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Best Dispersed Camping in Washington

767 Reviews

Washington's national forests and BLM lands offer primitive camping opportunities across diverse landscapes. Dispersed sites along South Fork Snoqualmie River provide riverside camping with good accessibility, though several reviews note significant potholes on access roads. Sites typically feature fire rings but no other amenities. A recent visitor mentioned that "this spot was truly beautiful. Green as far as the eye can see, with a creek that provides the perfect white noise to fall asleep to."

Forest Service roads like NF-2419 and NF-65 feature multiple pull-off spots of varying privacy levels. Most locations permit fires (seasonal restrictions apply) and allow pets, but lack toilets, water, and trash service. Mosquitoes are frequently mentioned in reviews, particularly near water sources. At higher elevations, sites like Chelan Lookout (4,750 ft) provide impressive views but require navigating unpaved roads. For most dispersed camping in Washington, a Northwest Forest Pass or Discovery Pass may be required, depending on the jurisdiction.

Best Dispersed Campgrounds in Washington (285)

    1. Hog Lake Campground

    44 Reviews
    Sprague, WA
    Website
    +1 (509) 536-1200

    "BLM land was easy to find right off the highway. Rough gravel road easily traveled in a truck, low clearance vehicle may have trouble. There were a few people with campers at the end of the road."

    "I personally would not want to drive anything bigger than a camper van down there but there are quite a few bug turnaround spots and some nice big sites."

    2. White River Dispersed Camping

    28 Reviews
    Greenwater, WA
    Website
    +1 (360) 825-6585

    "Right outside the entrance to Mt."

    "If you come here you must leave no trace."

    3. Radar Ridge

    25 Reviews
    Naselle, WA
    Website

    "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!"

    "Long dirt road with multiple branch of campsites to pick along. No facilities to use, but easy for more private campers. Beautiful scenery!"

    4. Dispersed Camping NF 2918 — Olympic National Park

    19 Reviews
    Joyce, WA

    "We arrived very late at night and found a quiet spot up the mountain but moved in the morning in search of shade. We came upon a little dirt road off of 2918 near the river."

    "Couldn’t get a spot at Fairholme so I opted for this location. I only saw 2 small areas you could back in with fire pits. One closer to the 101, and one further back before you cross the bridge."

    5. Ranger Creek Airstrip Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    Greenwater, WA
    Website
    +1 (425) 783-6000

    "We had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out."

    "We had high hopes for this USFS campground, having read that it’s on an airstrip, it sounded neat. But we decided not to stay here after we checked it out."

    6. South Fork Snoqualmie River Dispersed Site

    19 Reviews
    Snoqualmie Pass, WA
    Website
    +1 (425) 888-1421

    "Access road is right off the highway and unpaved, has a TON of holes so I wouldn’t recommend driving down it without good ground clearance."

    "PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE! Other wise we really enjoyed a quick night away in our van."

    7. Fishtrap Recreation Area

    19 Reviews
    Sprague, WA
    Website
    +1 (509) 536-1200

    "Plenty of opportunity for solar 3 bar 5g Tmobile Open mostly level sites Not very busy Some larger sites able to accommodate bigger rigs (25' at least) Cons:

    No amenities (where we are, maybe further"

    "A nice location! I will advise tent campers it is tent accessible but not the easiest spot in a tent. The soil is very dry and a couple of the spots were hard rocks and not accessible for tents."

    8. NF Dispersed Camping

    18 Reviews
    Marblemount, WA

    "This was a bit tenuous getting in with our 21’ RV, but at the end of the road there was a turnaround and a couple sites left with a late arrival. Nice listening to the river as we went to sleep."

    "I didn’t have to go far in to find a place to car camp for the night. So I can’t speak to what’s further up the road (including Forest Road 1062, which is the marker for this Dyrt listing)."

    9. Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge

    16 Reviews
    Wishram, WA
    Website

    "There is a pit toilet available (well maintained), picnic tables, a boat launch with FREE life jackets to borrow, beautiful scenery with a nearby winery (not overly priced), and you're right on the river"

    "There’s a pit toilet, and a garbage dumpster on-site. Over half the “sites” are right on the water, while the others are less than 50 feet away."

