Best Glamping near Ritzville, WA

Recent Glamping Reviews near Ritzville, Washington

60 Reviews of 11 Ritzville Campgrounds

• 

  Anna W.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 12, 2021

  Mardon Resort

  Nostalgia in the sand

  I came here every year as a kid and just came back for the first time as an adult. I love camping in the sand, we always stayed among the willow trees. Wake up hot and jump in the reservoir. It can be crowded on the weekends, but many of the sites in the willows provide a good deal of privacy. This place is a staple in eastern Washington.

• 

  jeremy B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 20, 2021

  Mardon Resort

  Convenient but Crowded

  This was our first visit to an RV “resort” and it wasn’t horrible. MarDon has lots of nice amenities but boy is it crowded. If you don’t mind crowds and like the convenience of resort camping MarDon is a good choice.

  (Disclaimer: I prefer boondocking and getting as far away from people as possible, so read this review with that in mind.)

  MarDon Resort sits on Potholes Reservoir about 16 miles southwest of Moses Lake. The reservoir is massive and offers excellent fishing and water sports. Central Washington gets dry and hot in the summer so come prepared.

  The Resort has been around since the 1970s and offers a lot of amenities: full hookup sites, tent sites, monthly rates, marina, restaurant & bar, swimming beach, mini golf, boat & golf cart rentals and more.

• 

  Shay F.

  Legend

  

  May. 18, 2019

  Potholes State Park Campground

  Ranger Review: RovR RollR 60 at Potholes State Park, Othello, WA

  Campground Review:

  Potholes State Park is located in Central Washington, a bit south of Moses Lake. The climate is arid desert so expect hot days, cool nights, and occasional gusty winds. The park itself has some fun features and if you are into fishing or wildlife watching, I found it to be a great spot for both. The campground is divided into RV or hookup sites, a separate area for tent sites with some cabins mixed in, and a large day use section with a boat launch, restrooms with showers, a huge tree filled lawn with picnic tables, and a pretty fun little play ground. You can reserve ahead on the Washington State Parks reservation website. We did not make a reservation and there were a lot of open sites when we arrived on Saturday, even with the beautiful weather. I strongly doubt that will be the case as the summer continues. I would check ahead to see what you can get before heading out.  

  The RV sites have power, water, and sewer. They are arranged like a wheel, you drive around the small center and the other trailers are the spokes in the wheel. There is no barrier between you and your neighbor, but all the sites are grassy and the loops are surrounded by a ring of poplar trees. There is a bathroom with flush toilets and token operated showers centrally for all to share. There are 6 wheels like this, a total of 60 RV sites just opposite of the boat launch and day use area. 

  We stayed in the primitive or tent sites in the lower area of the campground. The sites along the water are in full sun most of the day, so be aware if that's not your thing. The sites along the inner part of the loop have a mix of poplars and other trees. That provides some shade and tress for a hammock.  No designated tent pad, but plenty of flat spots. All have a picnic table and fire ring. Not a ton of privacy, but it's much more secluded than the RV sites. Also, the bathrooms down here are vaults. No hand washing or showers for us, at least without a walk. There is a loop towards the group tent site and another towards the boat launch, for a total of 61 sites. Mixed into the primitive sites are cute cabins with air conditioning, if you really want to get away from the heat!

  When we arrived, the Ranger at the park office offered to let us drive down and choose what site we wanted. I was sure from looking online, that I wanted one by the water. Once we got to the site I chose, we realized that we would be baking in the hot sun all day with no relief. It was at the beginning of the loop so we got the traffic and dust from everyone driving by and we were right on top of neighbors on either side. My husband went up to see if we could move and the Ranger was so nice! It was no problem to move across the road to a shaded site with trees so we could hang out and put up our hammocks. We had no neighbors the entire time. It got a little noisy on Saturday night with the sounds of other campers having fun, but by Sunday night we were alone and when we left on Monday, there was one other camper in our end of the tent loop with us.  

