T
Teresa A.
Legend
LegendWenatchee Confluence State Park Campground
Overnight stay
We spent a pleasant evening in this beautiful park. Facilities are clean and well kept. Sites are spread out with plenty of grassy area between each site.
Tent Camping near Coulee City, WA
1 campground with availability next weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Tent camping near Coulee City, Washington ranges from primitive dispersed sites to more developed tent campgrounds within driving distance. Crab Creek Camp offers a basic dispersed camping experience with primitive tent setups in a cleared field adjacent to water. Several other tent campgrounds like Twin Lakes and Plum Point are within a reasonable drive and provide more developed tent campsites.
Most primitive tent camping areas around Coulee City have minimal amenities. Campers should come prepared with water and supplies as drinking water is generally unavailable. Vault toilets are present at some locations like Twin Lakes and Plum Point, but absent at others including Crab Creek Camp. Sites typically have dirt or gravel pads with limited grading. Several areas allow fires when no bans are in effect, though not all provide fire rings. At Twin Lakes, campers can stay up to 14 days, and a Washington Discover Pass is required for camping.
The tent camping experience varies significantly depending on site location. Areas near Twin Lakes offer fishing opportunities and wildlife viewing, though campers should note the limited shade. The steep, winding road to Twin Lakes campsites makes access challenging for anything but tent camping. A recent review noted, "This is a gorgeous camping area. Once you drive down to the lake/camp sites there is ZERO cell reception." At Crab Creek Camp, expect more basic primitive tent setups with no amenities beyond a clearing. One camper described it as "Nothing here but a clearing in a field. Worked well for passing through to spend the night." During summer months, the region experiences hot days, making water access at locations like Twin Lakes particularly valuable for tent campers.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Coulee City (27)
1. Osbourne Bay Public Access
"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."
"The area requires a Washington Discover Pass which is $11.50 a day at the time of this review. Overall really nice spot. Easy to get to and spectacular views."
2. Million Dollar North
3. Alkali Lake
4. Lake Chelan State Park Campground
"This is a great park and a premium camping location on the popular Lake Chelan. A favorite location for west siders to escape the rain for some guaranteed sunshine in Central Washington."
"We camped in the tent camping side towards the lake (site 89) and had a decent amount of privacy."
5 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $12 - $41 / night
5. Crab Creek Camp
6. Plum Point — Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
"Vault toilet, fire pits and picnic tables for 4 sites bioat dock supports up to 8 boats. Overall nice camp spot."
7. Twin Lakes
"A Washington Discover Pass is required. 14 day max stay. But once you drive down to the lake/camp sites there is ZERO cell reception."
"Great FREE camping near lakes, fishing. Vault toilets. Limited internet at top of road but none at lake side."
8. Antilon Lake Campground
"I had heard from the ranger that things could get wild, but it wasn’t too bad. The dirt road is long with curves, and can get bumpy at times."
"Tons of wildlife, wild flowers, hiking trails and all around good views. If you're looking to avoid the crowds I would advise going in the middle of the week to atleast claim your site!"
9. Odessa Tourist Park
10. Lakeview Ranch
Drive Time
- 1 hr 6 min from Wenatchee, WA
- 1 hr 37 min from Spokane, WA
- 1 hr 56 min from Kennewick, WA
- 2 hrs 1 min from Yakima, WA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Coulee City, WA
8 Photos of 27 Coulee City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Coulee City, WA
421 Reviews of 27 Coulee City Campgrounds
Emily A.
RangerPerch Point Wild Camping Area
Surprisingly great!
I’m really pleasantly surprised by this site. It’s right on the way (closest we’ve ever gotten to stay because we’re a bigger rig). Close to town!!! Has a perfectly nice bathrooms nearby. Beautiful sunsets. Lots of room for spreading out. Not popular for late September. Mosquitos are out at night but not during the day time!
- DDuane H.
