Best Tent Camping near Toledo, WA

The forested landscape surrounding Toledo, Washington offers multiple tent camping opportunities, including established tent-only sites and primitive walk-in areas. Tent campers can find options in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and near Mount St. Helens, with several tent campgrounds featuring lake access including Merrill Lake Campground near Cougar. Other areas like Road to Snag Lake provide dispersed tent camping alternatives for those seeking more solitude.

Many tent campsites provide basic amenities but require self-sufficiency from campers. Most established sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though these facilities vary by location. Walk-in tent sites at Merrill Lake Campground include maintained crushed rock tent pads for level camping. A visitor commented, "There are 8 walk-in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required." Primitive dispersed areas near Mount St. Helens generally lack facilities but offer more privacy. During summer months, fire restrictions may apply at all tent camping areas, particularly during drought conditions. Most tent sites require either a Discover Pass or payment through self-registration envelopes.

Tent campsites throughout the region provide varying levels of accessibility and natural settings. Areas near water bodies like Merrill Lake offer recreational activities beyond camping. One camper noted, "The lake is the real attraction here. Great for paddle boarding or kayaking." Many tent campgrounds connect to trail networks, making them ideal basecamps for day hikes or longer backpacking trips. Primitive tent sites often provide more seclusion but may require higher clearance vehicles to access. Several tent-only campgrounds prohibit RVs, helping maintain a quieter atmosphere. The tree cover at most tent sites provides natural shade and privacy between campsites, though spacing varies significantly between established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas. Fall camping offers fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures at most tent campsites in the region.

Best Tent Sites Near Toledo, Washington (28)

    1. Rapid Ride Adventure

    Be the first to review!
    Toutle, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 463-3830

    $37 - $42 / night

    2. Coffee Creek Community & Gardens

    1 Review
    Centralia, WA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 623-2103

    $50 - $115 / night

    "The wood stove keeps you toasty in the cold, the kitchen space is perfect and simple. The windows give you incredible views of the forest."

    3. Leisure Time Resorts

    Be the first to review!
    Mossyrock, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 985-7567

    4. Four Directions Retreat

    2 Reviews
    Rainier, OR
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 957-3287

    $30 - $300 / night

    5. Sherman Valley- State Forest

    3 Reviews
    Oakville, WA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 577-2025

    "I grew up camping here, as a Boy Scout this was a perfect location for many activities."

    6. Merrill Lake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cougar, WA
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 577-2025

    "another site where you park and walk in! 8 sites, some are more private than others. 2 vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables! great lake to kayak on."

    "There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. Some sites are larger than others, but in ours we were able to fit two 6ptents and one 2p tent."

    7. Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Cathlamet, WA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 325-5451

    $10 - $15 / night

    "There was free firewood stacked nearby because of all the logging in the area. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. Walk in tent camping only, or you could park your van in the parking lot."

    "Drove past the paid camping and found many available areas to set up for the night. Couple areas had excessive amounts of trash."

    8. Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    16 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    45 miles
    Website

    "We tent camped at the very end of the road at the top. Unfortunately we could see nothing but clouds this visit, but I would still come back! No photos since it was so foggy and misty."

    "There's basically zero traffic on the dirt road near the campsite. A lot of the trees around seem to be new growth. Great view of the stars at night!"

    9. Cougar Park & Campground - Tent Only

    9 Reviews
    Cougar, WA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 813-6666

    "I was on a 4 day backpacking trip and stayed at this campsite with a group of people. The weather does change very fast in the park so bring extra layers. There is fire rings tables and restrooms"

    "We got site #36 site with some trees, no real noise of the road, felt fairly private. The sites are somewhat far apart though I could see into my neighbor's campground."

    10. The Healing Farm

    2 Reviews
    Yelm, WA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (509) 308-0188

    $60 / night

    "The campsite itself was private, peaceful, and perfectly set up—complete with a fire pit and a hammock that our son loved.

    Leaving was the hardest part (there were definitely tears)."

    "The kids was in Awh with all the animals and how they would let you walk up to them and interact with them."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Toledo, WA

826 Reviews of 28 Toledo Campgrounds


  • j
    Jul. 25, 2021

    Cougar RV Park and Campground

    Tent sites are large, minimal grass and shade.

    The tent sites are very large however they have minimal grass or shade. RV sites are very close to each other. There are two bathrooms of one toilet, shower area combined. The shower is coin operated so unless you plan ahead with quarters you are out of luck. It has a card option but does not work. The bathrooms are also not clean. There are 2 portable toilets that were very clean. They advertise quiet hours after 10 pm but it is not in-forced. There was a group partying until 1am next to us. Neighboring property was also blasting music into the morning. There are many other options in the area I would look into one of those.

  • Pinkie K.
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Snag Lake Campground

    Small, cute and quiet.

    Being a new visitor to WA, we wanted to spend our first night in the middle of nowhere and this did it.

    A bit of a climb for our truck camper so 4x4 was handy. There were some lower tree branches but easy to (delicately) pull to the side to get by. The road is 1 lane, gravel but nicely maintained. Not many areas to pull over so go slow and prepare to back up if necessary.

