Searching for a tent camping spot near Ephrata? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
The free camp sites - There is a designated areas located near the main parking area. There are no designated sites but you can drive in on rough dirt trail. Portable toilets are nearby but there is no running water, no picnic tables and no fires are allowed. The area can become quite busy during long weekends or when there are big concerts held at the nearby amphitheater in George.
$10 / night
Guide
What else can I say than we truly loved Chelan! We fell in love with this campsite last summer and already have our reservation confirmed for this summer!
This RV and tent campground is huge and we got a spot right on the lake, which was unforgettable! We made fires by the lake and had a very private tent site. The restrooms were quiet and clean, and there is so much to do in the nearby surrounding area! Highly highly recommend!
TravelerTent camping
Ranger
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
Scout
Walk in spots for tent camping you have to walk a half mile to camp from your car. Rv spots are nice but close to other ppl.
Scout
Amazing geology of Volcanic and Glacial flooding surrounds this very large and fun campground.
Lots of tent sites with plenty of RV sites too.
Scout
Tent sites are super close together, only about 15ft from firepit to firepit . With so little of space between site beware .Our camping neighbors were very noisy and up till 4am drinking and partying
Ranger
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.
RangerGranted 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.
Traveler
Sites were a bit small, and facilities where a bit run down. Not a great place for campers, but if you boat, it has a boat launch and is right on the water. Park was mostly full of RV, and tent sites share RV sites.
Traveler
On the Columbia/Wenatchee rivers in Wenatchee. We tent camped. All sites have sand tent pads. You cannot set tents on grass. Shower tokens are purchased 2 for $1.00 and each token allows a 3 minute shower. There is firewood available for $5.00 a bundle. Cell service was awesome/no free WiFi. Only 5 minutes to a ton of restaurants and Walmart/target. We would stay again and reccomened to others. Leavenworth WA is 20 miles away also.
Traveler
We had this place completely to ourselves when we stayed there...it was amazing! There is lake access with a small dock and boat launch, a common area consisting of covered picnic area with picnic tables, and a public vault toilet. We were camping in a tent trailer; easy access and ample space to turn around. Sites are fairly level and are back-in only...though there appeared to be a spot for RV parking (no hook-ups). There is a line of trees near the camp sites offering partial shade (depending on where the sun is), but the sun gets pretty brutal; other than the covered picnic area, shade is limited.
Note: There was no water available when we visited (locks on pipes & faucet handles removed), so be sure to bring your own!
Wildlife: We witnessed a confrontation between a giant heron and an osprey...it was pretty impressive! The heron made a noise that sounded a lot like what I'd imagine a pterodactyl would have sounded like. Also, we heard what must have been a pack of at least 6 or 7 coyotes a little after 11pm...and then heard wolves howling in the wee hours of the morning. Super cool!
Lake: We didn't have a boat or fishing poles...but I'd imagine that the lake would be great for both. It had a fair bit of algae...so probably not a lake you'd necessarily want to swim in. My husband, however, found the lake to be great for flying his RC float plane. Oh! And there was an old abandoned cabin on the opposite side of the lake...creepy cool.
Guide
Short jaunt to the lake which is a popular fishing spot for those willing to carry a boat. Ample room for RVs; no tent camping unless you like sleeping on gravel. Toilet is clean and maintained. Some noise from the off-road vehicle recreation area across the road, but quieter at night. No tree cover for shade but I visited in the springtime and the weather was pleasantly cool.
Guide
Great park, close to amenities! Fun kayaking and watersports with plenty of sun. Its a State park with full hookups and all the opportunities and drawbacks that come with such a place. It's well cared for though and the park staff doesn't let campers get out of control, so great for young families.
If you are tent camping pick a place with plenty of shade and BE AWARE of the grounds keepers watering schedule!!!
Scout
Stayed here while in the area to do a trail run. The campground is super well maintained, with plenty of parking at every spot. If you are tent camping, they have ~16' gravel pads for a tent at each site.
