Review: Bridge Bay Campground of Yellowstone.
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Get to Know Bridge Bay Campground.
When choosing a campground, location is crucial and should be rooted in what you plan to see daily. However, you also want to make sure you are close to certain services that might be important to you.
Bridge Bay Campground is 30 miles from the East Entrance of the Park. The East Entrance is located two miles South of Lake Village. You will enter the park from North Fork Hwy from Cody, Wyoming, the home of Buffalo Bill. Once you enter the East Entrance, you will have a beautiful drive along the 30 miles.
Park Ranger at East Entrance that greeted us for entry into Yellowstone National Park.
The campground is named after the Marina just outside the campground, Bridge Bay Marina. The area is scenic, with wooded and open spaces. You will have a limited view of Yellowstone Lake.
The address is 260 Bridge Bay Campground.
Bridge Bay Campground Fees?
The fees are different depending on the size of your group. Because we are only talking about tent camping here, the following is for tents only, and they do not include taxes.
The nightly fee is $33.00.
The biker fee is $10.00 per night.
The group rates vary in size. They start at 1-19 people for 165.00 a night to a group of 50-60 people for $475.00 per night.
To get the most up-to-date fees, please visit their site here.
What Size Tents are Allowed at Bridge Bay Campground?
They accommodate small, large, and extra-large tents. Small is eight ft. x 8 ft. or smaller. Large is one 12 ft. x 12 ft. tent or smaller — or two eight ft. x 8 ft. tents. One extra-large tent at 18 ft. x 18 ft. or two small tents at 8 ft x 8 ft.
Services At or Near Bridge Bay Campground.
Bridge Bay Marina is just outside the entrance of the campground. The marina offers boat tours, dock and boat rentals, fuel, guided fishing trips, fishing gear, fishing licenses, and limited grocery supplies.
Two miles South is the historic and very yellow Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Lake Lodge. The hotel and lodge are a must-see. Here you have a full-service restaurant, a cafeteria, lounges, gift shops, and a post office. The hotel has a restaurant, post office, gift shop, medical, and a general store with groceries.
There is an amphitheater in the park that offers Ranger programs and interdenominational church services on Sundays.
The campground registration building offers information and reservations for Yellowstone. You can also purchase firewood here.
We had a tent over the picnic table to keep the bugs out.
Bridge Bay Campground Amenities.
There are 16 bathrooms with flushing toilets and sinks with running cold water. This amenity is available at all National Park Lodge campgrounds.
Dishwashing stations are in most restrooms.
Food storage lockers for the bears.
There are no showers in the campground, but you can take a hot shower and do laundry at Fishing Bridge RV Park for a small fee. We used these facilities, and they were spotless.
Campsites have one picnic table and one fire grate. (Firewood is sold at the office for the campground.)
We had a tent over the picnic table to keep the bugs out.
Firewood for sale. I recommend getting all your firewood when you register at the campground office.
Ice is for sale.
They have water stations to fill your safe and potable water bottles.
No electricity, water, or sewer hookups.
No internet. Limited cell service. You are off the grid in Yellowstone.
The staff rides around in golf carts to ensure everything is good and safe throughout the day and night. We liked this. However, they check campsites to ensure food is in the bear box - food storage lockers. We got called out on leaving something out. He was super friendly, but they were checking, which is all in the heart of protecting. :) Food storage is enforced.
These signs are at every entrance of a campsite in Yellowstone National Park.
How to Choose a Suitable Campsite in Bridge Bay Campground?
Bridge Bay Campground is where we stayed. When looking to stay here, the best spots are in the back of the camp. The Lower Loop in the campground is an open floor plan with little or no trees. The Upper Loop is more wooded and has a more campy feel. When making your reservation, you can request the campsite you would prefer. It isn't a guarantee. We asked for our spot based on reviews we read. The site was Loop E #233.