    It's first come, first serve with no hookups or trash service but there is a bathroom. There's a couple spots for a bigger truck camper like ours and a handful of secluded tent sites you can walk to from the parking area. The tent sites we saw had a fire ring (fire ban in place right now) and a picnic table all nestled in the trees and ferns. There's 1 main place to fish from and several little nooks as well. There's a LOT of old, picturesque trees/ stumps in the lake, hence the name. A gentleman we met said the lake is stocked and our son caught some rainbow trout (approx 8 inches) so we put them back to get bigger for the next person.

    There's also paths to enjoy a walk through the trees.

    As far as cell service, we had great Verizon signal and there's a cell tower over the top of the trees so that explains that. 🙂

    You need a Discovery Pass to camp here but it's either $10 a night at various campgrounds around WA (so I read) or $30 for the annual pass.

    Enjoy and please pack it in, pack it out. It was a really nice campsite so let's keep it that way. Thanks!

    Snag Lake Campground (360) 577-2025 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VmQbRypN42ciJemCA

  • April C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2022

    Millersylvania State Park Campground

    Choose your Adventure

    This place had it all; open RV camping, secluded van camping, tree canopy car/tent camping, walk-in camping, and themed safari tent camping, and one cute mini airstream. 

    Lake down the road. Water and electrical hookups, dump station with dump water and fresh water. 

    Restrooms and showers are scattered around. Showers are coin based and there is a machine to turn your dollars into coins.

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2018

    Merrill Lake Campground

    discover pass only

    another site where you park and walk in! 8 sites, some are more private than others. 2 vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables! great lake to kayak on.

  • Amanda
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Dragon's Gate Gardens

    A reservable paradise- expansive solitude, out of a picture book

    I just completed my third stay at Dragon's Gate, and I've now stayed in each of the different sections (Moon Meadow, Giant Crystal, Jessie's Camp). Each gives a completely different but wonderous experience, either with open views of flower pastures and woods, or a more insular green surrounded by trees. Each reservable space is massive.... 4-5 times the size of most campsites. While you may reasonably run into other campers within each section if you go for a walk, you won't even know anyone is in the other sections, its so private. Sing at the top of your lungs or let your dog roam, they won't run into anyone. 

    Its just SO pretty. Each campsite is really well maintained- the roads and campsites are mowed, carving into the meadows. There are porta potties and access to drinking water and a great deal on both wood and eggs. Wooden picnic tables are in each site, and a well appointed fire ring. The hosts are really lovely as well, and overly accommodating. The entire site is organic, so they do ask that you participate in their policies of no charcoal usage and leave no trace.

    Tenino itself is a cute little historic town, with a surprisingly well appointed supermarket and hardware store, and on Saturdays there's a farmers market. 

    Mostly, I love how my dog can safely roam, and how, even when I am completely by myself camping, I still feel safe.

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2017

    Middle Waddell Campground

    LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp at Middle Waddell Campground

    Campground

    Fairly large campground, free as long as you have a discover pass! Close to town yet still secluded in the woods. Tons of trails for hiking, horses and dirt bikes! Plenty of sites for trailers and tents. Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and water hook ups. The camp host even had free bottled water for guest if needed. There was a creek near by with people panning for gold which was interesting!

    Product Review

    Being a ranger I get to test some products from time to time! Today's product is the LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp!

    This headlamp is very impressive! Certainly the brightest light I have ever explored with. It comes in a very nice package with a charging cord, two different colored lens attachments, a carrying pouch and a battery. My only complaint is that the headlamp itself doesn't fit very well in the carrying pouch but I made it work! It was also a little heavy and I had to adjust the strap to fit my head more often then I would have preferred. The brightness of the light made up for the flaws completely!

  • Callie S.
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp

    Shady, quiet

    YOU NEED A WA DISCOVER PASS TO CAMP HERE!!! But it is free with the pass. And there’s a gas station 5 minutes down the road in Ashford where you can buy one. Very shady and quiet, not crowded at all. Primitive camping, no water, no restrooms just vault toilets, no trash pickup either so you need to pack everything out. Was hard to stake my tent down bc of rocky soil, but it worked fine cause it’s not windy. 15 minutes from the entrance to Mt Rainier. Good place if you’re here for that reason. Most of the sites are horse camping only, but there are a handful that allow other types EXCEPT FOR RV, to my understanding there is NO RV CAMPING HERE

  • B
    Jun. 4, 2023

    Merrill Lake Campground

    Great little campsite for last minute adventures

    There are 8 walk in sites and one drive up site, all first come first serve discovery pass required. Some sites are larger than others, but in ours we were able to fit two 6ptents and one 2p tent. All campsites have a fire ring and picnic table. You’ll still see and hear your fellow campers, but it does seem semi private. Make sure to bring toilet paper, the bathroom seems to never be stocked. Make sure to haul out all trash.

    You can’t use motorized boats and can only fly fish in the lake, but a very nice 1 mile hike is adjacent to the day use area. Also very close to Cougar for gas and supplies for emergencies. Driving distance to popular day hikes. No cell service.

