Top Free Dispersed Camping near Centralia, WA

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Centralia, WA (7)


Recent Dispersed Reviews In Centralia

17 Reviews of 7 Centralia Campgrounds


  • John P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Easy Car Camp

    Relative to other options in Northwest Oregon this was an easy to find, plenty of space place to park the car. My partner and I angled our vehicle to block our tent from the road and slept like rocks.

    Not scenic (though the waterfall that is a short hike away is). My only safety concern is someone taking the corner too fast running into your car.

  • Mary S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed
    Aug. 10, 2024

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Nice view, bumpy drive!

    This spot was great for a night! Super quiet. There was some trash around the site and the road, so I picked up as much as I could. The view was misted over but beautiful anyway- however, in my little Nissan Versa, I struggled on the roads up and down. I eventually kept it around 5-10mph to avoid damaging my car, but I got there just fine and had no issues at the campsite. I've got T-Mobile and had full bars.

  • Sam S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Olympic National Forest Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Olympic National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Olympic National Forest - Dispersed Camping

    We camped near Vance Creek trailhead to do the Olympic Bridges bike ride the next morning. Since this is a national forest, dispersed camping is allowed. We picked the first spot we got to since it was getting kind of late. It wasn't the most ideal spot and I think further down the road has prettier and more remote options, but it made do. There were really huge flies but they did not bite. The only complaint was that there was more car traffic than I wanted very late at night into the early morning. One car even slowed down and yelled at our tent around 2am. We never felt unsafe but it was annoying. A lot of trash was left behind from previous camper. I would suggest finding alternative spots if you're looking for a more enjoyable night but if you are just there for an overnight, it is fine.

  • Mar Z.
    Camper-submitted photo from Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead

    Perfect woodsy rest stop off highway

    Right off the highway. Pit toilet and wooded areas. Can still hear highway from this exact GPS location, so I went further on up the road for a quieter spot. A few trucks did speed by in the middle of the night, but it was a Saturday and July 4th weekend. 5 bars of cell service.

  • I
    Camper-submitted photo from Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed
    May. 24, 2024

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Great views, privacy, and cell service!

    Great cell service! I was able to work remotely (teams calls) for 3 days with no issues. Also beautiful views! I went all the way to the top near the cell towers.

  • Beamus R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead
    Mar. 8, 2024

    Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead

    A spot to sleep

    Overall I had a nice quiet stay. This spot isn't anything too awful special. There are about four pull outs to set up for the night. The bathrooms are located in the trailhead parking lot. They could use cleaning, but they are open 24 hours. As for cell service Verizon was barely there. To sum it up if you need a spot to crash for the night this place will work. Y'all stay safe and be well out there.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
    Nov. 4, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Amazing Hike!!

    This place was beautiful!! Definitely best for car camping as the spots down by the river were pretty wet and muddy this time of year. The waterfall is amazing and only a 15 minute hike down! The only reason this place got lower than a 5 star is because of all the trash near the parking lot. Too beautiful of a place to be used as a dump!! Definitely used as a party spot but aside from this it’s worth the visit!

  • m
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
    Jul. 18, 2023

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Decent place for the night

    A big pavement pull off on the ride of the road. The river is a walk down a very steep hill behind the pullout. No place to pitch a tent, best for car camping. Had some issues with people stopping and playing loud music, seems to be a hangout spot.

  • Jen C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Primative yet beautiful

    I have been coming here for 15 years had great times . Love the lakes snag and western. Stocked each spring with trout. So much fun for the kids to catch and eat them ..

  • Alyson M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed
    Jul. 29, 2022

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Beautiful Views and Great Service

    Snag Lake and Western Lake Campgrounds were both full, so we explored and went to the top of the mountain/hill near the cell towers. It had cement for parking and seemed to be a viewing point so we called it good. Not sure if this is a “legal” campsite but it sure was beautiful.

  • Jeremy B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed
    Jan. 10, 2022

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Great secluded spot in the woods

    Great spot because it's so secluded in the forest. There's basically zero traffic on the dirt road near the campsite. A lot of the trees around seem to be new growth. Great view of the stars at night!

    There are at least 4 other campsite off this road at different points if you keep driving. Some of them are more or less level and more or less muddy. This one was the best, but there are lots of options. All of them are commonly used because there are ashes from fires. There's a moderate amount of trash at most of them.

    Requires a Discovery Pass. I bought a day pass for $12 online since I don't need the annual pass. They tell you to write the date and order number in large print on a piece of paper and put it on your dash. No one came to check my pass though (in January, so it's the off season)

    You have to take a dirt road to reach the campsite, but it is pretty well maintained. The only difficulty I encountered were two points where a few inches of road were a bit washed out. They were small enough that I could manage them alright in a 2WD van that had normal clearance. So most cars could probably manage them.

    There's a small trail behind this spot that that leads to the creek, which is nice. Other than that, you can hike along the dirt roads, but there aren't any actual hiking trails that I found. I saw a porcupine for the first time while wandering one of the side roads! I didn't drive up to Snag Lake.

  • Jeremy B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight
    Jan. 8, 2022

    Beaver Falls Trailhead - Overnight

    Great pullout in the woods

    This is my first wildcamping/boondocking location, but I loved it. It feels like you're right in the middle of the forest! It's a wide dirt pullout with room for 7-10 cars. And although it's right alongside the road, it's not a super busy road like some highway spots, so it felt pretty secluded and quiet. Very few cars at night.

