322 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The camping areas around Cle Elum in Washington range from developed sites to more basic options. Denny Creek Campground works well for both tent and RV campers, with trails nearby that take you to Franklin Falls. Whispering Pines RV Campground sits just a mile from town and has big sites with all the hookups you'd need. Some camping spots give you more space from neighbors than others. Salmon La Sac is good for fishing since it's right by water. You might hear traffic at Lake Easton State Park Campground because it's close to busy roads. You'll want to book ahead, particularly in summer when spots fill fast. Not every campground has showers or flush toilets, so it's worth checking what's available before you go. Late spring and early fall typically have the best weather for camping in this area. Cle Elum offers diverse camping options that work for families, solo trips, and everything in between, with many campsites providing access to hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
"While at Lake Easton, I rode bikes with my six year-old, hiked, did all of the other regular camp activities, and ventured out to nearby Cle Elum and Roslyn for day trips."
"Right next to I-90, easy on and off. Though the highway sounds are a constant. Periodic trains from the other side of the lake (though I find this a positive). Full hook up spots."
from $12 - $70 / night
Check Availability"There are walk in (50 to 100 feet walk) sites as well as horse camping sites. Pit toilets are clean, don’t smell, and have TP. Road in campground is in good condition with pretty new gravel."
"I was able to come stay here in the fall, and hike Lake Ingalls. It was absolutely gorgeous! Hands down the best decision my friends and I have made. The campground was actually somewhat busy."
"There is a nice lake in front of our site. Paths that go to the Yakima river or along side it was nice. Just on the other side of the freeway is the town of Cle Elum."
"Easy to pop into Cle Elem or surrounding area to explore. I needed an Eastern Washington fix so I really enjoyed it."
from $38 - $270 / night
Check Availability"Pros Close to Seattle about 1.5 hr - 2 hrs away depending on traffic.
- It has numbers of walk-in sites with great access to the lake.
- Lots of loop for kids to ride bike and explore.
- Great"
"The Camp sides had good space separating them. oh and the bathrooms didn’t smell. I loved staying here."
from $27 - $158 / night
Check Availability"You will not hear the hum of freeway noise or cars swooshing by at high speed, as this camper’s haven is at the end of a paved road and sits smack in the middle of the Cle Elum and Cooper rivers."
"Fishing is available from two rivers the Cooper and the Cle-Elum both within walking distance from the site. I decided to go car camping last week in my SUV."
from $27 - $54 / night
Check Availability"**Ranger Review: Camp Fare Premium Meals at LT Murray Wildlife Area ** Camping Review: The LT Murray Wildlife Area is located in Thorp, between Cle Elum and Ellensburg."
"Murray Wildlife Area is a great option if you’re looking for a quiet, spacious spot surrounded by nature. Entrance is through a large metal gate—be sure to close it behind you."
"We made it fine in our 26ft class c, but the big sharp-edged rocks were concerning to drive over. And when we left we found a giant rock wedged between the two back tires (the dually tires)."
"The entrance is a little tricky, and the “road”s are a little rough when you’re down here."
"Right off of highway. Restroom with fresh water access. No electricity, no on site manager/ranger. No cell reception for t-mobile customers."
"Last minute we decided to take the camper van out of the smoke in Western Washington. We gave this campsite a shot after seeing it on The Dyrt and SUCCESS!"
"The F.C.C. dispersed camping zone can be found by crossing the first bridge off the Salmon la Sac Road, located between the Cle Elum River and Red Mountain Campgrounds. "
"Tons of options just off the beaten path. This is another gateway location which holds entrances to dozens of roads each with their own selection of dry camp sites."
"This is right off I90 very convenient but close to freeway so some road noise. I90 is the main east west freeway in Washington. It is right on the river and there's a pool."
"Convenient location, close to town. Nice amount of activities but a busy location. If you’re looking for isolation this isn’t the place but kids had a great time."
GuideIt was MAGICAL- mushrooms, fall leaves, and moss everywhere. Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig. But if you have a smaller rig there’s tons of places off of road 73 for dispersed camping. Bumpy road to get there but keep on driving and you’ll find places with even firepits.
GuideIt's really a great little gated park that's fairly affordable. Unfortunately, it's right off the highway and on the other side of the river are the train tracks. Both are quite active. Otherwise this is a 5-star. Office folks were friendly and helpful.
LegendWe spent a pleasant evening in this beautiful park. Facilities are clean and well kept. Sites are spread out with plenty of grassy area between each site.
