Camping in Washington State

Best campgrounds in Washington — Olympic Peninsula, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier. Rain gear tips and reservation info.

Washington has campgrounds in rain forest, on the coast, in high alpine terrain, and in dry eastern desert — all within the same state. The west side is wet. The east side is not. Plan accordingly.

The Olympic Peninsula and North Cascades are world-class destinations. Mount Rainier’s campgrounds fill up fast on summer weekends and require reservations.

Best Campgrounds in Washington

Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park

Ancient temperate rain forest camping. Moss draped over everything, elk wandering through camp, near-silence at night. Bring waterproof everything.

Kalaloch Campground, Olympic National Park

Bluff-top camping above the Pacific. One of the most dramatic campground settings in the US. Fall asleep to waves, wake up to ocean fog burning off the cliff edge.

Ohanapecosh, Mount Rainier

Old-growth forest at the base of Rainier. Enormous trees, great trails, and a short drive to the most photogenic mountain in the lower 48. Reservations fill fast.

Lake Wenatchee State Park

East of the Cascades — this lake campground gets more sun than west-side options while staying accessible. Good for families and first-time campers.

When to Camp in Washington

West side: July through September for the best chance at dry weather
East side: May through October; significantly drier
Year-round camping exists but requires real rain and cold gear west of the Cascades

Gear for Washington

A tent with a quality rainfly is non-negotiable on the west side. See our tent guide and sleeping bag picks for wet-weather recommendations.