Tom Miner Basin Dispersed Camping Near Yellowstone (Free Sites, Official Rules)
Free, permit-free dispersed camping starts 5 minutes from Yellowstone's gates on five surrounding national forests.
Yellowstone National Park itself forbids dispersed camping, but the five surrounding national forests offer completely free, permit-free camping minutes from every entrance gate — and far fewer crowds than developed campgrounds.
- 5 surrounding national forests
- Free permit-free camping
- 5 min to North Entrance from Jardine Road
- 16 days max stay (Custer Gallatin NF)
West Yellowstone FS Roads (Multiple Options) — West Entrance · Custer Gallatin NF
Best for West Entrance
Most options near any entrance — four forest roads within minutes of the West Gate with every camping style.
- Four roads within minutes: FS-1700 (Plateau Rd), FS-1737 (Park Edge Rd), FS-6958 (Whiskey Springs Rd), and FS-478 (South Fork Rd)
- FS-478 (South Fork Rd) is open to dispersed camping along nearly its entire length per Custer Gallatin NF
- Moose Creek provides a nearby filterable water source (~2 miles from town via Fish Creek Road area)
- Mostly flat pull-offs in mature lodgepole pine; multiple terrain types suit every camping style
The West Yellowstone area sits within Custer Gallatin National Forest and offers the highest concentration of dispersed roads near any Yellowstone entrance. FS-6958 (Whiskey Springs Rd) is the least-used of the four — try the back half for solitude even in peak July–August.
Grassy Lake Road / Forest Road 261 — South Entrance · Caribou-Targhee & NPS
Best for South Entrance
Scenic gravel-road camping with marked sites, picnic tables, and NPS-managed sites — only dispersed area that straddles two forest agencies.
- First 8 marked camp areas with 14 designated campsites are NPS-managed with picnic tables and bear boxes
- Each NPS camp area has a central vault toilet; beyond the boundary, Caribou-Targhee dispersed rules apply (200 feet from streams, ½ mile from developed trailheads)
- Best for rigs under 24 feet; transition from park infrastructure to full dispersed camping on one road
- Road is closed approximately October 1–July 1 each year; call Ashton Ranger District at (208) 652-7442 to confirm opening dates
Grassy Lake Road begins near Flagg Ranch and runs west as a rough gravel road toward Idaho. The NPS-managed section includes picnic tables and bear boxes; the Caribou-Targhee portion starts where NPS land ends, two forests and one road from the South Entrance.
Jardine Road / NF-3243 — North Entrance · Custer Gallatin NF
Best for North EntranceThe closest free option to any Yellowstone gate — 5 minutes from the North Entrance at Gardiner.
- Dispersed pull-offs begin approximately 2 miles northeast of Gardiner, just past Eagle Creek Campground
- Free camping sites are within 5 minutes of the Gardiner park gate
- Dispersed camping not allowed within 1.5 miles past Eagle Creek Campground along the main road — turn onto NF-3243 for legal sites
- Prime grizzly habitat; active Custer Gallatin food-storage order applies
Tom Miner Basin / Forest Road 1702 — North Entrance · Custer Gallatin NF
Best Wildlife Viewing
Prime grizzly and mountain lion country — an expansive meadow alongside Sunlight Creek, as close to 'camping in Yellowstone' as public dispersed land gets.
- Turn at mile marker 17 (36 miles south of Livingston, 17 miles north of Gardiner) onto Tom Miner Creek Road; bear LEFT for dispersed sites (right fork leads to developed Tom Miner Campground, which charges fees)
- GPS coordinates: 45.125750, -111.060361 for dispersed entry point
- Elk, deer, and bears are routine sightings — this is prime grizzly and mountain lion territory
- Do NOT confuse Tom Miner Basin dispersed camping with Tom Miner Campground (a separate developed Forest Service site with nightly fees and basic facilities)
This expansive grassy meadow alongside Sunlight Creek sits in the heart of bear country and represents the closest dispersed camping experience to camping inside Yellowstone itself. Bear spray is not optional in this basin. Store all food and scented items under the active Custer Gallatin food-storage order — a bear box or hard-sided container is essential.
Taylor Fork Road / FS-134 — West Entrance · Custer Gallatin NF
Best Designated Dispersed
The only dispersed option near Yellowstone with 21 individually marked, designated sites and rock fire rings — structure without fees.
