Camping at Madison Campground in Yellowstone National Park

In Yellowstone, camping isn’t just about pitching a tent—it’s about immersing yourself in the park’s wild rhythms. At Madison Campground, the days are an invitation to explore, and the nights are a chance to reconnect with the natural world under a blanket of stars.

Nestled near the Madison River, this campground offers a perfect balance of serenity and convenience. The sites, shaded by towering lodgepole pines, feel private yet part of a larger wilderness. As you settle in, the gentle rustle of the trees and the cool mountain air set the tone for your stay.

The river itself is a hub of activity, teeming with life. Anglers cast their lines into its crystal-clear waters, hoping to snag a prized trout. Along the banks, elk and bison graze lazily, their presence a reminder that this is their home as much as yours. If you’re lucky, you might spot a bear ambling through the meadows or hear the haunting call of a sandhill crane echoing at dawn.

Madison Campground’s central location makes it an adventurer’s dream. Within 30 minutes, you can marvel at Old Faithful’s eruptions, stroll the kaleidoscopic boardwalks of the Grand Prismatic Spring, or explore the bubbling wonders of the Norris Geyser Basin. Yet back at camp, the hustle of the day fades, replaced by the timeless comfort of a crackling fire and the vast stillness of Yellowstone’s night.

This is camping in its purest form—simple, peaceful, and unforgettable. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Yellowstone regular, Madison Campground offers the perfect base for creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Adventure Guide Summary

Madison Campground

Location: 14 miles east of West Yellowstone, near the Madison River.
Open Season: Mid-April to mid-October.
Features: 278 campsites, restrooms, potable water, campfire rings, and incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.
Proximity to Attractions: Close to Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Norris Geyser Basin.
Tips:
- Reserve early; spots fill quickly.
- Pack warm clothing for cool nights.
- Follow all bear safety guidelines.
- Respect quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM.

Adventure Map

Yellowstone National Park Info

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Reviews

Jim Towe4 months ago

Great location central to Yellowstone. Clean toilets and a small shop, no showers. It's a 5-minute walk to a small, shallow river with warm areas that's good for cooling off (but please don't pollute the river with soap). It can be a little noisy in the morning. A coyote trotted through our campsite, but no buffalo this time

Marcos Luna2 months ago

Beautiful place BUT the bathrooms all have super bright fluorescent lights that are on ALL night and will shine into your site if you are near them. Can we not get some motion activated lights so we are not polluting the beautiful sky with light when the bathroom is not in use? Made sleeping in our tent next the bathroom very annoying.

Hali McCarrell3 months ago

The staff was so friendly, personable and informative upon check in. Flush toilets and dish washing station but no showers. sites were really close together as to pack as many people in as can fit im sure. Heard Coyotes at night. The location was great for us. We drove down from Mammoth the first day set up and went and saw Old faithful, The the next day we spent as a "Geyser day" and visited all the way out to West Thumb and back, with a couple more stops at old faithful.

Haley Line2 months ago

We enjoyed this place! The campsites are pretty close to one another, which we didn’t enjoy too much. Bathrooms are within a reasonable/short walk. It does not have showers. It is a short walk to a beautiful river. No cell service, which we didn't mind at all.

Veronica Frank3 months ago

For the most part the campground was really nice. The bathrooms were cleaned daily. There was a room with a sink for cleaning your dishes. They provide large bear boxes for your food/coolers. We saw a coyote and several squirrels in the campground. We were in the very back at loop F and we were able to easily walk to a beautiful viewpoint of the Madison River where there is a bench to sit on. They have a convenience store where you can buy creamer and ice. One complaint I have is that it's pretty close to the main road so the traffic is loud, and people arrive very late to set up camp while you're trying to sleep. Also, the large camping spots for large tents are not clearly marked for you to know exactly what area your assigned spot is. When we arrived it was raining and there were mostly wet spots with huge puddles, we found a place a little next to trees that was dryer, and it was right next to our parking spot, site # sign, and bear box. On night one some very loud group came through and set up several tents late at night then played guitar and sang songs pretty late which was just a little annoying as we were trying to sleep. The second night a gentleman in the spot behind us came late, woke us up to tell us we were in the tent area for his camping spot but that he was sleeping in his truck, and woke us up again a few minutes later to continue to complain about us being in the spot. The 3rd night after an exhausting day touring Yellowstone, we got back and management told us we were in the wrong tent spot even tho the other site has plenty of room for a tent, and even tho we were right next to our parking spot, bear box, picnic table, and site # sign. They made us move the tent and everything inside.

Camping at Madison Campground in Yellowstone National Park