• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Park Ranger John

  • Home
  • About
    • About Park Ranger John
    • Contact Park Ranger John
    • Advertise/PR
    • Disclosure
  • US National Parks
    • List of National Parks by State
    • National Historic Sites
    • National Historical Parks
    • National Memorials
    • National Monuments
    • National Seashores
    • List of US National Parks in Alphabetical Order
  • National Park Lodges
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • US National Parks
  • Cruise Travel
  • State Parks
  • Recipes
×

Published: Jun 24, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links

Complete Mt. Rainier Camping Guide

This Mt. Rainier Camping Guide will provide information on all four campgrounds within Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.

Three of the campgrounds require reservations, one campground is a first come first served basis tent campground.

Mt. Rainier Camping Guide

Mount Rainier campgrounds offer fantastic easy access to day hiking trails, visitor centers, and this gorgeous Washington National Park. 

You can camp surrounded by old growth forest, listening to cascading rivers, and soaking in truly amazing scenery. 

Two campgrounds within the park have group sites, Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Campgrounds. 

If you are looking to RV camp or drive your car to the campground there are three Mount Rainier campgrounds that are open for cars/RVs. All three front country car campgrounds offer flush toilets, running water, and easy access to the main attractions within the park. 

Mowich Lake campground is the only walk-in tent campground within the park. The campground has a vault toilet and no running water. 

If you are unable to get a reservation in a Mount Rainier campground you can also look in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Campgrounds include the Big Creek Campground with 29 sites. 

In the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest, you can find the Bumping Creek Campground with  45 campsites.

La Wis Wis Campground is super popular even being outside of the park. The campground has single and double campsites. It is located four miles from the town of Packwood. The campground is located within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Whether you are tent camping or staying in your RV you will love camping in Mount Rainier National Park. 

 

Mount Rainier Camping Reservations

To make a reservation at either Cougar Rock or Ohanapecosh Campgrounds visit or call:
http://www.recreation.gov
1-877-444-6777
1-877-833-6777 (TDD)
1-606-515-6777 (International)

Reservations for individual campsites may be made up to six months in advance of the camping date.

Group sites may be reserved up to a year in advance.

Payment for online or telephone reservations must be made via a credit card. Reservation, change, and cancellation fees may apply.

Cougar Rock Campground

Location: Southwest area of the park on the road to Paradise

Elevation: 3,180 feet

Open: Late May to late Sept.

Number of sites: 173

Accessible Sites:

Cost per night: $20

Reservations?: Yes, reservations can be made 6 months ahead of time on Recreation.gov

Campground amenities: picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, water, dump station

RVs allowed?: Yes, there are no electrical, water, or greywater hookups. Turns on loop roads are tight and vehicle damage can occur.

Max RV Length: 35 feet
Max Trailer Length: 27 feet

For more information and photos check out our post on Cougar Rock Campground. 

 

 

Mowich Lake Campground

Location: located six miles from the Mowich entrance on a dirt road that can be very rough. 

Elevation: 4,929 feet

Open: Early July to early Oct.

Number of sites: 13 tent pads for 10 primitive walk-in sites (tents only)

Accessible Sites: 

Cost per night: $0.00 

Reservations?: No, First Come First Serve

Campground amenities: no potable water, fires prohibited, 

RVs allowed?: No, primitive campground, tents only.

For more information visit this site. 

Ohanapecosh Campground

Location: Southeast side of Mount Rainier National Park

Elevation: 1,914 feet

Open: Late May to late Sept.

Number of sites: 188

Accessible Sites:

Cost per night: $20

Reservations?: Yes, Sites are available on a 6-month rolling basis. 

Campground amenities: picnic tables, fire platforms, flush toilets, and potable water

RVs allowed?: Yes, there are no electrical, water, or grey water hookups.

Max RV Length: 32 ft.
Max Trailer Length: 27 ft.

For more information and photos check out our post on the Ohanapecosh Campground.

White River Campground

Location: Northeastern section of Mount Rainier National Park

Elevation: 4,400 feet

Open: Late June to late Sept.

Number of sites: 112

Accessible Sites:

Cost per night: $20

Reservations?: No, all campsites are first come first serve

Campground amenities: picnic tables, fire platforms, flush toilets, water 

RVs allowed?:

Yes, there are no electrical, water, or greywater hookups. 

Max RV Length: 27 feet
Max Trailer Length: 18 feet

For more information and photos check out our post on the White River Campground. 

Front Country Campground Regulations

Campsites are limited to a maximum of 6 persons (or immediate family) and two tents.

Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days in any developed campground within the park and no more than 28 days total in any designated campground within the calendar year.

Dogs, cats, and other pets must be caged, on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) or otherwise under physical restraint at all times.

RV dump station is located at the Cougar Rock campground and is available for your use at no cost.

Quiet hours are between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

Generators may only be used at the following times: 8 am to 10 am, noon to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm

Laundry facilities are located outside the park in Ashford and Packwood. There are no public shower facilities in the park.

Backcountry Camping

Backcountry camping overnight in the wilderness at Mount Rainier requires a permit.

Make sure to check Current Trail And Backcountry Camp Conditions

Lodging in Mount Rainier

Paradise Inn - Find out what it is like to stay in this epic National Park Lodge located near Paradise.

National Park Inn - Find out what it is like to stay in this great lodge located near the Longmire Historic District. 

Also, check out La Wis Wis Campground near the park. 

Additional Resources

Top things to do Mount Rainier National Park - All the things you don't want to miss while in the park. 

National Parks in Washington - Check out all of the parks you can visit in Washington

Most Visited National Park Sites - Find out if Mount Rainier made it on the most visited national parks list. 

National Park Bucket List - How many bucket list national park adventures have you taken?

Paradise Mt. Rainier Guide - Check out all of the amazing things to see and do while visiting Paradise. 

« Epic Guide to Paradise - Mt Rainier National Park
Curry Village Cabins - Yosemite National Park »

Filed Under: US National Parks

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Photobucket
Hi, I'm Park Ranger John and I am so happy you are here!  I have been a Park Ranger for almost 20 years and can't wait to share with you National Park Travel Tips, Recipes, and so much more!
Learn more about Park Ranger John.

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Footer

Follow on:

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Great Resources

How to Become a Park Ranger

Printable list of US National Parks in Alphabetical Order

Printable List of all 424 US National Park Sites

 

Top National Park Tips

  • US National Park List
  • 13 Hikes in Zion National Park
  • Muir Woods National Monument
  • Zion National Park Camping
  • 7 Epic Hikes in Arches National Park
  • Crater Lake Camping
  • Things to do in Petrified Forest National Park
  • Arches National Park Camping
  • Things to do in Yellowstone

Copyright© 2023 · Tammilee Tips® LLC