Beautiful Campgrounds in Washington: Car Camping Spots You’ll Want to Book First

February 8, 2026 admin 0 Comments

Last Updated: February 2026 | Reading Time: ~16 minutes

I’ve camped a lot of places in Washington — some planned months in advance, some last-minute, some with kids, some with friends, and some completely solo. These campgrounds aren’t perfect, and honestly, that’s why I love them.

Each one holds a specific memory: sunrise paddles, loud neighbors, rainy tent nights, quiet forests, kids learning how to build fires, and mornings that made it all worth it.

Table of Contents

At a Glance

These are my go-to Washington campgrounds for lake time, coast sunsets, and easy family camping — plus a few spots that still feel like secrets.

Colonial Creek North Cascades Recreation.gov June–Sept Lakeside, paddling, iconic color
Glacier View Lake Wenatchee First-come, first-served July–Sept Quiet, water-focused, secret feel
Fairholme Olympic Peninsula Recreation.gov May–Sept Lake Crescent waterfront, early mornings
Kalaloch Olympic Coast Recreation.gov (+ some FCFS) Year-round Ocean, driftwood, family-friendly
Baker Lake (Swift Creek) North Cascades Recreation.gov June–Sept Turquoise water, paddling, rain-friendly
Salmon La Sac Cle Elum / I-90 Recreation.gov June–Sept Slow river coves, floating, laid-back
Middle Fork North Bend Recreation.gov May–Oct Mossy forest, close to Seattle, biking
Kachess Lake Snoqualmie Pass / I-90 Recreation.gov June–Sept Beaches, group camping, flexible base
Takhlakh Lake Mount Adams Recreation.gov July–Sept Mount Adams views, midweek magic

Colonial Creek — North Cascades

Diablo Lake · North Cascades National Park · Recreation.gov

Colonial Creek on Diablo Lake might be my favorite campground — full stop. Especially if you score one of the waterfront sites. I’ve been here once with my mom and once with my kids, and I already know I’ll be back.

It’s an incredible place to launch a paddleboard or canoe. When you’re right on the water, everything feels immediate — the color of the lake, the surrounding peaks, the stillness.

There’s a long wooden walkway that stretches out toward the lake, with a small area that feels almost like it’s floating. One night we carried dinner out there and ate overlooking the water, then pulled out a few paint sets and painted together as the light shifted.

If you want to build a full weekend around this area, here’s exactly how I plan it: 3 Days in the North Cascades.

Colonial Creek — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~130 total (North + South loops)
Reservations: Recreation.gov (waterfront sites book fast)
Season: Late May–mid September (snow dependent)
Cell service: Minimal to none
Nearest supplies: Newhalem or Marblemount (limited)
Nearby hikes: Thunder Knob, Diablo Lake Trail, Ross Dam
Tip: South Loop has the waterfront sites — worth aiming for

Glacier View — Lake Wenatchee

Lake Wenatchee · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · First-come, first-served

This is one of those campgrounds I almost don’t want to talk about — it feels like a secret you’re supposed to keep.

Glacier View sits at the far end of Lake Wenatchee, away from the crowds at Wenatchee State Park. It’s fully first-come, first-served, and nearly every site feels like it comes with its own little stretch of beach.

We stayed a couple nights with friends and did a sunrise canoe paddle I still think about — glassy water, mountains glowing, no one else around. We paddled out to a sandbar in the middle of the lake and lingered there, then watched the stars come out at night.

You’re close enough to Leavenworth for dinner or a walk through town, then right back to quiet. It’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever camped.

Glacier View — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~23 (small campground)
Reservations: First-come, first-served only
Season: Late May–September
Cell service: Spotty
Nearest supplies: Leavenworth (~20 minutes)
Water access: Direct lake access from most sites
Tip: Arrive Thursday or early Friday for weekends — it fills quickly

Fairholme — Lake Crescent

Olympic National Park

I’ve stayed at Fairholme twice, and one of those trips was a solo Memorial Day getaway that started strong. I scored a waterfront site — until the reality of a holiday weekend set in.

The group next to me stayed up until about 4 a.m. Eventually I talked to the ranger the next day and moved sites. I didn’t get to keep the waterfront spot, but I did get sleep.

I still woke up early for a sunrise float paddle, and the lake was calm again. One of the best parts of the waterfront sites is how close they are to the water — I hung a hammock that felt like it floated over the lake.

The sites farther back are still nice, but if you want to be right on Lake Crescent, it’s worth knowing that the waterfront sites are very close together with little privacy.

