Centralia, Washington sits in a valley between the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges at approximately 200 feet elevation. The area receives about 46 inches of annual rainfall with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping season from June through September. Many camping locations near Centralia offer river access with sites positioned along the Chehalis, Skookumchuck, and Newaukum Rivers.
What to do
Fishing in stocked ponds: Harmony Lakeside RV Park features two fishing ponds where campers can catch a variety of species without leaving the grounds. "Our family had a great time at Harmony Lake. The staff was helpful and the prices are reasonable. The park is clean and most of the sites have large trees around them," noted one visitor at Harmony Lakeside RV Park.
Disc golf course: Toutle River RV Resort maintains a complete disc golf course perfect for beginners and experienced players. "There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool, a recreation hall with nice paintings on the outside and showers and bathrooms nearby," according to one camper's experience.
Mt. St. Helens day trips: Several RV sites near Centralia, Washington provide convenient access to Mt. St. Helens. "We stayed two nights from September 13th through September 16th, 2019... My wife and I enjoyed the campground, we will be back the next time we want to hike at Mt. St. Helens," wrote a camper from Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground.
What campers like
Swimming pools for summer heat: Multiple camping areas near Centralia feature swimming pools that remain popular during hot summer months. "This campgrounds has an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, on 6ft, and one wading pool. Also has a large spa," reported a visitor to Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground.
Waterfront sites: Silver Cove RV Resort offers sites directly on Silver Lake. "The sites I've stayed in are huge. Room for a fifth wheel (awning and slide out), two vehicles and two large dogs without feeling packed in at all. The sites almost all back up to the water and fishing is pretty easy here. Mostly crappie and bass though I've seen a couple trout or perch pulled out," according to one regular at Silver Cove RV Resort.
Family activities: Many campgrounds in the region organize structured activities for families. "Kids are helping review campgrounds we visited this summer. They loved that there was scavenger hunts for pigs in morning, tractor rides in afternoon, face painting, slushees, movie in lodge, crafts, slushees, a great store, basketball court, pools and overall, the experience was phenomenal! It's kept clean and we loved it," shared a family who stayed at Thousand Trails Chehalis.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Some campgrounds in the area operate only during warmer months. Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground runs from April through September, limiting winter camping options near Centralia. "Very excited to go back when they reopen!" noted one camper.
Site leveling challenges: Some RV sites require significant leveling equipment. "HORRIFICALLY unlevel to the worst degree, front back side to side, every space is HORRID. If you have auto levelers, you'll have an easier time but still rough," cautioned an RV camper at Paradise RV Campground.
Cell service variations: Mobile connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. "We had spotty cell service with Verizon though we were directly off I5 corridor," reported a camper at Toutle River RV Resort, information particularly important for remote workers.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Choose campgrounds with dedicated children's facilities. "This is the kind of RV park that I like. Nice spots surrounded by grass, decent space between sites (not much, but enough), and most importantly, lots and lots of things for kiddos to explore. There's random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc. Plenty to keep them busy and felt completely comfortable letting them run around," shared one parent who stayed at Toutle River RV Resort.
Tent camping options: Most RV parks also accommodate tent camping. "It has a lot going on. There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool, a recreation hall with nice paintings on the outside and showers and bathrooms nearby," noted a grandparent camping at Toutle River RV Resort.
Check noise levels: Highway and train noise affect some camping locations. "Was hard for us to get a good nights sleep in between a highway and train tracks. Spots were fine, bathrooms good, pool good (when not too busy)," cautioned one family at Toutle River RV Resort.
Tips from RVers
Power stability: Some RV sites near Centralia, Washington experience electrical issues during peak usage times. "The worst part for us, however, was that the power was really variable. Sometimes it would spike to 130 volts and then drop suddenly to 110. Luckily we have a great EMS and it alerted us to the problem. We ended up running on our battery and generator for the last two days," reported an RVer at Thousand Trails Chehalis.
Site orientation: Consider utility placement when booking specific sites. "We spent a number of minutes testing pads that were are the best poor, for power. A number of the sites did not have power and were not marked as such. Additionally there is a water issue that asks you to boil water," cautioned a visitor to Paradise RV Campground.
Budget options: For more affordable camping, consider the Washington Land Yacht Harbor. "This is a great and affordable place to stay while in town. Staff is friendly. RV sites offer full hookups. WiFi is not the best but does work," shared an RVer who frequently stays there.
