Medical Lake, Washington offers varied camping options within 30 miles of the city center. Located in the eastern part of the state at 2,425 feet elevation, the region experiences hot, dry summers and cold winters with average snowfall of 45 inches annually. The surrounding terrain features rolling hills, scattered lakes, and open prairie landscapes typical of the Columbia Basin.
What to do
Hiking trails nearby: At Fishtrap Recreation Area, campers can access hiking trails directly from the campground. "There's a nice hiking trail behind it. Worth a stop," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions that "there's also a trail that connects off the lot," making it convenient for overnight visitors.
Lake activities: Clear Lake Recreation Area offers numerous water recreation options. "Clear Lake Recreation Area is amazing! The scenery is beautiful, and there are plenty of activities for everyone," says one military family member. Another visitor noted, "Boat, kayak and other equipment rentals, restaurant, bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, fishing dock, swimming area, shaded lawns and picnic tables."
Casino entertainment: For those seeking indoor entertainment, Northern Quest RV Resort provides direct access to gaming. "They have a free shuttle to the casino that runs until Midnight. We went to the casino for supper," reports one camper. The resort makes accessing entertainment simple, as another visitor notes, "You can even rent golf carts for the day to easily travel back and forth."
What campers like
Scenic rural settings: Willow Creek Retreat offers a pastoral camping experience with only 7 sites. Campers appreciate the setting, with one noting it as "Just gorgeous. I loved it here as did my fiancé- being out in a beautiful open space but nestled under a willow tree, sites are nicely spaced out." Another visitor described it as "five acres in a lovely pasture by a creek with large trees."
Free dispersed options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate Hog Lake Campground for its accessibility and cost. "This campsite was the perfect break in our drive from North Cascades to Glacier. The road was easy to find and there were so many great sites," shares one camper. Another visitor notes, "Many of the spots are RV accessible, a decent gravel road goes through the entire area."
Convenience to highways: Several campgrounds offer easy access for travelers passing through. "Nice park with concrete sites available," comments a camper at Northern Quest RV Resort. At Hog Lake, one visitor appreciated that it was "a good spot to stay a night or more," while another called it "a nice place to wake up to."
What you should know
Access restrictions: Some campgrounds limit access to specific groups. At Fairchild AFB FamCamp, "This is a campground on a military base, access is limited to active and retired military." Similarly at Clear Lake Recreation Area, a visitor notes "Military ID required."
Environmental conditions: Weather and terrain vary significantly. At Fishtrap Recreation Area, "The soil is very dry and a couple of the spots were hard rocks and not accessible for tents." Hog Lake presents similar challenges as "It is quite open with no tree so not so great for windy days."
Facilities and amenities: Bathroom facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Ruby's Resort, showers cost "25 cents a minute." Fishtrap offers more primitive facilities, with one camper noting "1 porta potty that when we were here was kinda gross. Use your own if you have one."
Tips for camping with families
Waterfront activities: Families particularly enjoy the lake access at Clear Lake Recreation Area. "Access to water and excellent for some good old fashioned family fun," reports one military family. Another notes the wildlife viewing opportunities: "Be sure to check out the turtles swimming around the dock. Lots of wildlife."
Spacing considerations: At Willow Creek Retreat, "Sites are big and grassy. Relaxed and quiet place," which works well for families needing space to spread out. However, at Ruby's Resort, one family noted, "Sites are quite small."
Noise factors: Several campgrounds have external noise that might affect light sleepers or napping children. At Hog Lake, "there's kind of a weird vibe," while at Willow Creek, a camper mentioned, "there were 2 airports and a railroad nearby, all in operation."
Tips from RVers
Site sizing: Large RVs need to check site compatibility first. At Ruby's Resort, one RVer warns, "Definitely not made for big rigs or 40'. Smaller campers only." In contrast, Riverside State Park's Bowl and Pitcher Campground is described as "a larger campground great for RV, trailers and tents."
Hookup variations: Northern Quest RV Resort offers full hookups on concrete pads. "Nice level concrete slabs," mentions one RVer. Meanwhile, at Fairchild AFB FamCamp, a visitor notes it has "RV Park is nice, but not much shade. It is fairly close to base amenities."
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging at some dispersed sites. At Fishtrap, a camper reports, "Road is decent, the 02 Outback handled them loaded. The spaces are all different, some more level than others."
