Eagle Creek Campground — Hotel in West Yellowstone

I love this campground. It's no frills dry camping, so don't expect showers or hook ups. However, the vault toilets are clean and well maintained. As there aren't a lot of campsites, you don't need to worry about hoards of people or cloying amounts of woodsmoke like you'd have to deal with inside Yellowstone. Gardiner is just a short trip away, so it is easy to reprovision with fresh ingredients at the small grocery store.

There is a small creek that several of the smaller grassy sites back up to, adding a nice 'chuckle' of water throughout the stay. Horses and dogs are allowed, so take that into account. I always like seeing both at this campsite.

Very little shade, but at this altitude, it's rarely too hot to deal with. In fact, be prepared for cold nights. It often gets down into the 30s in July and we've camped here when it got down to the 20s during that month--even though the daytime temps were in the 70s. For us, that means good quality camp pads and a blanket to add on top of the sleeping bag, as well as layers of sweatshirts, fleece and a down vest to wear when the sun goes down.

Site can get dusty and there can be mosquitoes at times (mostly when the wind dies down around sunset). Wind can be very fierce, so make sure your tent is well staked and guy lines are tightened up well; camp supplies and chairs should be put away when not in use.

I love Yellowstone. When we come, we often stay for over a week as I teach biology and geology and I like to observe/explore/regenerate. This is hands-down my favorite campground to access the park. I hate the overwhelming crowds at the campgrounds inside Yellowstone. The spare, basics-only approach--as well as the tight switchbacks and rough road-- appeals to me and tends to dissuade the fancy-camper set with their giant trailers and generators. This place is quiet and peaceful.

Views are magnificent and live up to Montana's "Big Sky" motto, both day and night. I have vivid memories of living through a fierce thunderstorm with my kids while camping here years ago--the lightning and thunder were mind boggling when experienced on a mountainside in a small tent, when you can see the storm approaching from miles and miles away. But it also was incredible--and makes for good bonding and...

This was our first time to Eagle Creek campground, but it won't be our last. The road leading to the campground is a steep, gravel one lane road, having four-wheel drive or all wheel drive while towing is a definite plus. The campsite itself was beautiful surrounded by mountains, you can even see the Mammoth hot springs in Yellowstone from camp. Bison and elk grazed on the hills nearby and even in the campground. It's an easy jaunt to the north entrance of Yellowstone, price was excellent at seven dollars a night. Come early, the campground fills up quick the farther into the afternoon it gets and it's first come, first serve. There wasn't a camp host while we were there, but the rangers did come and check up on things to make sure everyone was paid up and that the bathroom was clean. There was no place for dumping trash, no hook-ups, or water. You bring it in, and bring it out....

We were fortunate enough that someone canceled and a site opened up so we reserved it right away (2 months out). I have camped at a lot of locations before this has been the most beautiful place so far.

Besides just being minutes up from the Yellowstone north entrance, it's got an amazing view if you get the right site ( which we did), fresh air, wildlife (elk) and well maintained facilities. The only downfall is that it gets pretty windy sometimes, but dies down fairly quickly. Unfortunately for us, for some odd reason. The two coldest nights of the month happen to be both our nights (33° and 31°) then back to the 40s when we left.

The drive up and down is an adventure in itself, but the view from the route is just amazing. You can see the town, the Yellowstone entrance and the detour route that you probably...