Onalaska, Washington provides a range of campground options within a heavily forested region of southwestern Washington. Several developed campgrounds dot the landscape around Mayfield Lake and Riffe Lake, including Ike Kinswa State Park, Paradise RV Campground, and Mossyrock Park. The camping options range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV hookups, with many locations also offering cabin rentals and glamping accommodations. Most established campgrounds in this region operate throughout the year, though amenities and accessibility may vary seasonally.
Many campgrounds in the Onalaska area feature water and electric hookups, though the quality and reliability can differ between locations. A review mentioned, "Some sites are beautiful with woods separating the sites and level spaces. Others are in the open with very slanted spaces. Cell reception is sketchy at best." The mixed-use campgrounds typically offer amenities like showers, toilets, and picnic tables, with several providing boat-in access for water recreation. During summer months, sites fill quickly, particularly on weekends, making advance reservations advisable for popular locations like Lewis & Clark State Park and Thousand Trails properties.
The camping experience near Onalaska highlights the region's natural features, with old-growth forests and multiple lakes creating scenic backdrops for outdoor recreation. Several campgrounds provide direct lake access, making water activities a prominent feature. "This campgrounds has an awesome swimming area with three pools," noted one visitor about Paradise RV Campground, while others emphasized the fishing opportunities at various locations. The tent and RV sites throughout the area offer varying degrees of privacy, from densely wooded settings at Lewis & Clark State Park to more open layouts at Thousand Trails Chehalis. Family-friendly amenities appear common at larger campgrounds, with activities like mini-golf, swimming pools, and nature trails available at several locations. Campers seeking quieter experiences might prefer the smaller, more remote options like Winston Creek Campground.
"One of my favorite campgrounds in Washington! Lots of camping spots right on Lake Mayfield with tons of trails in and around the campground."
"Let me start off by saying - if there are so many campsites in Washington, why would you want to stay at the same place multiple times??? Ike Kinswa is the place I would stay at repeatedly."
"Thousand Trails Chehalis We stay two nights from August 31st through September 2, 2019 in campsite H43, the price was$o.oo due to our Thousand Trails membership."
"We paid, then they let us drive around until we found a spot to our liking. They have RV hookups and everything, but they also have primitive camping sites for tents with river access."
"I love Seaquest for their beautiful campsites and the proximity to a wonderful forest to bathe in."
"I gave this park a high rating primarily because of its location."
"It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."
"Walking distance to the day use beach area. Very clean showers. Well maintained sites and fire wood for sale with the camp host. A great spot for exploring near Mt. Rainer."
$12 - $45 / night
"To the west are these beautiful sites, facilities, and walking trails. In the morning, we hiked the old growth loop prior to resuming our journey."
"We got to this campground on a Saturday evening, around 5pm, and got the last first-come spot. It was a nice spot to stay for a night and the campsite was quite large."
$30 - $40 / night
"Our spot was very quiet, some of the upper level spots seem close to highway."
"Water sites are magical, park facilities are amazing- clean bathrooms/showers, playground and swim are for kids-just a small trail away from camping area, plan ahead and get your own waterfront camp site"
"This was a very nice Thousand Trails. We stay two nights from September 13th through September 16, 2019, in campsite 187, the stay was free due to our Thousand Trails membership."
"This camping is great if you do not mind having others near you or if you are fearful of venturing out alone. If you are looking for a secluded location, this is NOT the spot."
"Driving through and tried to book online day of but you’re not able to. Called in and employee told me there was plenty of camping if we showed up late."
"We were in site #5, it was a bit tight to get our Jayco 174BH backed in due to the angle of the site and the path around the campground is very narrow. "
$25 - $40 / night
"Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance. The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees. "
"The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."
TravelerComing off the main road onto what might be an old logging road there are 3 spots to pull off into for camping one spot is pretty big can get two or three vehicles in it. Down the road is a trail head. Busy area for hiking. Kinda scetchy but not to bad if needed in a pinch. Verizon cell service is decent
ScoutWell, it started out pretty bad as our newly purchased RV broke down right b4 the park, then my car wouldn't start do to an ignition problem, the owners here couldn't have been more sweet , they were concerned for us and wanted the best for us, we did get both vehicles back up and running and stayed here at the park for a week, they let my husband use their latter to get moss off the roof of the RV, everyone here was super nice, I would definitely recommend stopping by and staying a night or two, very peaceful and so beautiful to look at, also clean restrooms always a plus.