You will likely be surrounded by moderately high-end RVs. We definitely felt like the hillbillies of the park rolling up in Leif the Adventure Van.
Not a lot of food choices close by, with a pizza place and the clubhouse up the road being your only choices unless you want to drive into Quincy.
GuideWe tent camped at the campground here a few times. The swimming area is a short walk away. There’s also a second swimming area and a playground within the park that is a quick drive. There is an on-site store and snack shack. We love this place. The kids have a blast. There are clean bathrooms with showers.
Downfalls:: It can get pretty windy and the raccoons and mosquitoes can be pretty pesky. Also one year we went at the end of August during wild fire season so it was a little smokey.
Guide
Pros: river runs behind the group Camp - fun to ride rafts (if it’s not too high/fast) all the way to the lake outlet, big group camp site, many good fishing areas around, group camp feels secluded from the rest of the campground, private bathroom, cabins very close that have air conditioners for those who don’t like tent camping, beautiful lightning lights uo the sky when bad weather comes, good easy hIkes Cons: Weather is very unpredictable - in a week, had sand storm, rain storm, and hot muggy heat
Traveler
Not reaaally a campsite per se, but there are a few spots that can be used for camping. Probably wouldn’t want to tent camp here, not a lot of flat cleared ground, but we found a small clearing that was perfect for a night. No amenities, so bring your own camp stove, tables, chairs, etc. It was very beautiful and private but it’s right off the high way so you can hear traffic all night. Ideal if you’re just looking for somewhere to crash before you get back on the road.
TravelerI 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.
GuideWe stayed at Lake Chelan State Patk and had a wonderful experience. We rode our bicycles, but admittedly not a lot of options away from the road. However, we did a lot of kayaking early and later in the day and had a wonderful time. The water was calm like glass and so clear. We stayed in a tent site which was perfect for our campervan. Although we were next to the boat trailer parking lot, really didn't notice the traffic. Friendly staff and clean restrooms.
Guide
This was our first visit to an RV “resort” and it wasn’t horrible. MarDon has lots of nice amenities but boy is it crowded. If you don’t mind crowds and like the convenience of resort camping MarDon is a good choice.
(Disclaimer: I prefer boondocking and getting as far away from people as possible, so read this review with that in mind.)
MarDon Resort sits on Potholes Reservoir about 16 miles southwest of Moses Lake. The reservoir is massive and offers excellent fishing and water sports. Central Washington gets dry and hot in the summer so come prepared.
The Resort has been around since the 1970s and offers a lot of amenities: full hookup sites, tent sites, monthly rates, marina, restaurant & bar, swimming beach, mini golf, boat & golf cart rentals and more.
Ranger
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
GuideAs others have said, this campground is on the reservoir at Moses Lake, but it is maybe 20-30 minutes from town. There are really several sections to this campground and they each have a different feel. I am not much of a fisherman, and have always stopped here while traveling, but I have always found it relaxing. If you are a fisherman, you will probably love this campground. Otherwise it would be a nice place to spend a weekend relaxing with friends.
The RV sites are separated into groups of circles where the sites radiate off like spokes on a wheel. Tall poplars surround these groups to break up the wind that can really get blowing in this area of the state. The sites themselves are gravel driveways in a grass field. There are trees within each group but there is very little privacy, even though the sites are quite large. These sites have access to a single restroom with flush toilets and showers. However, the restroom is starting to show its age quite badly.
The tent sites are in two loops amongst some trees. These are definitely my favorites spots in the campground. The sites are gravel/dirt driveways in a more rustic and less grassy setting. These sites are not level, so any RV will require some effort if you care about that. Privacy is still not great but it is better than the RV sites. The biggest issue with the tent sites is that the restrooms are pit toilets (I believe, but I didn’t go in).
