Rochester, Washington sits at the gateway to some of the Pacific Northwest's most accessible camping areas, positioned between Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier at approximately 150 feet elevation. The area experiences mild, wet winters and relatively dry summers with average temperatures ranging from 34°F in winter to 78°F in summer. Many campgrounds in this region remain open year-round but maintain different seasonal policies regarding facilities and reservations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer stocked ponds for recreational fishing. At Thousand Trails Paradise RV Campground, families can enjoy the convenience of on-site fishing. As one visitor noted, "My grandson loves coming here with us the two ponds they stock with fish."
Swimming and water recreation: Multiple rv parks near Rochester, Washington feature swimming pools and water facilities. Thousand Trails Paradise maintains "an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, on 6ft, and one wading pool. Also has a large spa," according to a recent camper review.
Hiking and mountain exploration: The strategic location between major national parks makes Rochester an ideal base camp for exploring Mount St. Helens and surrounding wilderness areas. One camper at Toutle River RV Resort shared, "We used this campground as our base camp for exploring the area. Walk down to the river, play on the field, drive up to Mt St Helens visitor's center."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many Rochester Washington rv parks maintain well-kept shower and restroom facilities. A visitor to Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor commented, "Clean, friendly staff, everything we needed and more! They even had a dog wash."
Family-friendly activities: Recreation options beyond typical campground amenities are available at several locations. One reviewer at Toutle River RV Resort mentioned, "This is the kind of RV park that I like. Nice spots surrounded by grass, decent space between sites, and most importantly, lots and lots of things for kiddos to explore. There's random trails, a playground, big green fields, volleyball court, etc."
Quiet environment: Despite proximity to major highways, many campgrounds maintain peaceful settings. A camper at Midway RV Park noted, "It was very clean, well kept, and quiet after dark. No fire pits and store closes early. It was very well kept up with nice restrooms and showers."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most Rochester area rv campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Washington Land Yacht Harbor reported, "We called a month ahead and reserved a space for our 5th wheel for a month."
Variable site conditions: Campsite quality can differ significantly within the same park. Many campers report unlevel sites or limited space. One reviewer cautioned, "All sites are back in. All connections are in the back so imagine hooking up at a parking lot at the concrete stoppers. Sewer and electric, make sure you got enough tubes and extensions."
Membership considerations: Several parks operate on membership models that affect pricing and availability. A camper at Thousand Trails Chehalis explained, "We stay two nights from August 31st through September 2, 2019 in campsite H43, the price was $0.00 due to our Thousand Trails membership."
Tips for camping with families
Planned activities: Some campgrounds organize regular events for children. At Thousand Trails Chehalis, a parent shared, "Kids are helping review campgrounds we visited this summer. They loved that there was scavenger hunts for pigs in morning, tractor rides in afternoon, face painting, slushees, movie in lodge, crafts."
Pool access: Swimming facilities remain popular with families during summer months. A visitor at Thousand Trails Paradise commented, "This campgrounds has an awesome swimming area with three pools, one 8ft deep, on 6ft, and one wading pool."
Recreation options: Parks with multiple play areas provide better value for families with children. One review of Toutle River RV Resort stated, "There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool, a recreation hall with nice paintings on the outside and showers and bathrooms nearby."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Many campgrounds have varying site qualities within the same facility. A Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor camper advised, "The spaces are very close together, but there are a lot of trees and it's very well kept. The facilities and grounds are clean and well cared for."
Hook-up considerations: Electrical service can be unreliable at some locations. One RVer warned about Thousand Trails Chehalis, "The worst part for us, however, was that the power was really variable. Sometimes it would spike to 130 volts and then drop suddenly to 110. Luckily we have a great EMS and it alerted us to the problem."
Dining options: Several campgrounds provide convenient access to on-site or nearby dining. A camper at Midway RV Park mentioned, "Judy's Country Kitchen located at the entrance has great food. The breakfasts were amazing."
