Lewis Lake Campground & Boat Launch

We camped here the first night of our Sept. 2023 Yellowstone & Tetons roadtrip. The sites were easy to find and fit into. Our rig is ~27' total and we got in fine - pull behind camper is 11ft. The sites were close together but with enough greenery in between to have some privacy with your neighbors. All the sites were full/booked when we were there using recreation.gov. We booked in advance. The site had a picnic table and bear box. We walked down to the boat launch at sunset and took some really beautiful pictures.

Lewis Lake Campground is located inside Yellowstone National Park. Site-specific comments relate to Site 51, loop B.*Water* The campground was advertised as having running water available, but apparently this is not turned on until later in the year, due to the possibility of freezing. When it's on, "running water" consists of a few water spigots throughout the campground. Bring your own bucket.*A bit crowded* My biggest concern is that some camping spaces are crowded together closer than townhouses in a modern city. Standing at my designated campfire ring, I could have made an underhanded toss of sand onto my neighbor's tent. It's hard to enjoy traditional campfire activities when you know that your neighbor is trying to sleep just a few yards away. (In metric units, perhaps 6 or 7 meters.) If this bothers you, look for "dispersed camping" locations inside or outside the park. Within this campground, sites on the outside of the loops may have more space between them.*Toilets* This location uses US Park Service vault toilets -- basically outhouses. They were as clean as expected, although my expectation isn't all that high. We observed daily cleaning visits by workers at the one nearest our campsite.(Those desiring modern plumbing should look into campgrounds with such amenities, although they usually cost more.)*Wildlife* The campground has a diversity of wildlife. While we didn't see (in the campground) any of the larger animals known to inhabit Yellowstone Park, there were plenty of small animals and birds throughout the area. (We were reliably told that larger animals do occasionally wander through, so all precautions must be taken, especially with regard to bears.)*The actual lake* Lewis Lake is gorgeous, but not visible from all sites. Some walking (or biking or driving) is required. The lake is extremely cold, being fed mostly by snowmelt, and was much too cold for swimming, in my opinion. Near the entrance to the campground, there is a boat ramp. All boats must be inspected for invasive species before being launched at this (or any) Yellowstone lake.*Campground location* This campground is located relatively close to Grant Village, and is well-marked along the highway. _Google maps_ or other navigation programs can get you there, but be sure to set that up when you have cell service, as service is spotty (at best) near the campground. (Speaking of which, once you reach the campground and see that there is no service, put your phone into airplane mode so as to conserve your battery for your camera.)*I would stay at this campground again, but I'd definitely pick a better site for future visits, if possible.*

It's not exactly the most accommodating campground, but if you're looking for a more simple spot that stays relatively quiet, this is perfect for you! Park rangers were insightful, campers kept clean and quite, and the nature was serene. We stayed in the back circle against a large open field that would have been perfect for frisbee or ball. Our campsite was an easy 3 minute walk from the lake, so we got to witness sunrise/set over the lake as well.