Best Tent Camping near Coulee Dam, WA

We stayed a couple of nights in the cabins in this campground when they were brand new in 2013. Personally, I'd be wary of tent camping in the summer here because it gets very hot. Returning from a day hiking on the rock and chilling in the AC of the cabin was priceless.

The location is great, you can walk right from the camp area up the mesa which has incredible views, or go swimming in the lake or any other water based activity. It's a short drive to town where there's a grocery store and the Grand Coulee Dam, which is a must-see if you're in the area. At night they do laser light shows, which was a fun side trip.

The facilities are great, water tap nearby, picnic table and fire pit with grill at the site, and clean restrooms with showers (that you pay for). The bathrooms get pretty sauna like in the heat but are survivable. We had a blast trying our hardest to grill things on the fire pit, though we did break down and use the microwave in our cabin at least once... The minifridge in the cabin was also nice for that. Glamping at it's finest!

We went here during the summertime and the cabins were just awesome they have a little AC unit in there which made it great to relax and after we had gotten home from hiking around in the rocks. You could also camp in a tent however with the quality of the cabins the price was well worth it especially during the summer time when it was sweltering hot highly recommended

Amazing geology of Volcanic and Glacial flooding surrounds this very large and fun campground.

Lots of tent sites with plenty of RV sites too.

Nice quiet campground with grassy sites. One loop contains hookup and non hookup sites and waterfront tent sites. Playground, day use and swimming area. The swimming area is overrun with geese and their mess.

Granted we are here off season but the swimming pool, hot tub and clubhouse are immaculate. If you’re tent camping, no worry - bathrooms have showers and are extremely clean. Sites have full hookups 30/50 amp and heated coils to prevent any water freeze. Extremely impress, already one of my favorite off season spots.

We had a tent site up on the hill that was semi-private with beautiful views. Plenty of birds to wake you with the sunrise. I could see how the lake could be busy in peak months but it wasn’t while we were here.

It was nice and quiet during our stay. The views were beautiful especially of the Grand Coulee Dam.

I love this state park, the landscape of glacial-carved coulees and sagebrush covered shrubsteppe is gorgeous and unique. The park is truly a geological wonder. As campgrounds go, this one is very windy! Keep that in mind if you are tent camping, as you could easily lose your tent!

If camping here I cannot suggest campsite 88 in campground D unless you are in an RV. It's just a very basic, gravel site with little shade, right by the road entering the campground, and not private at all. It is right across from a nice beach though so could be a good spot for an RV. Campsite 118 looked much better and I plan on choosing that site instead next time.

I do not suggest the Sun Lakes Resort campsite that is not managed by Washington State Parks unless you like being packed in like sardines. Camping at the state park managed campsite is far better.

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. Our site was sweet, it had a trail down to a small open sandy stretch of beach that was basically our own private beach. Took the cooler and a pop up tent and enjoyed the beach all day. We went in August and it was hot, the lake was super refreshing! (photo from WA State Parks & Rec commission)

Thought we'd be sleeping in the car in a parking lot after the laser light show at the Grand Coulee Dam, but we found a spot at this nice campground just a fe miles away. Nice, but nothing too special.

I see this camp on The Dyrt, and find it easily. Just as described, there are 14 tent spots. Really nice, elevated, and on flat, sandy comfort. But cheap labels say ‘no tent camping’. Where it gets weird, phone on Dyrt goes to the city of Soap Lake, closed. (It’s 430). All signs say this belongs to Soap Lake Resort & Spa. No answer on phone, yet open until 6. No host, no self-registration AND they want $45/night. I talk to RVers on lakeside spot. They are upset because booking foul-ups & no one to help them. They say CAMP. So I did. Hwy 17 noise is loud, but infrequent at night. Bathrooms were decent, with a nice hot water shower. So it was nice, but weird

Nice campground overlooking the waters of Lake Roosevelt, created by Grand Coulee Dam. A reviewer stated that there are pit toilets only but there are flush toilets also. Another mentioned no dump station but there is. Nice vistas of lake in the high desert. Deer and quail about.

Docked here in mid Sept 2020 to camp for the night. Area was well used, so native grasses were well trampled, as it is the first boat-in camp from Grand Coulee Dam. Vault toilet, fire pits and picnic tables for 4 sites bioat dock supports up to 8 boats. Overall nice camp spot.

Stop through on our way from Glacier to North Cascades. This camp ground is really busy but all sites have full hookups. We have a 23' hybrid trailer and had plenty of room. Small pool for the kids open 11-8, beach. Mini golf for $5. 9 hole public course within walking distance. ($19 for 9, club rental for $8) Laundry ($3/$2) Alot to offer for $53. Great little restaurant with with sandwiches and huge ice cream cones. 30 min drive to Grand Coulee dam they have a laser light show.

The description of this campground provided in the “About this campground” is quite accurate.  From the campground you can do boat activities or hiking.  We also did a very nice long bike from the campground but for some sections of it we had to share the road with fast car traffic.  While you will need to drive there it also makes it a nice base from which you visit Grand Coulee Dam. We went there at the beginning of October and the weather was quite nice. It would probably be too hot for us during the summer.

the campground was nice and tidy, but you're basically sleeping on hard ground littered with a bunch of rocks and little prickly balls (that fell off trees). those little prickly things pierced through my flip flops which was not fun. the wind was brutal and nearly blew away half of our party's tents. the ground is super dry which made getting tent stakes in very challenging. we used our vehicles to try to shield our site from the wind. you are better off renting a cabin or bring your RV! despite all that i actually liked our camping experience since there was so much to see and do. you could go try and golf but the gusts were super strong so i think it would be pointless. banks lake is super close by with a bunch of primitive fee-free boat launches. just don't forget your discovery pass! the fishing at deep lake was phenomenal! fresh caught kokanee pan fried in butter! yum! dry falls are a quick drive up the road and you could even go see grand coulee damn if you wanted to. would i tent camp here again? probably not. would i come back and rent a cabin or van camp? most definitely! would i bring the dogs? not unless they raked up all those prickly things off of the ground. i think it would be complete torture for them.

I love to camp at steamboat! It’s great for tent or RVs. There’s some awesome hikes near by. Right on the lake and a great play ground. Great for bike riding. Great for pets!

Amazingly relaxing quiet camping spot. Tent and RV sites available. Great area to explore, enjoy the water, and hike. Steamboat Rock Trail will take you to amazing 360° views of Banks Lake. Watch for snakes during the summer though.