free camping with easy access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

If you are someone who wants to visit the Wyoming national parks but avoid paying for park campgrounds or nearby campgrounds, prefers more open space, and doesn’t mind going without amenities like running water for a little while - you need to consider free dispersed camping. This means camping outside of developed campgrounds on public land. The land is typically national forest or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Sometimes the campsites are established, with fire rings and bear boxes and vault toilets (like the one I’m going to talk about), other times the campsites are less defined.

Grassy Lake Road provides popular free camping spots south of Yellowstone National Park and north of Grand Teton National Park. The road is accessible from Flagg Ranch, which is just off the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway that connects the parks. Because of the location, you must pay the national park fee to get to these sites.

Along the 36 mile Grassy Lake Road, there are 20 designated camping sites in 8 camping areas. They are first-come, first served. When I visited Yellowstone this summer, I went in without a camping reservation, hoping that maybe something would open up at the last minute. When nothing was available, I opened the Campendium app and looked for free camping, thinking I’d have more of a chance to find something that night. I saw Grassy Lake Road and decided to give it a try. Thankfully, the second camping area had an open spot. I loved it so much that I went back a different week. I didn’t have any luck that time. Again, these sites are popular, especially during peak season, so going off season or getting there as someone is packing up will better your chance of getting a spot. But if you can get a spot - stay! The tranquility of nature in this area is unmatched. Just bring mosquito repellant.

Something to know is that this is a gravel road with rough spots. High clearance vehicles are recommended. I drove the entire length of the road to Grassy Lake in my Honda sedan and survived without car damage, but if I go back I would only consider the first few camp areas, as the road gets worse as you near the reservoir. The road is not open year round - so check out the National Park Service website to learn of any road closures.

I hope you camp here!