TravelerWe weren't impressed when we camped here several years ago & haven't returned. We stopped in only to dump our tanks, since the RV dumps at Scatter Creek Rest Area, LOTT downtown, & Pilot Travel Center all were closed. Instead of charging $10 or $15 to dump like most places, they charged $40. When asked why, "...it's policy. Nothing i can do about it."
Nope. That's an "i couldn't care less" answer from a couldn't-care-less employee who works for a couldn't-care-less business.
ScoutPeople here aren’t friendly.
GuideThis road the site is on has a lot of traffic on the weekend day I stayed. No cell service. Fire ring but burn ban right now. Road wasn’t bad getting here. A couple of rougher spots. Many sites along this road. Many that are tucked back. So a little less road noise and dust. Very busy area.
GuidePlenty of spaces to park on and off pavement. Right next to the water if that's your thing. There was a bathroom in the parking lot but I never went to see if it was clean or even unlocked but I doubt it gets cleaned often. After sunset there were people coming in and out of the lot until late at night, doing weird stuff in the woods and shining lights in people's cars. Signs say no tent camping yet there were semi-permanent looking tents in the grass with trash strewn about. Siren went off at the fish hatchery up the road early in the morning and woke me up. Overall it's a decent place to stop overnight off I-5 but don't count on getting a good night's sleep
ScoutWell it’s not bad, the store is very under stocked. Staff is nice. We have been here just over 24hrs and have had 36 trains go by, our site is less than 20 yards from the tracks, which are not showed when you book online. The fact that the sites aren’t clearly identified with pavement and are nearly all overgrown gravel it’s a bit disappointing and no fire pits/rings. Majority of campers are long term residents and spread throughout the park rather than in a section or a single area. Our picnic table is crumbling and unusable. Ok in a pinch but we will not return.
TravelerWe imagine this is a busy place in the summer, but we enjoyed a quiet camp spot for the night. Paid $55 for the spot with electric hookup for our van, and extra vehicle. Very spacious site. Several other rv campers, but all were quiet and respectful.
TravelerWe stayed at this horse camp in early April because all other area campgrounds were closed until May. What a lucky find! We were the only ones there. Pit toilets were clean enough. The best part about this campground is the trail to Lewis River falls! Will definitely return here. No way to reserve in April, so stayed for free.
Onalaska camping areas sit at an elevation between 500-800 feet above sea level in the Cascade foothills. The region experiences mild summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season with evening lows in the 50s. Most campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop below freezing with occasional snow between November and March.
Kayaking at lakefront spots: Waterfront sites at Mayfield Lake Park give direct boat access right from your campsite. "We were able to reserve a lakefront spot. We were able to beach our boat right in front of our spot," notes Russ H. The park features a dedicated swim area and boat launch with ample trailer parking.
Old-growth forest hiking: The Lewis & Clark State Park Campground offers beautiful walking trails through ancient cedar forests. One camper shared, "This is a lovely park with beautiful trails that wind through very large, old growth cedar forests." The trails are well-marked and suitable for all hiking ability levels, with interpretive signs explaining the forest ecology.
Fishing at stocked ponds: Thousand Trails Paradise offers fishing in stocked ponds that children particularly enjoy. "My grandson loves coming here with us the two ponds they stock with fish," mentions John O. Fishing licenses aren't required for children under 15, but adults need Washington state fishing permits.
Private, wooded sites: Ike Kinswa State Park Campground offers campsites with good separation between neighbors. "Large sites that are pretty private. Lots of shade and trees," reports Caitlyn R. Many campsites feature water views and have designated tent pads with level, prepared surfaces.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds around Onalaska maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. At Elkamp Eastcreek, "The bathrooms were always clean. There's designated dish washing station and potable water station," according to Sarah Claire B. Most campgrounds charge $0.50-$1.00 for 3-5 minute showers.