GuideSmokiam Campground & Kampers Korner
Nice clean not spectacular
It is basically a gravel lot along soap lake. It has full hookups and costs $52/ Night. Easy to get in. You have to use the QR code box on the board beside the gate. It works easily and you get your gate code by email quickly. The internet is strong but slow. We are using our Verizon with 5g signal. Showers nice and hot.
Dustin W.GuidePerch Point Wild Camping Area
Pretty view, lots of bugs, stinky
Pros: The lake has a really pretty sunset view. Spots are spaced out and the ones by the water have picnic tables. Easy drive in. Not many people here Cons: we visited in mid September, arrived around sunset, and the bugs were BAAAADDD, like real bad by the water. Went up to an inland site and they were still active but not as terrible. You can hear road noise. Also smells like horse manure
Update: some random man came and parked right next to us at 0630 to “walk his dogs”
- Betsy W.Ranger
Quincy Lake
Quiet!!
Pit toilets clean and stocked. Sites spread out. Only one other camper on a Saturday. Diverse landscape with variety of birds Verizon 2 bars on ridge 1 bar in lower sites. No trash or water.
Lisa M.LegendAnkeny #1
Free but nothing special
We camped here for one night. It’s about a mile down a dirt road that is fairly well maintained. Several gravel campsites. Right next to the lake, although you can’t really see it with all the bushes. But there is a gravel boat ramp that you could launch a kayak or a canoe from. There is a vault toilet, but it’s pretty sketchy. Was nice and quiet. Only one other camper here with us.
- Charlie Y.Guide
Coulee City Campground
Crosscountry traveler
Discovered this CG around dusk...We needed a site for the night...Full hook up...kiosk serviced CG....Decent CG clean, safe,secure...We decided to stay a couple of nights in order to visit Coulee Dam....glad we did! Woke up after nite #2 to find a flat tire on my tow vehicle...picked up a large screw somewhere the night before....Tried to plug it myself to no avail......sought out advice from local mechanic...he recommend Les Schwab Tire shop in either Ephrata or Coulee Dam....We drove to Ephrata(incredibly scenic drive)..arrived at Les Schwab tire shop an hour before they closed....very busy place.....I told the salesman I would like to have the tire pulled off the rim and a patch put on from the inside.....He said well as you can see we're very busy but I'll try and get it done before we close...20 minutes later the salesman calls and tells me my tire is repaired and ready to be picked up....He printed out an invoice...COMPLIMENTARY REPAIR....NO CHARGE....I couldn't believe it....The tire wasn't bought at one of their dealerships as I live on the East coast...So I HIGHLY RECOMMEND EPHRATA Les Schwab Tire Shop should you ever be in the neighborhood.........Coulee City municipal campground saved the day.....I was able to extend the visit long enough to make the necessary repairs...Incredibly scenic area in the high desert.... I saw on one review about prickly little tree droppings...yes indeed all around on the ground....but high desert and you can expect such things....A fair amount of dog droppings ...so watch your step. Overall we were pleased with the campground....price was decent
- Lisa M.Legend
Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground
Beautiful Campground
Beautiful state park right on the Columbia river. There are several pull through sites as well as lots of back in sites and dry camping sites. Most of the sites have water, electric and sewer hook ups. On asphalt pads. Showers were clean and lots of hot water. Great hiking and biking trails in the area. Right next to a huge park that has a playground and volleyball and horseshoe pits. Grass everywhere! Did get charged $15 extra for being out of state resident.
Liv M.
TravelerMoses Lake Mud Flats and Sand Dunes
Didn’t stay but nothing wrong
Just wanted to provide a reason why we choose not to stay here since no one has rated this in 4+ years.
We drove through around 11pm on the Sunday after Labor Day weekend. On our way back from a Gorge show to Montana. It just didn’t seem like a good place to try and scope out a site in the pitch black. People clearly were camping but we had to sent up a tent. If we had our van probably would’ve stayed. There’s not a lot of information, but there’s a area where camping isn’t allowed and we seemed to find where it was, but would’ve had to drive around in currently occupied areas and potentially get stuck in sand. Thought about trying to drive down a spur road near where Google said there was a trailhead but we’re also unsure if vehicles were even allowed down that road.
