Map showing campground location near Cougar, Washington

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Cougar RV Park and Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Sitting at the edge of the small town of Cougar, Washington, this private campground functions as a practical staging point for the south side of Mount St. Helens, with Ape Cave, Trail of Two Forests, and Lava Canyon all reachable within roughly ten minutes by car. The mix of tent sites, full-hookup RV pads (up to 40 feet), and cabins draws a range of campers, though the property also houses permanent RV residents whose setups can affect the overall feel.

Site quality varies noticeably depending on location within the park. Perimeter tent sites tend to offer more space and some privacy, while full-hookup RV spots sit close together, particularly the pull-through pads. Road noise is a real factor: the campground borders a busy road, and some sites are close enough to traffic that it registers throughout the day. Quiet hours are posted after 10 p.m., though reviewers note enforcement has been inconsistent. Shade is limited on the tent side, with minimal grass cover reported.

Bathroom facilities have been a work in progress since new ownership took over. Two self-contained shower and toilet units, supplemented by portable toilets, serve the campground. Coin-operated showers require quarters, and the card reader has been reported as non-functional. Two mini-marts and a gas station sit within a short walk. Campers wanting a different setup nearby might consider Lone Fir Resort or the tent-only Cougar Park & Campground about a mile up the road.

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Map & DirectionsCougar RV Park and Campground is located in Washington near Cougar

RV Park

Address

16730 Lewis River Road
Cougar, WA 98616

Coordinates

46.04911346 N
122.30662082 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

55 min from Longview, WA
58 min from Portland, OR
1 hr 45 min from Olympia, WA
1 hr 47 min from Salem, OR

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Reviews5 Camper Reviews - Cougar RV Park and Campground

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1 Star

3.5

out of 5

5 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the exceptionally friendly hosts and convenient location near Mt. St. Helens attractions. However, some feedback indicated concerns about limited bathroom facilities, noise levels, and crowded RV sites, though tent sites offer more space.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Mike

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 21, 2021

Great in a pinch

We booked a site here as a last resort, because everything else in the area was full. It's an interesting mix of campground and kind of a trailer park, with the permanent RV residents. They tend to junk up the place a little bit. The campground is next to the busy road, so you get some loud traffic from time to time. The bathrooms are ok. There are 2 large rooms with showers, and they had just installed 2 new rooms, with toilets and sinks only. We ended up with a great site towards the back and on the side. It was quiet and peaceful. Although we enjoyed our stay, if the place was full, I can see it being a very different experience. We couldn't get wifi at our site, but we didn't care. The cabins looked fun. The owners are very nice.

Site4

Month of VisitAugust

(7) View All

joAnn

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 25, 2021

Tent sites are large, minimal grass and shade.

The tent sites are very large however they have minimal grass or shade. RV sites are very close to each other. There are two bathrooms of one toilet, shower area combined. The shower is coin operated so unless you plan ahead with quarters you are out of luck. It has a card option but does not work. The bathrooms are also not clean. There are 2 portable toilets that were very clean. They advertise quiet hours after 10 pm but it is not in-forced. There was a group partying until 1am next to us. Neighboring property was also blasting music into the morning. There are many other options in the area I would look into one of those.

Sitetent

Month of VisitJuly

Phoebe B.

Guide

Reviewed May. 22, 2021

Easy, comfortable, pretty quiet campground near St Helens south side

We are a professional late 50s / early 60s couple new to the van life, and not RV-oriented, so we are a little careful about choosing sites with adequate peacefulness, space and privacy. Cougar is a relaxed campground worthwhile as a base camp for the south side of Mt St Helens and its great lava tubes and forest hikes, so we ended up staying a second night as it had good hot showers, potable water, shade and friendly hosts. Although our rented Cabana van of 19'8" had a toilet and shower onboard, we didn't need to use them. This campground has available wood and sufficient space, and it's a 5-minute walk to a general store, gas station and restaurant, so well positioned.

Noelle

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 30, 2020

Great Camp Hosts!

We stayed here at the end of August with plans to do lots of hiking in the mount st helen area. This is a great spot to drop your RV and head up to the mountain! Full hookup spots did seem close together and it was a tad busy being summer and all! We happened to be tucked away in a corner closer to the road (which didnt bother us at all). No real bathrooms close to us, just portables which were very clean so again no problem for us! Will come back next summer for sure, two mini marts/gas stations close by too. Camp hosts were super nice people!

Celina M.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2018

Good Base Camp for Mt St Helens

This campground is under very new ownership and the owners are some of the friendliest we’ve met to date. They are also in the process of renovating the property to make improvements. So as I review this it is with the anticipation of all the great changes to come.

Most of the tent sites had a decent amount of space, and the perimeter ones were a little more private too. We did see some campers set up on the roadside—not sure if they knew what they were getting at the time (I wouldn’t want to be right on the road).

There were some decently sized RV spots, but the pull through spaces looked a little crowded.

There are only two bathrooms, each having a toilet and shower in a self contained unit. Naturally, if two people are showering this means that all flush toilets are also occupied. There are two porta-potties to accommodate for this. The owners did keep the bathrooms as clean as possible—but the bathrooms could use some renovating themselves and have a musty smell. There is laundry on site. It’s not the quietest campground we’ve stayed at (not the noisiest either) and it might benefits from clearly defined quiet hours.

Two blocks away there are two gas stations with mini-markets.

Only a few minutes away are the Cougar and Beaver recreation areas in the Lewis River. It only takes 10 minutes to get to Mt St Helens Ape Cave, Trail of Two Forests and Lava Canyon area.

(22) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there photos available of Cougar RV Park & Campground?

Photos of Cougar RV Park & Campground are available online. For the most current visual representation of the campground, check the official campground website or camping platforms like The Dyrt where visitors upload recent images. These photos can help you view the tent sites, RV spaces, facilities, and surrounding area before your visit.

What do reviews say about Cougar RV Park & Campground?

Cougar RV Park & Campground offers a mixed experience for visitors. The owners are notably friendly and have been making ongoing renovations to improve the property. While the RV sites tend to be quite close together and the campground can get busy during summer months, it serves well as a base camp for exploring Mount St. Helens. Some noise from the adjacent road can be heard. The campground has an interesting mix of short-term campers and some permanent RV residents. The tent sites are spacious but offer minimal shade or grass coverage.

What camping options are available at Cougar RV Park & Campground?

The campground offers both RV and tent camping options. RV sites include full hookups, though they are positioned fairly close to each other. The tent sites are notably large and spacious, providing good separation, though they have minimal shade and grass coverage. The facility features communal bathrooms with toilets and coin-operated showers. The campground accommodates both overnight visitors and appears to have some permanent RV residents as well.

Where is Cougar RV Park & Campground located?

Cougar RV Park & Campground is strategically located near Mount St. Helens in Washington state. It serves as an excellent base camp specifically for accessing the south side of the mountain and its surrounding hiking trails. The campground sits adjacent to a road that provides convenient access to Mount St. Helens recreational areas. Its location makes it particularly valuable for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the volcanic landscapes and trails in the area.

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