  • Greg S.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Seaquest State Park Campground

    nice, but noisy

    I didn't have reservations.  Securing a spot was easy enough using the phone at the ranger station (it was after the rangers had gone home for the day).  Most of the sites had a level spot(s) for a tent.  There was a picnic table and I fire ring.  There was a. very clean bathroom with flush toilet and shower (shower operated on tokens; I didn't use it).  Near to the restrooms was a high flow potable water spigot (which I used to top off my water supply---tasted great). There were lots of families camping (August) and the expected noise that comes with kids playing.  The unexpected noise came from Hwy 504.  I was in the lower campground (closest to the highway) and the noise was omnipresent until about 1030pm and started up again around 530am.  If I were to return to Seaquest, I would make sure that I got a site further away from the highway.


Guide to Toledo

Tent camping near Toledo, Washington offers multiple wilderness experiences in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and surrounding areas. The region sits at elevations ranging from 500 to 3,000 feet, creating diverse microclimates for campers throughout the year. Fall and spring camping seasons often bring morning fog that burns off by midday, with temperatures typically ranging from 40-70°F depending on the season.

What to do

Kayaking and paddleboarding on Merrill Lake: At Merrill Lake Campground, the calm waters provide excellent non-motorized boating opportunities. "The lake is the real attraction here. Great for paddle boarding or kayaking. There's a boat launch," notes one camper. Remember that Merrill Lake is fly-fishing only.

Fish hatchery visits: Take a short hike from Gnat Creek Campground to explore the local fish hatchery. "The trails are nice going along Gnat Creek and you can visit the fish hatchery at the end of the trail," explains a visitor. This educational stop works well for all ages during day trips.

Mountain hiking: Use your tent site as a basecamp for exploring nearby Mount St. Helens trails. Cougar Park & Campground provides convenient access. "Take your mountain bikes and head to St Helens for tough but amazing rides," recommends a regular visitor. Multiple hiking trails of varying difficulty levels branch from camping areas.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing at dispersed sites near Toledo. The Road to Snag Lake area provides seclusion: "Great spot because it's so secluded in the forest. There's basically zero traffic on the dirt road near the campsite," reports one camper. Another adds, "Amazing views and complete silence! Tons of rabbits and wildflowers."

Seasonal wildlife viewing: Spring and fall camping offers opportunities to spot local wildlife. One camper at Road to Snag Lake shared, "I saw a porcupine for the first time while wandering one of the side roads!" Morning and evening hours typically provide the best wildlife viewing.

Unique camping experiences: Beyond standard forest camping, the area offers specialty options. At The Healing Farm, families can combine camping with animal interactions. "We gathered eggs, milked goats, fed a porcupine and capybaras, cuddled baby bunnies, met a joey in a pouch, hung out with emus, and even snuggled with goats," describes one visitor.

What you should know

Discovery Pass requirements: Most camping areas near Toledo require Washington's Discover Pass. At Road to Snag Lake, "This site is listed as free, but there is a sign at the entrance for needing a discovery pass to use the site. Visit their website for payment options. You have to print the pass or write the transaction number on a paper and on your windshield."

Limited facilities at dispersed sites: Come prepared for self-sufficient camping at many locations. When staying at dispersed sites near Sherman Valley State Forest, remember most areas lack running water and maintained restrooms. "I grew up camping here, as a Boy Scout this was a perfect location for many activities... The sites are first come first serve and you pay using an iron ranger."

Road conditions: Access to remote camping spots often requires navigating unpaved roads. One camper at Road to Snag Lake reported: "The road getting here is a bit rough with lots of washboard, steep grades and rocks. But it's fun." Another noted, "In my little Nissan Versa, I struggled on the roads up and down. I eventually kept it around 5-10mph to avoid damaging my car."

Tips for camping with families

Look for tent-only campgrounds: For quieter family camping experiences, choose tent-only sites. Cougar Park & Campground offers this advantage: "Tent only sites so keeps the big guys out. Every time we have been there it has been quiet and beautiful." This creates a more peaceful environment for families with young children.

Pack for changing weather: Mountain weather can shift quickly near Toledo. "The weather does change very fast in the park so bring extra layers," advises a camper from Cougar Park. Always pack rain gear and warm clothing even during summer months.

Consider interactive camping: Families with children under 10 might enjoy specialty camping at The Healing Farm. One grandparent shared, "It is hard to find a place to be fun for younger children, but the healing farm was awesome. The kids was in Awh with all the animals and how they would let you walk up to them and interact with them."

Tips from RVers

RV restrictions: Note that several campgrounds in the area don't accommodate RVs. A camper at Gnat Creek Campground observed, "Also there is a sign that says no RVs, campers or trailers. I was a bit nervous that I would be asked to leave in my van, but never saw a ranger or anyone official." Always verify RV accommodations before arrival.

Dispersed options for RVs: If established campgrounds are full, some forest roads offer dispersed camping. "We explored and went to the top of the mountain/hill near the cell towers. It had cement for parking and seemed to be a viewing point so we called it good," explains a camper who found alternative options when formal sites were full.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Toledo, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Toledo, WA is Rapid Ride Adventure with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Toledo, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Toledo, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.