like we were the only ones there. 

We had a spacious spot and were able to park our van back in the trees. 

So the first thing we like to do after parking and paying is walk around. You know, check out our surroundings.

We walked over to Meadowlark Lake and passed some people. They were friendly and greeted us.

Where we were parked, the lake was in view, but other people had a closer spot. They got those pretty views for sure!

Campground Amenities

Then we checked out the amenities. This campsite does not have any hookups. You’ll basically be doing primitive camping over there. 

But they have a hydrant where you can get water. We filled up the water tank in our van near the welcome sign.

The sites have a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. They have trash cans, but there’s no dump station.

There were vault toilets, which were basically pits in the ground. I didn’t use them because of the smell radiating from them.

Plus, we had our own in the van. You might want to bring your own toilet paper if you use them!

 Recreational Activities

When we walked over to Meadowlark Lake, we saw people fishing. And it looked like they had been camping there a while.

People go boating and fishing here, and the people we saw had a lot of fish!

We also saw some trails in the distance. This area has many off-roading trails, but we didn’t try any of them out.

 Nighttime and Deer

After exploring, we headed back to the van. I’ll have to mention that we saw so many deer hopping around!

That was definitely the highlight of this stay. The sun was coming down, and we didn’t feel like cooking.

After another full day on the road, we were so tired, so we just pulled out whatever we could find in the fridge.

It got really cold at night, and we didn’t have the thick blankets out. But we fell asleep in the quiet.

In the morning, we woke to a beautiful sun casting its rays on the dewy grass. And so many deer frolicking through the tall grass.

I felt like I was in a movie, and anytime I’d try to take a picture, they would run away! Camera-shy, I guess.

Travel Notes

We went during the summer, and it was pretty cold at night. So make sure you plan for that. 

We did not make a reservation, but next time, we’d try to make one to stay here. As I mentioned, there aren’t many sites.

They did have a few mosquitoes in this area, but I didn’t get bitten up too badly. We also used our bug spray, so that may have been why.

And I’m glad we had our own bathroom in our van because the vault toilet was—well, I’ll just leave it at that.

Final Thoughts

Van camping near Meadowlark Lake was such a nice experience. Staying at Lakeview Bighorn Campground and seeing the deer was such a treat!

By the way, we drove another 3 hours to get to Yellowstone National Park. But this was a nice, quiet place to relax before getting there! 

More Travel Adventures

• I’ll tell you how we got a last-minute camping spot in Yellowstone and give you insider tips!

• Find out what it was like to van camp at Madison Campground in Yellowstone National Park.

Originally published: June 9, 2026