C
Chandler K.
Guide
GuideGrandy Lake Campground
Clean but very dense camping
This site is clean and there are good level sites available. However, it’s quite dense and you will have no privacy if you have neighbors.
Camping near Gold Bar, WA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several campgrounds surround Gold Bar, Washington, each with its own character. Denny Creek Campground draws many hikers who use it as a base for trails leading to nearby waterfalls. Near Snoqualmie Pass, Tinkham Campground sits among the thick green forests that define this part of the Northwest. Campers who want to fish often pick Beckler River Campground, which runs alongside the water and has good spots to watch for wildlife. Remember that Tinkham doesn't have drinking water, so you'll need to bring your own. Summer brings the best weather for camping in this area, but also brings more people, particularly on weekends when folks drive out from Seattle and nearby cities. If you're heading to Bedal Campground, know that the gravel roads getting there can be rough in places. While getting to some sites takes extra effort, most campers find the mountain views and outdoor activities worth it. It's always smart to look up current rules and check the weather forecast before you pack up your gear.
Best Campgrounds near Gold Bar (256)
1. Tolt MacDonald Park, WA
"The campground is next to a classy laundromat, and I say classy because it’s probably one of the nicest laundromats in the area that even has a dumpsite for RVs."
"The campground is in 500+ acre Tolt-McDonald Park, far enough away from any busy road so that there is no traffic noise, just the sound of the Tolt River rapids."
2. Verlot Campground
"Stopped through here on a trip around the mountain loop. This is in a great location being accessible from the city but near all the great trails in the area."
"This amazing little campground on mountain loop highway has it all."
from $32 - $72 / night
Check Availability3. Thousand Trails Thunderbird
"This is a good campground just off Hyway 2 and on the river, some site are directly next to the river, however, we choose a site on the other side of the road due to the full hookup there."
4. Flowing Lake Park & Campground
"This is a nice campground with semi private sites, several of which are generous sized with walking trails, and trails to the lake. Lots of trees for privacy."
"Very close to several Walmarts and grocery stores."
5. Wallace Falls State Park Campground
"We arrived and only had hammocks to camp in and the two walk up sites did not provides trees to manage our hammocks."
"For the avid hiker & camper, two lakes are available for camping by permit a couple miles past the upper falls."
from $12 - $88 / night
Check Availability6. Beckler River Campground
"I headed to this campground with the intention of grabbing a site, it was around 3pm on a Saturday so I figured I was out of luck and continued on down the road to look for a spot to camp next to the river"
"My site was not so good because it was close to the others (luckily no one was there) it was also next to the Dumpster and the Toilets. Otherwise it was good."
from $32 - $68 / night
Check Availability7. Middle Fork Campground
"The river is only a five minute walk away, and we spent most of one day there. I was very surprised by how quiet it was for only being an hour outside of Seattle."
"The campground was quiet, not too crowded (Sunday - Tuesday) and so close to many trails. A quick walk to the river was a nice way to finish the day."
from $32 - $96 / night
Check Availability8. Cascades RV Resort
"Gas stations and McDonalds next to the resort 1 mile from town of Sultan"
from $65 - $95 / night
Check Availability9. Money Creek Campground
"Near enough to Seattle, but feels far away. Yes, there are trains, reserve away from the sites closest to the tracks if that bothers you."
"It’s not a long drive from the city of Seattle. You have the river to play with in the hot summer days and have enough room to play around your site."
from $32 - $76 / night
Check Availability10. Evergreen State Fairgrounds
"It has water and 30 amp power at all spots with access to a dump station. You are limited to 7 nights per month. It's right next to the fairgrounds so you have all the sounds that come with that."
"Notable considerations, near racetrack ongoing races and trials usually quiets down early evening this time of year. Great place to go adventure for the day. A couple major stores to stock up on."
from $35 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 48 min from Seattle, WA
- 1 hr from Mount Vernon, WA
- 1 hr 40 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr 41 min from Wenatchee, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Gold Bar, WA
414 Photos of 256 Gold Bar Campgrounds
Les R.
Index Town Wall Parking Area
The Dyrt
Thousand Trails Thunderbird
Pam W.
Duvalla
Jared M.
Troublesome Creek Campground
Sarah P.
Red Bridge Campground
Amanda M.
San Juan Campground
Lynn K.
Flowing Lake Park & Campground
Dene H.
Gold Basin Campground
Libby W.
Money Creek Campground
Saraj B.
The Wolf and the Raven
Megan C.
Gothic Basin
Courtney P.
Verlot Campground
Recent Reviews near Gold Bar, WA
1256 Reviews of 256 Gold Bar Campgrounds
Lee D.
LegendLake Pleasant RV Park
A lake, but geese, ducks, and birds!
General: 230-site RV park. Some sites are back-in, some pull-through. Some are lakefront. All are FHU. There is also one yurt.