ScoutDriving here from Graham washington, I passed so many camp spots I was shook lol. Amazing camp site for free, I believe u need discover pass. the water is beautiful not many people here so many spots by the water Amazing, where i am u definitely need high clearance to even be close to water, Unless u tent camp away from your vehicle which is not far there are a lot of spots everywhere. The water moves fast and your up high bring your hammocks.
ScoutMy wife and I came to this campground recently (9/26 - 9/29) and overall it was a great trip. The staff (Rangers) were so friendly and helpful. The site we had for our 20 ft trailer was a pull-through site which was quite level. It was pretty shady and use of our solar panel was minimal. The proximity to Paradise was great. It was incredibly crowded at Paradise despite being so late in September. The campground filled up to full within a couple of hours of our arrival around 2:30 pm. Bathrooms are very basic (flush toilets and only cold water sinks). There was a water bottle filler right outside the bathroom and tasted great. There is no option to fill trailer tanks with water. Their water filler and dump station has been out of order for a couple of years per the ranger, so I don't expect it to be fixed anytime soon. We were told that there was a water filling station in Alder Lake Park but it is a ways from this campground. We brought our own water so didn't need it. Our site itself was great but there is a reasonable amount of debris around other sites. Overall, we would come again.
GuideIts not 5 stars because of its beauty, its because its buried deep in the woods but still on a drivable road, and its free. On a busy weekend I only saw one other sprinter van on the entire road. There are lots of areas to pull off along the road and a few good spots just away from the road if you only have a tent or 4x4 vehicle. This spot has lots of space to turn your rig around but I don't know about farther down the road. No cell service but this spot also had enough clearing to be able to set up our starlink and get decent enough service with that. The road has some pretty big potholes so make sure you've got enough clearance on your rig. I'd say most would be just fine.
RangerDecent little camp ground, designated spots at the top an you can drive down to the lake. Walking around you did see a fair amount of trash N no cell signals.
RangerNot far off main road, and gravel road not bad at all. Absolutely no cell coverage, a few designated spots.
ScoutLots of camper trailers, basically a cow field. If you want a private spot you have to traverse a sketchy road that if you don't have awd and decent tires and ground clearance you'll be screwed.
Camping spots near Cle Elum, Washington range from primitive forest campsites to family-friendly lakeside areas. The region sits at elevations between 1,900-2,500 feet where summer temperatures typically reach the 80s during day and drop to the 40s at night. Water levels at area lakes can drop significantly by late summer, creating different shoreline conditions than early season campers experience.
Hiking to alpine lakes: From Kachess Campground, trails lead to multiple mountain lakes. "There is plenty of mosquitoes so be prepared with your repellents... The lake is walking distance and provides plenty of space for everyone to splish and splash around although the water is quite cold but wonderful," reports Kimmy G.
River access for wading: The rocky shores at Red Mountain Campground create natural swimming areas. "The rocky river shore gave great places to swim and jump in the river when it got hot," writes Stephanie R., who enjoyed the river frontage. Jacob M. adds, "We were right next to the river. Helped drown out any cars on the highway at night."
Dirt biking and ATV trails: Several forest roads around camping areas permit off-road vehicles. "If you are a mountain biker, this spot will not disappoint with the trail system right out of camp," explains Silas about Teanaway Campground. Areas near Kachess Lake also attract riders, though with caution as "there is NO legal driving in the lake bed, even when the water is low."
Privacy between sites: Teanaway Campground offers natural separation between campsites. "Sites are separated by picnic tables and fire rings. Not much underbrush around, but the numerous pines give ample shade in the afternoon and evening," observes Daniel. Callie C. notes, "By Sunday evening 90% of the crowd had left and it was heavenly!"
Natural wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer chances to spot wildlife in their natural habitat. At Salmon La Sac, Cindy R. reports, "You will not hear the hum of freeway noise or cars swooshing by at high speed, as this camper's haven is at the end of a paved road and sits smack in the middle of the Cle Elum and Cooper rivers." Pete B. describes his night at Kachess: "In the middle of the night, we woke to animal(s) walking outside our tent. I suspect it was a deer or two."
Cell service availability: Most campers report surprisingly good connectivity at wilderness sites. At L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, one camper found "ATT and Verizon were both 3 strong bars." At Kachess Lake Lakebed, Jonathan T. confirms, "We have full bars on T-Mobile, and have no neighbors with 300 feet or so."
Bear activity: Bears visit several campgrounds in the area. At Kachess Campground, campers report, "On our first night, a bear passed by one of our neighbor's site so make sure you clean up after yourselves and don't leave food out at night."
Limited amenities at primitive sites: L.T. Murray Wildlife Area requires full self-sufficiency. "There is nothing out here. You must bring everything you need. Food, water, TP, lights," advises Shay F. Similarly, Kachess Lake Lakebed has "NO water or trash but some vault toilets."
Road conditions: Access to dispersed camping can be challenging. Robert C. describes L.T. Murray Wildlife Area: "Easy access from I-90. I camped at a location 2.1 miles from the gate up the extremely bumpy gravel road." At Kachess Lake Lakebed, Laura M. cautions, "We made it fine in our 26ft class c, but the big sharp-edged rocks were concerning to drive over."
Look for designated swimming areas: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming spots for safer water play. "Lake Kachess Campground is a great modern family campground... The Lake is walking distance and provides plenty of space for everyone to splish and splash around," reports Kimmy G.
Consider timing for quieter experience: Whispering Pines RV Campground offers family amenities with moderate crowds. "Lots of play area for kids, lake looked big, same with dog park. Then I took a walk around on the path, and followed the river," notes Randy G. Nick C. emphasizes, "This campground was one of the nicest we have every been to... very clean, the spots were spacious and tons of things for the kids to do."
Check for recreational options: Many sites have more than just camping. Christopher F. describes Lake Kachess: "We had a lot of fun riding our bikes throughout the campground... We could launch our paddle board from right there." Trevor M. found variety at Lake Easton, noting "Small playground with a basketball court by the bathrooms. Lovely river walk trail follows the Yakima River."
Look for pull-through sites: Some campgrounds offer easier access for large rigs. Sydney D. at Red Mountain notes, "This location was an accident to find but great for larger vehicles that have a hard time back in to site. There are 3 spots for pull in and out."
Distance between hookups and dump stations: Many campgrounds have limited hookup options. Whispering Pines stands out with Julie F. reporting, "Lots of sites, very well laid out and easily maneuverable/accessible... The sites are level and fairly well spaced... Daily garbage pick up from your site which is nice."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp at Lake Cle Elum and what amenities are available?
Yes, you can camp at Lake Cle Elum with several options available. Wish Poosh Campground offers wooded, private sites ideal for shoulder season camping with excellent lake access via a boat launch and picnic areas that become accessible when lake levels drop. Another option is Salmon la Sac Road Dispersed Camping, where you can find free sites near the lake. Amenities are basic at most Lake Cle Elum campgrounds, typically including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Water access for swimming and fishing is abundant, though drinking water is limited. Sites fill up quickly during summer weekends, so arriving early is recommended, especially for dispersed areas.
Where are the best campgrounds near Cle Elum, WA?
Salmon La Sac is a premier campground near Cle Elum, offering spacious, private sites nestled in old-growth forests within two hours of Seattle. Located at the confluence of the Cle Elum and Cooper rivers, it provides excellent fishing opportunities and a remote alpine feel despite its accessibility. For those seeking dispersed options, French Cabin Creek Recreation Area is highly rated and typically less than two hours from Seattle. Other notable campgrounds include Owhi Campground with excellent fishing but limited privacy between sites, and Red Mountain Campground along a river with crawdad hunting opportunities and bathroom facilities with fresh water access.
What are the best seasons for camping in Cle Elum, WA?
The best camping season in Cle Elum runs from late spring through early fall (May-September), with summer offering ideal conditions. Icewater Creek Campground is a good option when weather is poor on Washington's west side, making Cle Elum a popular fair-weather escape. Spring and fall (shoulder seasons) offer fewer crowds and pleasant conditions at campgrounds like Owhi Campground, though nights can be chilly. Summer weekends see heavy visitation, with campgrounds filling quickly. Burn bans are typically in effect during peak summer months. Winter camping is limited due to snow and facility closures, with most campgrounds shutting down from late October through April.
What state parks offer camping options near Cle Elum?
Lake Easton State Park Campground is the primary state park offering camping near Cle Elum, located just a short drive away. This park features developed campsites with amenities including flush toilets, showers, and water hookups for both tent and RV camping. For those seeking alternatives to state parks, the Cle Elum area offers numerous National Forest campgrounds like Red Mountain Campground, which provides basic amenities including restrooms with fresh water access. The area also features extensive dispersed camping options on Forest Service land, particularly along Salmon La Sac Road. Most state and national forest campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically closing during winter months.
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