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Best Tent Camping near Ellensburg, WA

770 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tent campsites near Ellensburg, Washington range from established campgrounds to backcountry dispersed sites across varied terrain. Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites offers primitive tent camping with limited amenities but scenic canyon views, while Taneum Junction provides more developed sites along a small river. Rocky Coulee Recreation Area features tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings in a dramatic coulee landscape approximately 30 miles east of Ellensburg.

Most tent camping areas have minimal facilities, with vault toilets available at some locations but drinking water scarce. Frenchman Coulee provides pit toilets but requires campers to bring their own water and supplies. Sites are typically undesignated with no formal boundaries - campers simply find an open spot on varied terrain from rocky soil to gravel pads. Rocky Coulee offers more defined tent sites with crushed rock pads and picnic tables. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in the drier eastern areas. A Washington State Discover Pass is required at some locations.

The tent camping experience varies significantly by location and season. Areas near Vantage provide dramatic views of basalt cliffs and the Columbia River but offer minimal shade. One camper noted, "It's very primitive, with two pit toilets and no other services. Sites are not designated, just find a spot you like." While weekends bring climbers and outdoor enthusiasts to popular areas like Frenchman Coulee, weekday visitors often find solitude even during peak season. The backcountry tent sites typically provide more isolation but require appropriate preparation for primitive conditions. Many tent-only areas feature stunning sunrise and sunset views across the shrub-steppe landscape. Higher elevation sites near Cle Elum offer more forested settings and cooler temperatures during summer months but may be inaccessible during winter and early spring due to snow.

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Best Tent Sites Near Ellensburg, Washington (66)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ellensburg, WA

40 Photos of 66 Ellensburg Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Ellensburg, WA

770 Reviews of 66 Ellensburg Campgrounds

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2019

    South Fork Tieton Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed camping

    We stayed here 2 nights and will definitely be coming back. Tons of open sites to choose from right along the river. Designated fire rings but currently there's a burn ban. No vault toilets or picnic tables. Pack it in, pack it out! When we first arrived we spent about 20 minutes cleaning the site we chose after the people whom were here before us. Not such a big deal just a little saddening. #1 rule is to leave no trace. Extremely grateful we get to explore and camp on land that is free. We should all do our part and take care of it. 

    A little surprising that we had cell phone reception with sprint! 

    Near this area there are a lot or activities. Biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking.. to name a few!

  • Nicole C.
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Sand Hollow Campground

    Right on the river... And the highway

    This campground seems almost brand new. There are no hookups and no water on site, though there are several vault toilets.

    Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and path down to a rocky beach on the Columbia. The sites are definitely not large enough for most RVs, so I'd consider this tent or van camping only.

    There's not much shade at the sites, but you can get out of the sun near the river.

    The biggest drawback to this spot is that it's just of the highway. You can and will hear air brakes all night. For me, staying on the Columbia was worth it.

  • Cinco D.
    Jul. 21, 2020

    Lincoln Rock State Park Campground

    Great and Busy

    This is a great state park to set up camp. It is always very busy. The sites are relatively spread out. There are two different sections for camping: an upper and lower. To me, the lower section doesn’t seem as nice. It has more trees, but the camp spots seem to be closer together. Likewise, the lower section just feels a little more rough than the upper section. The views are spectacular. There is a boat launch, and a swimming area. Furthermore, there is also a small store, and a mini-mart across the street. What makes this place great is the actual camp sites. They are huge. What makes it difficult for tent camping is there are a ton of sprinklers that turn on frequently. It is important to watch where you stake down your tent. For this trip, we brought our RV and a tent. During the summer, the temperatures during the daytime are hot! Luckily each site is equipped with water and electricity. There is no WiFi, but the cell service is outstanding.

  • Marie L.
    Aug. 3, 2022

    Owhi Campground

    Beautiful spot - not worth the trek

    Cooper Lake is absolutely stunning and admittedly the campsites are situated pretty well for views and privacy but there are definitely Pros and Cons to this campground.

    Pros:

    Right on the lake and if not you get a very private site walking distance to water
    Great hiking trail

    Lake access 24/7

    Lot's of big shade trees

    No internal combustion motors 

    Vault toilets in good shape

    Dumpsters

    Cons: 

    Extremely busy (and LOUD) day use area

    Steep hill and trails to all the sites - pack light and even then it is A LOT of work getting into your site

    $18 for a walk in site...? eh a little steep for me

    Did I mention the loud day use area with lots of screaming kids?

    No bear boxes by the lake so you also have to trek your cooler/dry goods up the hill every night to not attract wildlife.

    All in All this was a solid 3.5 stars.  There were pros to out weight the cons but in the end if I am going to walk that far to haul my stuff into a site I want it to be pretty remote/serene OR be a little cheaper.

  • Jayda R.
    Jul. 23, 2017

    Bridge Creek Campground

    A hop, skip, jump from Leavenworth...

