8 Amazing Campgrounds for Car Camping in Washington State

The entire Pacific Northwest region is famous for its gorgeous scenery. From snow capped mountains to rugged coastlines, from alpine lakes to desert plateaus, we have it all. Washington is an excellent place for car camping. In fact, car camping in Washington state is unparalleled. There are many local state and national parks where you can find gorgeous sites to spend a few nights in nature. Here’s a list of the best campgrounds for car camping in Washington State, with all the information you need to prepare for your next trip!

It’s always a great idea! This spot was near Sol Duc Campground in the Olympic Peninsula.

1. Sol Duc Campground

Sol Duc Campground is a gorgeous, forested campground near streams and hot springs. One of the three reservable campgrounds in Olympic National Park, it’s a popular area and one of the car camping sites in Washington State that you will want to reserve as soon as reservations become available. 

The boardwalk and trail through Ancient Grove makes for a short and lovely walk.

Nearby, you can relax on the shores of Lake Crescent, or swim if it’s warm enough (probably only in peak summer, the rest of the year it’s frigid). You can hike Mt. Storm King and Marymere Falls. You can stroll through old growth forest to Sol Duc Falls, or visit the magical Ancient Groves trail. If you’re visiting in the fall, you can watch the salmon run at a local viewing area. And of course, you can soak in the Sol Duc hot springs!

You won’t want to miss hiking Mt. Storm King while visiting Sol Duc campground.

Cost: $33/night for standard nonelectric sites; $55/night for standard electric sites
Location: Olympic National Park, 30 minutes from Lake Crescent
Facilities: flush toilets, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, paved access. There are 82 tent sites and 17 RV sites.
Highlight of campground: It’s right next to the Sol Duc Hotsprings, a great place to soak in thermal waters after a day of playing outside
Reservations: Available on a six month rolling basis from mid March to late October at Recreation.gov

2. Ohanapecosh Campground

Ohanapecosh Campground is another gorgeous forested campground, also with a nearby river, the Ohanapecosh River (are we sensing a pattern here?). I am very partial to wooded areas with a water source. Ohanapecosh Campground is one of the reservable campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, and as a result, it’s very popular. 

One of the most stunning trails in the park, the Skyline Loop Trail is one you will want to visit when staying at Ohanapecosh Campground.

The closest attractions include hiking to Silver Falls and the Grove of the Patriarchs (currently closed for renovations). The campground is also conveniently located for access to the trails at both the Paradise and Sunrise entrances of the park. Check out the Skyline Trail and Myrtle Falls for one of the best in the entire park!

Conveniently located right near the campground, the Grove of the Patriarchs trail is an excellent spot for peaceful forest and river exploration.

Note that there are now restrictions on entering Mt. Rainier National Park during peak season; even with a campground reservation you will have to pay attention to the hours you are allowed to arrive. Read more about the timed entry system here.

Taken as we drove from Ohanapecosh Campground to the Paradise entrance of Rainier, the views are unreal even from the roadside.

Cost: $20 per night, per site
Location: Mount Rainier National Park, on the east side
Facilities: There are 188 campsites that are a mix of standard, tent only, and rv nonelectric sites at Ohanapecosh Campground. There is potable water, flush toilets, picnic tables, campfire rings, an amphitheater, and a local visitor center.
Highlight of campground: The Ohanapecosh River, and proximity to the Paradise entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park
Reservations: Ohanapecosh has a unique reservation system with 87 campsites. Some sites are available to book 6 months in advance on a rolling basis, some are available one week in advance, and others one day in advance. There are also a number of first come, first served sites too. They also have shoulder seasons that are entirely first come first served, usually around the end of May to the end of June and then mid-September to mid-October.

Learn all the best tips and tricks for having a really great experience car camping in my complete guide to camping.

3. Fairholme Campground

Fairholme Campground is located in the forest on the shores of Lake Crescent, a gorgeous glacier lake formed thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age. It reaches an impressive 624 foot depth. The waters are a clear, brilliant sapphire blue, which is due to the lack of nitrogen.

We thoroughly enjoyed spending a half day relaxing on this dock along the north shore of Lake Crescent.

You’ll definitely want to have a picnic at one of the areas with tables. La Poel, Bovee’s Meadow, Fairholme, and the North Shore all have picnic areas. Try renting a rowboat from Lake Crescent Lodge to explore the waters, or simply go for a swim. Hike some of the local trails like the Spruce Railroad Trail, Pyramid Mountain, or Barnes Creek trails. Madison Falls, in the Elhwa area of the park, is also not too far away.

