Top Free Dispersed Camping near Ellensburg, WA

Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Ellensburg? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Ellensburg just for you.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Ellensburg, WA (39)

Showing results 1-10 of 39 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Ellensburg

111 Reviews of 39 Ellensburg Campgrounds


  • Brandon K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from 4th of July Trail Levenworth
    Sep. 29, 2024

    4th of July Trail Levenworth

    Happy Tail on the River

    Nice little spot along the river off Icicle Road…approximately 2 miles west of eight mile campground. Though the water level was low due to the time of the season, this spot still offered the tranquil sound of river flowing over boulders. Doors open on a brisk morning with clear skies made it that much more beautiful.

  • James B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Meadow Landing on Forest Road 7200
    Sep. 26, 2024

    Meadow Landing on Forest Road 7200

    Beautiful morning view of Mount Rainier

    Our daughter told us about this place. You have to climb up a narrow gravel road to get here. A drive leads out to a flat area with a fire pit It was raining when we pulled in, so views were limited. In the clear morning, we got a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. We got decent Starlink signal with a bar of Verizon. Spot would be perfect except prior campers left toilet paper around a bush.

  • b
    Camper-submitted photo from Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping

    My home away from home

    I travel for work and I stay here almost every week to save money on hotels. I’ve also taken my family here over the summer for camping and hiking. We all love it. Very quiet. Weekends can get kinda busy due to hikers and rock climbing enthusiasts. I suggest coming up early if you plan to stay the weekend. Many beautiful views. There is even a waterfall I sleep across from. On clear nights you can see all the stars. Which is my favorite! There are lots of sites to camp. In car/tent/RV it’s pretty accessible. There are some rougher spots where you probably should have four-wheel-drive or at least a higher stance vehicle.

  • Josh S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 10, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Could be beautiful

    We intended to stay a week, left after 4 days. Could be a beautiful place if not for people.

    Pros:
    Open space, plenty of room Beautiful View Near the park

    Cons:

    Crowded, even mid week we had close neighbors

    Party spot, loud people with loud music

    Dirty, we picked up an entire garbage bag of trash just in the spot we were at. Much more in the rest of the area.

    Road noise, you're literally right off the road

    River is nice, but it's a glacial run off so it's definitely not a swimming area (dirty)

    Road in is super rough

    Again, overall it could be a nice place. We stayed Wednesday through Saturday after labor day. So not "peak" season and the place was absolutely trashed. Feces, TP, beer cans and bottles, food trash, even car parts litter the area. We did a clean up but barely made a dent.

    The first night was quiet and then some locals came and you could tell it was a party area. Loud music, dogs off leash, close neighbors.

    We ended up leaving Saturday because it just wasn't enjoyable.

  • M
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 9, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Amazing

    Right off the main road, but several sweet camping spots more tucked away and along the river. I’d definitely recommend a higher clearance vehicle if you want to camp deeper near the river due to rocks and tree roots. People need to clean up after themselves though. We pulled up to a spot that was thrashed. That is how free things get shut down.

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 3, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful spot!

    This place was gorgeous. Right off a busy road but with being right by the water it tunes out the noise of the traffic. Plenty of spots and can drive in further to be more secluded if needed.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 2, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Fantastic camping spot

    We had a bit of trouble finding it at first (came from the south of white river), but the little shop down the street has WiFi and we weren’t too far from the entrance. Lots of places to camp, friendly visitors, and overall pretty quiet even with the road right there. The river is so peaceful! Bring a ground sheet for your tents, lots of twigs and foliage.

  • Jamie J.
    Camper-submitted photo from French Cabin Creek Recreation Area
    Aug. 22, 2024

    French Cabin Creek Recreation Area

    Right next to the river

    I loved this spot for a quick overnight. I got a spot right next to the river and there were almost no people there. There is a lot of trash so next time Is bring some gloves and trash bags to help clean up any space I stay in. If we all do a little it will help.

  • Lets Go O.
    Camper-submitted photo from Kachess Lake Lakebed
    Aug. 16, 2024

    Kachess Lake Lakebed

    Land Destruction

    Up to $5,000 fines for litter and $10,000 for illegal fire (plus up to a year jail time) now enforced!

    People are destroying this lake. There is NO legal driving in the lake bed, even when the water is low. The lake bed is spawning grounds for the endangered Bull Trout. The lake nearby, Kacheless, is now closed due to people driving in the lake bed.

    There are also burn bans July-September due to extremely high fire danger. Mountains of garbage around due to no garbage services, and human feces everywhere.

    PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Respect the land on which you travel, or this too will be closed down.

  • Phoebe H.
    Camper-submitted photo from FS Road 7601 Dispersed
    Jul. 29, 2024

    FS Road 7601 Dispersed

    Great place to camp!

    Beautiful scenery, not hard to find, and lots of spaces open along the road. The road did get quite bumpy and rocky at points, but I assume this is normal for dispersed camping (this was my first dispersed camping experience). The only concern my friend and I had was an old RV near the entrance. That being said, the spot we chose was much higher and farther up the road from where the RV was, and we were not bothered. We actually didn’t see anyone else up there when we went in late July.

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Clear Lake Campgrounds
    Jul. 22, 2024

    Clear Lake Campgrounds

    Very loud neighbors!!

    We camped specifically at the Indian Creek Dispersed sites. There is a collection of camp grounds in this surrounding area, so I wouldn’t be concerned about finding a spot.

    The views are incredible, beautiful grounds. Sadly the sites were covered in trash, people were riding quads and chainsawing until 2am, as well as yelling and loud music.

    We did come on a weekend so it got very busy.

  • Adam K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Clear Lake Campgrounds
    Jul. 21, 2024

    Clear Lake Campgrounds

    Depends on the day of the week

    If you come during the week, you're going to enjoy quiet, gorgeous dispersed camping. Big spaces, big trees, big lake.

    But if you come during the weekend, be prepared for the most inconsiderate, noisy, rude neighbors you've ever found. They leave trash everywhere, play music and shoot guns late into the night, and don't respect boundaries whatsoever. I had multiple people drive right into my campsite and park 10 feet from my rig, walk through camp yelling and playing music, you name it.

    So, four stars because the place is amazing - but choose your timing wisely.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Keechelus Lake
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Keechelus Lake

    Good stay

    The spots are crowded by the lake but there are some pretty quiet’s spots further up the mountain that I liked.

  • Jada P.
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 15, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Fantastic soundscapes

    The first time I came here was solo camping. That was scary especially because there was a collapsed tree on top of a truck that was abandoned. The second time was with friends and there were other campers out. I love the view and the sound of the river! Each site is pretty small…maybe enough for 2-3 tents. Be careful of getting too close to the river because it looks like the earth can erode and break away into the river (why the trees collapse). I would definitely go again!!

  • Jada P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites

    BEAUTIFUL!!

    So, this was my first time to this spot. The reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because of how crowded it was. We had a hard time finding an open spot so we could set up camp. We almost made it to the end of the dirt road before we found a lot with a fire pit that could fit our group of 4. AMAZING views of the mountains and it was about 7min (drive) from the beach access point. There were signs saying “camping closed”, however, everyone ignored the signs and still camped out. There wasn’t anyone coming to kick people out. On a side note, there were plenty of disrespectful people who left their garbage at the beach…other than that, this was an overall fun and memorable experience!

  • Corbanzo B.
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 12, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    10/10 Site

    I stayed here two nights while visiting MRNP. It was an absolutely beautiful location, about 10-15 minutes away from the Sunrise Entrance. The first night, I got there after 9pm and there were still plenty of spots available. I found a spot right next to the river. There were a few other people, but everyone was very quiet. You could see the lights and hear the cars driving on the main road, but they eventually stopped. The second night, I managed to find a spot tucked super far in that had a small private beach. It was farther from the road so you couldn't see or hear anything. I didn't see anyone else the whole afternoon/night. Highly recommend!!

  • Joanna W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Keechelus Lake
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Keechelus Lake

    Road Closed on 7/10/24 for endangered fish

    Says when water gets below 2840 ft to protect the fish they close the road and no camping is permitted.

  • Joshua C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Frenchman Coulee Dispersed Camping

    Nice Spot Mid Week to Beat the Crowds

    Popular rock climbing area that gets many people through the day. Dispearsed camping in 2 areas. The first spot as you come from the road is much smaller and doesn't have any pit toilets. I prefer to park here when its not busy as the "Feathers" basalt columns are really pretty to camp up next to. The second open site down the road has pit toilets and is a much larger area. Both are nice but also there are many cars, campers, tents and becomes a much more lively area in the evening depending on the crowds.

