Indian Creek Campground - Yellowstone National Park

Indian Creek Campground is a nice 70-site campground on the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.

Indian Creek Campground

Indian Creek Campground is a quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the main parts of the park.

This campground has a fantastic forest cover with areas of shade and a gorgeous view of the Gardner River.

The campground also sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains with breathtaking views of Electric Peak.

For the adventurous, you can choose to hike the 19-mile Bighorn Pass Trail from the Indian Creek Campground up over the Gallatin Range and end at the Bighorn Pass Trailhead off Highway 191.

Remember that this is grizzly country, and the trail crosses the Gallatin Bear Management Area from May 1 through November 10. It is important to be prepared for a bear encounter.

Make sure that you travel in groups of 4 or more and keep your group together. Travel only on designated trails (off-trail travel is prohibited).

Be alert and make noise. Carry bear spray. Keep a safe distance.

If you are hiking in this area, you should use Bear Safe food storage containers . Also, make sure to use the food storage lockers/bear boxes provided in the campground.

Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee

Remember that Yellowstone has an entrance fee separate from camping fees.

Indian Creek Camping Fees

Interagency Access Pass (Disability) and Senior Pass (formerly known as the Golden Age or Golden Access Pass) holders receive a 50% discount.

Rates do not include taxes or utility fees and are subject to change.

Campsite Cost: 

Nightly Fee - $20.00

Hiker/bicyclist Night Fee - $10.00

This is the per-person cost for a hiker/bicyclist campsite for one night.

Indian Creek Campground Reservations

80% of campsites are reservable six months in advance

20% of campsites are available two weeks in advance

Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes, reservations are available on-line

Phone Number:  (877) 444-6777

Online Reservations: You can reserve a campsite online at Recreation.gov

Note: There are two different Reservation services for campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park.

Use Recreation.gov for Indian Creek Campground, Lewis Lake Campground, Mammoth Campground, Norris Campground, Pebble Creek Campground, Slough Creek Campground, and Tower Fall Campground.

You can use the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website to make a reservation for Fishing Bridge RV Park, Bridge Bay Campground, Canyon Campground, Madison Campground, or Grant Village Campgrounds.

 

Campground Information

Season: The campground is only open during summer. The campground is typically open early June through early September.

Number of Sites:  70

Campground Address:

Latitude/Longitude: N: 44 53.22138 W: 110 44.16414

Elevation:  7,300 feet (2225 m)

Accessible Sites: There are 2 accessible campsites and; an accessible vault toilet. The accessible sites are Site #8, and site #58.

Location in the park: Eight miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris

 

Indian Creek Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: No, vault toilets are available seasonally

Hot Showers: No

Laundry: No

Payphone: No

Is WIFI available? No

Is Cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is A camp host available on-site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? No

Bear Box in site/area? Yes, Bear boxes are available for most tent sites.

Amenities at each campsite:

Is there a Fire Ring/Fire pit available in the site? Yes

Is there a Picnic Table available in the site? Yes

Is Potable Water available? Yes, don't forget to bring a water jug to bring water to your campsite.

RV Camping at Indian Creek Campground

RV Max Length:  10 sites at 35 ft (10.7 m), 35 sites at 30 feet (9.1 m). Sites may not be level.

Generators: No generators are allowed in the campground

Dump Station: No

Hookups:

There are no sites available with electric hookups, water hookups, or sewer hookups.

 

How to get to Indian Creek Campground

If you enter Yellowstone National Park from the park's north entrance near Gardiner, Montana, continue south until you reach the Mammoth Hot Springs Area.

Follow the road to the Norris area and continue south for approximately eight miles.

You will see the Sheepeater Cliff Picnic Area on the left, and then turn to Indian Creek Campground on the right.

Indian Creek Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite:  Maximum 6 persons per site

The number of cars per campsite: Tent sites allow for up to two tents and two vehicles. RV sites allow for one RV (tow included) only. (For reference, 2 motorcycles = 1 vehicle)

Check-in Time: check-in any time of day that there is an unoccupied site.

Checkout time: 10 AM.

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Maximum Stay: Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 through Labor Day, and 30 days for the rest of the year. There is no stay limit at the Fishing Bridge RV Park.

Pets Allowed:

 Pets must be physically controlled at all times: they must be in a car, in a crate, or on a leash no more than six feet long.

They are not allowed on trails or boardwalks, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas.

You will want to be aware of the park pet policy

Don't forget to pack

Insect Repellent

Camp Chairs

Camping Water Jug

Camping Games

Lodging Options

Lodging options inside the park include

Mammoth Hot Springs & Cabins - Great rooms right in the heart of the Fort Yellowstone Historic District, including restaurants, shopping, park visitor center, and Mammoth Hot Springs. Book Here

Canyon Lodge and Cabins - This beautiful lodge has breakfast available, a restaurant, a laundry, free self-parking, horseback riding/rentals, a grocery/convenience store, an elevator, a nice fireplace in the hotel lodge, and several room-type options. Book here

Lake Lodge Cabins - These cabins are located on the Northern end of Lake Yellowstone and has breakfast available, a bar, restaurant, free self-parking, shopping, gift shop/newsstand, fireplace in the lobby, and several  room types available. Book here

 

Lodging options outside the park include several options in Gardiner, Montana, and West Yellowstone, Montana. (Look at map below)

For a fun adventure, check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built-in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando.

Indian Creek Campground Photos

Additional Yellowstone National Park Resources

Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!

Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!

Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.

Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.

Yellowstone Geyser Basin Areas 

Upper Geyser Basin, including Geyser Hill,  Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Old Faithful Geyser.

Midway Geyser Basin, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Firehole Lake Drive.

Lower Geyser Basin, including Fountain Paint Pot Trail and  Firehole Canyon Drive

Norris Geyser Basin—This basin is known for having some of the hottest water and springs in the park. It is actually two basins: Porcelain Basin and Black Basin, with famous geysers, including Ledge Geyser, Cistern Geyser, and Steamboat Geyser.

West Thumb Geyser Basin - Beautiful boardwalk trail with hydrothermal features right next to Lake Yellowstone!

Mud Volcano - The Mud Volcano area is Located south of Canyon Village and North of Lake Yellowstone. It has several hydrothermal features, including a mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth Spring.

Yellowstone Campgrounds

Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds including: Bridge Bay Campground, Canyon Campground, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village Campground, Indian Creek Campground, Lewis Lake Campground, Madison Campground, Mammoth Campground, Norris Campground, Pebble Creek Campground, Slough Creek Campground, and Tower Fall Campground.

Yellowstone Lodging Resources

Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins, including Canyon Lodge, Canyon Lodge Cabins, Grant Village Lodge, Lake Hotel, Lake Lodge Cabins, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Cabins, Old  Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge (Cabin Accommodations), Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Roosevelt Lodge (cabin accommodations)

Parks near Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teron National Park 

Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!

Grand Teton Camping Guide - Complete Guide to all of Grand Teton National Parks campgrounds.

Grand Teton Lodging Guide - Complete Guide to all of Grand Teton's Lodges.

Glacier National Park

Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park Camping Guide - Complete Guide to all of Glacier National Park front country campgrounds

Glacier National Park Lodging Guide - Complete Guide to Glacier National Park Lodges

Additional Montana National Parks 

Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.

Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.

Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana