10 Best Lakes With Campgrounds in Washington
Lakeside campgrounds are some of the best places to camp in Washington.
They offer amazing scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities for your camping trip.
I’ve been camping all over Washington and put together this list of the state’s best lakes with campgrounds so you can spend less time researching and more time camping.
This list includes lakes with developed campgrounds designed for car camping. Washington also has plenty of lakes you can backpack to, but those lakes aren’t included in this article.
Ready to pick your campground? Here are the 10 best lakes with campgrounds in Washington.
Related: 15 Spectacular Lake Hikes Near Seattle (For All Skill Levels)
1. Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake is one of the most uniquely beautiful lakes in Washington.
The lake’s incredible turquoise color is due to tiny rock particles in the water which refract sunlight in such a way that creates this extraordinary shade of blue. And with the rugged Cascade Mountains surrounding the lake, the scenery at Diablo Lake can’t be beat.
Diablo Lake is one of the highlights in North Cascades National Park. This national park is free to enter, so you don’t have to pay an entrance fee on top of reservation fees to camp here.
The national park manages two campgrounds on Diablo Lake: Colonial Creek North Campground and Colonial Creek South Campground.
Both campgrounds have walk-in campsites right on the shore of Diablo Lake. But even if you don’t choose one of the waterfront campsites, you won’t be too far from the lake if you stay at one of these campgrounds.
There are also 3 small boat-in campgrounds on Diablo Lake if you prefer a more primitive and adventurous camping experience. These boat-in campsites can be accessed using the boat launch at Colonial Creek South Campground.
While you’re camping on Diablo Lake, check out the Thunder Knob Trail. This easy hike starts at the entrance to the campgrounds and leads to a nice view of the lake.
Campsites can be reserved at recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. To use the boat-in campsites, obtain a backcountry permit.
Related: The Car Camper’s Guide to North Cascades National Park
2. Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is one of the many beautiful natural features of Olympic National Park.
Whether you plan to see the entire national park or just spend time by the lake, this dazzling blue lake is an excellent place to camp.
Camping is available at Fairholme Campground on the western side of Lake Crescent. Fairholme Campground is in a spectacular setting amid old-growth forest on the lake’s edge.
This campground has walk-in campsites right on the shore as well as drive-up campsites with a lake view. These prime campsites are ideal for a lakeside camping trip, but any site at this campground will make for a great base to enjoy Lake Crescent from.
It’s easy for campers to get out on Lake Crescent using the boat launch right at Fairholme Campground. If you don’t have your own boat, kayak and canoe rentals are available around the lake at the Lake Crescent Lodge and the Log Cabin Resort.
To get to a fabulous view of Lake Crescent from above, take the (very steep) trail to Mount Storm King. Don’t forget to take the detour to the popular waterfall Marymere Falls while you’re out on this trail.
Campsites can be reserved during the summer (May through September) up to 6 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Fairholme Campground.
Related: The Camper’s Complete Guide to Visiting Olympic National Park
3. Baker Lake
Baker Lake sits amid a spectacular landscape in the Cascade Mountains in northeast Washington.
This lake is in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest among snow-capped mountains and old-growth forest. These surroundings make for breathtaking scenery and provide lots of outdoor recreation opportunities for campers.
There are plenty of great places to camp around Baker Lake.
The U.S. Forest Service operates 5 campgrounds on the lake’s western shore: Horseshoe Cove Campground, Bayview Campground, Panorama Point Campground, Swift Creek Campground, and Shannon Creek Campground. With names like Bayview and Panorama Point, you know these campgrounds are beautiful places to stay right on the lake.
These campgrounds range in size from about 10 to 50 campsites. Most of the campgrounds offer campsites on or near the shore of Baker Lake.
On the eastern shore of Baker Lake, there are 2 hike-in campgrounds along the Baker Lake Trail.
