Lizard Creek Campground

five campers around campfire at campsite

Lizard Creek is the quiet one - a rustic 60-site campground tucked in spruce and fir on the north shore of Jackson Lake, 11 miles south of Yellowstone and 8 miles north of Colter Bay Village. Sites are mixed tent-and-RV with no hookups, and everything books on Recreation.gov up to six months out. You get flush toilets and seasonal water spigots, but no showers, dump station, or store, so roll in with your supplies squared away. The payoff is a Teton Range view straight across the lake and a lot fewer neighbors than the big campgrounds down south.

Quick facts

Reservation System: Recreation.gov
Reservation Window: Reserve up to six months in advance on Recreation.gov - the 60 sites are reservable, none are first-come, first-served.
Reservation Tips: The 60 sites are reservable and 0 are first-come, first-served, so there is no walk-up fallback - set an alarm for six months before your trip date and book on Recreation.gov at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/247785.
Season Dates: Summer season only - closed for winter from September 10, 2026 through June 13, 2027, so plan a mid-June to early-September trip.

Reservations & season

Reservation System: Recreation.gov
Reservation Window: Reserve up to six months in advance on Recreation.gov - the 60 sites are reservable, none are first-come, first-served.
Reservation Tips: The 60 sites are reservable and 0 are first-come, first-served, so there is no walk-up fallback - set an alarm for six months before your trip date and book on Recreation.gov at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/247785.
Season Dates: Summer season only - closed for winter from September 10, 2026 through June 13, 2027, so plan a mid-June to early-September trip.
Fills Up Speed: Popular in peak summer like most Jackson Lake campgrounds - with only 60 reservable sites, grab your date when the six-month window opens.
Per Night Cost: $49.00 per night for a campsite with vehicle. Rates do not reflect Senior and Access passholder discounts, taxes, or incremental charges.
Passes Accepted: Senior and Access passholder discounts apply to the nightly rate; the park entrance fee ($35 per private vehicle for 7 days) is separate.

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total: 60
Site Types: Mixed-use sites for tents and RVs - NPS lists 0 tent-only and 0 RV-only sites among the 60.
Site Type Breakdown: 60 total sites, mixed-use: 0 tent-only, 0 RV-only, 0 group, 0 horse, 0 walk/boat-to.
Group Sites Available: 0
Group Site Capacity: No group sites here - NPS lists 0 group sites, so big crews should look elsewhere in the park.
Hookups: Dry camping only - 0 electrical hookups and no dump station, so top off tanks and charge batteries before you arrive.
Site Features: Picnic table, fire pit (fires must stay in the metal fire grate), and nearby restrooms at each site; most sites have a bear box.
Ground Type: Forest floor sites under spruce and fir; the loop roads themselves are paved.
Site Privacy: Sites are tucked into spruce-fir forest in a remote corner of the park - more of a quiet-woods setup than a parking lot.

Facilities

Bathroom Types: Flush toilets (seasonal) with cold running water - a step up from vault toilets, but no hot taps.
Showers Available: No showers at the campground. Shower facilities are available elsewhere in the park - plan a drive for hot water.
Potable Water: Yes - seasonal spigots. Bring a jug for early or late season just in case.
Dump Station: No dump station on site - dump before you arrive or haul it out.
Trash Service: Trash and recycling collection - seasonal. Keep it locked up until drop-off; this is bear country.
Camp Store: No camp store, though firewood and ice are sold seasonally. Colter Bay Village is 8 miles south for real resupply.
Firewood Availability: Firewood sold on site seasonally, and ice too. Don't move firewood - buy it where you burn it.
Cell Service: NPS lists cell reception as available year-round, but also warns service is not reliable in the northern part of Grand Teton - download offline maps first. No internet; closest public Wi-Fi is the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose.
Nearby Facilities: Colter Bay Village is 8 miles south for supplies and services; the closest public internet is the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose. Mailing address is Moran, WY 83013.

Access

Road Type: Paved - access roads are listed as 'Paved Roads - All vehicles OK', and the campground loop roads are paved.
Road Conditions: Paved the whole way in, so the sedan makes it fine. The loop roads are paved but hilly, so watch your parking brake.
Vehicle Restrictions: Trailers are allowed. No specific length limit is published, so measure your rig against the site before booking.
Clearance Needed: Standard clearance - paved access roads, rated for standard vehicles.
Gate Hours: Open all day during the summer season - no nightly lockout listed.
Distance From Entrance: About 18 miles north of Moran Junction on US 89/191/287, or 11 miles south of Yellowstone's south boundary.
Nearest Gas Services: Colter Bay Village, 8 miles south, is the closest hub for services; the campground itself sells only seasonal firewood and ice.
Accessibility: Campground loop roads are paved but on hilly terrain, making wheelchair access challenging. No sites are currently ADA accessible (a future redesign will add compliant sites). Restrooms are partially accessible. The amphitheater route is well-compacted gravel on a slight slope. No payphone.
ADA Accessible Sites: None at this time - NPS says no sites are currently ADA accessible, with a future redesign planned. Restrooms are partially accessible; the amphitheater route is well-compacted gravel on a slight slope.

