E
Erick D.
Scout
ScoutEllensburg KOA
Well maintained
Nice site, well maintained, nice to have 50 amp available especially in the summer. Some highway noise but not too bad
Camping near Wapato, WA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Yakima River Canyon forms the centerpiece of camping opportunities near Wapato, Washington, with several established campgrounds scattered along the river corridor. The area includes Yakima Sportsman State Park, offering full hookup sites for RVs along with tent camping areas. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access multiple BLM-managed sites in the Yakima River Canyon including Big Pines, Roza, and Umtanum campgrounds, which provide more primitive camping experiences. The region spans from developed RV parks with full amenities to public lands with basic facilities, creating a spectrum of camping styles from fully serviced to minimalist.
Campgrounds in the Yakima Canyon area operate under varying seasonal schedules, with some like Yakima Sportsman State Park open from April to November while others such as Big Pines and Roza remain accessible year-round. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F in this semi-arid region, while nights cool considerably, particularly during spring and fall. Most established campgrounds require payment through self-service fee stations or advance reservations, especially during peak summer weekends. The terrain varies from flat riverside spots to more rugged settings. Cell service can be spotty throughout the canyon areas. A camper noted that "Eastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape. It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate. When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands and makes for great wildlife watching."
Water access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the area, with several sites positioned directly along the Yakima River. The canyon campgrounds serve as popular bases for fishing, rafting, and kayaking, with sites at Big Pines and Roza offering direct river access. Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets but no hookups or drinking water. Campers report varying levels of privacy between sites, with some locations experiencing significant crowds during summer months and holidays. According to visitor feedback, "The campground itself is one little loop with six sites. The loop is an offshoot of a very large gravel parking area for day use. Mostly boat launching and hiking access." Wildlife viewing opportunities include bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, and numerous bird species throughout the river corridor.
Best Campgrounds near Wapato (106)
1. Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground
"It’s close to Yakima and great for a place to visit while you’re in “The Palm Springs of Washington”."
"Lol A skunk did cross our path and ran behind our tent...but that's all the action. During this time it was $25 a night for tents. It was close to town but not TOO close....BIG park."
from $31 - $68 / night
Check Availability2. CIRCLE H RV PARK & STORAGE, LLC
from $90 - $110 / night
Check Availability3. Big Pines Campground - Yakima River Canyon
"One thing I love about Washington is that there are so many different places to hike. My husband and I stayed here, which is close to White Pass where there are tons of great hikes."
"We stayed at the campsite #1 which is adjacent to the boat launch."
from $25 / night
Check Availability4. Yakima RV Park
5. Roza - Yakima River Canyon
"This is and ending point for summer rafting trips that start near Ellensburg, WA and a great place for calm water fun. Setup camp in a paved area with overnight fees around $15 per car/site. "
"Not very busy, but it is near a main road and there is some road noise."
from $15 / night
Check Availability6. Willow Barn Ranch
from $50 - $75 / night
Check Availability7. Sunnyside RV Park
"Close to the freeway but very quiet. It is not upscale which is why I like it and will for sure come back if I’m in this area again. I definitely recommend this quiet campground."
8. Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Campground
"This place is close to home for anyone in central Washington, the sites are giant and the views are amazing."
"This campsite is quiet and has everything you need, full hookups, water, showers, and trails. The campground is small but really clean and nearly every site has a view of the river/lake."
9. Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon
"My husband and I don't really ever make our way around the Yakima area, only because the hiking there is more "desert" feel and in the summer the rattlesnakes are out and about."
"Many deer in the area, even walking through the campsite at times. The park does get pretty busy for day use, like hiking and fishing but nothing too crazy. The suspension bridge is awesome!"
from $38 / night
Check Availability10. State Fair RV Park
Drive Time
- 20 min from Yakima, WA
- 1 hr 4 min from Kennewick, WA
- 1 hr 48 min from Walla Walla, WA
- 1 hr 59 min from Wenatchee, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Wapato, WA
92 Photos of 106 Wapato Campgrounds
Alaska Mike
Infidel Acres
Jason G.
Big Pines Campground - Yakima River Canyon
Shay F.
Umtanum Campground - Yakima River Canyon
Cassandra C.
Windy Point Campground
Dani H.
Ahtanum Meadows Campground
Tyler D.
Willows Campground
Stephanie S.
Hause Creek Campground
Judy T.
Vernita Bridge
Kasey B.
Rimrock Dispersed on NF 580
Mandi W.
Rimrock - South Fork Bay Dispersed Camp
Ashley B.
Brooks Memorial State Park Campground
Jeff K.
Fish Creek Dispersed
Recent Reviews near Wapato, WA
365 Reviews of 106 Wapato Campgrounds
Yasir A.
TravelerWindy Point Campground
Great River Views
The river views here are great, but I wouldn't recommend camping here during July—it gets way too hot in eastern WA, and state burn bans mean no campfires. Note that the campground is near the highway, so it can be a little noisy. Skip Site B4 as it’s too far from the water. Go for Site 08 instead—it’s close to the river, offers much better shade, and has the picnic table set right next to the river view.
- CClint L.Scout
Rimrock Lake Resort
Great place
It's a small camp ground some of the spots are hard to get into, but over all the bath room is very clean and well kept there are two that have showers and toilets with privacy water gets hot quick. The staff is very helpful polite and courteous overall the whole part is a nice little place to stay he has a good parking spots on the lake overlooking the Lake I should say what a great place to stay.
- jjeanne A.
GuideSunnyside RV Park
Good campground
Mostly pull throughs. Sites are a little tight, but good for the night. Mostly gravel with a few trees. Showers, laundry, pool, dog park all available. $50 a night for full hookups.
Christopher G.TravelerDry Gulch on Columbia River
Road of bones
The road starts as gravel then turns into gravel and large stones. Not an easy road definite 4x4 with good tires, not a Subaru Outback track. Eventually it starts gaining altitude toward the Wild Horse Wind Farm and the road turns to broken basalt rock and volcanic stone and gets pretty sharp. We made it about a mile past the wind farm where the road starts to drop again, and a shard of basalt tore through the sidewall flattening a tire.
We managed to change a tire and decided that with no spare, continuing would be stupid. We turned back and spent the night near the wind farm and drive out the following day.
This area is prone to grass fires and getting stuck would be pretty serious. Areas with no cell service, one lane road, grass scab land, volcanic rock and occasional sage brush.
Not a trail I’d advise for a single vehicle.
Staying at the wind farm there is awesome star viewing, near constant wind and you can hear the wind generators in the background.
Kasey B.GuideRimrock Dispersed on NF 580
Convenient river spot
Multiple spots located along NF 580. Saw several big goosenecks and some tent campers. Plenty of site with space and fire rings. Be mindful of fires are allowed at the time you visit. The noise of the river does a pretty good job at drowning out the traffic on the highway.
Amy W.
RangerStinson Flats
River haven
Nice little sports. Not big rig friendly. But I was able to find a nice spot for my van. Quite a few yellow jackets swarming. But the river sound is peaceful. Ground is very rocky so digging a hole isnt the easiest
- Yasir A.Traveler
Rimrock - South Fork Bay Dispersed Camp
South Fork Bay Camping Area
Stayed overnight here ($8). It gets incredibly busy during the day—especially on weekends and throughout July—so you definitely need to arrive early to secure a good spot, though it does get very quiet and peaceful at night. Due to state fire ban requirements, absolutely no campfires or fire rings are allowed on-site. Also, the mosquitoes can get bad, so make sure you come well-prepared with bug spray or netting!
- bbrianScout
Ellensburg KOA
Standard KOA
Nice campground and typical of KOAs: a little too pricey for what you get, but reliable.
Guide to Wapato
Camping near Wapato, Washington centers around the semi-arid landscape of central Washington, with elevation ranging from 770 to 1,100 feet across the region. The Yakima River curves through basalt canyons creating distinct microclimates where temperatures can drop 30°F between day and night. Winter camping is available at several year-round sites with temperatures frequently falling below freezing between November and March.
What to do
Hiking Umtanum Creek Trail: Cross the suspension bridge at Umtanum Campground for desert hiking with diverse wildlife viewing. "We drove home by going Highway 12 and saw the most amazing views of Mt. Rainier," notes Skylar M. who hiked in the area in July.
Fishing access points: Early morning fishing spots are readily available along the Yakima River. "Large Campground right on the river. very little shade. Vault toilets. Great place to stay for floating the river or fishing.located in the beautiful Ellensburg canyon on the Yakima river," explains Tonya T. about Big Pines Campground.
Explore petrified wood formations: Visit the interpretive hiking trail at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park with preserved ancient logs viewable through protective grates. "An easy 1.5 mile hike will take you past several nicely preserved examples of different types of petrified wood, including some whole logs where you can clearly still see the shape of the bark, rings, etc," explains Meghan O.
What campers like
River access for cooling off: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making the Yakima River a vital respite. "After hiking in the morning, we spent a lot of time across the bridge, in its shadow, in the river," shares Shay F. about her July visit to Umtanum Recreation Site.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Big Pines Campground offers chances to spot various animals throughout the seasons. "One of our favorites. Right on the Yakima river, fishing. Boating, floating the river. Watching Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Eagles and Pelicans," states Theresa S.
Canyon landscapes: The contrast between desert terrain and riverfront vegetation creates distinctive scenery. "Eastern Washington near the water is my favorite type of landscape. It's a hot, windy, and a true desert climate. When you get near a body of water like you do along the Yakima River, the diversity of life expands," describes a visitor to the Yakima River Canyon area.
What you should know
Camping fees structure: Most BLM sites in the canyon charge $15 per night during peak season. "BLM used to let camping be free during the off season but now charges $15 per night, no matter the site type," explains Ryan L. about camping at Big Pines.
Limited water availability: Roza Campground and other BLM sites lack potable water sources. "This is a BLM recreation area. So no electric, water, or sewage dump. But what a clean and well run place. The river is cold but very clear/clean," notes Shawn A.
Reservation requirements: During summer weekends, first-come first-served sites fill quickly. "90+% are reservable from ~Memorial Day to Labor Day, so don't plan on trying to get lucky unless on a first come first serve sure unless you can get there before 5 pm on a Friday," advises Ryan L. about Big Pines Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Wapato, WA?
What camping is available near Wapato, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Wapato, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 106 campgrounds and RV parks near Wapato, WA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Wapato, WA?
Which is the most popular campground near Wapato, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Wapato, WA is Yakima Sportsman State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Wapato, WA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Wapato, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Wapato, WA.
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