Brandon P.
Scout
ScoutDispersed Camping FS-025
Spooky
A spider crawled on me so I got tf outta there even tho it twas midnight. Drove all the way to Tacoma. Spooky. (I’m not a boomer trust)
Camping near Carbonado, WA
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Camping near Carbonado, Washington ranges from developed tent and RV campgrounds within national park boundaries to primitive backcountry sites along nearby rivers and forests. Cougar Rock Campground provides tent and RV sites within the national park boundaries, while Mowich Lake and Ipsut Creek offer more primitive backcountry camping experiences. The region includes a mix of frontcountry and backcountry camping with varied levels of development and amenity access, particularly along the White River and American River corridors.
Road access and seasonal conditions significantly affect camping availability throughout the area. Many campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, including Cougar Rock, operate only from late May through early October due to snow conditions at higher elevations. White River Dispersed Camping areas provide alternatives when park facilities are full or closed. The proximity to Mount Rainier results in variable weather patterns even during summer months. Most national park campgrounds prohibit pets and have strict food storage requirements due to wildlife. Several campgrounds require advance reservations during peak season. A camper noted, "Mount Rainier didn't disappoint. If you are ever on the edge of whether or not you want to travel to Washington and hike, I highly recommend coming. This campground was in the perfect location for some hiking."
Waterfront access represents a primary draw for many campgrounds in the region. Silver Springs Campground features sites positioned along the White River, offering natural sound barriers between campsites. Several visitors specifically seek riverside locations for their ambiance and recreational opportunities. As one reviewer described Silver Springs, "Most of the sites are larger than average and mostly separated from the other sites" with "close access to several hiking trailheads, the White River itself." Campgrounds within the national park boundaries typically feature more regulations but provide direct access to park trails and features. Campers report mixed experiences regarding privacy between sites, with backcountry options generally offering more seclusion than developed campgrounds. The national park campgrounds remain especially popular during summer weekends, often filling completely by Friday morning.
Best Campgrounds near Carbonado (312)
1. Dash Point State Park Campground
"Firstly, I just have to say what a positive and amazing experience I had at this campground. The volunteers were friendly, kind and absolutely awesome to interact with."
"The campground itself is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. Ours had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table."
from $23 - $74 / night
Check Availability2. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
"There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."
"It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"
from $23 - $254 / night
Check Availability3. Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"If you are looking for an volunteer opportunity while in the park, check out the Washington Train Association also know as the WTA."
"Large campground located near the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier. Many sites tucked into large trees. Some loops close to main toad so the noise can be an issue, but overall beautiful!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability4. Mowich Lake Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"One reason we wanted to stay here was to be close to lots of beautiful hiking near Mt. Rainier. One of the days we went to Sunrise Visitor Center and did a few hikes within the park."
"My husband and I just spent a weekend at Mowiche Campground located in Ashford, Washington. We chose this campground because we wanted to be close hikes near Mt. Rainier."
5. Alder Lake Campground
"Labor Day weekend was nearly packed full, plus visiting friends and family. It was almost too busy. But after everyone left, it was a lot more peaceful and quiet."
"It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."
from $35 - $265 / night
Check Availability6. Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"If you are ever in the edge of whether or not you want to travel to Washington and hike, I highly recommend coming. This campground was in the perfect location, too, for some hiking!"
"Snoqualmie Falls is one of Washington States greatest attractions. This waterfall is breath taking."
7. Netties Mountain View Retreat
"Convenient drive to Mt Rainier and Summit lake trail as well. Definitely worth every penny! "
"Convenient location near Mt. Rainier."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability8. Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park
"There are several dump stations nearby. Very quiet and low key. It is situated next to a H.S. stadium so the game nights get a little bit loud but really not that bad. Showers are available too."
"Campground has nice paved spots, but they are very close to each other, so don't expect much privacy. It sits behind a smal stadium.
For the restrooms and shower you'll have to walk pretty far."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Carbon River
"I go every year, but unfortunately the only bridge to gain access to camping is closed until further notice"
"I put up my hammock around 7pm, nobody's else there. Around 9-11pm a few people including a 5th wheel arrived and spent a bunch of time moving that around."
