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Best Campgrounds near Chelan, WA

728 Reviews

Camping around Lake Chelan in Washington includes several state parks with lake access for summer visitors. Lake Chelan State Park Campground sits right on the water, which works well if you want to swim or launch kayaks easily. Many campers also head to Alta Lake State Park Campground where the hiking trails are good for walking with kids or taking bikes. If you like fishing, Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park has multiple lakes and streams to try your luck. The campsites throughout the area tend to be decently sized, and most have well-maintained bathrooms. During summer, you'll want bug spray since mosquitoes can get bad, especially in the evenings. Some of the camping areas have basic facilities rather than full amenities, but the lake views and surrounding landscape make the trade-off worthwhile. Chelan camping works for both groups with children and people traveling alone.

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Detours Nearby

Beebe Bridge Park

Beebe Bridge Park

6 min away

Chelan Lookout - NF 8410 Dispersed

Chelan Lookout - NF 8410 Dispersed

1 hr 19 min away

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Best Camping Sites Near Chelan, Washington (231)

    1. Lake Chelan State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Manson, WA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    "Great option to camp at Lake Chelan about 15 min from Chelan on the quiet south shore."

    "We stayed at Lake Chelan State Patk and had a wonderful experience. We rode our bicycles, but admittedly not a lot of options away from the road."

    2. Beebe Bridge Park

    10 Reviews
    Chelan, WA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 661-4551

    "This is a great glampround right by Chelan, I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t right off the highway, we like to go for walks and bike rides with our kids and the location limited us to just the"

    "Walmart up on top of the hill 6 miles in Chelan. They have a dump station here also. Great Place for family and kids..."

    3. Alta Lake State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Pateros, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 923-2473

    "The park itself is really well maintained, and in a beautiful location. The lake and surrounding hills were beautiful."

    "Alta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side). It was away from the main area, parking lots, boat launch or store, so pretty quiet."

    4. Daroga State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Entiat, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 664-6380

    "Typical state park for Washington. Clean and beautiful. A portion of the sights are walk in only, however they do provide wheel barrows to help pack in your gear."

    "Walk in spots for tent camping you have to walk a half mile to camp from your car. Rv spots are nice but close to other ppl."

    5. Antilon Lake Campground

    9 Reviews
    Manson, WA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 682-2576

    "If you're looking to enjoy chelan but avoid the town, antilon is just the place! Extremely peaceful. Tons of wildlife, wild flowers, hiking trails and all around good views."

    "I chose a beautiful spot overlooking the lake and close to a vault toilet. It was clean and well stocked. There was also a dumpster."

    6. Entiat City Park

    11 Reviews
    Entiat, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 784-1500

    $25 - $50 / night

    7. Wapato Lake Campground

    2 Reviews
    Manson, WA
    8 miles
    Website

    $25 - $35 / night

    "I decided to stay here instead of trying to find a spot at Lake Chelan. The campground is on a small lake just a few miles from Lake Chelan. I wished I'd had a kayak or canoe. "

    "With two docks for fishing and floating as well as the adjascent boat launch, you’ll be able to play with all your water toys on Wapato Lake!"

    8. Lakeshore RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Chelan, WA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (509) 682-8023

    9. Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park

    6 Reviews
    Manson, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 902-8844

    "Right next to the creek where all you hear is the creek running past you. It muffled the noise from our camp neighbors up above us which was really nice at night."

    10. Chelan Lookout - NF 8410 Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Manson, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 682-4900

    "Lots of spots between Entiat River Rd 19 and this location. Ground is mostly a fine dirt."

    "Sandy dirt camping site near the USGS sensor station. No fires today due to high fire danger, but there was a pit in the camp. Tent right on the ridge. Dirt road was 12 miles up the mountain."

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Showing results 1-10 of 231 campgrounds

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Recent Camping Photos near Chelan, WA

259 Photos of 231 Chelan Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Chelan, WA

728 Reviews of 231 Chelan Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Jameson Lake

    Peaceful

    Peaceful and quiet, but can imagine right time of year it could get really busy because there’s a lot of space for camping. Minus one because you need to pay/need a pass to stay.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Trail Lake Dispersed

    Trash Everywhere

    We checked out about 5 campsites here and each was covered in trash. One even had a full black garbage bag. Looks like a place for people to go and party. It was a shame because the views were beautiful and I would’ve loved to stay and paddle-board.

  • Beans
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Burke Lake West

    Post-Dave Rave Car Camping

    Coordinates woulda taken us down a dirt road with a lotta potholes so we just pulled a bit off the road and car camped. It was next to some farmland after a Dave Matthews concert @ the Gorge. No amenities where we were, but quite beautiful.

  • Eric O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Forest Road Dispersed Site

    Alright for a quick stop

    Small turn out near lake Wenatchee. Road was not visible on google maps, but it’s a small turn out right at the end of the bridge (if going north).

    Pulled off to the first site I saw and pitched a tent. Heard some other people more down the road, and saw another car pull in later in the night. I was glad to have found a spot at all given that it was really late and Labor Day weekend.

    There was a fire pit and a little bit of trash. Excellent phone service. Road noise was pretty loud but that didn’t bother me. Lots of tiny little flying bugs though. Had to put a light near my car while setting up my tent to keep them from swarming my face.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Nason Creek Campground

    Nice campground

    This campground has 3 loops. I found a FF site 22 that unfortunately is near the road. But no noise at night. There is a creek going through the campground. Nice for a hot day.

  • Mark M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Alta Lake State Park Campground

    Lovely Campground

    Two Loops. Loop off the lake has larger sites with more privacy and view of the cliffs. The loop in the lake has lake views but the sites are on top of each other with no privacy. There are concessions for the kids on a large grass beach area with floats you can use. The view is amazing.