Site Quality: Paved camper pad on level sites. Unlike most other RV parks, there is some foliage separating the sites, providing a modicum of privacy. We chose a lakefront site, but I think the pull-thru sites in the far rear of the park might have been a better choice (less geese traffic!).
Bath/Shower: There is a large main bathroom with showers near the office. At the rear of the property, there are five bathrooms, each with a toilet, sink, and shower; one of these is ADA accessible. When we arrived late Saturday afternoon, two of these had no toilet paper, and one had no soap. I did see they were being attended to in the evening. Also, no hooks or shelves to put toiletries on. There was often water on the floor in these units, I’m guessing from the showers. The main bathrooms at the front are MUCH nicer, but about a third of a mile walk from the rear sites.
Activities/Amenities: Catch and release fishing. A couple of miles of hiking trails around the perimeter of the campground. These are paved, gravel, or grass, and hilly! The road around the campground is just about a mile and flat, so it was good to run laps if that is your thing (good for me!). Amenities include: a playground, laundry ($2 each for washer and dryer), recycling, a library (I was happy to pick up a book on my to-read list), a dog run, and propane. The lake is nice, but there is a lot of algae, and swimming is not allowed. There are about two dozen geese that roam freely around, leaving goose poop wherever they go! I did see someone watering down the goose by-product on Monday morning, so the staff does work to mitigate this situation. Also ducks, birds, and even bunnies and snails.
As far as RV parks go, this is one of the nicer ones we have stayed at (and less expensive than some). It is convenient to the Seattle area. It is well-tended to; there are flower baskets throughout the property. One star deducted for the bathrooms at the rear of the property.
Hillary F.
TravelerLake Easton State Park Campground
Easton Lake State Park
Nice and clean. Dog and people friendly. Clean restrooms and a quiet walk to the river.
Ruth S.
ScoutBeckler River Campground
Quiet campground on the river
It's beautiful here. Some of the sites are quite close, but I'm enjoying the stop over.
- SSophia P.Scout
Icicle Rd RV Camping
Awesome spot
Pretty sweet spot, right off the road and huge for RVs, not very secluded so a decent amount Of road noise.
Jacquie B.GuideLake Pleasant RV Park
Quiet and clean, d
This is a nice park, clean and quiet. But the draw back is the sites are small, there are bushes between the sites to give some privacy. It is camping in a parking lot. I don't believe you can have campfires. Kids have no place on their site to play so play in the street. More than once I had to honk at them to get them out of the way.
Great location for me, I was visiting my daughter who lives in Seattle.
The park was clean, they wash the goose poop off the sites, but still watch where you step. It is very high priced but they are the only game in town.
d
Yasir A.GuideCabin Creek Dispersed Camping
Peaceful spot — push a bit farther for the best river sites!
The area is incredibly quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. If you're heading out here, I highly encourage continuing past the main entrance spots and pushing a little farther down the road/trail. Camping closer to the water makes for an even better experience—waking up next to the river sound and scenery is well worth the extra bit of effort. Great dispersed location for anyone looking to unplug and enjoy nature!
Marian B.TravelerEnumclaw Expo Center RV Park
Nice little Campground for a short stay
Campground has nice paved spots, but they are very close to each other, so don't expect much privacy.
It sits behind a smal stadium.
For the restrooms and shower you'll have to walk pretty far. These are just simple ones, like in a sportsclub usual. Shower is warm enouth but not hot (for my wife it was not hot enough).
Camphost is very friendly and will help you, if needed. We came in at about 8:30 pm without a reservation, she helped us with the booking and all went good.
45 $ per night with electric and water hookup.
MariScoutFay Bainbridge Park
$25 a night - not bad
For the price it’s pretty good. $25 a night! There’s a bathroom and a porta potty close by the campsite but no sink. You have to park in a close parking lot not at your site which we would prefer. Our site was very slanted and hard. Lots of bunnies hopping about. The only lone women’s shower is down near the beach. Same with the men’s. The beach is beautiful but covered in tiny thorns of some kind so don’t wear sandles or flip flops!! It will hurt you! The ocean is beautiful of course but lots of kelp so no swimming for us.
Guide to Gold Bar
Camping sites near Gold Bar, Washington offer diverse experiences amid western hemlock forests at elevations between 500-1,500 feet. The Skykomish River basin provides natural waterway access for campers, with seasonal differences affecting site selection. Roads can be challenging during winter months when snowfall accumulates at higher elevations.
What to do
River activities: Flowing Lake Park & Campground provides easy water access with a swimming area. "The swimming area is also just rock and mud. A few loads of sand would make it infinitely better," notes Ryan O., highlighting that despite imperfections, many visitors enjoy cooling off during summer months.
