330 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rockport, Washington serves as a gateway to diverse camping experiences along the Skagit River and into the North Cascades. Howard Miller Steelhead County Park offers year-round camping with full hookup sites for RVs and tent areas along the riverbank, providing both developed amenities and natural surroundings. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access multiple National Forest and National Park Service campgrounds with varying levels of development. The camping landscape ranges from riverside county parks with showers and electrical hookups to primitive dispersed sites in the surrounding national forest lands. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, while some locations like Rasar State Park and Swift Creek offer more specialized facilities.
Road conditions vary significantly depending on the season, with Highway 20 providing the main access corridor through the region. Many campgrounds near Rockport remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. Summer weekends typically see the highest demand, especially at waterfront sites. As one camper noted about Howard Miller Steelhead County Park, "Stopped in for one night, made use of the much-needed shower! The camp is well managed, mostly an RV site. Two bald eagles were eating dinner on the shore of the Skagit River across from us." Cell service becomes increasingly limited as visitors travel east into the mountains, and weather patterns can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. Advance reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds during peak season (May through September).
Riverside camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors, with the Skagit River providing both scenic value and recreational opportunities. Sites along the water tend to fill quickly, especially those offering fishing access or mountain views. Campers frequently mention wildlife sightings, including bald eagles and river otters. The proximity to North Cascades National Park makes many campgrounds popular base camps for day hiking and exploring alpine terrain. Facilities vary widely, from basic pit toilets at primitive sites to full-service RV parks with hot showers. Most established campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Visitors particularly appreciate campgrounds that balance natural settings with basic amenities, as evidenced by the popularity of sites that offer both river access and shower facilities.
"1 in quarters for four minutes of shower, and after five days of kayaking on Ross Lake I would have paid triple that. The camp is well managed, mostly an RV site."
"These camp sites are located so close to the river that it drowns out any nosy neighbors and it also makes for a nice convenient place to go fishing and camping."
"Great trails in and near this park we enjoy walking the dogs and riding bikes and watching birds if you like any of these activities this is the place and fairly quiet as well."
"The water hookups were shut off during the time, but we were able to fill up our water tank near the entrance without any trouble."
from $12 - $327 / night
Check Availability"The location is amazing!!!! Sadly though the campsites are not well cared for. I stayed at two different sites, one toward the end of the road and one closer to hwy 20."
"We found this site tucked amongst the trees; a very large clearing creek side."
"I've lived near this camp for a while now. Excellent location, right on the river. This place is perfect for the last-minute traveler who wants an inexpensive fcfs site close to the town."
"There is a porta potty next to the entry of the campground. The campground owner is really nice and comes around a few times a day to check in."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"This is a shared KOA/Thousand Trails site. It is situated amongst large Cedars so sites are pretty dark. Gravel roads and sites. Older bathrooms that don’t seem too clean."
"The access to North Cascades Hwy is great. Can follow Skagit River, but Pass closed summer of 2021. Spectacular scenery E. of camp."
"The sound of the river and richness of the forests, along with the proximity to the Visitor Center and some easier hikes, combine to make Newhalem a convenient stopping point for me as I crossed the North"
"This is the perfect location to start to explore the North Cascades. It is situated very close to the river, with fly fishing access. The sites are good sized and plentiful."
from $24 - $75 / night
Check Availability"it’s great access to the northern cascades. first time staying there and I have been camping in Washington since I was born it has great access to some really good trails the scenery is beautiful."
"Most sites are reasonably private, water spigots and bathrooms (which for pit toilets were the cleanest I’ve ever experienced) are not too far of a walk from any site. "
from $37 - $194 / night
Check Availability"It's nice and tucked away off the highway. Lots of space between sites which was awesome. Clean restrooms. No water, so make sure to plan ahead on that front."
"Washington is the definition of amazing hiking. The mountains are gorgeous, and the hiking views are hard to beat. The "North Cascades" is a little piece of heaven."
from $32 - $102 / night
Check Availability"outhouse, One dumpster Decent roomy sites with space and trees between them
Two of us were there in school buses, so medium to big RVs fit
The road is a bit narrow but passable
Paved road to the entrance"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Close to the water without being right on the water. Baker lake is a glacial lake so recommend later summer/early fall camping. Only down side is the sites are a little small hence the 4 star."
"Well I didn’t get to an overnight camping tent spot as the park is full but I hope maybe tomorrow is a different story cuz it cost ten dollars online to make reservations so I’m going to try lizard lake"
from $32 - $94 / night
Check Availability
LegendThe dispersed sites are on the narrow, gravel section. There are a few on the paved area but most have been blocked off. Even on the gravel section most are pull-offs or quite close to the road. They are dispersed sites so no amenities. Most are close or have access to the Sauk River. The road and TH’s were very busy but cleared out as evening settled in.
LegendGreat spot to stay while visiting the area. There are trails to hike and wildlife to observe in camp. We needed to charge batteries so opted for a full hook-up site. The sites are nestled in the trees giving you some privacy from other campers.
One thing to note is that the main restrooms are already closed for the season. Half the available restroom/shower combinations for the TH and boat ramp were closed as well. I spoke with a camp host who stated they were having vandalism problems and were in need of repairs to the drainage systems so they opted to close them early. The water in the CG was still on and the dump station was also operational.
Overall a great place to stay while visiting Anacortes.
LegendWe spent two nights at this small campground. It is free in off season. There is a vault toilet but no other amenities. Sites were clean and in good condition.
Baker Lake TH is a few miles up the road for more exploring.
