Rashyd H.
Scout
ScoutSkate Creek Dispersed
Thiefs in the area
Beware of the thiefs over there. I was camping just by the main 52 road, and somebody stole my sleeping bag, pillow and a coat. Don’t left ANYTHING in your tent if you leaving
Camping near Carbonado, WA
309 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping near Carbonado, Washington ranges from developed tent and RV campgrounds within national park boundaries to primitive backcountry sites along nearby rivers and forests. Cougar Rock Campground provides tent and RV sites within the national park boundaries, while Mowich Lake and Ipsut Creek offer more primitive backcountry camping experiences. The region includes a mix of frontcountry and backcountry camping with varied levels of development and amenity access, particularly along the White River and American River corridors.
Road access and seasonal conditions significantly affect camping availability throughout the area. Many campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, including Cougar Rock, operate only from late May through early October due to snow conditions at higher elevations. White River Dispersed Camping areas provide alternatives when park facilities are full or closed. The proximity to Mount Rainier results in variable weather patterns even during summer months. Most national park campgrounds prohibit pets and have strict food storage requirements due to wildlife. Several campgrounds require advance reservations during peak season. A camper noted, "Mount Rainier didn't disappoint. If you are ever on the edge of whether or not you want to travel to Washington and hike, I highly recommend coming. This campground was in the perfect location for some hiking."
Waterfront access represents a primary draw for many campgrounds in the region. Silver Springs Campground features sites positioned along the White River, offering natural sound barriers between campsites. Several visitors specifically seek riverside locations for their ambiance and recreational opportunities. As one reviewer described Silver Springs, "Most of the sites are larger than average and mostly separated from the other sites" with "close access to several hiking trailheads, the White River itself." Campgrounds within the national park boundaries typically feature more regulations but provide direct access to park trails and features. Campers report mixed experiences regarding privacy between sites, with backcountry options generally offering more seclusion than developed campgrounds. The national park campgrounds remain especially popular during summer weekends, often filling completely by Friday morning.
Best Campgrounds near Carbonado (309)
1. Dash Point State Park Campground
"Firstly, I just have to say what a positive and amazing experience I had at this campground. The volunteers were friendly, kind and absolutely awesome to interact with."
"The campground itself is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. Ours had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table."
from $23 - $80 / night
Check Availability2. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
"There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."
"It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"
from $23 - $254 / night
Check Availability3. Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"If you are looking for an volunteer opportunity while in the park, check out the Washington Train Association also know as the WTA."
"Large campground located near the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier. Many sites tucked into large trees. Some loops close to main toad so the noise can be an issue, but overall beautiful!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability4. Mowich Lake Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"One reason we wanted to stay here was to be close to lots of beautiful hiking near Mt. Rainier. One of the days we went to Sunrise Visitor Center and did a few hikes within the park."
"My husband and I just spent a weekend at Mowiche Campground located in Ashford, Washington. We chose this campground because we wanted to be close hikes near Mt. Rainier."
5. Alder Lake Campground
"It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."
"Walking distance to the day use beach area. Very clean showers. Well maintained sites and fire wood for sale with the camp host. A great spot for exploring near Mt. Rainer."
from $35 - $265 / night
Check Availability6. Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
"If you are ever in the edge of whether or not you want to travel to Washington and hike, I highly recommend coming. This campground was in the perfect location, too, for some hiking!"
"Snoqualmie Falls is one of Washington States greatest attractions. This waterfall is breath taking."
7. Netties Mountain View Retreat
"Convenient drive to Mt Rainier and Summit lake trail as well. Definitely worth every penny! "
"Convenient location near Mt. Rainier."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability8. Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park
"There are several dump stations nearby. Very quiet and low key. It is situated next to a H.S. stadium so the game nights get a little bit loud but really not that bad. Showers are available too."
"Campground has nice paved spots, but they are very close to each other, so don't expect much privacy. It sits behind a smal stadium.
For the restrooms and shower you'll have to walk pretty far."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Carbon River
"I go every year, but unfortunately the only bridge to gain access to camping is closed until further notice"
"I put up my hammock around 7pm, nobody's else there. Around 9-11pm a few people including a 5th wheel arrived and spent a bunch of time moving that around."
10. Elkamp Eastcreek
"Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance. The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees. "
"The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."
from $25 - $40 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 2 min from Seattle, WA
- 1 hr 3 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 9 min from Bremerton, WA
- 2 hrs 5 min from Longview, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Carbonado, WA
545 Photos of 309 Carbonado Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Grove GetawaysP
Carbon River
Enumclaw Expo Center RV Parkm
Ipsut Creek Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
WildHare Retreat
Big BackyardD
Eagles Roost Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Mowich Lake Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
Carbon River Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Golden Lakes Backcountry Campsites — Mount Rainier National Park
Yellowstone Cliffs Camp — Mount Rainier National Park
Lake Sawyer Resort
Recent Reviews near Carbonado, WA
1593 Reviews of 309 Carbonado Campgrounds
- BBeth P.Scout
Mossyrock Park
A favorite!
I’ve been coming here since I was a kid with my parents, and now I visit regularly with my own kids. It’s honestly one of my favorite places to camp! I drive from Montana to visit once a year.
This is a very family-friendly campground, and there are always lots of kids around. The main campground and S’mores Loop tend to be busier, with kids playing and people out and about. If you’re looking for a quieter site, I’d recommend staying up top in the Birds Eye area. Just keep in mind that there isn’t any shade up there, but if you have a pop-up canopy, you’re all set!
The grounds are always clean, tidy, and well-maintained. The bathrooms are SO clean and always have plenty of hot water. We have a camper and still choose to shower in the campground bathrooms because they’re that nice! It is an older facility, and of course, it’s still a public bathroom, so I’d recommend shower shoes, but the staff does an amazing job keeping everything clean.
You’ll constantly see staff cleaning, emptying trash bins, and taking care of the grounds. Whatever the management is doing here, they’re clearly doing something right. I wish more campgrounds were managed this way!
There are lots of shaded campsites, nice playgrounds, disc golf courses, paved biking paths, a lake for swimming, a boat ramp, dump station, and plenty of guest parking. There’s something for everyone, especially families.
I have AT&T cell service and had full bars/service in the Birds Eye area, which was a nice bonus.
I highly recommend this campground and will definitely continue coming back with my family!
Kara R.ScoutCabin Creek Dispersed Camping
Crazy man with a fkn machete
Found a cool site closer to the water when a random tweaker came through our site from his site down the hill with a whole ass machete cutting through some greenery then came back with a buddy while we were down by the river filling our water and rinsing off in our swimsuits STILL WITH THE MACHETE IN HAND and starts hollering to scare us off so they could fish??? If you wanted the spot near the river to fish just use that spot and not come through someone else's and scare them off. Be careful if you come here bc he seemed like he's been here before and likes to frequent this site
Lainey P.
RangerPackwood RV Park & Campground
$5 shower for visitors
I really appreciate that they will let you shower here for $5. Two shower stalls in the bathroom and I had the whole place to myself when I came here. They were clean enough showers but definitely room for improvement, there was some mold & hair. I was just grateful for hot water and good water pressure. I believe there is laundry there too they might let visitors use.
- mmason G.
TravelerBelfair State Park Campground
Beautiful, easy to get to campground
This is a beautiful state park with plenty of bathrooms, showers, and water points. There are plenty of full hookup RV spots, non-hookup TV spots, and tenet camping sites. There is a playground for kids, easy access beach area for swimming and paddle boarding, and pathways for pleasant walks.
I stayed on the beach loop at site 142. It was sunny during the day with nice shade in the evening. A blackberry patch right behind me was just beginning to ripen.
Great place for families with a loop for the kids to cruise on their bikes.
- Lainey P.Ranger
Snow Lake Backcountry Campsites — Mount Rainier National Park
Lots of incline and decline on a short hike in
The hike is short but it can be pretty tough, plus it gets very busy on warm days being one of the few swimmable spots in the park. Campground seemed well kept
- Christina F.Ranger
Lake Easton State Park Campground
Camping on the interstate
It's a nice campground and state park. The views are beautiful. There is access to nice trails that take you to the Palouse to Cascade trail with an old train tunnel nearby (about 2 miles from the west side of campground). Verizon cell service is great. Site 17, with full hook-ups is huge!
The interstate noise is no joke. I know everyone comments on it and I thought of course you can hear it, but I didn't think it would be that bad. There must not be any Jake brake restrictions along this stretch because I've heard so many semis. At least it slows down at night, but it's still loud.
- Lainey P.Ranger
La Wis Wis Campground
Dreamy
This is a very very special campground and I had a hard time leaving. So beyond gorgeous, this is the place to be on very warm summer days if you’re a swimmer. The water is COLD for sure, and I’m pretty used to PNW frigid waters - could have really swam around all day if temps were in the 90’s. I was here when it was lower 70’s and partly cloudy, still beautiful but a little too cold to indulge in a long swim. Many sites are incredibly spacious and private. I had three sites around me vacant (despite the campground being full online) People don’t treat the vault toilets well here unfortunately, and there’s no bear boxes. Super close to Packwood. I really loved this campground for lounging around and for easy NP access.