  We encountered lots of animals in the park. The bird sounds are incredible. I wish I would have made a recording. Mourning doves, quail, robins, and red wing blackbirds among the many. Deer walked through the campground and beavers and otters were swimming in the reservoir while we did some fishing from the group camping area. We did not encounter too many bugs, but the season is still early. We did see two snakes. One swimming towards us while we were fishing on the boat, the other in our camp site. This was a baby rattlesnake, not a gopher snake. My husband noticed it as he walked by our picnic table because it hissed at him. It was curled up underneath. Very angry with us and ready for a fight when we got a stick to move him. It put up a good fight. I am just glad we noticed it before we stepped too close in shorts and sandals! I want to be clear, this is not anything against the park. You are in snake country and this is that animals home. Just be aware especially if you have little kids running around. 

  We went to Potholes to go fishing with some friends on the reservoir for Walleye and Bass. If fishing is your thing, this park is great. You don't need a boat either. There are plenty of shore fishing spots and hiking trails to pass the time. The businesses right beyond the park have good food, a bar, gas, a golf course, and really good ice cream! I love this area of Washington and I can't wait to go back.  

  Product Review:

  As a Ranger for the Dyrt, from time to time I get awesome products to put to the test while camping. On this trip, I got to test the RovR RollR 60 Cooler. Check out the product website here: https://rovrproducts.com/product/505229344820/6841244385332

  First, the basic stats on this RovR RollR 60. This is a 60 quart capacity, rotomolded body cooler. It has foam insulation and an airtight gasket. It has a fast flow drain plug and is certified bear resistant. It sports all terrain, puncture resistant tires and has an aluminum dual sided padded handle so you can pull it from either side and not clip your heels. The color offering is green, orange, white, or pink at least for this size. The fun features that really set it apart are the inside dry bin, the top mount soft wagon bin for extra gear hauling , and all the extra attachments you can purchase to make your RovR perfect for you. You can add on, for an extra cost, a fishing rod/umbrella holder, dual cup holder, cutting board, stash bag, or bike hitch. Yes, you can attach it to your bike and tow it around! You can also get the wagon bin in other colors /designs. This cooler according to the website promises to compare to the other “high end” pricey coolers out there, if not outperform. RovR even promises to keep ice for 11 days under proper use and conditions!

  I was excited to take it to sunny, warm Eastern Washington and test it on a fishing trip with friends. I knew it would spend a full day out in the direct sun, be opened and closed countless times, get banged around at speed, and have to be drug to the boat and back by hand. Also, my friend is a fishing guide and a Yeti fan, so I was looking forward to his opinion.

  RovR’s instructions are to pre-chill the cooler 24 hours prior to loading with a sacrifice bag of ice and only add cold items to the cooler when ready. When it was time to load, none of my “sacrifice” ice had melted at all from the prior day. We were able to fit most everything we needed for food into the cooler for the whole long weekend. It is large but fit in the back of the SUV without an issue. When we arrived at Potholes, we set it out in out campsite and got to work with dinner and beverages. Everything was icy cold with no melt. Our fishing guide friend came over and fully checked out the RovR. He was pretty impressed! He thought it was cool looking and loved the wheels and handle, a feature his large Yeti does not have. That and his Yeti is poo brown not beautiful green like my RovR. The next day, we drug the RovR across two campground loops over to the boat launch. The mini monster truck tires handled all the dirt and gravel with ease. It was easy to pull and maneuver. We loaded it on the boat and had a full 9 hour day of fishing for Walleye and Bass in full sun. Even at speed, the RovR did not bounce or wander around on the bow. Overall, it did a great job and I am very happy with its performance!

  My favorite feature has to be the dry bin inside. It keeps items cold but dry. I can’t tell you how many wet egg cartons and soggy zip lock bags I’ve dealt with over the years. If you camp for any length of time, at some point you inevitably have a chilly swimming pool of food. Not with the dry bin! I was able to load my salsa, meat and cheese, eggs, but it will also hold liquor or wine upright and cold. The bin is held down with a screw in disk so it’s removable if you have a need for more room. While my ice was fairly melted by Monday, everything was still icy cold. I am also sure that if it was not left out in the 80 plus degree sun ALL day, it would have performed admirably. But again, all my food and drinks were still as cold as before the day of sun, so that’s really saying something about performance potential. Also, when we arrived home, the wagon bin was great for throwing the headlamps, shoes, hammocks, and all the other loose items into it and hauling them down to be put away in one trip. It never leaked or showed condensation. It was also easy to open and close, unlike some of the other fancy coolers, even though it has similar rubber gasket type latches.

