Camping in Yellowstone park is a fun and exciting adventure, especially when you head to it in a conversion van. The park is filled with beautiful campgrounds, such as Slough Creek Campground and Lewis Lake Campground. Regardless of which of Yellowstone's beautiful campgrounds you select, you are sure to enjoy your communion with the natural world around you. To get the best enjoyment out of your camping trip you will want to make sure you bring the right equipment, gear and provisions.
Wear Sunscreen
Yellowstone is at a higher altitude than many people are used to which means it can actually be easier to get a sunburn, even on an overcast day. Make sure to get one with an SPF high enough to sufficiently protect you from the sun's rays.
Toiletries
Don't forget various toiletries as well such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, razor blades and so on. Make sure to pack enough medications to at least get you through your time in Yellowstone with maybe a couple of days' extra just to be on the safe side. Another important piece of gear that any good camper should have is an easily portable first aid kit to carry with them in case of an injury while hiking. While you are roughing it, most people don't like it too rough so a few essential things to make your camping trip a bit easier can go a long way.
Over pack
Don't be afraid to over pack. The weather in Yellowstone can be a bit crazy, with shorts as required wear one day and a jacket the next. While it is rare there have been reports of snow even in July and August and cold weather is always something that can happen. Even in the summer cold weather and rain may be in abundant supplies so make sure to bring clothing to cover just about any weather situation regardless of what time of year it is. Also remember that you are going to be doing a lot of walking so good hiking boots or, at the very least, a pair of comfortable walking shoes are essential.
Taking Pictures
You never know when you are going to encounter wildlife in Yellowstone, so a good camera with which to take pictures is an essential part of the experience. It's a good idea to remember not to get too close to the wildlife because if you startle it, you may find yourself in the situation of facing down an angry and charging animal. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you invest in a telephoto lens so that you can keep your distance and photograph the flora and fauna of the area from a safe distance.
Anti-Bear Arsenal
While most people have no problems with being approached or attacked by bears you don't want to find yourself as the one person who does. Because a wayward encounter with a grumpy grizzly can ruin an otherwise fun and perfect camping experience, make sure you have a way to ward off a bear and a way to warn them of your presence to begin with.
If you do find yourself staring at the unhappy end of an unhappy bear, a can of bear repellent will be something you will want to have handy. Bear repellent is essentially a highly concentrated form of pepper spray. When purchasing bear repellent skip the small cans and go for a large one as you definitely don't want to run out in the case of a bear attack.
You will also want a way to warn bears of your presence so that they aren't surprised if they run into you in the woods, which can result in aggressive behavior. The efficiency of bear bells is somewhat controversial, so it might be best to sing or whistle loudly while hiking to warm bears of your presence.
Have Fun
Of course the most important part of any trip to Yellowstone is to just have fun. For many, a trip to Yellowstone is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you will want to make sure you can get all of the fun, enjoyment and communion with nature out of it that you can.