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Campgrounds in and around Pateros, Washington range from established state parks to free dispersed sites, with options for tent and RV camping along the Columbia and Methow Rivers. Alta Lake State Park offers developed camping with full hookups, picnic tables, and showers, while more primitive options include the Secret Camping Spot and Methow River Fishing Access areas. The region features both waterfront camping with swimming beaches and higher-elevation sites with mountain views, providing varied experiences within a 30-minute drive of downtown Pateros.
Road access varies throughout the area, with most established campgrounds accessible by standard vehicles, while some dispersed sites may require higher clearance. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Alta Lake State Park typically open from April to October and Lake Chelan State Park available from March to November. "This is nothing fancy. A gravel parking lot by a little lake. But it's free and there's a toilet," noted one visitor about the Methow River Fishing Access. Summer temperatures can reach the 90s, making lakeside camping popular for swimming opportunities, though sites with shade are limited in some areas due to past forest fires.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Alta Lake State Park where some sites offer private beach access. Campers should be aware that developed campgrounds can become crowded, especially on summer weekends when motorized boats are common on the lakes. A visitor remarked, "We had a tent site up on the hill that was semi-private with beautiful views. Plenty of birds to wake you with the sunrise." The free dispersed camping areas provide basic amenities like vault toilets but lack drinking water or developed sites. City Park camping in Pateros offers convenient access to shops and restaurants but provides minimal privacy. Most RV parks and state campgrounds in the area recommend reservations during the peak summer season from June through September.
"The park itself is really well maintained, and in a beautiful location. The lake and surrounding hills were beautiful."
"Alta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side). It was away from the main area, parking lots, boat launch or store, so pretty quiet."
"With that being said the walk in sites along the lake are amazing. The walk in on most of them is not much more than a normal site (down a few steps)."
"Cost=$30-$40, reservable through Washington State Parks."
"I chose a beautiful spot overlooking the lake and close to a vault toilet. It was clean and well stocked. There was also a dumpster."
"Tons of wildlife, wild flowers, hiking trails and all around good views. If you're looking to avoid the crowds I would advise going in the middle of the week to atleast claim your site!"
"This is just a large gravel parking lot off the side of the highway. Next to a river though so not bad if you wanted to bathe or swim in the morning. Also has a vault bathroom."
"It has rest rooms and is in a nice location."
"This is a great glampround right by Chelan, I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t right off the highway, we like to go for walks and bike rides with our kids and the location limited us to just the"
"We had a site next to the river. The grass was well maintained and the entire part was inviting looking. Our site had a small pebbled beach area."
"This tiny Park nestled in the city along the waterfront boasts several docks, a playground, parking for up to maybe four RVs, toilets and showers, a kick-ass bakery within walking distance with great drinks"
"Next to Hwy and behind tall bushes. Vault bathrooms 1/4 mile down the road. Pretty quiet spot even though 300 yards from highway."
from $47 / night
Check Availability"Also very nice swimming Cove around the corner and playground for the kids. We found a camp staff and host to be super friendly and helpful."
"Right next to the creek where all you hear is the creek running past you. It muffled the noise from our camp neighbors up above us which was really nice at night."
ScoutThis is a place to bring your family camping. It is not a free place for druggies to carry on like trash. North West forest passes not accepted. 24$ a night camping, 8 people per site max, 3 cars per site max. America the Beautiful Senior passes = 1/2 price.Day use applies to anyone that is not a camper. 11$ a day. These fees pay to keep this park open and patrolled.
GuideTwo sections. Not sure what it is called. Site 3 right on the water. Level. Stayed on a Monday night. Only a few other campers here. Trees around this pull in made it feel even cozier.
Traveler25’ RV. No problems getting in, road was a little rough. Just be patient, it’s about a mile or so to get back in there. Our weather was dry so no muddy road issues. There were several others camping, with lots of room between camps. Had one camp that looked long term. And they ran their generator well into the evening. And sound does travel a long way across water.
GuideEasy access, compact if full, but in early June not full. 5:45 Pacific time. We chose site 43 with a little shade. Bathrooms, trash, right beside us and there is a dump somewhere, but we didn’t need it. Reservation only via Recreation.gov. We confirmed and paid right from the site. ****Be sure and grab a card upon entering to fill out with reservation number to clip on the site number post. We failed to do so but fortunately a camp host person was riding by and stopped next to us so we grabbed one from him!! Entrance isn’t that close to camping. Picnic table for most of the sites. Quiet. Comfortable temperatures early June.
ScoutIt was ok don't like the fact that we had to park our vehicle so far away from campsite because it was a bitch to get to camping area
ScoutI’m impressed by the service and park maintenance
GuideFirst time staying at this beautiful State Park. We have a 28ft camper and tow truck and fit perfectly in site 177. It is pretty private because of the shrubbery and has a direct path to the restrooms. This site has no hookups but there is a dump station with potable water where we filled up and we have solar panels for most of our needs. We also have an EV truck so we just hooked up to it and used it for all of our power needs. To conserve water usage we showered daily in the public showers which were some of the nicest showers in a state park I've ever seen. There was no fee to use them. Site 177 has a nice open view of the sky and gets plenty of sunshine. Some of the other sites are much shadier but with starlink we prefer an open site and temps still dipped into the 30s at night so the warm sun was appreciated during the day. The trail is very easy to access at multiple points and is terrific for families and pets. There is also a playground near the restrooms on the north loop were our site was. Firewood is also available through the ranger station. We had no issues with mosquitos as it was still quite cool and windy. Beware the chipmunks though. They get into everything left out. There are also active bear warnings so no food left outside. We saw plenty of their poop on the trail but never encountered one. Leavenworth is about half an hour away if you want to make a day trip or need supplies.
