Best Tent Camping near Chelan, WA
Tent campsites near Chelan, Washington range from established state park facilities to primitive forest locations along the shores of Lake Chelan. Lake Chelan State Park offers waterfront tent camping with multiple loops designed specifically for tents, including walk-in sites directly on the lakeshore. Antilon Lake Campground provides a more rustic tent camping experience approximately 10 miles north of Chelan in the surrounding mountains, with basic amenities and lakeside sites.
Tent camping areas typically provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly by location. Lake Chelan State Park features clean restrooms with showers, drinking water, and reservable sites, while more primitive options like Mitchell Creek require hiking or boating in and offer only vault toilets. Most tent campsites in the area require permits, with Lake Chelan State Park requiring advance reservations during the peak season from March through November. Many of the dispersed and primitive tent camping locations outside established campgrounds are free but require campers to pack in their own water and pack out all waste.
The tent camping experience around Chelan offers exceptional water access, with several campgrounds situated directly on lakes. Lake Chelan State Park provides beach access, swimming areas, and boat launches, making it popular for water activities. One visitor commented that "The water sites you park at the top and carry your things down to the site," emphasizing the unique walk-in nature of the waterfront tent camping areas. For those seeking more seclusion, the primitive tent campsites at locations like Windy Camp and Mitchell Creek provide quieter alternatives with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Tent campers frequently cite the clean facilities at Lake Chelan State Park as a highlight, with a recent review noting that sites along the waterfront offer "a decent amount of privacy" despite the popularity of the area.