- 21 individually marked, designated dispersed sites strung along an 11-mile valley — all with rock fire rings
- From West Yellowstone, drive north on Hwy 191 approximately 33.5 miles, then turn left onto Taylor Fork Road (FS-134)
- Camping ONLY at the 21 designated marked sites — not full free-roam dispersed
- Road is bumpy but manageable; some 4WD sections exist. Located 19 miles southwest of Big Sky
More structure than typical dispersed camping without any fees or reservations. Taylor Fork offers designated camping sites with rock fire rings, a feature rare in true dispersed areas near Yellowstone.
West Fork Denny Creek / FR-1735 — West Entrance · Custer Gallatin NF
Best for Tents & VansOne of the only dispersed areas near Yellowstone with vault toilets and creek water — ideal for tents and vans, not RVs.
- 3–4 designated pull-off sites with flat parking and fire pits
- Filterable creek water is available; vault toilets at some sites — a rarity near Yellowstone dispersed camping
- From West Yellowstone, head west (just past Yellowstone KOA) and follow FR-1735 (West Fork Denny Creek Road) several miles into Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Road is very narrow (small rigs only) — big rigs will not fit and may become stuck on switchbacks; NOT suitable for RVs over ~22 feet
Ideal for tent campers and van-lifers; avoid if pulling a large RV or trailers. This area offers water and toilets, uncommon amenities for truly dispersed camping near Yellowstone.
Beartooth Highway Dispersed Areas (FS-130, FS-142, FS-149) — Northeast Entrance · Custer Gallatin & Shoshone NFs
Most DramaticAmong the highest dispersed camping in the Rocky Mountains — 10,000+ feet with alpine lakes and a very short season.
- Access via Beartooth Highway east of Cooke City; FS roads branch south into Custer Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests
- FS-149 accesses Island Lake shoreline; FS-142 is passable by most vehicles; Lily Lake area (FS-130, ~45 min east of Cooke City) has 8 designated loop spots with a vault toilet
- Shoshone NF's Order SHO-23-002 applies: IGBC-certified bear-resistant containers required March 1–December 1
- Expect frost even in peak summer — pack warm layers. Short season (late June–mid September) means this area often opens last and closes first
Among the highest dispersed camping in the Rocky Mountains. At over 10,000 feet, nights are cold even in late July and snowfall is possible in August.
Shoshone National Forest — East Entrance Area — East Entrance · Shoshone NF
East Entrance Limited OptionsEast side of Yellowstone has the fewest free dispersed options due to highway restrictions — secondary roads like Green Creek and Sweetwater are the main usable areas.
- CRITICAL: No dispersed camping within ½ mile of the US Highway 14/16/20 centerline in the North Fork Canyon corridor
- Secondary roads like Green Creek Rd (sweeping Wapiti Valley views) and Sweetwater Creek Rd (forested, north from Wapiti Campground) are the main usable options
- Bear storage Order SHO-23-002 applies through December 31, 2026 — IGBC-certified bear-resistant containers required
- Do NOT pull off along the main Cody-to-East-Entrance highway expecting to camp legally — you must use designated campgrounds or drive onto secondary FS roads
The east side of Yellowstone has the fewest free dispersed options. A key highway restriction makes most of the main corridor off-limits. Usable secondary roads are the main strategy.
Common Questions
Can you camp for free inside Yellowstone National Park?
No. Dispersed camping is not permitted inside Yellowstone National Park. All camping within park boundaries must be in designated frontcountry campgrounds (which charge fees) or permitted backcountry sites, per NPS.gov. Free dispersed camping is available on the five surrounding national forests immediately outside the park boundaries.
Do I need a bear canister for dispersed camping near Yellowstone?
Usually yes, but the rule is broader than just a canister. Use a Forest Service-approved food-storage method for your exact forest and campsite. That may mean an approved bear-resistant container, a legal food hang, a properly secured hard-sided vehicle, or another approved method depending on the forest order. For this trip, treat food storage as mandatory across all Yellowstone gateway forests, and confirm the current district order before you leave.
How long can I stay at a dispersed camping site near Yellowstone?
Stay limits vary by forest. On Custer Gallatin National Forest (North and West entrances): 16 consecutive days, then you must move at least 5 road miles and cannot return for 7 days. On Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, and Caribou-Targhee National Forests: 14 days within any 28-day period.
Is Grassy Lake Road open year-round for camping near the South Entrance?
No. Grassy Lake Road (Forest Road 261) is typically closed from approximately October 1 through July 1 due to snowpack. Exact dates vary annually. Call the Ashton Ranger District at (208) 652-7442 to confirm the current opening date — especially important for spring visitors.