Fishing, boating, swimming, and water skiing are all popular activities on Baker Lake. Most of the developed campgrounds have boat launches and a few have designated swimming areas, too.
Most of the campsites at the campgrounds on Baker Lake can be reserved up to 6 months in advance on recreation.gov. At some campgrounds, a few campsites are designated as first-come, first-serve sites.
4. Takhlakh Lake
Takhlakh Lake is one of the most picturesque lakes with camping in Washington. Although the lake is small and there are fewer amenities for campers here than at some other lakes, the scenery alone makes this one of the state’s best lakes to camp at.
This lake is in southwest Washington near Mount Adams. The U.S. Forest Service manages a campground that is situated on the opposite side of the lake from Mount Adams, giving campers access to a breathtaking view of the mountain rising over the lake.
The 50 campsites at Takhlakh Lake Campground line the lake’s western shore, putting every campsite within a short walk of the lake’s edge.
Campers can recreate on Takhlakh Lake in several ways. A boat ramp is available at the campground for campers who bring their own non-motorized vessels. The Takhlakh Loop Trail is a mile-long path that circles the lake for campers who wish to enjoy Takhlakh Lake from the shore.
Plenty of hiking trails are near Takhlakh Lake. The network of trails in the Mount Adams Wilderness can be enjoyed by both day hikers and backpackers alike.
Takhlakh Lake campground has both reservable campsites and first-come, first-serve sites. Reserve a campsite on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance.
5. Cascade Lake
The slow-paced living and the natural beauty of the San Juan Islands are major draws for visitors from mainland Washington. Head to Cascade Lake on Orcas Island for the best camping in these glorious islands.
Cascade Lake sits amid beautiful tree-covered hills in Moran State Park. This large park is an excellent destination for outdoor lovers since it encompasses the best views, trails, and lakes in the San Juan Islands.
There are 3 campgrounds around Cascade Lake. They’re named for their location on the lake: Northend Campground, Midway Campground, and Southend Campground.
Between these 3 campgrounds, there are about 120 campsites. Southend is the smallest campground but it has the best campsites since all of the sites are along Cascade Lake’s shore.
Spend your days out on Cascade Lake using the boat and paddleboard rentals from Orcas Adventures.
Take the Cascade Lake Loop trail to admire the lake from the shore. This path circles the lake and is less than 3 miles long.
If you can manage to peel yourself away from Cascade Lake, check out other trails in Moran State Park and the view from Mount Constitution (the highest point in the San Juan Islands).
Campsites on Cascade Lake can be reserved up to 9 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Moran State Park.
Related: Best Camping In The San Juan Islands
6. Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan is a popular vacation destination in central Washington. While many tourists associate the lake with the region’s resorts, wineries, and restaurants, there are plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities here for campers.
Lake Chelan is 50.5 miles long, making it the longest lake in Washington. Although it’s a very large lake, the most easily accessible amenities are concentrated along the southern end of the lake. The northern end of Lake Chelan can only be reached by boat or on foot.
There are two state parks with campgrounds along Lake Chelan’s shore: Lake Chelan State Park and Twenty-Five Mile State Park. The campground at Lake Chelan State Park is larger with better waterfront access and views.
It’s easy for campers to enjoy the lake using the amenities at Lake Chelan State Park. About half of the campsites are walk-in sites with waterfront views. There’s also a designated swimming area with a concession stand and rentals for kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and hydrobikes.
In addition to the developed campgrounds in the state parks, Lake Chelan has over a dozen boat-in campgrounds managed by the US Forest Service and National Park Service. Just remember that Lake Chelan is 50 miles long, so you may have to boat quite a ways to get to one of these campgrounds!
Campsites in Lake Chelan’s state parks can be reserved up to 9 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lake Chelan State Park. The boat-in campgrounds are first-come, first-serve and require a federal dock permit.
Related: Things to do at Lake Chelan: A Guide for Outdoor Adventurers
7. Lake Wenatchee
The mountains surrounding the clear blue water in Lake Wenatchee make for a spectacular sight.
It’s a beautiful destination just 30 minutes north of Leavenworth, WA.
Campers seeking a lakefront campground will want to stay at Lake Wenatchee State Park. The state park is at the eastern end of the lake where Lake Wenatchee meets the Wenatchee River.
There are two campgrounds in the state park: North Campground (north of the river) and South Campground (south of the river).
The lake’s calm waters are great for swimming, fishing, and boating. Campers who don’t own their own kayaks and paddleboards can rent this equipment at the state park.
To reach panoramic views of Lake Wenatchee and its surrounding peaks, consider taking the challenging Dirtyface Peak Trail. This 8.5-mile trail is near the opposite end of Lake Wenatchee.
Campsites in Lake Wenatchee State Park can be reserved up to 9 months in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lake Wenatchee State Park.
8. Lake Quinault
Lake Quinault offers campers an escape to a quintessential Pacific Northwest landscape.
This lake is in Olympic National Forest, a temperate rainforest filled with the moss and ferns that are characteristic of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
The U.S. Forest Service manages 3 campgrounds on the eastern shore of Lake Quinault. All of these campgrounds have campsites with views of the lake and many campsites are shaded by the forest.
Falls Creek Campground and Willaby Campground are small, drive-up campgrounds with 20 to 30 campsites each. Gatton Creek Campground only has 5 walk-in campsites which cannot be reserved in advance.
The 3 campgrounds are connected by the Quinault National Recreation Trails System. This is a network of family-friendly trails that wind through the forest and lead to waterfalls and creeks.
Falls Creek Campground and Willaby Campground are great places to camp if you’re interested in boating since they both have boat ramps. Note that fishing permits and boat permits from the Quinault Indian Nation must be obtained from local merchants before participating in these activities.
Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes can be rented at the nearby Lake Quinault Lodge.
Campsites at Falls Creek Campground and Willaby Campground can be reserved at recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance.
9. Kachess Lake
Kachess Lake is in a beautiful setting among mountains and old-growth forest in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The lake is in an easily accessible location in western Washington, just an hour from Seattle off of I-90.
Kachess Campground is situated on the northwest shore of Kachess Lake. This U.S. Forest Service campground is pretty large with 150 campsites, so keep this in mind if you prefer a more quiet and secluded camping experience.
Campers can go boating, fishing, and swimming at Kachess Lake. Kachess Campground has two boat launches (one for motorized boats and one for non-motorized boats) and a swimming area.
There are plenty of hiking opportunities near Kachess Lake, too. The lake is near all of the popular trails in Snoqualmie Pass, ranging from family-friendly options to multi-day backpacking routes.
About two-thirds of the campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance and the rest are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here to reserve a campsite at Kachess Campground.
10. Sullivan Lake
Sullivan Lake is 2 hours north of Spokane in the northeast corner of Washington.
It’s the largest natural lake in Colville National Forest, a wonderful area where wildlife sightings are common and the larches delight the eyes with color in fall.
There are 3 U.S. Forest Service campgrounds on the shore of Sullivan Lake. East Sullivan Campground and West Sullivan Campground are at the northern end of the lake and Noisy Creek Campground is at the southern end.
At all 3 campgrounds, the campsites are within walking distance of Sullivan Lake.
Boat ramps are available at each end of the lake.
Several hiking trails are in the area. This includes the Sullivan Lake Trail which runs along the lake’s eastern shore and connects the northern and southern campgrounds.
All 3 campgrounds have campsites that can be reserved on recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. First-come, first-serve campsites are also available.
Looking for more campgrounds in Washington? Check out these related articles:
- Camping On Vashon Island: 5 Unique Places To Camp
- Best Camping In The San Juan Islands
- The Car Camper’s Guide to North Cascades National Park
- The Camper’s Complete Guide to Visiting Olympic National Park
As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.
