Big Game Campground
Big Game Campground is located along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway about 29 miles west of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. It is 23 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.
More like this: reservable in Wyoming · big rigs in Wyoming
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 120 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
14 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 003 | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 004 | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 005 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 006 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | |
| 007 | Back-in | 29 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 008 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 009 | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 2 |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | |
| 011 | Pull-through | 120 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 120 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Campers are allowed to gather firewood in the area. There is no water available at the campground.
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 |
| Fees | Overnight Use: Single Site: $15/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 29 miles west of Cody, on the north side of the highway and next to the river. It is between Wapiti Campground and Horse Creek Picnic Area.
| Nearest town | Cody, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44.4617° N, 109.6050° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireMonk
27 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 ↗ | 25.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 26.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
CampgroundViews.com - Big Game Campground Cody Wyoming WY Forest Service
Worth a stop
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 23 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.
- 12.1 miStagecoach Trl Fishing Access ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miHorse Cr Trail ↗8.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miPagoda Cr Trail ↗4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miElk Fork Trail ↗10.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miGrace Creek Trail ↗2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miClocktower Cr Trail ↗2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miHoly City Handicap Trail ↗0.2 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
- 7 miNorth Absaroka Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 346,320 acres
- 8.9 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 · 0.6 mi
- Absaroka Mountain LodgeHistoric district · Cody · 9.2 mi
- Elephant Head LodgeHistoric district · Cody · 9.8 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated among cottonwood and juniper trees, along the North Fork Shoshone River, at an elevation of 6,000 feet. A wide variety of wildlife lives in the surrounding 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. The Wapiti Wayside is less than a half-mile east of the campground, and offers interpretive information on bears and other local wildlife.
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 Big Game Campground?
Sites at Big Game Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Big Game Campground?
Overnight Use: Single Site: $15/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 Big Game Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Big Game Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Game Campground have?
14 sites, including 14 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Game Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Big Game 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 Big Game 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 Big Game Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Wapiti Campground (1 mi), Elk Fork Campground (1.2 mi, first-come), and Clearwater Campground (3.1 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby