Best Dispersed Camping near Arlington, WA

The landscape surrounding Arlington, Washington encompasses diverse camping opportunities within an hour's drive, from waterfront sites to forested retreats. Mountain Loop Highway Dispersed Camp offers free primitive sites along riverside locations, while Hope Island Marine State Park provides a unique boat-in camping experience on a small island in Puget Sound with limited sites and basic amenities. National Forest dispersed camping areas near North Cascades National Park feature numerous informal sites along forest service roads, particularly along Baker Lake Road and the South Fork Sauk River, where campers can find established fire rings and occasional picnic tables.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many dispersed sites requiring travel on unpaved forest roads with potholes and rough terrain. As one camper noted, "Clearance needed around the same amount as the Subaru line of vehicles or greater, 4WD not necessary." Permits are required for most camping areas, though enforcement varies by location. Weather patterns influence accessibility, with summer offering the most reliable conditions but also bringing crowds to popular waterfront locations. Many dispersed sites lack facilities entirely, requiring visitors to pack in water and pack out waste. Campers frequently report issues with improper waste disposal at some locations, emphasizing the importance of Leave No Trace practices.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Baker Lake and along various creeks and rivers. "Loved this free campground on Baker Lake near Mt. Baker! Take the first turn after Horseshoe Cove campground and follow the gravel road all the way to the lake," reported one camper about Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp. Sites vary from small pull-ins accommodating a single vehicle to larger areas suitable for small groups. Weekday visits typically offer better site selection, as one visitor noted: "We were there during the week and could find a free spot easily." Wildlife sightings are common, with raccoons reported at Hope Island and various birds throughout the region. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most sites, contributing to the sense of remoteness that draws many visitors to the area.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Arlington, Washington (18)

    1. Hope Island Marine State Park - Skagit County

    3 Reviews
    La Conner, WA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 675-3767

    "Very different, primitive camping. Small island with only 2 sites that I could find. According to the website there were supposed to be more. 1 vault toilet available, picnic table and fire ring."

    "It's a short trip to the island, which is only accessible by boat. I was worried, with only four camping spots, that we wouldn't get one, but we ended up being the only people on the island."

    2. Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp

    4 Reviews
    Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 436-1155

    "the better spots were once the road turned to gravel, found a spot by the stream, parked the car to protect us. if staying longer i’d say it’s best to keep going to south fork sauk. but it was nice for"

    "Easy to find and peaceful next to the river. No noise from the road."

    4. NF Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Marblemount, WA
    46 miles

    "(CLEARANCE NEEDED - around the same amount as the Subaru line of vehicles or greater - 4wd not necessary)

    Beautiful area, small town nearby where you could likely pick up a few things. I didnt stop."

    "Beautiful spot near the water also has some more secluded spots if wanted. Didn’t see too many people. And had no issues picking a spot to car camp. Definitely recommend."

    5. Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp

    7 Reviews
    Concrete, WA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 854-2553

    "Arrived around 4pm on a Friday and there were a few spots left. Pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables available. No water. Got a spot with lake and Mountain View’s."

    "Loved this free campground on Baker Lake near mt baker, WA! Take the first turn after horseshoe cove campground and follow the gravel road all the way to the lake."

    6. South Fork Sauk River

    2 Reviews
    Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA
    35 miles

    "All had fire rings, and quite a few had spare firewood from previous occupants. Thanks, all!"

    "Half way along the mountain loop highway you encounter numerous spacious tent sites with fire rings and gorgeous river & Mountain View camp grounds."

    8. US Highway 2 - Skykomish Area east to Stevens Pass

    4 Reviews
    Baring, WA
    43 miles

    $50 / night

    "Skylomish is a fairly short drive away from the city but towards the mountains. You have a great view of the water in some places and it’s still pretty peaceful and quiet."

    "Our favorite camp spots are right on the water, and most spots you'll find here deliver - creeks run through the (what seems to be) endless forest, trees provide shade and lovely hammock set ups, and most"

    9. Baker Lake Road Dispersed Campsite

    5 Reviews
    Concrete, WA
    46 miles

    "Stayed at one that was overlooking the lake. Lots of spots with easy lake access.

    Pros: free, good views, easy to get to, plenty of spots (even on Labor Day), fire rings."

    "No facilities! The drive in is easy."

    10. Pine Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Bellingham, WA
    37 miles

    "Cute sites, but you will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Arlington, WA

36 Reviews of 18 Arlington Campgrounds


  • Theresa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2023

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Repulsive

    Every dispersed campground we checked along this road (maybe five or so) was littered with human feces and toilet paper everywhere. We found a literal bucket of human waste beside the river with a soiled pool noodle nearby I can only assume was being used as a toilet seat. Please, if you care about keeping nature wild, carry out your toilet paper and dig a cathole or use the outhouse in the campground. If you don’t know what a cathole is, you should probably should not being using dispersed camping and try the campground down the road. We ended up staying at the campground because we couldn’t find dispersed camping where there wasn’t poop and had a positive experience there. Leave no trace!! 

    https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm

  • Sara J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2024

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Beckler creek riverside

    Nice large campsite near the water. There were many campsites along the road. I had to clean up a lot of trash when it got here. Please pack out your own trash and follow other leave no trace rules. The campfire was awesome

  • Eric O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Baker Lake Road Dispersed Campsite

    All things considered, good spot

    Many pull offs along the gravel road. Stayed at one that was overlooking the lake. Lots of spots with easy lake access.

    Pros: free, good views, easy to get to, plenty of spots (even on Labor Day), fire rings.

    Cons: some spots have lots of trash (please remember leave no trace), most spots are along the gravel road so there are cars passing by every once in a while and sometimes they go by quite quickly kicking up lots of dust.