Fairholme — Know Before You Go

Sites: 88
Reservations: Recreation.gov (staggered release by loop)
Season: April–October
Cell service: Very limited
Nearest supplies: Port Angeles or Forks
Nearby: Marymere Falls, Spruce Railroad Trail, Sol Duc Hot Springs
Tip: Midweek is quieter; waterfront sites are very close together

Kalaloch — Olympic Coast

Olympic National Park

Kalaloch was one of our earliest family camping trips. The kids were tiny, and even though we didn’t get an oceanfront site, our spot tucked into the trees felt special.

We built fires, walked the beach, explored the Tree of Life, and made s’mores. You can walk straight down to the beach from the campground, and if you do get one of the bluff-top sites, the views are hard to beat.

Our stove broke on that trip and we had to drive to find a replacement part, but by the time we were back at camp with the kids learning how to build fires, it just became part of the memory.

Kalaloch — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~170
Reservations: Recreation.gov in peak season; some loops FCFS off-season
Season: Year-round
Cell service: Minimal
Nearest supplies: Kalaloch Lodge (small store) or Forks (~35 min)
Nearby: Ruby Beach, Beach 4 tidepools, Hoh Rainforest
Tip: Ocean-view sites book months ahead for summer

Baker Lake — North Cascades

Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest

Baker Lake has several campgrounds along the shoreline, and it’s one of our favorite places to be in the summer.

We stayed at Swift Creek and landed a site overlooking the inlet, with water and mountain views in every direction. It rained while we were there, so we spent a lot of time in the tent listening to Harry Potter on repeat and letting the days slow down.

When the weather cleared, we swam and paddled out to the floating logs scattered across the lake — one of those weird Baker Lake things that works because it’s a reservoir.

There are plenty of other campgrounds along the road, plus stretches that feel almost like dispersed camping. It’s also a great place to connect trips — paddle camping on the lake, or pairing it with the Baker Lake Trail for an early backpacking trip.

Baker Lake — Know Before You Go

Campgrounds: Swift Creek, Horseshoe Cove, Panorama Point, Shannon Creek, Park Creek
Reservations: Recreation.gov for developed campgrounds; additional informal roadside camping exists nearby
Season: Late May–September
Cell service: Very limited
Nearest supplies: Concrete (~30 minutes)
Water: Cold, glacial-fed
Tip: Still a great place in rain — plan for slow days

Salmon La Sac — Cle Elum

Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest

Salmon La Sac is small and simple, the kind of place where time disappears.

Although it’s technically a river campground, the Cle Elum River here widens into calm stretches with small coves that are perfect for swimming and floating in summer. The water is clear and blue-green, with smooth rocks along the edges.

We found a blow-up couch floaty — Couchy — and spent hours drifting around a quiet cove with nowhere to be.

This is a campground for slowing down.

Salmon La Sac — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~60–70 (verify loop availability each season)
Reservations: Recreation.gov
Season: Late May–September
Cell service: Minimal
Nearest supplies: Roslyn or Cle Elum (~30 minutes)
Water: Cle Elum River — clear, cold, swimmable in summer

Middle Fork — North Bend

Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest

Middle Fork Campground sits far enough down Middle Fork Road that it feels removed, even though it’s close to Seattle. It’s one of the prettiest forest campgrounds we’ve stayed at, with sites tucked into the trees.

There’s river access, Garfield Ledges nearby, and the Middle Fork Bridge just down the road. We went with another family, and when they ended up leaving early, we stayed on by ourselves and enjoyed the quiet.

We brought bikes and the kids rode the campground loop over and over — one of those easy wins that fills an entire afternoon.

Middle Fork — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~38
Reservations: Recreation.gov
Season: Late May–September
Cell service: None to very limited
Nearest supplies: North Bend (~30 minutes)
Road: Fully paved now (much easier access than years past)
Tip: Bring bikes — the campground loop is perfect as kid entertainment

Kachess Lake — Snoqualmie Pass

Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest

Kachess Lake is one we’ve returned to several times.

If you time it right during the week, you can have the main beach almost to yourself. The kids floated on paddleboards, built sandcastles, and spent entire days in and out of the water.

On another trip, Kachess was more about the day around it — hiking up to Lodge Lake, walking back down by moonlight under the chairlifts, and grabbing dinner on the pass afterward.

Kachess isn’t flashy. It’s flexible.