Guidea short 3 hours from seattle on beautiful lake chelan is the Lake chelan state park at First Creek. This park is about 10 miles from town and has tent sites that are right on the lake, its amazing. There is a boat launch and large swimming area. because chelan is such a lake tourist town in the summer, do not expect that this is a quiet serene camping experience. But if you are looking to come to chelan book your site early. Also the fourth of july fireworks show is directly across the lake from the state park.
GuideThis 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.
Scout
If I could give everyone at Ephrata RV Park more than 5 stars I would!
We stayed at the campground last weekend for a weekend-long concert at the Gorge Amphitheater. The campground was so clean, everyone we interacted with was lovely, and I’m incredibly glad we chose to stay here.
First off, the campground hosts were so accommodating. We checked in on a Friday and spoke with them about going to a show at the Gorge. They swung by our campsite the next morning and gave us a big umbrella to take with us for shade at the Gorge! They often swung by to see how things went, and were so friendly when we popped into the front office as well.
Here’s the really amazing part- we left a set of our car keys at the campsite when we left for home. We were in a rush to leave, and unfortunately didn’t do a final sweep of the site. We spent a whole day after getting home looking for these keys. I called Ephrata the next day and they said they’d be on the lookout. One day later, I get a call back, and they found them! They shipped them off to us in the mail with no second thought, which was SO incredibly kind. We’re originally from California and this is not something we would ever expect someone to do for us! It’s amazing to know that there are kind people in the world still!
The amenities were great as well. The campground is super clean! Clean bathrooms, free showers(!!), clean campsites, and quiet to boot. They have a great little front store that you can grab necessities from, and you can rent stuff for activities around the campground as well. They have a pool, a dog run at the front, tennis court, and more.
We stayed in tent camping site 17. It was the first row of sites, and had some lovely trees with shade. The campsites were all on grass which was nice. The site got nice shade in the morning and late afternoon to keep out of the heat.
It was such a great relief to be able to come here after a long day at the Gorge and enjoy the peace and quiet. We love live music but not the crowd that comes with it so being here was wonderful.
We will 10000% be back here for our next concert at the Gorge, and will recommend anyone we know passing through to stay here as well. This is such a great gem of an RV Park.
Thank you, Ephrata, for the wonderful service and support. You are amazing people and are doing an incredible job!!
LegendThis 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.
This little town fills up in the summer time. The lake is filled with boats and all of the hotels and rentals sell out. This campground is a wonderful place to enjoy the area and set up camp. The campground is fantastic and still goes for dirt cheap rates of $12 for a tent site, they also offer full hook ups for RVs and everything in between if you want an outlet at your camp site.
Good news.. you can reserve your spot in advance. Bad news... the summer months fill up a year in advance so book early. I also recommend going in Spring or Fall when the weather is still warm and dry but there are slightly less crowds.
We stayed in site 65 on the marina and beach loop. I definitely recommend this area over the west loop.
ScoutWe had a great time here. We camped in the tent camping side towards the lake (site 89) and had a decent amount of privacy. There was a stream leading to the lake right behind our site which was beautiful and so relaxing to listen to at night. Only downside was the site is fairly dusty/lots of loose dirt. The kids were covered from head to toe. There is a sprinkler in the middle of the site so we really couldn’t move the picnic table to accommodate our tents better or we would have been tripping over the sprinkler. The site next to us (88) also looked amazing and had a good amount of privacy as well. I recommend booking early. I booked in January (for an early June trip), and it was almost full already. There is no privacy in the grassy spots in the center. Nice swim area with plenty of spots to sit, but fairly rocky so don’t forget your swim shoes. Nice playground and plenty of grassy areas for kids to run and play. Great for families. Everyone around seemed very respectful of the quite times.
Tent camping near Ephrata, Washington, offers a variety of unique experiences for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from scenic views to adventurous activities, there's something for everyone.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ephrata, WA is Frenchman Coulee Backcountry Campsites with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
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