    10. L.T. Murray Wildlife Area

    12 Reviews
    Thorp, WA
    Website

    "**Ranger Review: Camp Fare Premium Meals at LT Murray Wildlife Area ** Camping Review: The LT Murray Wildlife Area is located in Thorp, between Cle Elum and Ellensburg."

    "After figuring out which gate to go through (make sure and shut the gate behind you), I took a road to the right with my truck and 19 ft. epro."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews in Washington

767 Reviews of 285 Washington Campgrounds

  • Juliana J.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 28, 2026

    Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead

    Stunning, quiet - worth the trek

    I essentially drove as far as I could into the forest and fount a cut off that absolutely was not well maintained but I managed to get my car through and my goodness was it worth it! A bit of trash left behind but other than that this was probably top 3 of the over 25 sites I stayed at over the past several weeks. I even had a little bit of service (Verizon) You do need a discover pass - so technically not free. No amentities but there was a rock fire pit that had been well used. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to find this spot again, but I’ll try and try.

  • LUCAS S.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 27, 2026

    DNR Dispersed Campsite

    Great views. We backed right up to the beach entrance and made dinner. Quiet, secluded, homey.

  • Mike M.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 23, 2026

    Old Bluett Pass Road Dispersed

    It was fairly easy to get to this area however despite our best efforts we only found one established campsite with a fire ring. Road getting here was mostly paved with some debris on the roadway. We lost GPS signal just before arriving and passed NF200. I gave 3 stars because we were unable to locate other sites. Maybe it was just me but we drove quite a while on NF200 and only found the one right at the entrance.

  • Sheryl L.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 23, 2026

    Avery Rec Area- Columbia River Gorge

    My husband and I have stayed here 5x now for a total of 27 days... We love this little park, but this stay was disappointing as there are 3+ sites occupied by someone's junk left here without people... Hope someone can haul it off soon! Oh! The frequent trains running 24/7 might startle you awake as the tracks are 100ft away and they are required to blow their horn 2x before reaching the crossing 300ft away. But camping is an adventure 👍🤗

  • Courtney L.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 22, 2026

    Ringold Springs Camping

    Big empty field with plenty of space for campers of any size. They have a vaulted toilet available if needed. The sign says you must register but there is no way to register. Discovery pass required. It’s well off the beaten path, in the middle of farms. There is a river & boat launch that plenty of people occupied but unless you go that way, you’d never know they are there.

  • Braxton J.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 21, 2026

    South Fork Calawah River

    This is a fantastic camping spot, easy access for a smaller vehicle. There is a downed tree that would limit any sort of large vehicle pulling in there. Easy access to the stream/water. BE BEAR AWARE, by keeping food stored in your vehicle. Had a young curious black bear that wandered through both nights I was there. Other than that, no issues whatsoever!

  • Hayley F.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 20, 2026

    Crab Creek at Rocky Ford

    Few miles off the interstate flat spots

    Very flat spot several miles off ethe interstate. Small 2 lane road next to it. Lots of sites, nothing marked just back in and hang out. No water and electricity, but great for FREE! Convience store down the road with gas and a few things.

  • Emily A.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 14, 2026

    Forest Road 7300 Pull-Off

    Lovely lovely place

    It was MAGICAL- mushrooms, fall leaves, and moss everywhere. Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig. But if you have a smaller rig there’s tons of places off of road 73 for dispersed camping. Bumpy road to get there but keep on driving and you’ll find places with even firepits.

  • Wyeth S.The Dyrt Pro User
    Oct. 14, 2026

    Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead

    Illegal Camping

    Confirming the other review saying this is not legal dispersed camping. Luckily was still daylight when he came but would have been fined after dark. Guy was nice though so 🤷

Guide to Washington

Washington offers a wealth of opportunities for those seeking the freedom and adventure of dispersed camping. With stunning landscapes and a variety of amenities, campers can immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the comforts of well-reviewed sites.

Top Attractions for Dispersed Campers

  • Experience the serene beauty of the Hog Lake Campground, where you can enjoy quiet surroundings and the chance to spot wildlife like deer and coyotes.
  • The White River Dispersed Camping area offers breathtaking views and easy access to hiking trails, making it a perfect base for outdoor exploration.
  • For those looking for a unique experience, Mount St. Helens Dispersed Camping provides a chance to camp near the iconic volcano, surrounded by stunning landscapes and rich history.

Top Activities While Free Camping in Washington

Features Dispersed Campers Should Check Out

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