  The only issue I have with my RovR RollR 60 is that it’s heavy! Fully loaded, my husband and I had to team lift it into the back of the SUV. My kitchen is also downstairs so to load it and get it to the garage I have to maneuver it up and down our stairs. It’s not an easy task. The other super minor, picky complaints are the handle, which is really comfortable to pull and hold in your hand, hangs centimeters from the ground. In our dusty campsite, the handle got really dirty which makes your hands really dirty. If you are trying to prep food out of your cooler that might be an issue. Finally, the wagon bin that the RovR comes with is white in color, initially. I don’t know about you, but I get pretty dirty while camping. White is an unfortunate color choice for the outdoors. We left it behind completely for fishing even though when flat it makes a nice cushion to sit on. You can get other super cool prints, but you have to buy them separately. Once my white bin becomes super gross I will definitely upgrade.

  It doesn’t matter if you have an RV or prefer the tent, a good cooler is an absolute must. And, if you are going to invest the money in a cooler, why not buy one that not only performs at an outstanding level but has some neat features and a little spunk as well?

• 

  Timothy

  Guide

  

  Aug. 31, 2020

  Coffeepot Lake

  Lonesome

  If you like being almost completely alone, this is your spot! They sites aren’t very huge and private, but that doesn’t matter because you will most likely have the whole campground to yourself. Only a fisherman or two may be there. The lakes crystal clear water is beautiful. There is a pretty nice beach if you take the trail down from the metal barn to the opposite end of the lake.

• 

  Mint T.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 11, 2023

  Coffeepot Lake

  stargazing and birdwatching fantastic

  widest, darkest skies in the state.... EXCEPT for the 3 glaring white/daylight floodlights in the parking lot. WTF. lay in your car or tent's shadow and the rest of the stars won't disappoint.

  extremely, extremely active wildlife. dozens of kinds of birds and bats. neat big bugs. we woke up to a flock of pelicans. at night, coyotes howling in ALL directions and raccoons rustling all around by the water and looking at us. they had a loud growling tussle at one point. at another point, one of the birds (goose? duck?) met a loud, violent end in the water that sounded really close by. kinda spooky! found a dead duck right on the shore by the dock in the morning. i would have thought its killer had it for dinner...

  if they turn the damn lights out, it might become the best dark sky site in the state. it's still pretty good but very frustrating to stay out of reach of greatness due to such a boneheaded design choice. daylight floodlights! in the *overnight campground!*

  we packed in water. with all of the agriculture around here I dunno if the lake is filterable. there is a broken spigot.

• 

  Jayda R.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 22, 2017

  Coffeepot Lake

  Hidden gem...

  We had this place completely to ourselves when we stayed there...it was amazing! There is lake access with a small dock and boat launch, a common area consisting of covered picnic area with picnic tables, and a public vault toilet. We were camping in a tent trailer; easy access and ample space to turn around. Sites are fairly level and are back-in only...though there appeared to be a spot for RV parking (no hook-ups). There is a line of trees near the camp sites offering partial shade (depending on where the sun is), but the sun gets pretty brutal; other than the covered picnic area, shade is limited.

  Note: There was no water available when we visited (locks on pipes & faucet handles removed), so be sure to bring your own!

  Wildlife: We witnessed a confrontation between a giant heron and an osprey...it was pretty impressive! The heron made a noise that sounded a lot like what I'd imagine a pterodactyl would have sounded like. Also, we heard what must have been a pack of at least 6 or 7 coyotes a little after 11pm...and then heard wolves howling in the wee hours of the morning. Super cool!

  Lake: We didn't have a boat or fishing poles...but I'd imagine that the lake would be great for both. It had a fair bit of algae...so probably not a lake you'd necessarily want to swim in. My husband, however, found the lake to be great for flying his RC float plane. Oh! And there was an old abandoned cabin on the opposite side of the lake...creepy cool.