    All things considered, pretty good spot and would stay again.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2024

    Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp

    Quiet camp with great views

    Arrived around 4pm on a Friday and there were a few spots left. Pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables available. No water. Got a spot with lake and Mountain View’s. Very small, quiet, stunning campground. Felt safe. We have a rooftop tent, not many sites with large enough spots to park trailers or vans. Mostly tent sites that are walk in. Mostly open, some sites in the forest. Had one bar of Verizon service. Would stay again!

  • T
    Oct. 27, 2021

    Dispersed Camping Beckler Creek

    Dispersed camping along Beckler Creek

    Found this sweet spot a little bit ago. Various dispersed camping spots along the road and up the forest service roads. There are some really sweet spots along the road with water access.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2023

    Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp

    Great free spot on Baker Lake

    Loved this free campground on Baker Lake near mt baker, WA! Take the first turn after horseshoe cove campground and follow the gravel road all the way to the lake.

    Lots of spots with tables and fire rings, some spots have nice tent pads. Some sites are marked and some are not. There’s a single pit toilet and no running water. Seems like a pretty popular spot but we were able to get a site mid week at the end of August.

    Parking for some of the spots is not the best but we were still able to car camp comfortably. Will definitely be staying here again!

  • Russel M.
    Mar. 31, 2023

    NF Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful

    No rain while I was there but I dont imagine it would get too muddy/sloppy. The road does have minimal gravel lining it. (CLEARANCE NEEDED - around the same amount as the Subaru line of vehicles or greater - 4wd not necessary)

    Beautiful area, small town nearby where you could likely pick up a few things. I didnt stop. Gas station nearby.

    There is a fast flowing stream with crystal clear water. Quiet mountain/forest area. No sounds of civilization. Multiple turnouts/improvised camping spaces. Keep driving till you find one you like. Easy to access the creak bank at any point along the road by walking through a little brush.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2024

    NF Dispersed Camping

    Bacon Point

    Beautiful spot near the water also has some more secluded spots if wanted. Didn’t see too many people. And had no issues picking a spot to car camp. Definitely recommend.


Guide to Arlington

Dispersed camping near Arlington, Washington provides access to numerous secluded sites along forest service roads and waterways. Most primitive camping areas require a Northwest Forest Pass, which costs $30 annually or $5 for a day pass. Sites along Baker Lake Road and Mountain Loop Highway typically open from late May through October, depending on snow conditions and road maintenance schedules.

What to do

Hiking near camp: Several dispersed sites offer direct access to trails without needing to relocate. At Pine Lake Campground, visitors can expect frequent trail users. "Cute sites, but you will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site," notes one camper.

Kayaking to isolated spots: Water access camping provides solitude unavailable at roadside locations. The Hope Island Marine State Park requires boat transportation. "This campground is on a tiny island in the Puget Sound. Rent kayaks (or bring your own) at Boston Harbor in Olympia. It's a short trip to the island, which is only accessible by boat," explains one visitor who found unexpected privacy.

Berry picking: Summer months bring abundant wild berries to the forests around Arlington. Areas east of Skykomish provide "Fantastic berry picking & great views (when there is no smoke)," according to campers familiar with the region.

What campers like

River access: Campsites near flowing water remain the most sought-after locations. At South Fork Sauk River, visitors find "spacious tent sites with fire rings and gorgeous river & Mountain View camp grounds" midway along the Mountain Loop Highway.

Lake views: Waterfront locations on Baker Lake provide scenic vistas without fees. One camper at Baker Lake Road Dispersed Campsite advises, "If you think all the spots are taken, keep driving. So many spots along Baker Lake Road."

Privacy between sites: Despite popularity, many areas maintain separation between camping spots. The Suiattle Riverside Camp features sites where natural barriers create seclusion. One visitor describes the location as "magical" with "a stream rushing over rocks. Ferns and big pines in the background."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Many access roads deteriorate after turning to gravel. On NF Dispersed Camping roads, expect challenges: "Probably some good camping out this way, but we didn't get more than a mile in our promaster before turning around. Camped on a wider part of the road."

Summer crowds: Peak season brings competition for prime sites. At Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp, one camper reported, "There are only a couple spots, you have to go down a long gravel road with lots of huge potholes and most of the spots are away from the water."

Wildlife encounters: Prepare for animal visitors at campsites. At Hope Island, "there were raccoons on the island with us but other than that we had the place to ourselves," requiring proper food storage.

Tips for camping with families

Look for established sites: Locations with existing fire rings provide safer environments for children. Along Mountain Loop Highway, "Meandering sites along the river with good logs for benches and fire rings made from forest rocks. Heavily forested and beautiful."

Check water access safety: Not all waterfront sites have gentle shorelines. Some Baker Lake dispersed sites feature steep drop-offs while others offer gradual entry points suitable for younger swimmers.

Consider noise factors: Sites near roads may experience disturbances. As one camper at Mountain Loop Hway Dispersed Camp noted, "The directions had me believing that the dispersed camping was just various pull offs on the highway loop and that's where I stayed. It was loud and it felt like the traffic was coming through my tent at times."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations are real: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller vehicles only. At Lower Sandy Dispersed Camp, visitors observe there are "not many sites with large enough spots to park trailers or vans. Mostly tent sites that are walk in."

Dust management: Unpaved roads create significant dust issues. Near the South Sauk, campers note that "The Mountain Loop Highway is gravel and dirt through here, and many people travel too fast on it and kick up a lot of dust. This gets everywhere, so be careful of allergies."

Look for pull-offs with level ground: Many sites require creativity for parking. At Baker Lake Road dispersed sites, "You will need a tent if you want to sleep by the water if not you'll have to sleep in a pull off."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Arlington, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Arlington, WA is Hope Island Marine State Park - Skagit County with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Arlington, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Arlington, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.