Rainbow Point Campground

We planned to camp in Yellowstone National Park, but it was way too much crowded. We didn't want to wait 3 hours or more to get a campsite so we headed out of the park to find this beautiful and remote campsite directly at Hebgen Lake.

We called the ranger station to see what campgrounds might be open (with no facilities) in October after a September official closure, Most are physically blocked off, but she told me that Rainbow Point campground Loop A (it has 19 sites) was being kept open. Water was turned off, but pit toilets were available. We were surprised when we got here October 1st to see that there was no fee. We arrived about noon on a Thursday and had over a dozen sites to pick from. By evening, the loop was full. Sites are spaced far apart and everyone was quiet.
We were a 20-minute drive to the west entrance of Yellowstone Park. Easy access to the Madison River and the geysers down to Old Faithful. Over the days, we saw many elk along the Madison River. There’s a good information center in the town of West Yellowstone, shortly before the park entrance. Yellowstone allows fishing within the park with the purchase of their permit, you don’t need to buy the pricier Wyoming fishing license. Permits are sold at the fly shops in West Yellowstone. We used Swans laundromat in west Yellowstone, which was good, and had good take-out bison burgers from Bullwinkles. With summer over, we struggled to find a huckleberry milkshake, but did find one shop still making them.
The campground sits on Hegben Lake, which we fished with no success (MT license required). From the campground, we also enjoyed a day trip north to Ennis. Pretty drive and chance to see more MT scenery, and enjoy a good Mexican meal at Nacho Mama’s on their outside patio.
A week into our stay they posted a sign that the campground would be closed in four days to perform maintenance. That was okay with us as we had already been thinking of moving into the park to Mammoth Campground (the only one still open) to have easier access to the northern and eastern sections of the park.
We had good AT&T cell reception and streaming at Rainbow Point campground.

After the camp officially closes for the season - this year it was 9/21 - the camp hosts leave, the water is turned off, trash becomes pack it in pack it out, and loop A is left open for free use. To have free camping this close to Yellowstone Park is a treat. Please make sure you leave a clean camp if you stay here. There were signs stating that the camp would be closed if folks started to leave a mess.
When I arrived late on a Friday afternoon there was no one else here. I soon had 3 neighbors but we all managed to find enough elbow room and were well spaced around the 19 available sites to where I didn't really hear/see anyone else during my stay. I choose A17 as it had the most sun exposure for my fixed solar panels. The bathrooms looked to be almost new and were very clean. Each site was sporting a brand new bear-proof box as well. I took a walk through the other loops (not open to camping this time of year) and they all had new bathrooms and the FS was still in the process of installing the new bear boxes there too. A loop sites are non-electric, B and C have electric hookups. While there are a lot of trees in here the sites are open enough that slideouts shouldn't be a problem. Sites are all gravel but are surprisingly level and long enough for most rigs. I think I could have fit 3 of my rigs in the spot I chose. Standard FS table and fire ring at each site. Some sites had dedicated tent pads as well. During the summer months, the water taps around camp are available but those are turned off once the weather gets colder so I can't report on water conditions.
There is a boat ramp and parking for boat trailers and day use but the area is pretty small. Also, the lake was already starting to freeze over while I was here late October. There is a brand new turning lane off of highway 191 onto Rainbow Point Rd. The first 5 miles are paved and fairly easy to drive. This time of year the road can be snow-covered and icy so take is slow. The last couple of miles are dirt and there were a few sizable potholes to navigate around but nothing out of the ordinary. About a 25 minute drive to the West entrance of the park.

Arrived 24 May 2021 in mid afternoon, almost all spaces were reserved but found one marked "open" so pulled into it. This was a stop over night and we wanted to be out of the snow at some of the other USFS campgrounds. The road in has not been maintained in a long, long time. The pot holes kept our speed down to 1-2 mph, very ruff on the suspension, they were big and deep. The roads in the campground were also full of pot holes; the roads are blacktop as are the sites including where the table and fire pit are. The campground itself was OK once we got there, sites nicely spaced. Unlike some other USFS campgrounds we have stayed at the sites were covered in pine needles, not raked as we have seen in other USFS campgrounds. Restrooms were nicely spaced as were water spigots. There is only one check in point at the entrance so if you do not have a reservation and find a spot make sure to leave something or someone to keep anyone else from pulling into it while you return to check in. We waited until the host came by as I did not want to unhook just to check in. If the road is ever maintained and fixed up we would consider coming back here due to the proximity to the Yellowstone Park entrance.

I am writing this connected to ATT 4G LTE using our Winegard Connect2 booster as it has a WIFI built in. Cell service is generally two bars over a wide area once out of the mountains.

We liked the park and being walking distance to a small lake. This campsite is 10 miles to the town of West Yellowstone and the park entrance. The camp-hosts are friendly and the sites are large and have good privacy.

If you are looking to enjoy Yellowstone for a few days and are looking for a campground to stay in, look no farther than Rainbow Point Campground. The campsites were spaced out and level. It was quiet and peaceful. It is electric only but there are at least three water spouts per loop to fill your tanks in. The sites were nice and large and fit a 30ft pull trailer very well. Would highly recommend staying here for a couple of days.

Remote and nice beach access. Hookups are in loop A B and C. 50 amp only in C. The constant oversight and roaming by the staff got annoying as we were super quiet and felt like they were always on us. These sites are nice and spacious and far enough away from your neighbors. VERY bumpy road to get there. Huge potholes.

Was actually very easy access. About 3 mikes of dirt road and slightly washboard worn. Plenty of room in the sites convenient to water and vault toilets. Electric site for us in B loop and had a non electric for 1 night in A. Close to the lake for boating. 15 minutes to town and the park. We will definitely be back.

I reserve a sit with 35 ft toyhuler with room to spare . I did my homework and found a few sites that would accommodate a large camper. We rode the Harley in and out of the park most every day with no issues. There’s a nice lake within walking distance that is well used. I stayed there five days during August the weather was beautiful and the Park is very clean.

Our $18.00 rate includes a $10 Senior Pass discount.
Campground is clean and well-maintained. Spots are nicely spaced in the trees. Vault toilets were clean and convenient. Didn’t use the bear boxes but were available. Short walk to the lake but couldn’t let our dog swim because of harmful algae warnings. Beautiful views from the shoreline. A bit of a rough-ride in on wash-board road but hey, this is a campground!