• m

  meryl H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 26, 2021

  Coffeepot Lake

  Tranquil

  Was amazed at how quiet and peaceful it was here. I had a smaller camp trailer that didn’t really fit but I was the only one there. The 5 spaces are designed for cars and tents. The lake was so tranquil and the lake cliffs were pretty magnificent to boat up against. All kinds of birds, waterfowl, coyotes And deer. The launch is a bit sketchy and uneven under the water. Very easy access to this lake though and in a rather remote area so not busy during the week.

• S

  Shelby

  Scout

  

  Aug. 22, 2021

  Coffeepot Lake

  Small area, small lake

  This is a small little area off the road not too far. There was only one other person there fishing when we were there. The campsites are close together with no privacy between. They look big enough for a tent and this would be a fun area to float the small lake in a tiny boat and fish. We followed a little trail to another part of the lake too. This overall is not a place I'd recommend swimming. We saw a few deer and a coyote while we were out. I would return here though I don't think it would be my first choice for camping.

• 

  Julian P.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 8, 2020

  Starbuck-Lyons Ferry Marina KOA

  Ok spot in scenic setting

  We stopped here in our RV for a night on our way through. The campground isn’t anything to write home about, and seems to cater to fishermen. We thought the setting was scenic, but that’s about it. Wouldn’t want to spend more than a night here.

• 

  Terrie M.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 27, 2020

  Starbuck-Lyons Ferry Marina KOA

  On the River

  We visited this KOA for several years on 4th of July to visit a concert in Walla Walla. In the early days this KOA was nothing more than dirt tent sites. Since then, it has developed into a nice campground with mature trees for shade and grass at each site. The river is easy access for launching motor boats and it is across the bridge from Palouse Falls and Lyons Ferry park for kayaking, swimming and a good picnic spot.

• 

  Cinco D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 7, 2020

  Starbuck-Lyons Ferry Marina KOA

  A Great Place In The Middle Of Nowhere

  This is an oasis in the middle of a vast emptiness. The site is very quiet, the crew is very friendly, and the camp is very clean. The Snake River is a few feet away, and the grass is soft and green. Be sure you pack what you need, because the nearest store, other than the KOA store is miles and miles away. This site is beautiful and fun. As an added bonus, Palouse Falls is only a few miles away!

• J

  Jim T.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 6, 2018

  Clear Lake Military

  Camping, fishing, & snack bar.

  This is a military recreation center, it is open to active and retired military and their families. It has several camping sites, a boat launch, a fishing dock, picnic areas, and a snack bar. There are also cabins available but usually require reservations far in advance.

• J

  Jen B.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 28, 2018

  Clear Lake Military

  Nice military resort for tent camping, cabins and RVs

  Cute little campground on a lake. Beach isn’t the greatest, full of goose poop. Water isn’t the clearest, but works for kayaking and paddle boarding. Both are available for rent from the office. Nice playground and restrooms with a shower.

  RV sites are pretty close together, camp site has a lot of mosquitoes, but the cabins do have ac and electricity, no water.

• 

  Rachel A.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 2, 2020

  Clear Lake Military

  Excellent facility—beautiful and clean!

  Military site with everything you could possibly need—tent, RV, and tiny cabins. This site was very well maintained, and very highly trafficked in the summer. Access to water and excellent for some good old fashioned family fun :)

• 

  Manisha S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Clear Lake Recreation Area

  Well-maintained

  Clear Lake Recreation Area is amazing! The scenery is beautiful, and there are plenty of activities for everyone.

• J

  Jennifer B.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 2, 2022

  Clear Lake Recreation Area

  Military ID Required

  Military ID required.

  Sites 1-15 have zero shade and are close together. Dogs are not allowed on the beach or lake areas. Ports-potties for close bathrooms. Okay if you’re staying overnight or here specifically for the lake.

• M

  Michelle R.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 7, 2022

  Clear Lake Recreation Area

  Party place

  This place had everything i could possibly want for an affordable price. Boat, kayak and other equipment rentals, restaurant, bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, fishing dock, swimming area, shaded lawns and picnic tables. Only $15 for a dry tent space with shade and view of the lake! Why not give it 5 stars? The visitors are primarily young, drinking, playing loud music, driving fast and kicking up dust. It was annoying but tolerable. Staff was kind, knowledgeable, location is close to I90 and easy to find. Easily a few hundred people here on a summer weekend, so be prepared. Be sure to check out the turtles swimming around the dock. Lots of wildlife.