Hiking trails: Wallace Falls State Park Campground connects to numerous trails for day hikers. Josiah P. mentions, "The hike to Wallace Falls (lower & upper) is moderate & enjoyable. The 'wooded hike' meanders along the Wallace River, which is said to have salmon & steelhead in August."
Fishing opportunities: Troublesome Creek Campground offers river access for anglers. "The granite lined riverbed is truly spectacular," writes Tracie W., while other reviewers mention salmon and steelhead fishing opportunities throughout the area waterways.
What campers like
Private sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at Beckler River Campground. "Each site had good privacy considering how many spots there were. Best spots were along the river," shares Cassandra C., reflecting the common preference for riverside spots.
River sounds: The natural sound barrier of flowing water enhances the camping experience. At Money Creek Campground, campers mention, "If you stay right on the river, it drowns out some of the sound," which refers to the nearby train noise that some find disruptive.
Cell reception: Unlike more remote locations, several camping areas maintain reasonable connectivity. At Middle Fork Campground, the accessibility combines with modern conveniences. Jules R. notes, "The roads leading in from I90 were passable but confusing with 'Road Closed' signage when the road wasn't actually closed."
What you should know
Train proximity: Money Creek Campground sites experience train noise throughout the night. Brian N. warns, "The site is pretty. However, don't plan on sleeping if you are in a tent. Trains go by many times in the night and they woke us up."
Water sources: Not all campgrounds maintain reliable water access. At Troublesome Creek Campground, Tracie W. reports, "Unfortunately there is no water right now for some unknown reason. Signage at the water spigot directed campers to a campground down the road."
Reservation requirements: Verlot Campground sites fill quickly during peak season. Kyna M. advises, "I was there mid-week, early season, so I had it pretty much to myself," suggesting timing flexibility improves your chances of securing a spot.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Family-friendly amenities vary between locations. Mindy P. points out that Flowing Lake Park has "the most amazing playground" making it suitable for younger campers who need recreation options beyond natural features.
Seasonal berry picking: Several campgrounds offer natural snacking opportunities. At Middle Fork Campground, Dan P. shares, "There were so many berries around the camp and we could literally sit in camp and pick blue berries," which provides a fun activity for children.
River safety: Water access requires supervision at most locations. "The dogs loved playing in the river! In August the river is down so we weren't able to use our kayaks but just wading in the river was awesome all by itself," explains Bethany G. about Beckler River Campground, highlighting seasonal water level changes.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through sites: Thousand Trails Thunderbird offers dedicated RV camping with various hookups. Robert K. notes, "We choose a site on the other side of the road due to the full hookup there. The campground has some Semi Permanent residents so we felt a little like we were intruding."
Leveling ease: Several sites require minimal setup adjustments. Russ H. mentions about Tolt MacDonald Park, "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through, it's fairly quiet."
Dump station access: Plan your water management carefully. Tracy P. points out, "Riverside no sewer hookups but have dump station by where you check in. Perfect to check in dump if you stay on river side."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV-friendly camping options in Gold Bar, WA?
Are there RV-friendly camping options in Gold Bar, WA?
Gold Bar and the surrounding area offer several RV-friendly options. Cascades RV Resort provides full hookups, level sites, and big-rig access close to Gold Bar. For those seeking a balance between amenities and nature, Lake Pleasant RV Park is within driving distance and offers competitive rates with nice facilities, including a man-made duck pond. While not directly in Gold Bar, Flowing Lake Park & Campground near Snohomish is another option with big-rig friendly sites and water/electric hookups. Many RVers also use the Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 2, though these typically offer fewer amenities with no hookups and may have limited space for larger rigs.
Where are the best camping spots in Gold Bar, Washington?
Where are the best camping spots in Gold Bar, Washington?
Gold Bar offers excellent access to scenic camping opportunities in the Cascade foothills. Verlot Campground provides sites along the river that are popular with campers, though sites near the highway may experience some traffic noise. For a more secluded experience, Wallace Falls State Park Campground offers walk-in sites near the famous waterfall trails. Just a short drive from Gold Bar, Index Town Wall Parking Area is popular with climbers who set up tents or sleep in vehicles, with easy access to Index's general store. The surrounding area also offers several Forest Service campgrounds like Money Creek and Beckler River for those willing to venture slightly further from town.
What amenities are available at Gold Bar campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Gold Bar campgrounds?
Campgrounds near Gold Bar typically offer basic to moderate amenities depending on the location. Beckler River Campground provides potable water, vault toilets, and fire rings at each site. Some sites are large enough to accommodate bigger camping setups. For more developed facilities, Lake Wenatchee State Park Campground is within driving distance and features pay showers, well-maintained restrooms, and river access. Most Forest Service campgrounds in the area offer picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. Campgrounds closer to town may have cell service, while those deeper in the forest typically have limited or no connectivity. Always check seasonal availability as some amenities like water may be turned off during winter months.
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