GuideWhen you turn in there is a road to the left with sites along it. If you go straight there is private property. Turning right is a loop back to where you started. Anyways, the sites are large and well spaced. The road is narrow and turning around in a large vehicle would be difficult. It’s right above the river and close to Leavenworth! Worked great for a night in my van. No one else was here. Requires a NW Forest Pass- though no one was checking. There are pull-in and tent sites available. Large rock campfire rings. There is a vault toilet at the beginning to the right of the sign.
ScoutPerfect dispersed area for open camping with plenty of room for tents or campers.
Camping near Pateros, Washington offers options nestled between the Columbia and Methow Rivers at an elevation of 775 feet. Summer temperatures regularly reach 90-100°F with minimal rainfall during camping season, creating hot, dry conditions that make water-based recreation especially popular. Most campgrounds operate from late spring through early fall, with varying levels of amenities and accessibility.
Fishing from shore or dock: At Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, anglers can access lake fishing, though space is limited. "There's so much to say about this little park... It's family friendly, off grid as far as cell service goes, has amazing views, and lots to do in the area," notes a former park employee.
Water recreation options: Lake Chelan State Park offers rental equipment for paddling enthusiasts. "Amazing dock system and access to the lake, great day use area where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards," reports one camper, who also noted the convenience of "a small store with hot food, milkshakes and some floaties."
Swimming in cooler waters: Some locations offer better swimming than others. "Alta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side)... it had a trail down to a small open sandy stretch of beach that was basically our own private beach," shares one visitor who enjoyed the refreshing water during August heat.
Spacious sites away from crowds: At Antilon Lake Campground, visitors appreciate the secluded nature during certain times. "If you're looking to enjoy Chelan but avoid the town, Antilon is just the place! Extremely peaceful. Tons of wildlife, wild flowers, hiking trails and all around good views," states one camper who recommends midweek visits to secure preferred sites.
Well-maintained facilities: The grounds at Beebe Bridge Park receive consistent praise. "The grounds are immaculately kept, the bathrooms are thoroughly cleaned everyday, and the location is great! It's about 5-10 minutes from Lake Chelan that has all kinds of foods and services if you need anything," explains a long-time visitor who returns annually.
Waterfront access and views: Multiple campgrounds provide waterfront sites with distinctive advantages. "We had a site next to the river. The grass was well maintained and the entire part was inviting looking. Our site had a small pebbled beach area. It was enjoyable to sit by the river and watch the sunset," reports a visitor who appreciated the river views.
Fire bans and restrictions: During summer months, fire restrictions are common. "There are campground sections before where it's 'designated' on the map - we picked one that seemed a little bit away from the main dusty road. Lots of sand and dust, and fire ban in effect," notes a July visitor to Antilon Lake.
Insect activity varies by location: Some campgrounds have significant insect populations. "BRING BUG SPRAY!!! After setting up our tent and bunking down for the night we found probably 100 mosquitoes INSIDE of the tent. We were able to kill them all but spent the rest of the night listening to thousands of mosquitoes fly at all sides of the tent," warns one camper about their experience.
Road conditions to dispersed sites: Access to some locations requires preparation. "If you're going to follow Google Maps instructions fully you're going to need an ATV. If not you will definitely get stuck in one of many holes and/or moon dust," cautions a visitor to dispersed camping areas, suggesting alternate routes to avoid vehicle problems.
Look for designated swim areas: Some parks have dedicated swimming areas better suited for children. At Secret Camping Spot #1, facilities are minimal but provide basics. "Next to Hwy and behind tall bushes. Vault bathrooms 1/4 mile down the road. Pretty quiet spot even though 300 yards from highway," notes a visitor who found this free overnight location suitable.
Consider amenities for extended stays: Parks with additional facilities can enhance longer trips. "This was our first time at Lake Chelan since we our new to the PNW. We wanted to go somewhere for Mothers Day since the weather was going to be beautiful! With this being our son (who is two) first official camping trip we wanted to make sure there would be stuff to keep him occupied."
Check playground availability: Some parks include play structures. "Ball fields, tennis and basketball courts. The restrooms that are kept in very clean condition. Swimming and boating right there on the Columbia River," mentions a visitor to Beebe Bridge Park, concluding it's a "Great Place for family and kids."
Site selection for large rigs: Finding appropriate spaces matters for bigger vehicles. At Marina RV Park, visitors note good amenities for river access. "This is a nice little campground by the river with a boat launch, a lot of fishermen use it. Also very nice swimming Cove around the corner and playground for the kids."
Hookup variations by park: Available services differ significantly between locations. "Gorgeous 2 parks 1/2 mile apart. The Marina Park and this one. Gorgeous plush grass, immaculate kept parks. Pull throughs are nice for Big Rigs," states an RVer who extended their planned stay from one day to five after finding suitable accommodations.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal needs. Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park provides a dump station, though its location may impact site preference. "Our site was moved from the original reservation which didn't work in our favor, given the proximity to the RV dump and bathrooms," notes a Labor Day weekend camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pateros, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pateros, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 250 campgrounds and RV parks near Pateros, WA and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pateros, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pateros, WA is Alta Lake State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pateros, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Pateros, WA.
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