Lewis Lake Campground & Boat Launch

We camped here the first night of our Sept. 2023 Yellowstone & Tetons roadtrip. The sites were easy to find and fit into. Our rig is ~27' total and we got in fine - pull behind camper is 11ft. The sites were close together but with enough greenery in between to have some privacy with your neighbors. All the sites were full/booked when we were there using recreation.gov. We booked in advance. The site had a picnic table and bear box. We walked down to the boat launch at sunset and took some really beautiful pictures.

Lewis Lake Campground is located inside Yellowstone National Park. Site-specific comments relate to Site 51, loop B. *Water* The campground was advertised as having running water available, but apparently this is not turned on until later in the year, due to the possibility of freezing. When it's on, "running water" consists of a few water spigots throughout the campground. Bring your own bucket. *A bit crowded* My biggest concern is that some camping spaces are crowded together closer than townhouses in a modern city. Standing at my designated campfire ring, I could have made an underhanded toss of sand onto my neighbor's tent. It's hard to enjoy traditional campfire activities when you know that your neighbor is trying to sleep just a few yards away. (In metric units, perhaps 6 or 7 meters.) If this bothers you, look for "dispersed camping" locations inside or outside the park. Within this campground, sites on the outside of the loops may have more space between them. *Toilets* This location uses US Park Service vault toilets -- basically outhouses. They were as clean as expected, although my expectation isn't all that high. We observed daily cleaning visits by workers at the one nearest our campsite.(Those desiring modern plumbing should look into campgrounds with such amenities, although they usually cost more.) *Wildlife* The campground has a diversity of wildlife. While we didn't see (in the campground) any of the larger animals known to inhabit Yellowstone Park, there were plenty of small animals and birds throughout the area. (We were reliably told that larger animals do occasionally wander through, so all precautions must be taken, especially with regard to bears.) *The actual lake* Lewis Lake is gorgeous, but not visible from all sites. Some walking (or biking or driving) is required. The lake is extremely cold, being fed mostly by snowmelt, and was much too cold for swimming, in my opinion. Near the entrance to the campground, there is a boat ramp. All boats must be inspected for invasive species before being launched at this (or any) Yellowstone lake. *Campground location* This campground is located relatively close to Grant Village, and is well-marked along the highway. _Google maps_ or other navigation programs can get you there, but be sure to set that up when you have cell service, as service is spotty (at best) near the campground. (Speaking of which, once you reach the campground and see that there is no service, put your phone into airplane mode so as to conserve your battery for your camera.) *I would stay at this campground again, but I'd definitely pick a better site for future visits, if possible.*

It's not exactly the most accommodating campground, but if you're looking for a more simple spot that stays relatively quiet, this is perfect for you! Park rangers were insightful, campers kept clean and quite, and the nature was serene. We stayed in the back circle against a large open field that would have been perfect for frisbee or ball. Our campsite was an easy 3 minute walk from the lake, so we got to witness sunrise/set over the lake as well.

A wonderful little spot, and we lucked out because it was the last spot we could find for the night of 3rd July (god bless America - the land of the free). Two reasons why it's 4 star. It is a LITTLE far from the main attractions of Yellowstone. I mean, that's no real problem. Everyone seems to have a car in Yellowstone after all. In fact, for us it was great as we could get out to the Grand Teton National Park nice and early (and wow, what a beautiful drive that is). And then, when we stayed on the night of the 3rd July (god bless America) it was full, and you can be a little close to the campers around you. Which is also actually no problem, we are quiet people but do enjoy the company and presence of others. But we were right next to a mother with her kids and she was SO LOUD, just shouting their names and telling them what to do every thirty seconds. I think the kids were actually trying to hide from her in the end because she was so annoying lol. The saving grace is that quiet time is at 10pm (strictly enforced) and she did stop being annoying about 9:59pm (which suggests to me she knew how loud she was being). So all in all, a beautiful spot, decent location. I am really just giving it a 4/5 star as I know there are places that squarely deserve the 5/5 in Yellowstone, and using a couple of experiences to justify that 4* rating. You won't be disappointed if you choose this spot really.

We camped here in July and it is very wooded and shady. We went to bed with temps around 90* (according to the temp gauge in van) and woke up to roughly 47*. It was a very comfortable atmosphere with no noise around us. There were no hook ups here and the space was barely big enough for my liking, but we enjoyed the stay.