    I think this is a great spot but I move on during the day when the rock climbing crowds start to swarm and park near you. There are some nice trails that take you up above the climbing area and you can get to the backside to get some nice views and away from the crowds. Can get pretty hot here in the warmer months but a beautiful spot to camp if you can avoid the busy/peak times.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Keechelus Lake
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Keechelus Lake

    Sweet spot

    Great spot to land after long day of driving. Definitely some spots have more human waste and trash than I would want to camp too close to—not to mention the impacts of some campers’ poor habits on the many natural water sources throughout this area. Still, such a sweet spot with uber PNW vibes (water, tree lines, mountains, etc.). I love any spot where I can camp free and safely at night and wake up early to paddleboard a few hundred feet away. Great spot to SUP.

  • Flare9
    Camper-submitted photo from White River Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 2, 2024

    White River Dispersed Camping

    White River/Buck Creek

    Very quiet. Lots of spots available. Other campers and people using the trail came and went but no noise issues. (Visitor's Center about 2 miles up the road has wifi and coffee.) Will definetly camp here again.

  • F
    Camper-submitted photo from Frenchman Coulee Overland Overlook Dispersed Campsite
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Frenchman Coulee Overland Overlook Dispersed Campsite

    A good getaway from the crowd

    This, like the other spots in Frenchman Coulee, is seldom empty, but it's much less packed than the areas closer to the climbing. This spot offers the best views, sunrises, and sunsets, at the cost of no shade and a healthy dose of wind. If you're going for the rugged feel, this'll do it. OF NOTE: The vault toilets are about a mile away from here.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites
    May. 29, 2024

    Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites

    Kachess Lake Logging Road Dispersed Camping

    First of all, this is western Washington: it rains! We had two days and two nights of rain. Snow was still on the ground, and it was cold. Fortunately we were in an RV. There are only one or two sites on this logging road that are available for RVs our size (ours is a Class A 35') about a mile up the compacted gravel road from the lake. Road is packed well, washboard in some sections. Great for vans. Secondly, the site was trashed. We picked up a full garbage bag of trash. On the upside, it was very peaceful, and there are very cute little critters--chipmonks, humming birds, and butterflies. Beautiful wildflowers and a beautiful creek running behind the campsite. There are three fire rings, and plenty of places for tents. No water. No electricity.  We enjoyed our stay and we sat outside for a couple of hours in the sunshine on our last day.



Guide to Ellensburg

Camping near Ellensburg, WA, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the scenic trails around the area. One camper mentioned, "There is a lot of hiking and biking trails" at Bumping Lake Campground, making it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Fishing and Boating: Many campgrounds are near rivers and lakes. A visitor at Big Pines Campground noted, "The campground was quiet, many campers leaving during the day to go hiking or spend time on the river boating and/or fishing."
  • Family Activities: Kids can enjoy playgrounds and ranger programs. One family shared their experience at Lake Easton State Park Campground, saying, "Activities for children such as the Jr. Ranger program."

What campers like

  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the roomy spots. A review for Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground highlighted, "The spaces were level, lots of grass and enough trees to provide shade at every spot."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds maintain clean restrooms and showers. A visitor at Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground mentioned, "Bathrooms are nice and clean."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about helpful staff. One camper at Ellensburg KOA said, "The staff was really nice the whole time."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds are near busy roads or train tracks. A camper at Lake Easton State Park Campground noted, "The biggest negative is the road noise from I90."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A review for Teanaway Campground pointed out, "No water or trash but some vault toilets."
  • Seasonal Access: Some campgrounds are only open during certain months. For example, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground is open from early April to late October.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities. A camper at Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground mentioned, "Great play set for kids."
  • Plan for Showers: Some campgrounds have pay showers. A visitor at Wenatchee Confluence State Park Campground noted, "Showers require tokens; $1=2 tokens=6 minutes."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family camping easier. One family at Ellensburg KOA enjoyed "amazing BBQ and hard cider provided by host."

Tips from RVers

  • Check for Hookups: Make sure your campground has the necessary hookups. A camper at Crescent Bar RV Resort mentioned, "You will need A/C in summer."
  • Be Prepared for Dust: Some campgrounds can get dusty, especially if sprinklers are broken. A visitor at Crescent Bar RV Resort noted, "Sprinklers were busted in most of the park which created unpleasant dust storms."
  • Plan for Crowds: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially during weekends. A camper at Gorge Amphitheatre Campground said, "It was crowded, but for what it is, it was decent enough and clean."

Camping near Ellensburg, WA, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just remember to check the specific campground details and reviews to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Ellensburg, WA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ellensburg, WA is L.T. Murray Wildlife Area with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Ellensburg, WA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 39 dispersed camping locations near Ellensburg, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.