• 

  Rachel A.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 2, 2020

  Clear Lake Recreation Area

  Well maintained and fun for the family

  This site was very well maintained, and very highly trafficked in the summer. Access to water and excellent for some good old fashioned family fun :)

• R

  Rich H.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 21, 2024

  Lakefront RV

  Not worth the stop

  If you disregard the rough old permanent stayers, unclean, weeds and parked cars,, the lake view at sunset was beautiful

• T

  Tmegelhoff@live.com E.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 21, 2021

  Lakefront RV

  Just Called

  Great rv Park but children are not allowed.

• 

  Amy & Stu B.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 24, 2022

  Pier 4 RV Resort

  Skip this one

  We spent an overnight here, but it was sadly not a great stay. I can’t recommend this spot for the following reasons:

  The site was backed led up against the highway and was not only was it so loud we couldn’t sleep—it literally shook the rig despite stabilizers. If we’d been further into the park, it still would have been uncomfortably loud.

  There is a highway bridge that leads directly in the park—almost directly into the site we were given. People were constantly walking into the site from the bridge day and night. This felt less safe than much of the isolated boondocking we’ve done—or honestly any of our camping.

  Our site was covered in trash. It could be in part due to the highway, but I’ve never had site with more trash left behind ever.

  No access to WiFi, this could be because we never spoke to staff. The restroom closest to our site was unexpectedly locked—had to use the other that had only one shower stall and two toilets. Shower was fine and had hot water, but that bathroom couldn’t support the volume of campers.

  The staff left midday and were completely unreachable. We needed to find out spot, purchase quarters for laundry, and had questions about amenities/ the campground and we’re unable to talk to anyone.

  Amenities were ultimately fine and if none of those other elements bothered you ^ you’ll be fine.

• 

  Kate S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 18, 2021

  Pier 4 RV Resort

  Poor service/attitude

  We were disappointed with the cramped sites, but at least noonr was butted up to the end of our trailer until our last night. They need into our trailer trying to park in the small site. When we asked the office why they assigned such a large rig there with so many other empty sites, we were told it wasn't their responsibility. We won't stay here again.

• 

  Jenell C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 3, 2021

  Pier 4 RV Resort

  Just Okay - Served the purpose we needed

  We were looking at houses nearby and wanted a spot to use as home base in our RV. The office was friendly enough. The stars I knocked off were due to super loud road noise all night/day and the upkeep of the buildings/sites were lackluster. Overall like I said, the spot was just okay and served our purpose. Be ready for road noise if you are in or out of your rv.

• J

  Joshua T.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 18, 2020

  Pier 4 RV Resort

  Small sites

  Sites were a bit small, and facilities where a bit run down. Not a great place for campers, but if you boat, it has a boat launch and is right on the water. Park was mostly full of RV, and tent sites share RV sites.

• 

  Rachel A.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 8, 2020

  Pier 4 RV Resort

  Simple, by the water

  Moses Lake is an interesting little spot though I can’t say there’s anything that stands out to me particularly as “must see”. Recreation area right next-door offers the typical family-friendly water access, picnic tables, play structure and frisbee golf course

• 

  Kurtis K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 11, 2021

  Mardon Resort

  Convenient

  If you’re fishing, this is the perfect spot. But this is an RV review. Nice view on the lake, extremely convenient - just not my ideal RV spot. But this is a 5 star if you’re fishing. Boat launch only feet away. Not a lot to do at the park but tons of hiking and fishing all around you.

• 

  Shawn A.

  Ranger

  

  Jan. 8, 2021

  Mardon Resort

  Love this place!

  Camp on the water on the beach or up higher. Tucked in right on Moses Lake. Good fishing & a beach with sand. Fully stocked store and friendly staff. I love it here because it’s quiet, fishing dock, and... you can rent golf carts for driving on the beach & campground.