Kachess Lake — Know Before You Go

Sites: Large campground with multiple sections
Reservations: Recreation.gov
Season: Late May–September
Cell service: Some coverage (closer to I-90)
Nearest supplies: Snoqualmie Pass or Cle Elum
Water levels: Can vary year to year
Tip: Midweek is noticeably quieter than weekends

Takhlakh Lake — Mount Adams

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Takhlakh Lake depends entirely on when you go.

We arrived midweek and it was almost empty. We had a site with a short path down to the water and spent our time paddling at sunrise and sunset, swimming, and walking the loop trail around the lake. The views of Mount Adams were constant.

As the weekend crowd rolled in, the campground quickly got louder and more crowded. Friends of ours had the same experience on their visit.

Midweek Takhlakh and weekend Takhlakh feel like two different places.

Takhlakh Lake — Know Before You Go

Sites: ~50
Reservations: Recreation.gov
Season: Late June–September (higher elevation)
Cell service: None
Nearest supplies: Randle (~45 minutes)
Road: Forest roads — remote but usually passable
Tip: Midweek and weekend feel like two different campgrounds

What I Bring Car Camping (That I Don’t Bring Backpacking)

Car camping is a completely different game than backpacking. You’re not counting ounces — you’re optimizing for comfort. This is the stuff that always comes with us.

Camp chairs
I resisted for years, mostly out of stubbornness. I don’t anymore. Being able to actually sit comfortably at camp changes everything.

A real cooler
Not the flimsy one from college. A good cooler means fresh food for days, which makes camp meals feel less like survival and more like something you look forward to.

Camp kitchen setup
We bring a two-burner stove for car camping instead of our backpacking stove. It makes cooking real meals possible and takes a lot of stress out of camp food.

Paddleboard or canoe
More than half the campgrounds in this post revolve around water. If you have a board or canoe, bring it. If you don’t, an inflatable SUP is a really fun way to open up a camping trip.

Hammock
This shows up on almost every trip we take. Easy to pack, easy to set up, and it instantly makes camp feel more relaxed.

Bikes for the kids
Campground loops are the best babysitter. Flat roads, no traffic, and hours of entertainment.

A blow-up floaty
Sometimes it’s a Couchy. Sometimes it’s a tube. Always worth the space.

Tips for Booking Washington Campgrounds

A few things I’ve learned after years of doing this:

Book early. Popular campgrounds on Recreation.gov open six months ahead, and waterfront sites at places like Colonial Creek, Fairholme, and Kalaloch can disappear within minutes. Set a reminder for when the booking window opens.

First-come, first-served isn’t hopeless. Glacier View is FCFS, and it’s one of the best campgrounds on this list. The trick is arriving Thursday or early Friday — by Friday afternoon, you’re likely out of luck. Midweek is even better.

Midweek changes everything. If you can camp Tuesday through Thursday instead of Friday through Sunday, you’ll have a fundamentally different experience — quieter, more spacious, less stressed.

Check water levels. Kachess and Baker Lake can look very different depending on the year and the season. Low water years mean smaller beaches and longer walks to the water’s edge.

Have a rain plan. This is Washington. It will rain on at least one of your camping trips. Bring tarps, audiobooks, card games, and the willingness to spend a slow day in the tent. Some of our best camping memories happened on rainy days (Harry Potter at Baker Lake, I’m looking at you).

Holiday weekends are a gamble. Fairholme taught me this the hard way. If you camp on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day weekends, you’re rolling the dice on neighbors. Go in knowing that, and you’ll be fine.

Here’s a section ready to paste into the WordPress editor, right before the closing. Each link is tied back to the campgrounds post so it reads as a natural next step rather than a generic link dump:

More Ways to Explore Washington

If any of these campgrounds sparked an idea, here are a few posts that pair well:

22 Best Day Hikes in Washington — Almost every campground on this list is within driving distance of a great day hike. This is where I’d start.

Beginner Backpacking Trips in Washington — If car camping has you curious about staying overnight on the trail, these are the trips I’d recommend first. Several start near Salmon La Sac and the I-90 corridor.

9 Easy Backpacking Trips with Kids — Baker Lake Trail is on this list, and it pairs perfectly with a few nights at one of the Baker Lake campgrounds.

Paddle Camping in Washington with Kids — If the water-focused campgrounds here appeal to you, paddle camping is the next level up. Baker Lake is one of our favorite spots for it.

3 Days in the North Cascades — How I’d plan a full trip around Colonial Creek and the North Cascades Highway.

Mountain Loop Highway Guide — Another incredible area for pairing day hikes with a camping base.

Winter Adventures in Washington — Kalaloch is open year-round, and the coast in winter is a completely different experience.