While staying at Fairholme Campground, we could walk to this spot to swim and enjoy sunset at Lake Crescent.
Cost: $24 per night, regardless of the site
Location: Olympic National Park
Facilities: The Fairholme Campground has running water, flush toilets, campfire rings, picnic tables, and some food storage areas (not all sites have them). Note that some of the sites are walk-to, which means while Fairholme is still a car camping area in Washington, if you snag one of these sites you’ll have to lug your gear from your car a bit of a ways to your site. This does pay off though, as the walk to sites are the ones closest to the water!
Highlight of campground: Proximity to Lake Crescent
Reservations: In peak season, which is late May to late September,  the campground is reservable. Some sites are available to book six months in advance, others are available two weeks in advance, and the rest four days in advance. 

4. Moran State Park Campground

This state park campground on Orcas Island, Moran Campground  provides an escape for those seeking island paradise (well, Washington style island paradise). On the eastern side of the island, the campground offers sites near Mountain Lake and Cascade Lake, as well as some primitive hike or bike to sites off Mt. Constitution road. 

Enjoy the views from the top of Mount Constitution.

The area offers recreation on land and on water. Drive or hike up to the top of Mt. Constitution for some gorgeous views overlooking the island and surrounding waters. Visit the Summit Visitor Center to learn about the natural ecology of the islands as well as the original Salish peoples.

Rent a kayak at Orcas Adventures and paddle around Cascade Lake. Drive to the west side of the island and hike the Turtleback Mountain preserve. If you’re an ocean enthusiast, you can take an ocean kayak tour, go whale watching, or even try sailing. And don’t forget to visit the cute Eastsound area to grab treats like ice cream or coffee (or dinner if you want a break from campfire cooking!).

It’s a shame to visit Orcas Island and not get out on the water! I highly recommend a water activity, be it sailing (like this!), kayaking, or swimming, while visiting Moran State Park.
Cost: A bit pricier at $37/night

Location: Orcas Island, San Juan Islands
Facilities: 124 car camping campsites and 6 hike or bike to campsites; there are no electric sites. You can find flush toilets, showers (love state parks for this reason!), fire pits and picnic tables, kitchen shelters and group picnic areas, and a concessions shop called the Sugar Shack.They’ve even got a firewood vending machine!
Highlight of campground: Lakeside location! Also, camping on an island is just awesome in general because you’re close to everything. And, dogs are allowed in most areas here as it’s a state park, so it’s especially great if you have a dog you’d like to bring on your adventures.
Reservations: You can reserve sites at Moran State Park 9 months in advance here. Note that you will also need to book your ferry ride in advance, especially in the summer, when car tickets for ferries can and do fill up entirely.

5. Silver Fir Campground

The most rugged on this list of areas for car camping Washington state, Silver Fir campground is a tiny gem that you’ll want to book early. Located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, this is the closest you can camp to the Artist Point area, making it a popular spot. The campground is peaceful, with only about 20 sites total. It’s right next to the North Fork Nooksack River, and you’ll be able to hear the rushing water from your site.

Nearby, you’ll have access to some of the most gorgeous trails in the entire state. The trailheads for Artist Point, Chain Lakes Loop, Ptarmigan Ridge, and Lake Ann are all about 30 minutes away from Silver Fir Campground. You’ll also be able to visit the stunning Picture Lake, which I recommend at golden hour or sunrise, for incredible views of Mount Shuksan reflected in a small lake.

Picture Lake is a must-see and an easy visit from Silver Fir campground.

Heather Meadows is also a wonderful spot for exploration and photography. Hannegan Pass and Peak is a stellar option for hiking (if you’re in shape, because the trail gains 3,100 feet!). Another fantastic way to spend the day is to simply hang your hammock in the trees and watch the river flow by.

The Artist Point area has multiple incredible trails to explore, a short drive from Silver Fir campground.

Cost: $30 for standard nonelectric and tent-only nonelectric sites, and $60 for a standard nonelectric double site. There is also a $2/night holiday surcharge for single sites and $4/night holiday surcharge for double sites.
Location: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, 30 minutes from Artist Point
Facilities: Slightly more rugged, the toilets are vault style (non-flushing) and you actually have to pump your water, which is kind of fun! They still have the basics like picnic tables and fire rings, as well as a host.
Highlight of campground: Proximity to Artist Point and the river that runs right by the campground
Reservations: Mid-May to mid-September is peak season, when sites are reservable. You can reserve sites on a rolling six month basis here.

6. Deception Pass Campground

Deception Pass State Park offers the opportunity to explore peaceful Whidbey Island and neighboring Fidalgo Island. A quiet area, located north of Seattle and close to the San Juan Islands, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Deception Pass State Park.

Deception Pass State Park has plenty of dog friendly areas!