Good camp ground not far off the road in Yellowstone. We stay here often. General has availability when others don’t. Lots of mosquitos

Great option for an overnighter. Some sites are tighter than others (we had to relocate to another site as our RV was pretty much parked up on the road on a blind corner) but this was achieved with minimal fuss. All sites appeared to have tent pads, bear-proof food boxes, fire rings etc and all are within easy reach of camp toilets (toilets only - no showers). Bins are available for rubbish on the way out but that’s about the extent of the facilities. At a fraction of the cost of every other currently operating RV park within 50 miles of Yellowstone, I’d definitely stay again!

Decent campground, but trees should be trimmed away from firepits for safety. By park staff or, if allowed, willing customers.

Reservations. There is high demand for all of Yellowstone's campgrounds, so make your reservations early! We were able to get reservations through recreation.com for two consecutive nights at Lewis Lake for late Sept, 2024 about a month out -- but they were for two different sites. Location. We visited Grand Teton National Park immediately before coming into Yellowstone (YS) so, being on the southern entrance to YS, Lewis Lake was convenient for our first night in YS. However, we underestimated the size of YS, and Lewis Lake was about an hour or more from other major attractions (Old Faithful, Mammoth, canyons and waterfalls), etc). The campground is at an elevation of 7,800'. It is not lakefront, but the lake and boat ramp were only a short walking distance away. Sites. The campground is intended for vehicles 25' or under. Most of the campers while we were there were in Class B RVs or tents. The sites were quite close together, which encouraged some conversation amongst campers but trees also provided some privacy. Each site had a picnic table, fire ring (but fires weren't allowed), and a bear box. There are shared vault toilets, water spigots, and a trash receptacle. The campground doesn't have showers, a dump station, strong cell signals, nor much open sun for solar panels. Finally, park staff were friendly and efficient, and made sure to ensure that campers were aware of the need to be "bear aware." The campground was quiet. And, it was a great value at $20/night without a reservation fee. Using my husband's NPS Interagency Senior Pass brought the fee down to only $10/night.

Lewis Lake Review We stayed here for two nights in September 2020. The check in process is first come first served. You arrive at the campground and grab a reservation slip near the entrance and then drive around looking for an open campsite or a marker that has the current date, meaning someone will be checking out later that day (check out is at 10am). Once you get a spot, fill out the bottom portion of the reservation slip with your car information and other details about the length of your stay. Place the bottom part on the marker and drop off some chairs to visibly reserve the site. Then, drive down to the entrance and fill out the rest of the slip with information and put exact cash in the envelope before dropping it in the mailbox. We arrived close to 8:45am on a Thursday and snagged one of the very last spots. It was a bit stressful if I'm being honest as you see other cars driving around and people running around trying to get a spot before you. We stayed at site A-74 which felt fairly private. The sites include a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. I wouldn't recommend it if you have a large vehicle as parking was tight at this particular location. Also, the area to pitch your tent was on a slight hill. There are vault toilets nearby and a spigot for potable water close to the end of the A Loop. Note, there is no cell service in this area (which is pretty much true for most of the entire park). It is somewhat a far drive from most of the main attractions in the park, but a good spot if you're coming or going to Grand Teton.

This is also along the way from the southside of Yellowstone. It is not a bad stop, lake is super peaceful, some restrooms for drive between Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. If you are short on time, you can skip this also.

Awesome place! Quiet! Big sites. The sires are a bit close together, but manageable. Not the best location as you need to drive north a lot.

Beautiful sites, lots of trees, lots of privacy between sites, VERY QUIET at nighttime especially, .... Only con is the sites are very dusty and laden with small roots and rocks that are easy to trip over or bash your toes into so wear appropriate shoes...and prepare for everything to be covered in dust. A park regular said that all of the campsites have dust, it's just dry here. We stayed here in August, days are warm by the sun but nights are chilly, perhaps because it's close to the lake, be prepared with blankets and hats etc. to stay warm at night. Not flush toilets, no showers but can drive to Grant Village for some great pay showers (4.50each person/toddlers free when showering with parents). Sites seem to fill up by noon, if you show up early and keep driving around you are sure to find an empty site. Lewis lake is at the bottom of the park and a far yet beautiful drives back and forth... And the price is definitely right, currently only $15/night. www.Testimonyofthetwowitnesses.com