    No signs of any kind indicating "no parking." 1 bar of Verizon LTE.

    The dirt was solid -- I wasn't worried at all about getting stuck in the mud (and I'm here in the middle of winter with tons of recent rain). Plenty of room to turn around with ease.

    And you're right at a hiking trail that takes you to beautiful falls!! What more could you ask for? -- Don't make the mistake I did. The trail all the way on the left side of the parking lot takes you to the falls. The trails in the middle of the lot are super steep and muddy and don't lead to the falls.

    Only downside is it's not perfectly flat. It wasn't too bad though. I just parked with my head pointing uphill when I go to bed, of course.

    There is also another option down the road to the east about 500 feet. It's a paved pullout, but it is smaller so it doesn't have as much space to turnaround.

  • Eric H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dome Camp
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Dome Camp

    Breathless 360° Views

    Mt. Saint Helens has become a 4th of July tradition. In 2019, we hiked the Boundary Trail #1 to the Mount Margaret Wilderness overlooking the Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument. We set out to camp at Dome Camp in between Coldwater Peak and Mount Margaret. Permits are required and limited to 4 per night. At the time, they cost $6ea.

    Upon our arrival after a ginger 6 hour hike in, we were greeted with expansive views in all directions. There are 2 campsites, one low in the saddle and one up top, with a latrine in between the two. We chose the higher ground one to have an incredible view of Mount St. Helens to the South, The Dome to the East, and Mount Whittier to the NE. The site is nearly perfectly flat with soft sand gravel mix. There wasn't any debris to clear and plenty of room for 2 two person tents. We staked down the tents as it tends to get a bit windy, but guests never got above 10mph. No camp fires, ever!

    We arrived around 2pm, just enough time to settle in, set up, eat and then enjoy the landscape's shifting shadows as Sun lowered toward the horizon behind us. The mountains glowed in the summer evening sun as the clouds sunk lower and lower, down into the valleys below us.

    Low cloud fronts built strength at the Whittier Ridge and slowly crept over and down into the valley. The fog rolled up over us and The Dome, creating rivers of clouds flowing down into Spirit Lake and the valley. The clouds came in waves drastically changing the environment every 30mins, giving us something new to see everytime.

    In the morning, there was a herd of mountain goats along the ridge to the south west looking down over us, playfully dancing along the steep walls. Woodpeckers and coyotes could be heard in the distance truly expanding the environment.



Guide to Centralia

Camping near Centralia, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore Mount Saint Helens: The Seaquest State Park Campground is a great launch point for your Mount Saint Helens adventure. One camper mentioned, "It is a great place to launch your Mount Saint Helens exploration, with a Washington State Visitor Center you can walk to from the campground."
  • Enjoy water activities: At Alder Lake Park, you can swim, fish, or kayak. A reviewer noted, "A lovely lake is within a short walk and has a playground, a designated swim area and a large dock."
  • Hiking and trails: Millersylvania State Park Campground offers great hiking trails. One visitor shared, "Hiking and trailing running in the park is wonderful, and with all the loops your efforts can range from 30 min strolls to half-day hikes."

What campers like:

  • Privacy and space: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Elkamp Eastcreek. One happy camper said, "The sites are comfortably private and well thought out for tent, table, and fire ring placements."
  • Clean facilities: Many campers rave about the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A reviewer from Alder Lake Park mentioned, "The bathrooms are very nice. They charge a nominal fee for the showers but they have great water pressure and hot water."
  • Family-friendly atmosphere: Campgrounds like Mossyrock Park are great for families. One parent noted, "Our kiddo really liked the playground and getting ice cream at the concession stand after dinner."

What you should know:

  • Road noise: Some campgrounds, like Rainbow Falls State Park, can be close to busy roads. A camper mentioned, "The only downside is the road noise nearby. People zooming by on the country road."
  • Reservations recommended: Especially during peak seasons, it's wise to book ahead. A visitor at Ike Kinswa State Park said, "For off-season campers, if you’re going on a weekend, we highly recommend making a reservation."
  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Joemma Beach State Park, have basic facilities. A reviewer noted, "Only drop toilets, potable water and dumpsters for amenities though."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose kid-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities. One camper at Mossyrock Park said, "Best camp playground I’ve ever seen!"
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having a cooler with refreshments can make your stay more enjoyable. A family at American Heritage Campground enjoyed the convenience of nearby stores.
  • Plan for quiet time: Some campgrounds can get noisy, so bring games or books for downtime. A camper at Lake Sylvia State Park mentioned, "It is pretty quiet campground."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Ike Kinswa State Park noted, "The sites are very generous in size with LONG paved driveway pads."
  • Look for hookups: If you need electricity, check for sites with hookups. A camper at Millersylvania State Park mentioned, "The electrical hookup sites are out in a more cleared area."
  • Be prepared for leveling issues: Some sites may not be perfectly level. A visitor at Mossyrock Park shared, "The spot was paved with a picnic table and fire ring with a BBQ grate and a view of the lake through the trees. It was not very level though."

Camping near Centralia, Washington, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next outdoor adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Centralia, WA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Centralia, WA is Joemma Beach State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 10 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Centralia, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.