Death Canyon Shelf Camping Zone
Grand Teton National Park provides an extensive backcountry trail system, including eleven different permitted camping zones in the parks southwest region. Together, these different zones create the rest-stops along the iconic Teton Crest Trail, which exposes some of the best alpine scenery in the American West. All camping zones are only accessible via backpacking and require a sought-after permit.
All permit holders need to pack in every bit of gear they need to these backcountry, zero-amenity camping zones. Hikers also need to be sure to pack everything back out after spending the night. Permits can be obtained online beginning January 8th of the same season.
While all camping zones provide a memorable overnight experience, the Death Canyon Shelf stands above the rest. Situated high on the skyline above Death Canyon, the Death Canyon Shelf Camping Zone allows for 16 groups to disperse camp in the area. Gain the permit to do so, and camping on the Death Canyon Shelf provides unreal elevated views of scenic Death Canyon, as well as unforgettable sunsets on the not-so-distant peak of Grand Teton.
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Grand Teton National Park Free Campsites Pacific Creek Near Grand Teton Np
AddressPacific Creek Rd trail headMoran, WyomingElevation: 7022
Management: Forest Service
Amenities
Restrooms
Best Review:
Have stayed here a few times, most recently the week before the 4th of July. The campsites are very large and decently easy to access, the road is unpaved/dirt most of the way but not rough at all- I was able to drive it in a Honda Fit without concern. Theres no service at any of the sites, but there is a few miles up the road. There are bear boxes at every site and no fire rings but it was easy to gather rocks and make my own ring. The creek was gorgeous, and the site is located right within the park so very convenient- probably 20-30 minutes from Jackson Lake Lodge. I went at 9am and had my choice of almost any site.
Grand Teton National Park Campgrounds & Rv Parks
Opening dates for all campgrounds are weather-dependent. Remember that now campground reservations are taken six months in advance of your desired vacation dates at recreation.gov.
Phone: Details: 25 miles north of Moose, with 335 sites, 11 group sites, 13 electric hookup sites, trailer dump station, showers and laundry nearby. Fills in the afternoon, if at all. Colter Bay is a wooded campground with larger sites and easier access if you are traveling with a camper, trailer, or RV. Close to Jackson Lake with many nearby activities.
Phone: Details: 11.5 miles south and east of Moose, with more than 300 sites, 5 groups sites, 36 electric hookup sites, and a trailer dump station. The campground lies along the Gros Ventre River with a mix of sites in sagebrush, beneath cottonwoods and adjacent to/or a short distance from, the river.
Open: mid-June to early-SeptemberPhone: 1-800-672-6012Details: At the north end of Grand Teton National Park, about 32 miles north of Moose and has 60 sites. A less heavily developed campground with sites in the spruce and fir forest. One side of the campground is adjacent to and slightly above Jackson Lake. Vehicle size limited to 30 feet.
Winter Camping at Colter BayPrimitive winter camping is allowed in the plowed parking lot adjacent to the Colter Bay Visitor Center for $5 per night from December 1 to April 15. Camp on the snow covering the parking lot. Pay at the self-pay station by the restroom.
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Gros Ventre Wilderness Area
For those seeking a true wilderness experience, the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area east of Jackson offers free camping in primitive sites with spectacular views of the Tetons. August and early September are your best bets for camping free of snow, but the area is accessible year round for those campers who dont mind roughing it in the snow. Please check with the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area Forest Service website for specific information about access and seasonal closures.
The Dyrt: The Best Camping Near Grand Teton National Park
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The Colter Bay Campground offers epic views of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Think of Colter Bay Village as summer camp for the entire family.
Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park are Now Reservation-Only
Visitors Should Plan Ahead and Book Early as Sites will No Longer Be Available on a First-Come Basis.
For budget campers, there are also free primitive sites located just outside the park boundary. If you take the Outside Road , you can turn toward the Gros Ventre Campground and Kelly and proceed out of the park boundary to Shadow Mountain. This area is protected by the Forest Service, and camping at existing fire rings is allowed without a fee. Just be sure not to make new fire rings and follow the Leave No Trace code of ethics.
Here are the top choices for camping near Grand Teton National Park, according to The Dyrt campers. The Dyrt is the #1 camping app of 2020 in Apples App Store and Google Play Store. Authentic reviews are what makes The Dyrt the #1 camping app of 2020. The Dyrt PRO, a $35.99/year subscription giving campers offline access to The Dyrts entire set of 500,000+ locations, reviews and tipsmeaning you can now hit the road worry-free and find your next campground regardless of WiFi or cell service.
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Grand Teton National Park Free Campsites Jackson Hole Grand Teton Natl Park
AddressElevation: 6976
Management: Forest Service
The road in is Gravel and a couple miles from a paved road. Jackson Hole Grand Teton Natl Park is open Access Mid June to Mid Sept only due to snow/mud. There are 6-15 campsites at this location.
