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Car Camping Reservations Guide

WTA demystifies the various car campground reservation systems in Washington state.

Washington is a state of hikers and campers. If you leave for a summer weekend of car camping and day hiking without a reservation, you may find that campgrounds are filled to capacity.

So if you want to go camping between Memorial Day to Labor Day, you're wise to get reservations well in advance. Here are a few tips to orient you, and some strategies for the types who don't mind taking their chances.

How to make your reservation for summer camping in Washington

Campsite reservation systems can be a bit of a puzzle. Reservations are not accepted everywhere, and agencies have varied rules about how far in advance you can plan your trip. Plus, there are extra fees associated with making an online reservation. The bottom line is that if you want to go camping the first weekend in August, you'll need get your reservations three to six months (or more) in advance. Here are a few tips to orient you.

Camp in Olympic National Park
Camp in Olympic National Park. Photo by Maria Dominguez

Reserve a campsite, cabin or yurt at Washington State Parks

Most (but not all) Washington State Park campgrounds take reservations up to nine months in advance. That means that if you want a certain campsite for the Fourth of July, you should be on their system on October 4. On the State Park website you can browse parks and availability and there are photos of each site.

  • Online reservation system: (Note: an extra $8 is added for each booking, plus $5 if you are booking from out-of-state.)
  • Reservation call center: (888) CAMPOUT. An extra $10 is added for each booking, plus $5 if you are booking from out-of-state.

Making a reservation in National Parks and National Forests using recreation.gov

Washington's three national parks have varying reservation policies.

National forests also having varying campground reservation policies. The cheat sheet below is only for car campgrounds, not group sites. If you are not familiar with the forests, it helps to pull out a map or to browse the Recreation.gov reservation map.

All six National Forests in Washington accept reservations for both camping and day use facilities on recreation.gov.

If you're flexible, you can browse layouts of the campgrounds, availability windows and even view individual campsites online at recreation.gov. Note that an extra $9 is added per booking through recreation.gov. An extra $10 is added per booking if you call the reservation center.

Horseshoe Cove Campground.
Tents set up at Horseshoe Cove Campground. Photo by Candice Salvin.

Try your luck: strategies for success at spontaneous camping

If you haven't made a reservation, then first-come, first-served campgrounds and dispersed camping areas are for you. Here are some tips for finding a great spot:

  • If you have the flexibility, the best course of action is to arrive mid-week for campgrounds that do not accept reservations.
  • Go farther away from the city and try out an area with lighter usage.
  • Try dispersed camping on National Forest land, a great way to find a little solitude and practice your Leave No Trace ethics. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water and no fire grates. Typically, dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas or trailheads. (For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities, contact the ranger district offices.)
  • Try your first backpacking trip. Try packing a little lighter and consider converting your camping plans into a short backpack with an overnight. Depending on where you're going, you will probably still need a permit.

A few other resources

Hikers and campers have shared a couple of useful website to glean information about campgrounds and see photos of campsites.

  • The Camping View shows photos of Western Washington campsites.
  • Hipcamp: the Airbnb of camping.
  • Forestcamping.com has good information about amenities at campgrounds across the country, including Washington.
  • We also have found Camping Washington, by Ron C. Judd (Mountaineers Books) a useful book to have when planning camping trips.