Yellowstone is quite the hot ticket for camping and depending on what you are wanting to do there are several major campgrounds which might appeal to your needs. When entering the Western most entrance one of the best locations to stop and unhitch or set up for your adventure is Madison Campground located just a few short miles inside the entrance.
I stopped in here to check out the area and also enjoy a little rest and was very impressed by how large the campground was but how homey it really felt. There are several loops in this campground which allow for hundreds of campers, but with all these campers it remained comfortable and not loud. This campground does allow generators during certain hours, so it is very common to hear the low hum of these around camp, but the trees and placement of sites seems to make this site still very comfortable.
The loops are all designed for one way traffic, which cuts down on much of the congestion but also on the chaos which could occur from so many options in each loop. I found that unlike some campgrounds which can become a maze this one was very easy to navigate.
The campground has both a general store, which has some of the things which you might have left at home, and also both an ice machine and soda machine. In addition there is a RV dump station and an amphitheater where they do nightly programs.
The bathrooms here have flush toilets and running water but no showers, still very convenient and if you do happen to want to shower after paying for entry you can visit some of the other area campgrounds.
The big negative to not only this campground but the park in general is that there is no cellular service or radio, so if you are needing to find out park information which is not listed in the brochure given to you at the gate you will want to do so before coming to the park or stop by one of the information desks located at various park checkpoints.
When settling into the campsites there are both pull through. and pull in sites. I noticed that many of the larger rigs were easily able to fit into the pull through sites and tent campers were scattered throughout. Bear boxes are provided alongside fire rings and picnic tables. Fire warnings are always posted on the kiosk at the opening of the campground so make sure you check in and check this out.
During summer the rate for a single night is $26 which is around the middle of the price points for campgrounds around Yellowstone. This is higher than the vault only style campgrounds which makes sense. But because of the amenities offered this site also fills up quickly so I recommend booking online well in advance of your stay.
TIPS:
When staying at Madison make sure you take advantage of the river access for which the campground is named. This area is absolutely beautiful and for those who enjoy fishing, this is an approved fishing area.
Make sure to use the dish washing stations located at each of the 14 restrooms, these are great convenient features since no sites have running water.
Closest showers are located just outside the park at West Yellowstone or at the Old Faithful Inn within the park. These are pay showers but you can easily access them without issue.
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