Best Review:
Beautiful spot right in the heart of the Tetons! There is plenty of parking and it was not too bad to get our rig there. Take it slow on the road if you have a bigger rig and its still no problem! Lots of places to park near the camping sign that gives you details about the spot and rules that is only about a mile up from the main road. There are more spots further up in the woods but we only walked there. Great place to go for a hike right from the campsite! Very quiet and great views of the entire valley!
Costs And Camping For The Grand Teton National Park
The Grand Teton National park charges a 7-day entrance permit. For a private vehicle, you pay $35 for 7days, private non-commercial vehicle. If you visit with your motorcycle, you pay $30 for 7 days per motorcycle. A hiker/biker pays $20 for 7 days per hiker/biker. Children below 16 years enter for free.
If you visit the park with a commercial vehicle, the charges are based on the seating capacity of your vehicle. For a seating capacity of 1-6, the charges are an extra $15 per person, 7-15 is $125 and 16-25 is$200 while for 26+ the charges are $300.
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Washington: Quinault Ridge Road Olympic National Forest
You cant disperse camp within Olympic National Park, but it is allowed in Olympic National Forest, not far from the entrance to the national park. Check out the roadside spots off Quinault Ridge Road, which is Forest Road 2258, just off Highway 101 north of the town of Aberdeen. These spots are scenic and quiet, and a handful can be found within the first mile of the road. If youre in an extra-large vehicle, you may find turning around challenging, so choose a site wisely or head to another zone, like Forest Road 29, near the town of Forks.
Is Teton National Park Free
Entrance Fees Entering Grand Teton National Park costs $35 per vehicle for a seven-day pass.
Do you have to pay to go to Jenny Lake?
Motor boating permits can be acquired at the visitor center, and cost $20 per day or $40 annually. Part scenic-tour, part water-taxi, the Jenny Lake shuttle is like nothing else in Jackson. The ferry departs from South Jenny Lake roughly every 15 minutes and carries you across the water to the Cascade Canyon trailhead.
Which entrance is best for Grand Teton National Park?
Flagg Ranch Information Station If you visit Yellowstone first, the best way to get to Grand Teton National Park is through Yellowstones South Entrance. You have to purchase a separate pass for Grand Teton National Park. When you enter Grand Teton from Yellowstone, youll notice there is no formal entrance station.
What time can you enter Grand Tetons?
Grand Teton National Park is open 24 hours every day, year-round. The most popular months to visit are May through September. During the busy summer season, most roads and facilities are open and a full range of programs are available to enjoy.
Does the America the Beautiful pass cover Grand Teton?
GTNP Satellite Passes Whether you purchase a GTNP Annual Pass OR the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, you can buy an additional Satellite Pass for $10 each. The pass is good only for Grand Teton National Park.
Is Yellowstone free to enter?
All visitors at Yellowstone National Park are required to pay an entrance fee.
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Camping In Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park offers the opportunity to view wildlife and experience the unique natural beauty of a wilderness area that is known throughout the world for its scenic views and pristine environment. Camping is open in Yellowstone National Park year-round in some areas, but most choose to camp from late spring through early fall. Most campsites are limited to 14 days and daily camping fees range from $15 for basic sites to over $40 in campgrounds with improved facilities for RVs. These fees are in addition to Yellowstone National Parks entrance fees. Reservations are available for some sites in Yellowstone. To browse campsites that can be reserved, you can visit the Yellowstone Reservations website, or find more information about Yellowstone camping from the National Park Service.
North Carolina: Linville Gorge Wilderness Pisgah National Forest
Youll need a permit to camp overnight on weekends and holidays in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, but theyre free. This 12-mile-long gorge plummets 2,000 feet to the Linville River and has a variety of stunning dispersed camping along the canyons western rim. Youll find over a dozen roadside campsites on the rugged, unpaved Old North Carolina 105, also known as Kistler Memorial Highway, with views of Table Rock Mountain in the distance and easy access to hiking trails in and around the gorge.
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Where To Stay When Campgrounds At Grand Teton National Park Are Booked
If you find campgrounds in Grand Teton are already full for your trip dates, consider staying at a campground or hotel outside of the park instead.
Its also worth checking to see if any of the seven lodges inside Grand Teton have any availability.
Typically, accommodation outside the park doesnt fill up as far in advance. Plus, staying outside the park tends to be more budget-friendly.
These are the best hotels near Grand Teton National Park:
- The Lexington at Jackson Hole is a 3-star hotel near Jackson Town Square with 89 guestrooms, a complimentary buffet breakfast, and an indoor pool.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton is a pet-friendly 3-star chain hotel with a spa, 41 guestrooms, complimentary to-go breakfast, and an indoor pool.
- Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole is a mountain hotel with a restaurant, 69 guestrooms, hot tub, and fitness center near Jackson Town Square.
There are also several affordable Airbnb rentals in the area. Read more about the best Airbnbs near Grand Teton & Yellowstone here.
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Where To Stay Near Grand Teton National Park For Sightseeing
Almost all overnight options fall into the neighboring adventure-town of Jackson. Whether you are looking for something decadent or dollar-conscious, you can find it here.
- Luxury Hotels: If elegance is something you crave during your visit to Grand Teton, then somewhere like the five-star Amangani is right for you. Featuring luxury suites, superior service, and surreal views of the Teton Range and Snake River Valley, Amangani specializes in the good life. More towards the heart of Jackson, Hotel Jackson is another boutique overnight option featuring a modern design, spa services, and spacious rooms.
- Just down the road, the Motel 6 Jackson features remodeled rooms, free parking, and babysitting services.Closer to the ski slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the 4 Winds caters to adventure seekers, with clean and efficient rooms and a central location for exploring Jackson and the surrounding mountains.
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Oklahoma: Black Kettle Campground Black Kettle National Grassland
Youll find a dozen free campsites, equipped with fire pits and picnic tables, at Black Kettle Campground, part of Black Kettle National Grassland, a 31,000-acre wilderness area on the Great Plains that stretches across western Oklahoma. This spot is about 30 miles north of Interstate 40, near the town of Cheyenne, so youll fall asleep to the sound of a hooting owl, versus a grinding freeway. From the campground, youll find two short hiking trails and a boat ramp into Dead Warrior Lake, which has three miles of shoreline.
Camping For Free In Wyoming On Blm Lands
There are plenty of other options for free camping in Wyoming besides the Yellowstone National Park area. BLM Wyoming, which stands for Bureau of Land Management, manages the publicly owned land throughout the state.
Nearly half of WY is BLM-managed land. Dispersed camping is allowed on most BLM land away from developed recreation facilities. There is no fee for dispersed camping, but campers should be aware of the rules and regulations. Some of these include:
- Obey stay limits. Campers are permitted to stay in one spot on BLM land for 14 days. After that, they must move at least 25 miles away from that spot, and cannot return to the original campsite for 28 days. This important rule helps prevent the overuse of resources in any one given area.
- Closed for camping signs. Some areas may be closed to camping in order to protect the wildlife or natural resources.
- Honor Leave No Trace principles. This includes choosing pre-existing campsites that have durable ground to stay on, packing out all trash and waste, and practicing fire safety.
- Respect private property. Not all land is BLM-managed. You may not take advantage of free camping in Wyoming by occupying private property. The BLM map overlays on Campendium can help you determine if you are staying somewhere camping is permitted.
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The Best Campgrounds In Grand Teton National Park
Camping in Grand Teton National Park is hard to beat if you love stunning alpine views and fresh mountain air. The park has 6 developed campgrounds and thousands of backcountry campsites to choose from, making camping within the park an excellent way to see everything the Tetons offer.
Whether youre looking for a comfortable front-country camping experience or you want to head deep into the mountains, theres a campsite for you at Grand Teton.
Here are some of the best camping locations inside and outside Grand Teton National Park so you can start planning your upcoming camping trip.
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Caribou Targhee National Forest
There are several public campgrounds with improved facilities in the Caribou Targhee National Forest in eastern Idaho that are a short drive from Jackson. Most campgrounds in the Caribou Targhee National Forest are open from June through September. Reservations can be made online through the Targhee National Forest recreation website. Camping fees range from $12-14.
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Spread Creek Meadow Boondocking In The Bridger
The Spread Creek meadow camping area that we found for our Airstream had fantastic views of the Teton mountains. We were up on a hill just enough to get a great view of the mountains, while also being easily accessible for any recreational vehicle as its a relatively smooth dirt road the whole way in to the camping spot.
We were also fortunate in having good AT& T mobile phone access at this location. We had at least three bars throughout our camping stay at this location.
Tennessee: Paint Creek Corridor Cherokee National Forest
The free dispersed sites outside of the town of Greenville, on the five-mile stretch of Forest Road 41, also known as Paint Creek Road, tend to fill up on busy weekends, so get here early or midweek to snag a coveted spot. This is part of the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, Tennessees only national forest, and camping is allowed in designated spots only. Even if youre not spending the night, this is a scenic road to drive or stop in for a picnic, with views of Kelly and Dudley Falls.
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Michigan: Hovey Lake Campground Hiawatha National Forest
This secluded free campground on the east side of 99-acre Hovey Lake, in Michigans Upper Peninsula, is managed by the Forest Service. Located outside the town of Munising, theres no cell service here, which can be a blessing or a curse, depending on what youre after. But there is a lake packed with trout and wooded campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and plenty of privacy. Youre about 30 minutes from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior.