Free Camping in Washington

200 sites across 5 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Reclamation sites

1 site. Bureau of Reclamation camping rules →

  • Banks Lake
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

6 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Evans Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Gifford Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kamloops Island Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • American Camp Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

39 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • 10-Mile Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 12.4 Miles Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 13.2 Miles Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 13.3 Miles Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 3 Rivers Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • 4-O Ranch Wildlife Area Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Adams County Fairgrounds Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Admin and Visitor Tipis
    Developed· Indexing
  • Admin Tipis
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ahtanum Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ahtanum Meadows Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alder Thicket Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alice Creek Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • American Forks Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • American Heritage Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ancient Lakes Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anderson Point Campsites
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Antilon Lake Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Appleton Pass
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Appleton Pass JCT Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Atkinson Flat Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ayer Boat Basin Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • AYH Ranch Campground
    Developed· Indexing
15 more PRIVATE sites in Washington.

State Parks sites

152 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Alta Lake — Site 1
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 10
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 101
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 102
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 103
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 104
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 105
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 106
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 107
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 108
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 109
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 11
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 110
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 111
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 112
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 113
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 114
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 117
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 118
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 12
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 13
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 14
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 15
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lake — Site 16
    Developed· Indexing
128 more State Parks sites in Washington.

US Forest Service sites

2 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Alpine Meadows Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • AMERICAN FORKS CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Washington

How long can you camp on public land in Washington?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Washington is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Washington have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Washington right now?
Fire restrictions in Washington change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Washington state office page and the USFS Washington forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Washington?
Dispersed camping in Washington means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Washington allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Washington?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Washington with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Washington prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Washington?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Washington when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Washington are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Washington in winter?
Winter access in Washington depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Washington often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Washington?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Washington do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Washington?
Coverage in Washington varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Washington sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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