5 Yellowstone Features Near Bridge Bay.
It is hard to see everything in Yellowstone. The list below is the top five attractions not that far from camp. These are all located in the Lower Loop.
Hayden Valley: If you go left out of the camp, you are 10 miles from seeing some of the best wildlife.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: This feature, 18 miles from camp, is worth spending all day at. This was our last stop on this side of the loop. Then, we went back the way we came to see some features we missed on the way up. For more information on the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, please read our article: Review: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin: 35 miles from camp, to the right of the campground entrance is the Upper Geyser Basin, a part of the Old Faithful experience. If you walk past Old Faithful, you walk a path of geysers, mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles, and travertine terraces. You can spend a whole day here. The Old Faithful Inn is a must-see, too, at this attraction. For more information on the Upper Geyser Basin, please read our article: Old Faithful of Yellowstone Will Never Disappoint You.
Grand Prismatic Spring: 40 miles from the campground, this feature is the prettiest part of planet Earth I have ever seen. The colors are outstanding. On your walk to the spring, you will pass other springs with gorgeous blues. For more information on Grand Prismatic Spring, please read our article: Explore the Beauty and Color of Midway Geyser Basin.
Grand Prismatic Spring.
How Do You Make a Reservation at Bridge Bay Campground?
Most of the campgrounds in Yellowstone require reservations. The campgrounds book up fast. Typically, reservations may open up six months before the open season.
To give you an idea of the volume, in 2021, 4.86 million people visited Yellowstone. People make their reservations in advance. We waited four months before our trip and had one option: Bridge Bay Campground. It worked out great, but we got lucky.
The 2023 season opens on May 19 and closes on September 4.
When making your reservation, be ready to give your tent size.
You can cancel your reservation up to 30 days in advance.
Reservations can be made through Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Checking in to Bridge Bay.
Once you pull into the campground, you will need to check in. There may be a long line or no one at all. There are a few lanes for incoming traffic where you park your car. Once you are checked in, you head to your campsite.
The staff is charming and will take you through the dos and don'ts.
Rules of the Campground.
Keep your distance from the wildlife. It is for your safety.
Most rules are in place for your safety and the best experience while staying in the campground. There are quiet hours and, most importantly, food regulations and guidelines.
Nothing related to food and a few more things can be left outside. That includes water containers, cooking and eating utensils, coolers, trash and trash bags, pet food, and your food.
Pro Tip: Don't even leave your toiletries in the tent with you at night. Toothpaste is a huge attractor of bears. Another tip is if your clothes have food on them, like crumbs or food droppings, that can also attract bears.
Are Pets Allowed? Yes, But...
Here is the thing with pets in Yellowstone. There is a lot of wildlife roaming everywhere. Sometimes in the campgrounds. So, the rules for pets are in place to protect them. They can get into harm's way as much as we can with the wildlife.
They must be restrained at all times by leash or in a crate.
Pets cannot be left alone outside. Their human parent needs to be with them at all times when outdoors.
Food and water are treated like ours. When not in use, they go inside or into the food locker.
You can never leave your pet in the tent and leave them there for the day or any time without you.
Elk as seen in our campsite one very early morning.
In Conclusion.
We had an excellent experience staying at this campground. They gave us the spot we requested. The campground had everything we wanted, and showers were very close.
If you would like to learn more about other campground options in Yellowstone, read our article on the 10 Best Tent Campgrounds in Yellowstone.
Con: Sites are close together.
Pro Tip 1: Research, find the perfect campsite for you, and request it. Don't stay in the front lot, as there is no shade unless you don't want shade.
Pro Tip 2: Keep your distance from the wildlife. It is for your safety.
Check Out Our Other Yellowstone Campground Reviews.
Interested in exploring more camping options in Yellowstone National Park? Check out our other detailed reviews on Madison Campground, Grant Village Campground, and more. Each review offers insights into amenities, locations, and tips to help you choose the best spot for your Yellowstone trip.