10. Elkamp Eastcreek
"Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance. The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees. "
"The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."
from $25 - $40 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 2 min from Seattle, WA
- 1 hr 3 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 9 min from Bremerton, WA
- 2 hrs 5 min from Longview, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Carbonado, WA
545 Photos of 312 Carbonado Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Grove GetawaysP
Carbon River
Enumclaw Expo Center RV Parkm
Ipsut Creek Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
WildHare Retreat
Big BackyardD
Eagles Roost Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Mowich Lake Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
Carbon River Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Golden Lakes Backcountry Campsites — Mount Rainier National Park
Yellowstone Cliffs Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Lake Sawyer Resort
Recent Reviews near Carbonado, WA
1620 Reviews of 312 Carbonado Campgrounds
- SSteve M.
TravelerSmall Site but Million $ View!
Slow Climb
Bumpy road all the way to the top but worth every minute of the climb. Nice and peaceful and hardly saw any traffic up there. Sadly I didn’t get to see Rainer until the morning for like 15 minutes until clouds rolled in lol
Ryan M.ScoutDash Point State Park Campground
Pretty but deceiving
I wanted to like this campground, but I wouldn’t stay here again for more than maybe one night.
There are signs EVERYWHERE warning about theft, which immediately tells you something about the area. I didn’t have anything stolen, but I was extremely careful about what I left out.
The biggest problem is that you’re basically on your own after hours. There is no campground host, no posted after-hours ranger number, and no non-emergency number at the campground or through the park’s phone system. The staff hours also seem very limited and inconsistent. I arrived around 6:30 PM and nobody was there, and staff didn’t seem to return until around 9–10 AM.
The bathrooms were dirty, out of toilet paper, and the showers were cold. One morning there was a large unleashed dog in the women’s bathroom that growled at me while its owner was showering. I believe she may have been homeless and using the facilities. Again, there was nobody around to contact about it.
Another night, people were extremely loud until almost midnight. Same problem: no host, no ranger and no non-emergency number. Unless something is serious enough for 911, you’re left to deal with it yourself.
There are also a lot of homeless people and visible drug addicts/drug activity around Federal Way. I had been warned about the area before coming here, and I understand why.
The park itself is pretty and might be fine for a quick overnight stay, but for multiple nights, I wouldn’t recommend it. Between the theft warnings, lack of after-hours staff, weird staffing hours, and no way to report non-emergency problems, I never really felt comfortable settling into my campsite.
- MMike E.Scout
Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
Excellent Place Near Mt Rainier
My wife and I came to this campground recently (9/26 - 9/29) and overall it was a great trip. The staff (Rangers) were so friendly and helpful. The site we had for our 20 ft trailer was a pull-through site which was quite level. It was pretty shady and use of our solar panel was minimal. The proximity to Paradise was great. It was incredibly crowded at Paradise despite being so late in September. The campground filled up to full within a couple of hours of our arrival around 2:30 pm. Bathrooms are very basic (flush toilets and only cold water sinks). There was a water bottle filler right outside the bathroom and tasted great. There is no option to fill trailer tanks with water. Their water filler and dump station has been out of order for a couple of years per the ranger, so I don't expect it to be fixed anytime soon. We were told that there was a water filling station in Alder Lake Park but it is a ways from this campground. We brought our own water so didn't need it. Our site itself was great but there is a reasonable amount of debris around other sites. Overall, we would come again.
- Betsy W.
RangerSahara Creek DNR Horse Camp
Very nice!! All you need for great campiing
Very nice! Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers. Sites are wooded between and large with table, firepits/grill combo, and level wooded spaces. 2 clean, well stocked pit toilets are available. Water faucets available at several locations. WA discover pass but free otherwise. It is patrolled regularly.
Ryan S.
GuideCarlton Creek Crossing
Great spot out of the way
Its not 5 stars because of its beauty, its because its buried deep in the woods but still on a drivable road, and its free. On a busy weekend I only saw one other sprinter van on the entire road. There are lots of areas to pull off along the road and a few good spots just away from the road if you only have a tent or 4x4 vehicle. This spot has lots of space to turn your rig around but I don't know about farther down the road. No cell service but this spot also had enough clearing to be able to set up our starlink and get decent enough service with that. The road has some pretty big potholes so make sure you've got enough clearance on your rig. I'd say most would be just fine.
Matt G.RangerDry Creek Campground
Nice spot by lake
Decent little camp ground, designated spots at the top an you can drive down to the lake. Walking around you did see a fair amount of trash N no cell signals.
