237 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"Great option to camp at Lake Chelan about 15 min from Chelan on the quiet south shore."
"a short 3 hours from seattle on beautiful lake chelan is the Lake chelan state park at First Creek. This park is about 10 miles from town and has tent sites that are right on the lake, its amazing."
"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..."
"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."
"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."
"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."
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
GuideThe sites were $24 each with water and pit toilets. I wouldn’t recommend drinking the water. When we emptied our water bottles we noticed it was a little brown. You are right along the creek so that is a plus. There were only around 6-8 sites here so get here early on weekends.
GuideTwo sections. Not sure what it is called. Site 3 right on the water. Level. Stayed on a Monday night. Only a few other campers here. Trees around this pull in made it feel even cozier.
Traveler25’ RV. No problems getting in, road was a little rough. Just be patient, it’s about a mile or so to get back in there. Our weather was dry so no muddy road issues. There were several others camping, with lots of room between camps. Had one camp that looked long term. And they ran their generator well into the evening. And sound does travel a long way across water.
TravelerEasy booking. Nice directions. Mowed and kept up nicely. Toilets was surprisingly clean as well.
ScoutIt was ok don't like the fact that we had to park our vehicle so far away from campsite because it was a bitch to get to camping area
ScoutI’m impressed by the service and park maintenance
GuideFirst time staying at this beautiful State Park. We have a 28ft camper and tow truck and fit perfectly in site 177. It is pretty private because of the shrubbery and has a direct path to the restrooms. This site has no hookups but there is a dump station with potable water where we filled up and we have solar panels for most of our needs. We also have an EV truck so we just hooked up to it and used it for all of our power needs. To conserve water usage we showered daily in the public showers which were some of the nicest showers in a state park I've ever seen. There was no fee to use them. Site 177 has a nice open view of the sky and gets plenty of sunshine. Some of the other sites are much shadier but with starlink we prefer an open site and temps still dipped into the 30s at night so the warm sun was appreciated during the day. The trail is very easy to access at multiple points and is terrific for families and pets. There is also a playground near the restrooms on the north loop were our site was. Firewood is also available through the ranger station. We had no issues with mosquitos as it was still quite cool and windy. Beware the chipmunks though. They get into everything left out. There are also active bear warnings so no food left outside. We saw plenty of their poop on the trail but never encountered one. Leavenworth is about half an hour away if you want to make a day trip or need supplies.
GuideWhen you turn in there is a road to the left with sites along it. If you go straight there is private property. Turning right is a loop back to where you started. Anyways, the sites are large and well spaced. The road is narrow and turning around in a large vehicle would be difficult. It’s right above the river and close to Leavenworth! Worked great for a night in my van. No one else was here. Requires a NW Forest Pass- though no one was checking. There are pull-in and tent sites available. Large rock campfire rings. There is a vault toilet at the beginning to the right of the sign.
ScoutPerfect dispersed area for open camping with plenty of room for tents or campers.
Camping near Lake Chelan offers options between 1,100 feet elevation at the lake shoreline to higher forest sites reaching 4,750 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F during July and August with minimal rainfall. The area features both established state park campgrounds with full amenities and free dispersed camping sites on National Forest land.
Fishing opportunities: Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park provides access to both Lake Chelan and a fast-flowing creek for different fishing experiences. "My first visit was Memorial day weekend in 2017. Dock for boats, fishing area is very limited," notes Sonia B. about Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park.
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Many campers bring their own watercraft, but rentals are available at some campgrounds. "Amazing dock system and access to the lake, great day use area where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards," writes Marie L. about Lake Chelan State Park Campground.
Beach relaxation: Several campgrounds offer dedicated swimming beaches with varying amenities. "The swimming area is nice, with grassy and shoreside areas to lay out. There are also large playfields with courts which people were always welcoming in others to play," reports Kate I. about Lake Chelan State Park.
Direct water access: Sites with immediate lake access are highly prized and book quickly. "If you can get a site on the beach here it's well worth the alarms you have to set on your phone to get them! The sites are smallish and a little weird shaped but you get direct access to the water," shares Marie L. about Lake Chelan State Park.
Scenic views: Chelan Lookout offers stunning panoramas from higher elevations for those willing to drive uphill. "Great campsite with an awesome view. Sandy dirt camping site near the USGS sensor station...Tent right on the ridge. Dirt road was 12 miles up the mountain," explains Luke B.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathrooms and showers at established campgrounds. "The campground was pretty empty btw and wasn't a big deal to switch. Spending the day on this lake was Amazing!!! Warm water they had paddle boards and kayaks to rent by phone so that was a plus," notes Erika D. about Alta Lake State Park.
Weather considerations: Summer conditions can be extremely hot with afternoon winds. "Only draw back is the wind. It can sure make for a tough set up of camp. Sites do have a small wind break," explains Zane G. about Daroga State Park.
Reservation timing: The most desirable sites book months in advance, especially waterfront locations. "Large state park with everything you could possible need for a family camping weekend. Nice sites with lots of shade, showers, clean restrooms, swimming area, docks, beach front sites (reserve 9 months in advance!)," advises Shari G. about Lake Chelan State Park.
Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife can disrupt camping if proper precautions aren't taken. "Watch for the critters they are ruthless so cover ALL your dry goods!" warns Marie L. about Lake Chelan State Park Campground.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. "We wanted to go somewhere for Mothers Day since the weather was going to be beautiful! So with this being our son (who is two) first official camping trip we wanted to make sure there would be stuff to keep him occupied. With that being said he had a blast!" shares Courtney J. about Lake Chelan State Park.
Swimming safety: Consider campgrounds with designated swimming areas for children. "I grew up coming to this campground and I compare all campgrounds to this one. The grounds are immaculately kept, the bathrooms are thoroughly cleaned everyday... There's a boat launch, playground, beach area with swimming area roped off," describes Taylor W. about Beebe Bridge Park.
Activity options: Look for campgrounds with multiple recreation facilities. "Ball fields, tennis and basketball courts. The restrooms that are kept in very clean condition. Swimming and boating right there on the Columbia River," notes Mike D. about Beebe Bridge Park.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on seasonal considerations and amenities. "We got a site next to the river. The grass was well maintained and the entire part was inviting looking. Our site had a small pebbled beach area. It was enjoyable to sit by the river and watch the sunset," shares Gail S. about Beebe Bridge Park.
Water quality concerns: Some campers report issues with water quality at certain campgrounds. "Park like setting. Pull throughs are right on top of each other. Recommend back in. They water every night, you have to pull everything in, every night. Water came out brown each morning without a filter," cautions Craig S. about Lakeshore RV Park.
Seasonal scheduling: RV camping options vary significantly by season. "I am surprised to find how often we camp in the snowy winter months, empty campgrounds are a plus this time of year! Come summer you won't be able to get a reservation in this park, but in January it was wide open!" advises Dawn G. about Lakeshore RV Park.
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.
Keep Exploring