Rules & safety

Bear Country: Yes
Food Storage Requirements: Food and anything with an odor must be properly stored at all times - most sites have a bear box, and food storage lockers are available seasonally. This is grizzly country; use them.
Fire Restrictions: Campfires must be contained within a metal fire grate. Fireworks are banned at all times.
Pets Allowed: Yes
Pet Restrictions: Leash under 6 feet at all times within 30 feet of roadways; pets are not allowed on the multi-use pathway, park trails, or in the backcountry.
Alcohol Permitted: 0

What it is like

Onsite Activities: Seasonal amphitheater for ranger programs, lakeshore access on Jackson Lake, and wildlife watching from camp. A seasonal staff or volunteer host is on site.
Wildlife Viewing: This is bear and wolf country - park rules require 100 yards minimum from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife, so keep the binoculars handy and the food locked up.
Shade Coverage: Good shade from the spruce and fir forest the sites sit in.
Scenic Views: Jackson Lake out front, with the northern Teton Range - Webb Canyon, Owl and Ranger peaks - one mile across the water, and the full Teton Range towering over the lake to the south.
Noise Level: Remote lakeshore camp - expect lake and forest sounds rather than highway drone, plus ranger-program chatter from the seasonal amphitheater some evenings.
Best Time To Visit: The operating window is short - roughly mid-June to early September - so mid-summer is your shot. July and August bring warm days, cool nights, and afternoon thundershowers.
Vibe Check: Rustic and remote is the honest label - spruce-fir forest on the north shore of Jackson Lake, well away from the busier Colter Bay scene 8 miles south. Forested sites, lake views, ranger programs at the seasonal amphitheater, and no store or showers to draw crowds.
Camp Here If Skip If: CAMP HERE IF: you want a quiet, forested base on Jackson Lake with Teton views, positioned 11 miles from Yellowstone and 8 from Colter Bay, and you're self-contained for dry camping. SKIP IF: you need hookups, showers, a dump station, a camp store, or an ADA-accessible site - none of those exist here - or you're rolling with a big group, since there are no group sites.
Tips Advice: - Book the moment the six-month Recreation.gov window opens - the 60 sites are reservation-only. - Dry camping: 0 hookups and no dump station, so arrive with full water, empty tanks, and charged batteries. - Water spigots are seasonal - carry a backup jug for shoulder-season trips. - Everything with a smell goes in the bear box, every time. This is grizzly country. - No showers here; shower facilities exist elsewhere in the park, so plan the hygiene run. - Buy firewood on site seasonally - don't haul it in from home. - Pack for cold nights even in July - frost is possible any month in this park.

More details

Park Area: Jackson Lake, northern Grand Teton
Family Friendly Notes: Flush toilets, bear boxes, a seasonal amphitheater for ranger programs, and a seasonal host on site make this workable for families - just watch kids near the hilly loop roads and the lakeshore, and drill the food-storage routine.
Senior Access Discounts: Senior and Access passholders get a discount off the $49 nightly rate - the posted rate does not reflect the discount.
Amphitheater: Yes - seasonal amphitheater on site. The route in is well-compacted gravel on a slight slope.
Nearby Attractions: Yellowstone is 11 miles north and Colter Bay Village is 8 miles south, making this a solid base for hitting both parks. Webb Canyon and Owl and Ranger peaks rise one mile across Jackson Lake.
Terrain Type: Hilly, forested lakeshore - two paved loops on hilly terrain in spruce-fir forest along Jackson Lake.
Temperature Ranges: July-August: warm days and cool nights with afternoon thundershowers common. April-June: mild days and cool nights alternating with rain and snow. September-November: sunny days and cold nights with rain and occasional snowstorms. Winters are long and cold - snow and frost are possible any month.
Snow Season: Snow and frost are possible any month in Grand Teton; from December to April snow blankets the mountains and valley, and the campground closes September 10 for the season.
Monsoon Season: Afternoon thundershowers are common in July and August - set up the tarp before the afternoon rumble.
Setup Strategy: Two paved loops with 60 sites on hilly terrain - expect to hunt for a level spot and pack leveling blocks for the trailer. Access roads are paved and rated for standard vehicles, and trailers are allowed, but with no published length limit, check your specific site's dimensions on Recreation.gov before booking a big rig.
Bath Laundry Recon: Flush toilets (seasonal) with cold running water - no hot taps. No showers at the campground; shower facilities are available elsewhere in the park. No laundry on site.
Review Summary: NPS describes this as a rustic campground in a remote part of Grand Teton - campers come for the spruce-fir forest on the Jackson Lake shore and the Teton views one mile across the water. It trades amenities (no showers, store, or hookups) for quiet and position between the two parks.

Location

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose Lizard Creek over Colter Bay?

If quiet beats convenience, yes. Lizard Creek is rustic - no showers, store, or hookups - while Colter Bay Village, 8 miles south, is the full-service hub. You give up amenities and gain a spruce-fir forest site on the lakeshore with fewer neighbors.

Can I just show up without a reservation?

No - the 60 sites are reservable on Recreation.gov and 0 are held for walk-ups. Book up to six months in advance, especially for July and August.

Can I bring my RV or trailer?

Yes, trailers are allowed and the paved access roads are rated for standard vehicles, but it's dry camping: 0 hookups and no dump station. No length limit is published, so verify your rig fits your specific site on Recreation.gov.

Is it worth it without showers?

For a few nights, absolutely - you get flush toilets, seasonal water spigots, and a Teton view across Jackson Lake for $49 a night. Shower facilities are available elsewhere in the park, so plan a mid-trip hygiene run.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, on a leash under 6 feet, and within 30 feet of roadways at all times. Pets are not allowed on park trails, the multi-use pathway, or in the backcountry, so plan dog-friendly days around the campground and road corridors.

Do I really need to use the bear box?

Yes - park regulations require food and anything with an odor to be properly stored at all times, and most sites have a bear box. This is grizzly country; keep 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wildlife.

Is this a good base for visiting Yellowstone too?

One of the best in Grand Teton - the campground sits 11 miles south of Yellowstone and 8 miles north of Colter Bay Village, so you can day-trip into both parks without moving camp.