  • Katie S.
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Shady Pines Resort

    This place is a hidden gem!

    Relaxing stay, great panoramic water view and excellent customer service. Our dogs were happy playing in the water and watching the deer, geese and herons. Good WiFi. I really liked the bistro lights in the evening. We drove through the other 2 campgrounds in the area to compare - Shady Pines was definitely the best choice!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Wenatchee River County Park

    Very nice

    We stayed two nights. Everything is very clean and the staff is extremely friendly. Right on the river. They have Ice for sale on site. 50 amp service and sewer and water are all in available.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Wenatchee River County Park

    Beautiful County Park on the Wenatchee River

    Well located with easy drive to Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Cashmere. Float the river, thrift for treasures or just relax. Very clean and well maintained. We'll be back.

Guide to Chelan

Camping near Chelan, Washington, offers a fantastic mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're into hiking, fishing, or just relaxing by the water, there’s something for everyone.

What to do

  • Kayaking and Swimming: Lake Chelan is perfect for water activities. One visitor mentioned, “We did a lot of kayaking early and later in the day and had a wonderful time. The water was calm like glass and so clear” at Lake Chelan State Park Campground.
  • Hiking: There are many trails around the area. A camper noted, “There are paths to take our kids for walks or bike rides” at Alta Lake State Park Campground.
  • Fishing: The lakes and rivers are great for fishing. One review highlighted, “The lakes offer fishing, boating, and swimming” at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the parks. A visitor at Lake Chelan State Park Campground said, “The bathrooms were clean and the staff super friendly and helpful.”
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy spots. One camper at Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground remarked, “The spaces were level, lots of grass and enough trees to provide shade at every spot too.”
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds often have activities for kids. A review from Leavenworth-Pine Village KOA mentioned, “There was a great shallow area for the kids and Dog to swim around.”

What you should know

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A camper at Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground warned, “Nice campground, too many mosquitoes. Campground is close to a swamp infested with mosquitoes.”
  • Tight RV Sites: Some campgrounds have close RV sites. A visitor at Leavenworth-Pine Village KOA noted, “The sites were so tight that we could barely fit the provided picnic table next to our trailer.”
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or markets. A review from Nason Creek Campground mentioned, “No market, but the hosts are great.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly spots. One camper at Lake Wenatchee State Park Campground said, “Great playground for kids and the restrooms were the cleanest of any campground I have been to in years!”
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities lined up. A visitor at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park shared, “We spent time on and on the water every day. Gorgeous location and super friendly staff.”
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks handy can keep kids happy. A camper at Alta Lake State Park Campground enjoyed the “snack shack” available at the park.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review from Daroga State Park Campground mentioned, “The site pads are very narrow which makes them difficult to pull through or back into.”
  • Be Ready for Wind: Some campgrounds can be windy. A visitor at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park noted, “It can sure make for a tough setup of camp.”
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Since some sites lack amenities, it’s good to be prepared. A camper at Lincoln Rock State Park Campground advised, “If you are tent camping, pick a place with plenty of shade.”

Camping near Chelan, Washington, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Just be prepared for the unique quirks of each campground!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the best camping spots in Lake Chelan, WA?

Lake Chelan offers diverse camping options to suit every preference. Lake Chelan State Park Campground stands out with its waterfront sites on the quiet south shore, about 15 minutes from Chelan town. It features excellent water access, boat launching, and a family-oriented atmosphere. For those seeking more remote experiences, Baldy Mountain Dispersed Camping provides incredible sunset valley views along the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route. The area is accessible via NF-8410 road, though high clearance or 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Additional options include Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park and Wapato Lake Campground, which offers a quieter alternative just a few miles from Lake Chelan.

What amenities are available at Lake Chelan campgrounds?

Amenities vary across Lake Chelan's campgrounds. Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park offers clean bathrooms with showers, a nice dock, and a small store right on the lake. The park also provides access to water recreation with boat rentals available nearby. Lake Creek Campground on the Entiat River offers a more secluded experience while still maintaining essential facilities. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide toilets and potable water, while state parks typically offer additional amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and shower facilities. Cellular reception varies by location, with better coverage at developed sites closer to town. For visitors seeking full hookups, several RV parks in the region offer electricity, water, and sewer connections along with additional conveniences.

Can I find RV camping options at Lake Chelan?

Columbia Cove RV Park offers dedicated RV camping with convenient access to a boat launch, making it ideal for anglers. While sites are somewhat narrow and located within a neighborhood setting, the park provides essential hookups for RV campers. For a different experience, Chelan County Expo Center offers RV camping on a large grassy field with moderately level sites. Those seeking state park amenities can find RV-friendly options at Daroga State Park and Beebe Bridge Park, both accommodating larger vehicles with appropriate hookup options. Most developed campgrounds around Lake Chelan can accommodate RVs, though site lengths and hookup availability vary, so reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months.

Are there tent-only camping sites available at Lake Chelan?

Yes, Lake Chelan offers excellent tent camping options. Lake Chelan State Park Campground features spectacular tent sites right on the lake, creating an amazing experience for tent campers. The park has a large swimming area and is located about 10 miles from town. Wapato Lake Campground, just a few miles from Lake Chelan, offers lakefront tent sites on a smaller, quieter lake that's perfect for kayaking and canoeing. For more adventurous campers, the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest surrounding Lake Chelan provides numerous dispersed camping opportunities with minimal facilities but maximum privacy. These areas, including Chumstick Mountain locations, see very little traffic compared to developed sites, offering a true wilderness tent camping experience.

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