You’ll be able to hike along the shoreline, like the Lighthouse Point Loop. Take a late afternoon hike to the summit of Goose Rock for gorgeous views from the highest point on Whidbey Island, or relax at beautiful Bowman Bay or Rosario Beach. If you’re feeling ambitious, try the Sugar Loaf and Mount Erie two-summit hike (you can also reach Mount Erie by driving if you’d prefer a more leisurely summit experience).

Be sure to stop your car and walk across the Deception Pass bridge, it’s absolutely gorgeous and has wonderful views out over the islands and the water. You can also take a swim or rent a kayak to better explore the waters.

Cost: $32-$37/night for tent nonelectric sites, and $40-$45 for electric sites. There are also $12 hike or bike in site, but if you arrive in a car you cannot use these sites at all.
Location: Whidbey Island
Facilities: Flush toilets, potable water, fire rings, picnic tables,
Highlight of campground: Proximity to beaches and water views!
Reservations: You can reserve sites on a rolling 9 month basis here.

7. Colonial Creek Campground

Colonial Creek Campground is the best reservable spot to camp in North Cascades National Park. Why? Because it’s closest to the amazing hikes, and also to Diablo Lake! We literally walked to the shores of Diablo Lake from our site; it doesn’t get any better than that. There are two campgrounds, Colonial Creek South and Colonial Creek North.  Sites are located in the forest off of Diablo Lake, and many of the sites are quite spacious (and can accommodate 2 tents). This is a wonderful car place to visit with friends or family for folks wanting to explore car camping Washington state.

Walkable from the Colonial Creek South campground, Diablo Lake is a stunner.

Nearby, you’ll find various incredible trails, like the Heather Maple Pass Loop, Blue Lake, Cutthroat Pass, Easy Pass, and Thunder Knob trailhead. Bring your own kayak or stand up paddleboard and spend time on the waters of Diablo Lake, or even rent a motorboat at Ross Lake.

The climb is a tough one, especially in the heat of summer as the trail is very exposed, but the views are pure magic.

Cost: $24/night for nonelectric sites (all sites are nonelectric in both campgrounds).
Location: Shores of Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park
Facilities: 94 campsites in the South campground, and 41 campsites in the North campground. There are flush toilets, potable water, fire ring, picnic table, amphitheater, boat ramp (South)
Highlight of campground: Proximity to Diablo Lake and excellent trails. The sites themselves are fairly spacious and under tree cover.
Reservations: The sites are reservable (South and North) on a six month rolling basis, late May to early September.

Psst. Want more on visiting North Cascades? I have an entire post dedicated to exploring the North Cascades National Park area. 

8. Lake Wenatchee State Park Campground

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a fantastic lakeside campground with high quality facilities, located on the banks of Lake Wenatchee and the Wenatchee River. It’s surrounded by forest and mountains, and about 30 minutes from the famous town of Leavenworth. Lake Wenatchee campground is a place where you can camp year round, too, for people brave enough to camp in snow! 

Just a quick walk from Lake Wenatchee campground, the shores of Lake Wenatchee are worth exploring.

There are a variety of excellent recreational activities near the campground, including land and water activities. There are sport areas like volleyball courts, bike trails, and horseshoe pits. You can rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard right on the lakeshore, or take a horseback ride. In the winter, there are groomed ski and snowshoe trails in the sno-park. Lake Wenatchee State Park is a uniquely well positioned site for car camping Washington state due to the variety of activities available.

Some great trails in the area are Nason Ridge Trail (views over the lake and across the mountains), Sauer’s Mountain and Icicle Ridge (both are great for spring wildflower hiking), Hidden Lake (very close by and easy), and Lake Colchuk in the summer (one of Washington state’s most famous hikes). 

There are a variety of excellent trails to choose from near Lake Wenatchee State Park campground.

Cost: $32/night for standard nonelectric sites, and $40-$45 for electric sites.
Location: On the shores of Lake Wenatchee, near the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Facilities: One of the swankiest campgrounds we have stayed at in terms of facilities, Lake Wenatchee State Park has flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, a playground, a concessions store, a day use beach area, volleyball courts.
Highlight of campground: Proximity to lake, and ease of access to both land and water activities
Reservations: You can reserve sites at Lake Wenatchee State Park 9 months in advance here.

Final thoughts on best campgrounds for car camping Washington State

Washington is a strikingly beautiful state with endless opportunities for nature exploration. You can find almost anything you’d like here: waterfalls, lakes, ocean, forest, mountains, and even desert. Make sure you book ASAP when you know where you want to go, because these places are popular and often sell out, especially in the summer.

Where will your next car camping trip take you? Drop your favorite car camping spot in Washington in the comments, and share this post with a friend needing some camping inspiration!