Clearwater Campground
Clearwater Campground is located along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, about 32 miles west of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. It is 20 miles east of the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and viewing local wildlife.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Wyoming · reservable in Wyoming · tent only in Wyoming · group sites in Wyoming
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 11 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
12 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Area Site | East -Reservable Group Area | Group | Back-in | Gravel | 50 / 15 | |
| 09 | East Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 10 | East Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 11 | East Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 01 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 02 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 03 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 3 |
| 04 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 05 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
| 06 | West Area | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | – / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
The campground offers one group camping area, which provides private parking, three large picnic tables, two food storage lockers and campfire circle. Additionally, 11 single-family campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, campfire ring and food storage locker. Campers may gather firewood from the area.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Shoshone National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations for the Clearwater Group Site can be made at www.recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Overnight Use: Groups Site: $90/night. Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Passes provide a 50% discount to Single Campsites ONLY. *The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additiol fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass… |
| Rules | Food Storage is Required |
Weather by month
Getting there
The campground is 32 miles west of Cody, on the south side of the highway and next to the river.
| Nearest town | Cody, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44.4622° N, 109.6683° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Vault toilets and trash collection are provided, but drinking water is not available.
Fire nearby
- WildfireMonk
29 mi from the campground · 41 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Best of the West ↗ | 28.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 29.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Campground Review | Clearwater Lake Campground | Wells Gray Provincial Park | Campsite Tou
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miClearwater Cr Trail ↗3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miGrace Creek Trail ↗2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miElk Fork Trail ↗10.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miPagoda Cr Trail ↗4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miBlackwater Trail/Clayton Mount ↗7.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 3.7 miHorse Cr Trail ↗8.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Shoshone National Forest.
- inShoshone National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,469,224 acres
- 6.2 miNorth Absaroka Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 346,320 acres
- 7.4 miCuster Gallatin National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,412,203 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Wapiti Ranger StationBuilding · Wapiti · 2.6 mi
- Absaroka Mountain LodgeHistoric district · Cody · 6.1 mi
- Elephant Head LodgeHistoric district · Cody · 6.7 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on the banks of the North Fork of the Shoshone River and has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Douglas fir and large juniper trees cover the campground, which sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet. A wide variety of wildlife lives in the area. Visitors often glimpse grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison, moose, fox, coyotes and bald eagles.
Recreation
Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Shoshone River is a popular fly-fishing location for rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Nearby
Pahaska Tepee, west of the campground, is home to Buffalo Bill's original hunting lodge, built in 1904. Tours are offered daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Pahaska also offers guided horseback rides, a gift shop, restaurant and lodging. Yellowstone National Park's east entrance is 25 miles from the campground via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. The park offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as breathtaking scenery and unique geological features. The small, historic city of Cody offers a variety of dining, lodging and shopping options. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center offers extensive displays of Greater Yellowstone natural history, Plains Indians artifacts, western art, firearms, Buffalo Bill memorabilia and a wild sheep exhibit.
Guidebooks for Wyoming
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Clearwater Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Clearwater Campground?
Overnight Use: Groups Site: $90/night. Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Passes provide a 50% discount to Single Campsites ONLY. *The discount applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additiol fee or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Clearwater Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Clearwater Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Clearwater Campground have?
12 sites, including 11 tent-only sites and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Clearwater Campground?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Clearwater Campground?
Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Clearwater Campground?
Cody, Wyoming. Pahaska Tepee, west of the campground, is home to Buffalo Bill's original hunting lodge, built in 1904.
Source: Getting there
What if Clearwater Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Elk Fork Campground (1.9 mi, first-come), Wapiti Campground (2.2 mi), and Rex Hale (2.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby