Staying At Bridge Bay Campground In Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a vast and highly frequented national destination being one of the most popular national parks in the country. To cater to the multitude of visitors it receives each year, the park features a network of twelve campgrounds strategically dispersed throughout its borders.

During our August visit this year, we opted for a five-night stay at Bridge Bay Campground, strategically chosen for its central location within the park. Given the considerable driving distances to various attractions and hiking spots, the central positioning of Bridge Bay Campground perfectly aligned with our needs.

With approximately 430 sites, each equipped with a picnic table, fire pit, and a bear box for food storage, the campground ensures a rustic experience as it operates without electric hook-ups. While restroom facilities are available, showers are not part of the amenities.

Adjacent to the front of the campground, a dump station and water fill station facilitate camper needs. A dumpster, conveniently located near the dump station, is available to properly dispose of all trash.

Reservations are required and can be made at Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Notably, the campground closes from September 1st to May 17th due to adverse weather conditions. Camping allowances are capped at 14 days from July 1 through Labor Day and extend to 30 days during the rest of the year.

Campsite occupancy is limited to six people per site and checkout time is 11 am. Check-in time is 1 or 2 pm. Generators may only be operated from 8 am to 8 pm.

Pets are allowed as long as they are properly leashed and please pick up after them.

The campground is located next to Yellowstone Lake and a small marina is available if boating is your thing. A small camp store can also be found near the marina. Ice and wood are available to purchase seasonally from the check-in station.

There are also staff staying in the campground.

It’s essential to note the absence of cell service in the campground and throughout much of the park. To stay connected, I would encourage visitors to download maps and the National Park Service app for Yellowstone before arriving.

When we required online service we would head to a visitor center.

This is a national park so the sites are pretty close together so be prepared to socialize with your neighbors which may also include bison and elk.

There were bison and elk in the campground every day during our visit which was cool to see. Not so cool is a 1,500 pound bison sneaking up on you while you’re enjoying a late-night campfire!

We slowly got up and let him take his time passing through before returning to our seats.

Bridge Bay Campground is a nice little campground and a great place to stay during your visit to Yellowstone National Park. We loved Yellowstone but didn’t get to do everything we wanted so a future trip is in our plans.

You can read all my posts on our trip here.