There are several opportunities for overnight camping excursions in Washington. In addition to one of the most diversified petrified forests in the country, there are also lush rainforests, rocky coasts, and pure alpine landscapes waiting to be explored. Wild and beautiful rivers are another attraction. Campgrounds in Washington are appealing to all outdoor interests because of the variety of sceneries there.
International visitors and local tent-pitchers alike are drawn to camping in well-known national parks like Mount Rainier and the North Cascades, and options for camping in Olympic National Park are as varied as the surroundings. In addition to offering some of the best camping opportunities in the state, these three national parks are also among the best places in the country to enjoy nature.
Washington state parks also entice campers on outings. These parks are scattered throughout the state and include petrified woods, islands, mountains, and alpine lakes. The majority of state park campgrounds also offer coin-operated showers and flushing toilets.
With our ranking of the top campgrounds in Washington State, you can organize your upcoming outdoor vacation in the Pacific Northwest.
1. Cougar Rock Campground, Mount Rainier National Park
The most convenient way to reach the breathtaking Paradise region of the park is by Cougar Rock Campground, which is located on Mount Rainier’s southern flank. This region of Mount Rainier is no less than properly named, and tourists may get up-close views of Rainier and its several glaciers by taking a 10-mile scenic drive from the campground. The Skyline Trail travels through the picturesque alpine landscape, bubbling brooks, and mountain meadows that characterize this part of the park.
Cougar Rock frequently fills up early and quickly during the regular operational season of May through October despite having more than 170 reservable campsites available. Although campsites are close together, the Douglas fir and western hemlock old-growth surroundings give a greater sense of privacy.
2. Hoh Rain Forest Campground, Olympic National Park
The Hoh Rain Forest is a special ecosystem that is only found in a few other places in the globe, and it is located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington. The Hoh offers countless shades of green, with ferns and mosses covering every square inch of the forest, while much of Northwest Washington is green.
In order to facilitate several days of exploring this beautiful and welcoming area, the Hoh Rain Forest Campground provides 78 campsites. The sites changed from being first-come, first-served to reservation-only in 2020. There are no showers available, however there are nearby flushing toilets and potable water. Additionally, the campground’s close proximity to well-known local trailheads is one of its main draws.
3. Colonial Creek Campground, North Cascades National Park
One of the most well-liked locations for exploring Washington’s untamed North Cascades is Colonial Creek Campground. It is close to Diablo Lake’s azure waters and reachable through the transient North Cascades Highway.
There are over 130 sites accessible in the campsite, which is divided into a north and south loop. Small recreational vehicles or tent camps are most suited for these locations. Although there are no showers provided, all campers have access to potable water and flushing toilets.
At the campground, popular pastimes include boating, fishing, and brief dips in the arctic water. One of the few places to access Diablo Lake is the boat launch near Colonial Creek.
4. Cranberry Lake Campground, Deception Pass State Park
One of the most visited state parks in Washington is Deception Pass. It includes the historic bridge between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. The park is well-liked in part due to its accessibility from Seattle, which is only 80 miles away.
The Coast Salish people had lived in Deception Pass for thousands of years before the Civilian Conservation Corps began to intensively develop the area in the 1930s. Today, the stunning views where Skagit Bay meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca are revealed by this vast state park. Visitors are drawn to this area by its extensive shoreline, plentiful tide pools, and challenging hiking trails.
5. Lake Wenatchee State Park Campground, Leavenworth
The mountain town of Leavenworth, which has a Bavarian flavor, is 20 miles away from Lake Wenatchee State Park. The town is a great place to unwind year-round, with lofty Cascade peaks to complement the Alps-inspired decor. And one of the best places to camp nearby is Lake Wenatchee.
There are about 150 campsites overall available in Lake Wenatchee’s north and south campground loops, which can accommodate both tents and RVs. All of the locations have flushing restrooms with showers and are close to the beach. There is also access to potable water.
The park’s numerous paths are used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, while Lake Wenatchee’s shallow lagoon is ideal for beginner paddleboarders and young swimmers.
6. Moran State Park, Orcas Island
Moran State Park on the San Juan Islands has everything you need for a great adventure. This state park’s more than 5,000 acres are divided into hiking, biking, and horseback riding routes. Five freshwater lakes also call for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating.
124 sites are spaced out over four separate park areas at the large campground at Moran. The South End Campground at Moran tends to be the busiest because all of the sites are located on the Cascade Lake shore and offer a variety of views and solitude.
Going to the summit of Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands, is a must-do when visiting Moran State Park. Visitors can ascend by foot, bicycle, or automobile.
7. Larrabee State Park
In the extreme northwest of Washington, next to Bellingham University, sits Larrabee State Park. The only Cascade peaks to reach the sea, the Chuckanut Mountains, are located in the southernmost part of the state park. The state park consequently provides a number of breathtaking hilltop vantage spots overlooking the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands.
The state park offers more than 80 campsites so you can truly luxuriate in the beach grandeur. Some of these basic sites are reserved only for tent camping, while others are conventional sites without connections or utility sites. All overnight visitors have access to potable water and coin-operated showers.
8. Sol Duc Campground, Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park‘s northwest Sol Duc region offers a variety of activities. It provides access to the Seven Lakes Basin, the Olympic wilderness’s interior, one of the park’s top waterfalls, and a concessionaire hot springs resort. And one of the most well-liked spots to stay in the park is the campsite of the same name.
Over 80 tent sites and 17 RV spots are available at the Sol Duc Campground, which is operated in partnership with the National Park Service and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. During the summer, advanced reservations are possible and advised. Booking a room in advance allows visitors to stay at the century-old, in the 1980s renovated Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.
9. Salt Creek Recreation Area
Salt Creek is a county park on the Olympic Peninsula, 15 miles west of Port Angeles, that almost outshines its nearby national park. It spans about 200 acres and includes Crescent Bay’s eastern shore, providing unbroken vistas of the Juan de Fuca Strait.
The two campsite loops at Salt Creek contain more than 90 sites, the majority of which are accessible year-round and have running water and flushing facilities. The county park’s Tongue Point Marine Sanctuary, where visitors can find some of the most unique tidal pools in the country, is not far from the campground.
10. Curlew Lake State Park, Republic
A few built campgrounds are located along the wild coast of Olympic National Park. However difficult it may be to choose, Mora Campground is unquestionably noteworthy. This is so that campers may easily visit the breathtaking Rialto Beach, which serves as the backdrop for many Olympic postcards.
A 20-minute drive from Forks brings you to the campground, which is close to the Quillayute River and the town of La Push. Although the ocean cannot be seen from the campground, its proximity is obvious from the saltwater smell and the beautiful coastal forest that surrounds it. It takes less than two miles to get to the beach when you want to visit.