LegendRoad closures due to a bridge out closed off probably the better sites up top but we did find a great spot off the road with a view. Enjoyed a nice evening under the stars and a campfire.
RangerDecent option if you’re traveling down 5. Seems like a popular spot so some safety in numbers. There’s a similar rest area on the other side for those traveling north
ScoutJust a car park. Do not go to the front of the casino as there are over hanging branches that that can scratch your RV.
LegendNice area. Felt like the sites were all on top of each other. a few pit toilets that are very smelly . A few water bib cocks for refilling your rig. Water was shut off for the season already unfortunately.
Some sites are on the river which is nice. Great level tent spot at each site. Would stay again still. Close to the NP
LegendVisited the last 2 weeks of off season before they shut the campground down for the winter. A little confusing on finding an open site since it was “first come first serve” but you had to show proof of occupancy while you are gone so we got booted out of our first spot by some ignorant chick who wanted to argue and we didnt want to deal with it.
The new spot was great. Had no issues with bugs. Pretty secluded by the trees and brush so we didn’t feel on top of eachother.
Females bathrooms pretty clean. No showers unfortunately.
Was informed the males bathroom was pretty gross unfortunately for them
ScoutIt’s prolly a good spot if you are here for the Casino. If not, it’s a good spot for a break along the way to someplace cool. The RV park it self has the basics. The view is okay. I’ve been by here several times and there is generally a sewage smell. My one night stay was no different. The reason I’ve been by here several times is there is a pretty massive field if you have a dog. Fun to watch mine run wild and get some exercise.
Camping sites near Rockport, Washington provide access to the Skagit River watershed and northern portion of the Cascade Mountain Range, with elevations ranging from 300 feet in river valleys to nearby peaks exceeding 7,000 feet. The camping season typically runs from May through October, though some campgrounds remain accessible during winter months when snowfall is minimal at lower elevations.
Riverside fishing access: At Howard Miller Steelhead County Park, the tent sites offer prime fishing opportunities. "The tent sites are right on the waterfront behind a row of foliage. The Skagit is a fishable river and spectacular when the salmon pinks run every other year. You can hear them jumping and splashing from your camp site," notes Kayko S.
Hidden Lake hiking: A moderately challenging day hike accessible from Marble Creek Campground. "We did Hidden Lake, which is a short drive to the 4 mile gravel road to the trailhead. The hike is incredible and you can actually see the whole mountainside you hike from the public access beach in the campground," reports Danielle S.
River wading: At Cascade Wagon Road Campground, visitors can cool off in the Cascade River. "There's also a swing set and beach on the site and the field across the street has beautiful night sky views," explains Alison L.
Riverfront tent pads: Campers appreciate the dedicated tent spaces at Newhalem Campground. "We stayed at a walk-in site. The site was only a 4 minute walk from the parking area and it was very private and peaceful. The site was a good size and well separated from the other sides. We could hear the river going by and that's it," shares Rachel M.
Affordable dispersed options: Free camping near North Cascades National Park remains available despite increasing visitation. "There are multiple turnouts/improvised camping spaces. Keep driving till you find one you like. Easy to access the creak bank at any point along the road by walking through a little brush," says Russel M. about dispersed camping areas.
Wildlife viewing: Camping near water offers wildlife watching opportunities. "Two bald eagles were eating dinner on the shore of the Skagit River across from us," reports George about their stay at Howard Miller Steelhead County Park.
Seasonal accessibility: Roads to higher elevation sites can be challenging during shoulder seasons. "Because we were visiting North Cascades in the early season -- actually, the day the main park road reopened! -- we had a limited number of campgrounds to choose from within the low-country area of the park," explains SwitchbackKids about their Newhalem experience.
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds fill quickly during summer. "Saturday. Every campground near North Cascades is full. Including this one. But the host is phenomenal and when we explain that we're fully contained and only need a place to park, he accommodates us for the overnight parking fee," writes Kathleen D.
Road conditions: Access to dispersed camping may require appropriate vehicles. "Probably some good camping out this way, but we didn't get more than a mile in our promaster before turning around. Camped on a wider part of the road," notes Marco about NF dispersed camping areas.
Water activities: Swift Creek Campground provides good swimming access for children. "The swimming area is great for kids and adults, lots of places in the shade on the hill next to it with or without picnic tables, a few bathrooms nearby and water spigots," writes Lucas.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer additional recreation options. "Great campground with lots of activities and a variety of spaces to explore. Love the open fields and walking trails with possibility of seeing elk," mentions Deborah H. about her stay at Rasar State Park.
Security considerations: Gated campgrounds provide peace of mind for parents. "Because it's off the road and has a security gate, I have no problem letting my kid be a kid," notes Kathy A. about Thousand Trails Grandy Creek.
Site selection strategy: RV campers should research specific site dimensions. "If camping in a trailer, take special note of accessibility of the site by checking out the campground map. I would recommend the sites 1 - 11 area as most accessible for trailers," advises Patti C. about Squire Creek Park & Campground.
Hookup availability: Electric and water access varies widely between campgrounds. "RV sites equipped with water & electric hookup. Nice clean gravel sites with fire ring & picnic tables," reports Jackie S. about Howard Miller Steelhead County Park.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional preparation. "Only downfall is the rv spaces; they are a little challenging to level in some back in sights," notes Deborah H. about Rasar State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rockport, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rockport, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 330 campgrounds and RV parks near Rockport, WA and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Rockport, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rockport, WA is Howard Miller Steelhead County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rockport, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Rockport, WA.
What parks are near Rockport, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Rockport, WA that allow camping, notably Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park.
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