If it wasn’t Labor Day weekend maybe we could’ve driven around more and found a good spot. There were porta potties. People were definitely awake that late but didn’t see anyone driving around and being super crazy.
Guide to Coulee City
Tent camping near Coulee City, Washington typically experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and cold winters that can drop below freezing. The landscape features dramatic basalt formations and coulees carved by Ice Age floods, creating unique camping terrain that often lacks natural shade. Campsites around Coulee City sit at elevations between 1,200-1,600 feet, making for significant temperature drops at night even during summer months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Antilon Lake Campground, campers can catch a variety of fish including brown trout, crappie, and sunfish. One camper reported, "I caught sun fish, crappie, and brown trout. The brown trout I grilled was good, too!"
Wildlife viewing: The remote camping areas around Coulee City provide excellent wildlife spotting. At Twin Lakes, a reviewer notes, "Great FREE camping near lakes, fishing. Vault toilets. Limited internet at top of road but none at lake side."
Water activities: When temperatures rise, cooling off in nearby lakes becomes essential. At Lake Chelan State Park Campground, "Amazing dock system and access to the lake, great day use area where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards."
What campers like
Natural quiet: Many dispersed camping areas around Coulee City offer peaceful settings away from crowds. At Antilon Lake, campers appreciate the "sounds of nature. Spots vary in size and the ones with lake access go first."
Cost-effective camping: Several campgrounds in the region are free or low-cost. Odessa Tourist Park offers "Free Camping for overnight travelers" with "picnic shelter, grills and clean bathrooms."
Lakeside access: Many campers prioritize waterfront sites. At Sterling Point on Lake Roosevelt, "There are picnic tables and fire pits, but no bathrooms or garbage collection. Most times I've been by, it has been vacant."
What you should know
Weather extremes: The Coulee City area experiences significant temperature fluctuations. At Antilon Lake, one camper reported "Aside from a very windy/rainy day and night with 40 mph gusts, the weather was perfect."
Road conditions: Access to some camping areas requires navigating rough roads. At Antilon Lake, "The dirt road is long with curves, and can get bumpy at times." Another camper noted the road was "rough, but pretty much any car can handle it."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites near Coulee City offer minimal amenities. At Plum Point, you'll find "Vault toilet, fire pits and picnic tables for 4 sites" but little else.
Insect activity: Bug problems can be significant in warmer months. One Antilon Lake camper warned, "BRING BUG SPRAY!!! After setting up our tent and bunking down for the night we found probably 100 mosquitoes INSIDE of the tent."
Tips for camping with families
Safety near water: When camping with children at lakeside sites, supervision is essential. At Lake Chelan State Park, one family noted their two-year-old "had a blast! The water was still a little chilly but he was able to dip his toes in the water and get a little wet. There was also a nice playground for him to play on as well."
Food storage: Wildlife can raid camp food if left unsecured. A Lake Chelan State Park camper warns, "Watch for the critters they are ruthless so cover ALL your dry goods!"
Choosing weekdays: For quieter family experiences, avoid weekends when possible. At Antilon Lake, a camper observed it's "Ok on the weekdays" but "on summer weekends, especially the holidays, this is the back in the woods party spot for kids."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Many tent campgrounds near Coulee City have limitations for larger vehicles. At Twin Lakes, a camper advises, "I would not suggest anything over 25 foot length try to go down because you may not get back up. If you're pulling a car or trailer you'll want to be mindful."
Alternative locations: When primary camping areas can't accommodate RVs, nearby options may work better. The Twin Lakes reviewer suggests, "There is a second site about 22 minutes away (coffee pot recreation site) that is more accessible friendly for larger rigs and setups and a boat launch to the lower lake."
Parking considerations: At some sites, RVs must park separately from tent areas. At Lake Chelan State Park, "The water sites you park at the top and carry your things down to the site so be prepared for that."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Coulee City, WA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Coulee City, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Coulee City, WA is Osbourne Bay Public Access with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Coulee City, WA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Coulee City, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Coulee City, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring