If you are planning a trip to Mount Rainier it’s important to understand what camping options there are and the campgrounds available in Mount Rainier National Park for car camping
So to help with camping and car camping at Mount Rainier National Park we created this helpful how-to guide to make sure you know everything you need to know before camping at Mount Rainier.
Car Camping at Mount Rainier
Before we go into all the details about campground camping and car camping at Mount Rainier National Park the number one thing to know and remember is that space is limited and campsites fill up fast especially in the busy summer months of the park.
So it’s important to do your homework and as much pre-planning as possible before your camping trip to ensure you and your family get one of those coveted camping spots at Mount Rainier.
Campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park for Car Camping
There are three main campgrounds located in Mount Rainier National Park set up for car camping including Cougar Rock Campground, Ohanapecosh Campground, and White River Campground.
While we will be focusing on the main campgrounds where car camping is available, keep in mind there are plenty of backcountry campsites and campgrounds options available at Mount Rainier if you are willing to leave your car behind.
| Campground | Cougar Rock | Ohanapecosh | White River |
| Location | Southwest Area of Park | Southeast Area of Park | Northeast Area of Park |
| Number of Sites | 173 | 188 | 112 |
| Camp Site Cost | $20 | $20 | $20 |
| Open Season | Late May to Late September | Late May to Late September | Late June to Late September |
| Water Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flush Toilets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes (Depending on Time of Year) | Yes | No (first come first serve) |
| Max RV/Trailer Length | 35 Feet / 27 Feet | 32 Feet / 27 Feet | 27 Feet / 18 Feet |
Cougar Rock Campground
One of the most popular campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park is Cougar Rock Campground because of its close proximity to many of the main attractions at the park.
If you are a first-time camper at Mount Rainier this should be on your shortlist if you can get a spot there as most of the main attractions are just a short driving distance away from the campground.
Cougar Rock Campground is located in the Southwest corner of the park near the Longmire and Paradise area. The campground is shaded by old-growth forest and is located in a valley near the Nisqually River that is fed by Nisqually Glacier located on the Southern side of Mount Rainier.
The campground is one of the larger of the three main campgrounds with 173 sites available and it also has water and flush toilets. Please be aware that while the campground does have water available, no campgrounds or sites at Mount Rainier National Park have electric, water, or sewer hookups.
While reservations are available at this campground this is not the case year-round as sometimes the sites are available on a first-come-first-serve basis depending on the time of year. See below to know when reservations are needed at this campground and when the sites are first come first serve.
- May 22 – June 25 (First Come First Serve)
- June 26 – September 6 (Reservations Required)
- September 7 – October 11 (First Come First Serve)
Ohanapecosh Campground
If the Cougar Rock Campground is the most popular campground in the park then Ohanapecosh Campground has to be a close second.
While the Cougar Rock Campground might be a little closer and a shorter drive to some of the more popular attractions at Mount Rainier National Park, Ohanapecosh Campground is still in a pretty good location and in the southern area of the park where many of the popular destinations are.
The Ohanapecosh Campground is a picturesque campground surrounded by trees and right next to the Ohanapecosh River which provides a relaxing and laid back feel to the campground.
Also, Ohapecosh Campground has 188 campsites available in the campground making it the largest campground in the park based on the number of sites available for camping. As with Cougar Creek Campground, the campground does have water and flush toilets but as mentioned above there are no sites available with any kind of hookups.
As with Cougar Rock Campground depending on what time of year you are visiting Mount Rainier reservations may or may not be available for the Ohanapecosh Campground. See below for specific dates and type or availability for the campground.
- May 22 – June 25 (First Come First Serve)
- June 26 – September 6 (Reservations)
White River Campground
White River Campground is the last main campground inside Mount Rainier National Park that has car camping available. This campground is also the smallest out of the three main campgrounds, however, the campsite at White River Campgrounds are still a pretty good size.
If you are wanting to explore the Northeast corner of the park or the Sunrise area of Mt Rainier this is an excellent campground to choose as it is located in the Northeast area of Mount Rainier.
Because this campground is located along Wonderland Trail which is the 93-mile trail that circles Mount Rainier you will more likely see many backpackers and hikers in this campground that are hiking the Wonderland Trail.
While the campground is still pretty large with over a 100 campsites I think this campground has a little quieter and laid back atmosphere compared to the other two main campgrounds in the park.
Also, this campground is on a first come first serve basis year-round and there are no reservations available for this campground. So if you plan to camp in the White River Campground it’s important to scope out and claim your campsite early in the morning before the campground fills up especially during the peak summer season.
What to Know When Car Camping at Mount Rainier
- Campfires are allowed in the main campgrounds but they must be inside the provided fire ring at each campsite and you are not allowed to burn trash in the fire or leave the fire unattended for any reason.
- When burning wood in campfires you must use wood that was harvested within 50 miles of the campground, this is to prevent spreading pests or disease that could be a threat to Mount Rainier National Park.
- You are only allowed to camp for a maximum of 14 days in one of the campgrounds while at Mount Rainier.
- Campsites are limited to a maximum of 6 people per campsite with a maximum of two tents per campsite.
- The park does have a limited number of larger group campsites available.
- All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking areas and cannot be parked on the surrounding vegetation or woods.
- Pets are allowed in the park but must be in a cage or on a leash no longer than 6 feet and may not be left unattended.
- Bicycles or motorcycles are not permitted on any trails in Mount Rainier National Park.
- Feeding wildlife of any kind is not permitted while in the park.
- Quiet hours are from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. at all campgrounds.
- If you are using a generator at your campsite you can only run the generator at pre-determined hours which include 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Car Camping Outside Mount Rainier National Park
When visiting Mount Rainier National Park don’t forget there are plenty of camping options for car camping outside of the park beyond the three main campgrounds.
This is especially important to remember during the peak summer season when it can be a real challenge to get a spot in one of the three main campgrounds inside the park.
There are actually a ton of great camping options for car camping outside of the park with some of them even being free?
Campgrounds for Car Camping Outside Mount Rainier National Park
Below is an alphabetical list of campgrounds and campsites just outside Mount Rainier National Park that can be a great back up to the main campgrounds or even a great first choice if you don’t want to fight the crowds inside the park.
Alder Lake Park Campground
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Number of Sites: 173 Sites in 4 Campgrounds
- Open Season: Year-Round
- Reservations: Yes
- To reserve a campsite click here and for questions call 833-290-8180.
While not the closest campground to Mount Rainier National Park this is a very popular campground while traveling to Mount Rainier and can even be its own destination as the campground is located right on Alder Lake which is a popular summer destination in its own right.
This campground is still plenty close enough though to be a jumping-off destination for Mount Rainier National Park as it is only an hour and a half away from the park.
This campground is quite large with four separate campgrounds and takes reservations up to 9 months in advance so you should have no issues in reserving a campsite for your trip to Mount Rainier as long as you plan ahead.
Big Creek Campground
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 10 Minutes
- Number of Sites: 24
- Open Season: May 21st to September 16th
- Reservations: Yes
- To reserve a campsite click here.
While Big Creek Campground is not a very large campground with only 24 car/tent sites what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in its close proximity to Mount Rainier National Park as the campground is only 6 miles away from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.
This campground keeps it simple as its basically just one large loop nestled among large Douglas firs providing plenty of privacy and shade for each campsite.
This campground is not well suited for RV’s or trailers as the maximum vehicle length in this campground is 22 feet which is way too short for most RV’s and trailer setups.
The campground does have drinkable water and vault toilets or non-flushing toilets but no showers. The campsites are primitive sites with no hookups of any kind but they do have a fire pit and picnic table at each site.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 30 Minutes
- Open Season: Year-Round (Always check road closures and current conditions before heading out.)
- Reservations: Wide variety of dispersed camping, first come first serve campsites, and reservable campsites.
- To reserve a campsite click here or if you have questions about the different types of camping check out the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is located just a half-hour away from Mount Rainier National Park on its southeastern border, making it a great jumping-off location when visiting Mount Rainier especially if you were unable to snag a campsite inside the national park.
While not all camping at Gifford Pinchot National Forest is free if you are OK with boondocking or dispersed camping you can absolutely camp at this national forest for free.
If you plan to stay at this national forest while visiting Mount Rainier it’s best to do your homework before you head out as there as there is a wide variety of camping in the forest including cabin rentals, campground camping, dispersed camping, group camping, and RV camping.
La Wis Wis Campground
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 10 Minutes
- Number of Sites: 122 (some sites are walk-in tent sites not suitable for car camping)
- Open Season: May 21st to September 23rd
- Reservations: Yes
- To reserve a campsite click here and for questions call 360-891-5000.
The La Wis Wis Campground is located just outside Mount Rainier National Park and is surrounded by large Douglas firs and red cedar trees. This campground also has river bank campsites for those that love the water and views.
This campground has both vault and flush toilets and water is only available at the main campground area. The campground also features really nice picnic shelters and grill areas that can be used by all campers.
Silver Springs Campground
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 20 Minutes
- Number of Sites: 56
- Open Season: May 22nd to September 19th
- Reservations: Yes
- To reserve a campsite click here and for questions call 360-804-1103
Silver Springs Campground is located right on the water on the banks of the White River so if you love to be close to the water this is a great choice if you can’t get a spot inside Mount Rainier National Park.
This campground is located just outside the North Arch entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and is situated in a secluded old-growth forest.
While this campground only has 56 sites available and it can fill up pretty easily just like the national park it at least gives you another place to check if you can’t get a campsite in the park.
The campground can accommodate both tents for car camping and RV’s, in addition, the campground has a picnic shelter area, drinkable water, as well as vault and flush toilets.
Each campsite at Silver Springs Campground also has a picnic table and fire ring. There is no electricity at any of the campsites in this campground so you will need to bring your own power.
The Dallas Campground
- Proximity to Mt Rainier National Park: 20 Minutes
- Number of Sites: 45
- Open Season: May 22nd to September 19th
- Reservations: Yes
- To reserve a campsite click here and for questions call 360-804-1103
Located closest to the Northern Portion of Mount Rainier National Park The Dalles Campground is only 7 and a half miles from the park.
As with the Silver Springs Campground, this campground is also located along the banks of the White River offering great views. The campground is also located in an old-growth forest underneath towering Douglas firs and western red cedars.
The campground is on the smaller side with only 45 campsites but they do have campsites that can accommodate both tents for car camping as well as RV’s. In addition, each campsite has a picnic table as well as a fire ring and vault toilets and drinkable water are available throughout the campground.
Want to know the best easy hikes to go on while camping at Mount Rainier? Check out our article “10 Easy Mount Rainier Hiking Trails for Beginners“.