In this chapter, we've listed numerous public and private campgrounds that, for one reason or another, make them special places to stay inside and outside the parks. Some are reservation-only campgrounds while others on national forest lands have only a few reservable sites. Generally, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are less expensive than privately owned RV parks, but they also have fewer amenities. Forest Service campgrounds often have full-time hosts who can answer your questions or sell you firewood. To pay fees, though, you place your money in an envelope and then pop it into a locked box.
Staff pick up the money each day.
Because the national parks are slightly different, we'll tell you what you'll find in each. And since you'll be in bear country whether you're in the parks or outside them, we'll first give you some special tips for camping with bruins.