Best Tent Camping near Clarkston, WA
Tent campgrounds surrounding Clarkston, Washington range from riverside sites to elevated forest settings in the surrounding Palouse region. Blyton Landing offers tent sites along the water with boat-in access, while Kamiak Butte County Park provides established tent camping with picnic tables, drinking water, and toilets approximately 40 miles north of Clarkston. Both locations accommodate tent campers with fire pits and basic amenities.
Most tent sites in the Clarkston area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal to no site preparation. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with many campgrounds offering vault toilets but limited drinking water. Campers should pack all necessary water or filtration equipment, especially at primitive sites like Big Springs Campground and Teal. Fire restrictions apply seasonally throughout the region, particularly during summer months when wildfire danger increases. According to one visitor, "Teal camp offers two vault bathrooms maintained by the forest service. This is a pack it in pack it out area."
The tent camping experience near Clarkston includes varied terrain and weather conditions. Many sites provide good tree cover for shade during hot summer days, though temperatures can fluctuate dramatically. A camper noted that Blyton Landing "gets real cold at night" despite being "super pretty" with abundant wildlife. Tent campsites in this region typically offer more seclusion than developed RV areas, particularly at locations like Teal and Panjab Campground. These tent-focused areas provide access to nearby hiking trails and fishing opportunities, with several campgrounds positioned near streams or the Snake River. Most tent campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation systems in place. Wildlife encounters are common at tent sites throughout the area, with chipmunks frequently visiting campsites at Kamiak Butte County Park and larger wildlife active near riverside locations.