- Lainey P.Ranger
Sahara Creek DNR Horse Camp
HORSE WAS SHOT & SHERIFF WOULD NOT COME
This went from a four star stay to one star in the blink of an eye. There is a shooting range directly behind this campground, and the horse trails lead right past it. On August 8th 2026 around 2PM, someone’s horse was shot while they were riding less than a half a mile away from camp and when they called 911, animal control came but police would NOT come even to investigate. This was reckless use of a firearm, animal endangerment, and honestly should be a felony. There is no way to accidentally be shooting at the trails from the shooting range, you have to DECIDE to do that. Police are absolutely useless, and now I know especially in this area the cops don’t give a damn about anyone’s safety.
You can hear shooting nearby all day and all night despite the posted hours at the range. Although it’s a free stay with a discover pass, I will NOT EVER stay here again and would not recommend this place to anyone with horses.
Guide to Carbonado
Mount Rainier dominates the landscape around Carbonado, Washington, rising to 14,410 feet and creating distinct microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year. The Carbon River Valley near Carbonado receives approximately 70-90 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush temperate rainforest conditions. Most campgrounds in this region close seasonally due to snowpack, with limited winter camping options.
What to do
Hike to alpine lakes: Mowich Lake Campground provides direct access to several trails including Tolmie Peak, which offers spectacular views. A camper noted, "We hiked Tolmie Peak and the trailhead is straight off the campground which is super nice. Would definitely go back here and try to spend more time exploring the surrounding area."
Visit nearby Deep Lake: Campers at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park appreciate its proximity to additional recreation. One visitor mentioned, "10 minute drive from Deep Lake which is beautiful and great for swimming and paddle boarding."
Watch kayakers from riverside sites: The Green River offers opportunities to observe skilled paddlers. A visitor to Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground described, "The road slowly meanders uphill alongside the Carbon River for 5 miles, giving campers majestic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks... You might catch a kayaker in the river, I hear this stretch take a lot of skill!"
What campers like
Clean bathrooms with showers: State parks in the region maintain well-kept facilities. A Kanaskat-Palmer visitor explained, "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each." Another camper shared, "The bathrooms were always clean. There's designated dish washing station and potable water station."
Privacy between sites: Dash Point State Park Campground offers well-separated sites. A camper observed, "I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" Another reviewer mentioned, "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes."
Nearby swimming options: Multiple campgrounds provide water access for summer heat relief. A visitor to Camp Lakeview reported, "People were fishing, paddle boarding and swimming. I would absolutely go stay there again!"
What you should know
Advance planning required: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. For Cougar Rock Campground, a camper advised, "Get your reservations in the winter before your trip. Spots fill up fast."
Road conditions vary: Access to some campgrounds involves unpaved roads. A Mowich Lake visitor warned, "The gravel road to get up there, it's like 15 miles long and it's rough. Not the worst road I've ever been on but it wasn't fun and it felt like you had to drive it forever."
Bear safety measures: Many campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. At Mowich Lake, "Each spot had a raised platform for your tent, bear box, and picnic table."
Ranger presence: Park staff actively monitor campgrounds. One Kanaskat-Palmer camper noted, "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day. I have been asked by the park rangers at 10:01 p.m. to be quite as myself and three 9 year old girls were talking too loud."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Some campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. A Camp Lakeview visitor mentioned, "There is a playground next to a volleyball court and basketball court. A small beach with a large dock was available for use during the day as well as a boat launch and fishing dock."
Consider temperature fluctuations: Even summer camping can be cold at higher elevations. At Mowich Lake, a camper advised, "Even in July there is snow and temperatures reached as low as 40F. Fortunately we were prepared, but you may not be."
Check pet policies: Elkamp Eastcreek welcomes dogs while national park campgrounds typically don't. A reviewer noted, "Dogs are welcome! You couldn't ask for more courteous and caring hosts than Tom and Brian."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven parking areas. A visitor to Kanaskat-Palmer reported, "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground."
Utility hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups only. A camper at Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park noted, "Nice older park at the base of Mt. Rainier. Water and Electric (50 amp) only. There are several dump stations nearby."
Size restrictions: Not all sites accommodate large rigs. At Cougar Rock, a camper mentioned, "There are no fire pits, and the driveways are kind of small, but all of that is incredibly worth it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Carbonado, WA?
What camping is available near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Carbonado, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 309 campgrounds and RV parks near Carbonado, WA and 48 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA?
Which is the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Carbonado, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Carbonado, WA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Carbonado, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 48 free dispersed camping spots near Carbonado, WA.
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