    We didn't get to camp right next to the water (unfortunately) as all of those spaces were full (for obvious reason). We were able to find a spot just on the other side of the bridge, which was a short walk to the creek. We ended up unhooking our tent-trailer to fit in the site, but there was lots of room and level ground to have set-up a tent elsewhere on the site (it just wasn't accessible with our tent trailer). Gorgeous surroundings, the sound of the rushing water lulled us right to sleep at night.

    Vault toilet and potable water.

  • Carol S.
    May. 26, 2022

    Eightmile Campground

    Small sites and no privacy

    This campground is better suited for tents, not RVs or camper vans. Many of the sites are small and lack privacy, especially those in the west end. We reserved on line and there was no notice that sites 30 and 31 share the vehicle space! Since we were camping in a van, we felt like we were in an ordinary parking lot and not camping. Two strange vehicles parked immediately next two us the whole time. There were some other shared parking sites too. Ok for tent camping because you can tent away from the parking area, but not ok for vehicles. 

    In addition, people kept walking through our site (and we watched them walk through other occupied sites). One day, my hubby wasn't feeling well, so we took a nap only to be woken by our dog growling because a man and women were peering into the side window of our van! WTH! Numerous people walked through through our site even though the end was a restoration area clearly marked to stay off of, but people walked through it anyway. And, then there were the young men playing football in our site. Oh, and the dogs not on leashes. One knocked me over when it jumped on me from the bushes as I was heading to the restroom at night. 

    The only good thing was that the vault toilet was the cleanest ever vault toilet. No odors!! Kudos to the guy who cleans it!

  • Shay F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2019

    Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon

    Epicenter for Summer River Floaters

    Eastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape.  It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate.  When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands and makes for great wildlife watching.

    Umtanum Recreation Site is part of several BLM campgrounds lumped together along the Yakima River known as the Yakima River Canyon Campgrounds.  All can be reserved ahead of time via the reservation.gov website:  https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/250985.  Standard for most BLM camping in Washington, sites are very basic.  Gravel parking, pit toilets, and a picnic table.  This place does have a dumpster for trash, not all do.  There are no hook ups, no drinking water, and in our case, very little shade.  Neighbors are close and there is not a lot of privacy.  The day use area is right there too, close to camping and can be loud.  It is heavily patrolled by the wonderful BLM folks to keep everything clean and the people orderly.  They also give out tickets if you don't mind the warnings for correct passes or day use fees.

    The campground itself is one little loop with six sites.  The loop is an offshoot of a very large gravel parking area for day use.  Mostly boat launching and hiking access to Umtanum Creek and Umtaum Ridge trails.   You can check the Information Board for rules on day use and camping fees, passes, and how to check to see if a site is reserved. 

    We arrived on July 3rd in the afternoon.  The campground was very quiet and all the sites were reserved.  The morning of July 4th, the recreation site turned into a total madhouse.  BLM Rangers, Law Enforcement, making constant rounds to patrol the never ending hoards of people coming to park and float the river. There was a lot of noise, dust, drunk and rowdy folks.  Friday was calm again until afternoon, Saturday was not as bad as the 4th but still pretty crazy.  It was also hot!  No shade to be had in our site.  After hiking in the morning, we spent a lot of time across the bridge, in it's shadow, in the river.  

    If you are using this spot as a base to do some hiking, fishing, or floating it's very convenient.  I am sure in Spring and Fall when river floating is not at it's peak, it's gorgeous and peaceful.  The raptors and songbirds are splendid.  We saw Bighorn sheep on the hill, big rock squirrels, wild turkeys with babies, and fish.  No rattlesnakes or ticks, but this is prime territory.  Hiking down the Umtanum Creek trail, over the suspension bridge, is one of my favorite hikes ever.

  • S
    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.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2021

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Riverside perfection

    Plenty of sites along the river with multiple ingress/egress options from the road. Right outside the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park and the access road to Crystal Mountain. 

    4x4 / high clearance vehicles recommended - saw some subarus trying to navigate into a cleared area and it was pretty scrape-y. 

    Great place to stay if you can't get a spot at White River / Ohanapecosh.

    Leave no trace.

Guide to Ellensburg

Tent campsites near Ellensburg, Washington range from shrub-steppe desert to alpine forest settings. The region sits where the wet west side of the Cascade Mountains transitions to the dry eastern plateau, creating diverse camping microclimates. Summer temperatures can reach 90°F in lower-elevation sites, while winter brings snow to most camping areas above 3,000 feet from November through April.

What to do

ORV riding trails: Riders Camp Campground near Cle Elum offers direct trail access for off-road vehicles. "This is a great place to camp and ride ORVs they have a beginners loop trailhead attached to this site as well as a trail head to a larger trail system," notes Bruce S., who mentions the affordable $5 per night fee.

Rock climbing: Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites attracts climbers year-round. Leah W. explains, "Free (if you have the WA rec pass $30). Pit toilet is available, no water... It is a 4 minute approach to the nice moderate area called the Feathers and about 15 minutes from other climbs."

Hiking and wildlife viewing: Rocky Coulee Recreation Area offers hiking trails with opportunities to spot native wildlife. "We had a large herd of bighorn sheep as pre dusk visitors which was great to admire," reports Chad L., who found the location beautiful despite occasional highway noise.

What campers like

River access: Camping along the water is popular at White River Dispersed Camping, located near Mt. Rainier National Park. "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," shares Corbanzo B.

Geology features: The basalt formations create unique camping backdrops throughout the region. Brian H. describes Rocky Coulee as an "Interesting spot at the bottom of the coulee. Windy, as is everything in Vantage. Walk in spots. Walk-in is about 100 yards. Quiet. Some wild life. Frogs and sheep."

Solitude on weekdays: Most camping areas near Ellensburg experience weekend crowds but offer quiet midweek options. "Mid week in fall, we have the place to ourselves! Surrounded by gorgeous cliffs with hikes and scrambles, if you are not a rock climber," reports a visitor to Frenchman Coulee.

What you should know

Vehicle clearance issues: Many tent camping areas require appropriate vehicles. At Rocky Coulee Recreation Area, "I just dropped by today for a look see. The place looks quite nice. Picnic tables and tent pads on crushed rock probably 1/4-. I couldn't find where to park," mentions Rob B.

Weather extremes: The region experiences significant temperature swings between day and night. One camper notes about Old Vantage Highway camping: "The campground is exposed too," indicating minimal shade protection during hot days.

Water availability: Most camping areas lack reliable water sources. Emma A. reminds visitors to Frenchman Coulee: "No water or any other services. Great AT&T cell coverage," highlighting the need to bring all water supplies.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly areas: Choose campsites with gentle terrain for younger children. Taneum Junction offers riverside camping suitable for families. "Well place is first come basis. Cost is $20 a night. It's mostly used by off road ATVs crowd and motos. On the small river. Not bad," says Denny G.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer wildlife encounters kids will enjoy. Brit B. reports from Frenchman Coulee: "This is my favorite place to be, but only in the summer. I'm not a fan during the Spring due to mud, foxtails, and mosquitos, though I did find a frog and that's pretty neat."

Toilet facilities: Plan accordingly as bathroom options vary widely. Dawn G. warns about Frenchman Coulee: "You will share this spot with other campers, busy even in winter," suggesting families arrive early to secure spots near the limited facilities.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most tent camping areas near Ellensburg can accommodate small campers but present challenges for larger RVs. At White River Dispersed Camping, P J. advises: "The road can be a bit thin, so I would be careful with extra large vehicles. It is also a bit of a challenging road, so low clearance vehicles wouldn't be treated well."

Road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds deteriorate beyond main entrances. Rich P. notes about White River Dispersed: "4x4 / high clearance vehicles recommended - saw some subarus trying to navigate into a cleared area and it was pretty scrape-y."

Seasonal considerations: RV campers should check weather forecasts carefully. "Road gets a bit worse as you drive further, but it was manageable," reports Reagan S. about White River, indicating careful planning is needed for RV access beyond early camping areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best tent camping spots near Ellensburg, WA?

Ellensburg offers excellent tent camping options within driving distance. South Fork Tieton Dispersed Camping provides scenic riverside sites with designated fire rings in a pack-in, pack-out environment. For tent campers seeking established facilities, Owhi Campground on stunning Cooper Lake offers well-situated sites with good privacy and lake access. These locations provide contrasting experiences—primitive riverside camping or a more developed lake setting with hiking trails—making them perfect for tent campers looking to explore the natural beauty surrounding Ellensburg.

Are there any lightweight travel trailer camping options in Ellensburg for those who want to upgrade from tent camping?

Yes, several areas accommodate lightweight travel trailers for those transitioning from tent camping. Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites can accommodate small camper trailers in certain areas, though access roads require careful navigation. Kachess Lake Logging Road Campsites has limited sites suitable for smaller RVs about a mile up the road. For travel trailer camping, consider sites that mention vehicle accessibility and avoid areas requiring high clearance. Remember that many dispersed camping areas around Ellensburg have uneven terrain, so smaller, more maneuverable trailers work best.

What is the best season for tent camping in Ellensburg?

The optimal season for tent camping around Ellensburg is summer through early fall (late June to September). The area experiences typical Western Washington weather patterns, with rain possible year-round but most consistent dry periods during summer months. Some higher elevation sites like Corral Pass Campground may have difficult access earlier in the season due to steep, slick roads and downed trees. Late summer provides the most reliable weather window, while Rocky Coulee Recreation Area offers an interesting desert-like experience with unique wildlife viewing opportunities during warmer months.

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