Family activities: Recreation options range from swimming areas to game facilities. "This campground has an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, one 6ft, and one wading pool. Also has a large spa," mentions Pamela H. about Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground. Many sites also feature playgrounds, basketball courts, and organized activities during summer months.
Reservation requirements: Summer weekends fill quickly at campgrounds near Onalaska. "My favorite Washington State Park... the biggest downfall is that this place books up so fast. Make reservations early," advises Rick S. about Ike Kinswa. Most sites open reservations 9 months in advance with booking fees around $8-10.
Water conditions: Water quality and access varies seasonally. At Alder Lake, a camper noted, "The dam in Tacoma was partially drained causing a 'low tide' which exposed the dirt and poor beach area... usually when water is at normal level the beach is all sand and water is clean and clear." Call ahead to check current conditions, especially in late summer.
Cell reception: Winston Creek Campground and other remote sites have limited connectivity. "There was pretty much no cell service there from Verizon. I would occasionally get an alert of a new email, but was never able to refresh," reports Doug. Download offline maps before arrival as GPS signals can be unreliable.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play equipment. At Seaquest State Park Campground, "My kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks don't have this and it kept them entertained for hours," mentions Mary C. The playgrounds typically accommodate children ages 5-12 with nearby restroom facilities.
Junior Ranger programs: Educational activities run during summer months. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained," shares Ashley B. about Seaquest. Programs typically run Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00pm during peak season.
Kid-friendly swimming: Several lakefront campgrounds offer protected swim areas. One visitor at Ike Kinswa State Park mentioned, "This is a beautiful camp ground on Mayfield lake there is something for everyone here. It has a large swimming area, hiking trails, playgrounds." Most swimming areas lack lifeguards, so parental supervision is required.
Site levelness varies: Check campground maps carefully when booking. "Some sites are beautiful with woods separating the sites and level spaces. Others are in the open with very slanted spaces," notes Ella T. about Thousand Trails Chehalis. Many campgrounds provide site-specific details online including length, width, and slope information.
Power reliability: Electrical service can fluctuate at certain campgrounds. "The power was really variable. Sometimes it would spike to 130 volts and then drop suddenly to 110," warns Marnie G. RVers should bring surge protectors and consider running on battery power if fluctuations occur.
Campsite access challenges: Navigate carefully when arriving at forested campgrounds. At Winston Creek, one RVer noted, "It was a bit tight to get our Jayco 174BH backed in due to the angle of the site and the path around the campground is very narrow. I would not want to come in here with anything much bigger than our little 20 footer." Call ahead to confirm turning radius measurements for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Onalaska, Washington?
Onalaska, Washington is surrounded by several excellent camping options within a short drive. Mayfield Lake Park offers both boat-in and drive-in access with full amenities and big-rig-friendly sites. Nearby Mossyrock Park provides multiple access options including hiking and walking trails. For more rustic camping, Winston Creek Campground offers a free drive-in option with water available. If you're looking for an alternative close to Onalaska, Lewis & Clark State Park Campground near Winlock provides both boat-in and drive-in camping opportunities with water and toilet facilities.
What amenities do Onalaska campgrounds offer for visitors?
Campgrounds around Onalaska offer diverse amenities to suit various camping preferences. Seaquest State Park Campground features beautiful wooded tent sites, RV hookups, clean bathhouses, covered shelters, and a large playground area. The park also offers easy access to Silver Lake and the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Rainbow Falls State Park Campground provides water and toilet facilities in a scenic riverside setting. Many campgrounds in the region include amenities like potable water, restroom facilities, picnic tables, and fire rings. The more developed sites typically offer electrical hookups for RVs, while more rustic options focus on natural surroundings with basic facilities.
Is The All In Lounge near camping areas in Onalaska?
While specific information about The All In Lounge's proximity to Onalaska camping isn't available in the reviews, the area has several camping options nearby that would make visiting the lounge feasible. Thousand Trails Chehalis offers a convenient base with full amenities including water and toilets. Beaver Bay Campground is another option in the general region, approximately 45 minutes east of I-5, known for being clean and well-maintained with easy access to Yale Lake. For the most accurate information about proximity to The All In Lounge, it's recommended to contact the lounge directly or check online mapping services to determine exact distances from your preferred camping location.
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