- ttraveller 1.
LegendCabin Creek Dispersed Camping
If you’re up in the parking lot your fine
The reviews here seem to be from two different places
Parking lot up by the logging operation is fine
Down the road by the creek is a bunch of permanent trailers
Be nice if people reviewed the proper spots
- ttraveller 1.Legend
Cabin Creek Dispersed Site
People are living here permanently
There’s one site on the hill that’s not occupied permanently and I was there for may 20 mins before they started slowly riding atv by and staring. Wasn’t even planning on staying, just wanted to let the dogs have a swim
Super uncomfortable
Water was nice
Guide to Carbonado
Mount Rainier dominates the landscape around Carbonado, Washington, rising to 14,410 feet and creating distinct microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year. The Carbon River Valley near Carbonado receives approximately 70-90 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush temperate rainforest conditions. Most campgrounds in this region close seasonally due to snowpack, with limited winter camping options.
What to do
Hike to alpine lakes: Mowich Lake Campground provides direct access to several trails including Tolmie Peak, which offers spectacular views. A camper noted, "We hiked Tolmie Peak and the trailhead is straight off the campground which is super nice. Would definitely go back here and try to spend more time exploring the surrounding area."
Visit nearby Deep Lake: Campers at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park appreciate its proximity to additional recreation. One visitor mentioned, "10 minute drive from Deep Lake which is beautiful and great for swimming and paddle boarding."
Watch kayakers from riverside sites: The Green River offers opportunities to observe skilled paddlers. A visitor to Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground described, "The road slowly meanders uphill alongside the Carbon River for 5 miles, giving campers majestic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks... You might catch a kayaker in the river, I hear this stretch take a lot of skill!"
What campers like
Clean bathrooms with showers: State parks in the region maintain well-kept facilities. A Kanaskat-Palmer visitor explained, "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each." Another camper shared, "The bathrooms were always clean. There's designated dish washing station and potable water station."
Privacy between sites: Dash Point State Park Campground offers well-separated sites. A camper observed, "I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" Another reviewer mentioned, "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes."
Nearby swimming options: Multiple campgrounds provide water access for summer heat relief. A visitor to Camp Lakeview reported, "People were fishing, paddle boarding and swimming. I would absolutely go stay there again!"
What you should know
Advance planning required: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Cougar Rock Campground, a camper advised, "Get your reservations in the winter before your trip. Spots fill up fast."
Road conditions vary: Access to some campgrounds involves unpaved roads. A Mowich Lake visitor warned, "The gravel road to get up there, it's like 15 miles long and it's rough. Not the worst road I've ever been on but it wasn't fun and it felt like you had to drive it forever."
Bear safety measures: Many campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. At Mowich Lake, "Each spot had a raised platform for your tent, bear box, and picnic table."
Ranger presence: Park staff actively monitor campgrounds. One Kanaskat-Palmer camper noted, "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day. I have been asked by the park rangers at 10:01 p.m. to be quite as myself and three 9 year old girls were talking too loud."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Some campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. A Camp Lakeview visitor mentioned, "There is a playground next to a volleyball court and basketball court. A small beach with a large dock was available for use during the day as well as a boat launch and fishing dock."
Consider temperature fluctuations: Even summer camping can be cold at higher elevations. At Mowich Lake, a camper advised, "Even in July there is snow and temperatures reached as low as 40F. Fortunately we were prepared, but you may not be."
Check pet policies: Elkamp Eastcreek welcomes dogs while national park campgrounds typically don't. A reviewer noted, "Dogs are welcome! You couldn't ask for more courteous and caring hosts than Tom and Brian."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven parking areas. A visitor to Kanaskat-Palmer reported, "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground."
Utility hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups only. A camper at Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park noted, "Nice older park at the base of Mt. Rainier. Water and Electric (50 amp) only. There are several dump stations nearby."
Size restrictions: Not all sites accommodate large rigs. At Cougar Rock, a camper mentioned, "There are no fire pits, and the driveways are kind of small, but all of that is incredibly worth it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Carbonado, WA?
What camping is available near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Carbonado, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 312 campgrounds and RV parks near Carbonado, WA and 49 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA?
Which is the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 78 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Carbonado, WA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 49 free dispersed camping spots near Carbonado, WA.
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