Camping in Mount Rainier

campgrounds open by the end of June through mid September

Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh campgrounds operate on a reservation only basis from 01 July through Labor Day.

Sunshine Point Campground is open year-round

6 persons per site unless the camping party is immediate family, maximum of two tents are permitted at each site

Phone requests (call 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST):
1-800-365-CAMP (2267) Within USA

CampGround Locations.

PDF of the park

Cougar Rock Campground
Location: SW corner of the park, 2.3 miles north of Longmire. (142K map)
Elevation: 3,180 feet
Campsites: 173 individual ( 4 Accessible) & 5 group sites (12 minimum to 25-40 maximum campers per group site)
Season: Late May to mid-October
Availability: Last Friday in June - Labor Day: Reservations only. Make reservations online or call 1-800-365-CAMP. Reservations may be available upon arrival if sites are available.  Group sites for 12 or more people are available.  You can reserve group sites between the Friday of Memorial Day weekend until October 12.  Remainder of the season: First-come, first-served only from mid-May until the last Friday in June and from Labor Day until Columbus Day. Register at campground.
Facilities: Water, flush toilets, trailer dump station, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, amphitheater, hiking trails. No RV hookups. No showers.  Maximum RV length is 35 feet and maximum trailer length is 27 feet.
Fees: Late June - Labor Day (reservations only): $15; Remainder of the season: $12.  Group sites $40 to $64.  There is a cancellation fee of $13.65 which also applies to changes in the reservation dates.

Ipsut Creek Campground
The Carbon River Road is open to high clearance vehicles only. For current road status call 360-569-2211.
Location: NW corner of the park (98K map)
Elevation: 2300 feet
Campsites: 30 individual campsites & 2 group sites.
Season: Open year-round depending on snow and road conditions.
Availability: No reservations.  Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
Facilities: Tables, fire grates, and vault toilets. No RV hookups. Road is rough and trailers may have difficulty. Road to campground is subject to flooding and may close at any time. Check current road conditions before visiting the park. Bring water -- no potable water available.
Fees:  No fee charged.

Mowich Lake Campground
Location: NW corner of the park at the end of SR 165 (this 17 mile road is unpaved after the first few miles beyond its junction with the road leading to Carbon River and the Ipsut Creek campground)
Elevation: 4929 feet
Campsites: Undesignated, walk-in only sites (approximately 50 yard - 1/4 mile walk)
Season: July - mid-October
Availability:  No reservations. Camping is available on a first come, first served basis when the road is open.
Facilities: Chemical vault toilets, tables, refuse bin, hiking trails. No RV hookups. No potable water. NO FIRES.
Fees:  None.
Drive to Carbonado, WA and take 165 into park
Arrival to Mowich Lake Campground was a great disappointment due to the fact that the 'campground' is an old parking lot. We camped with 21 other tents, aside from our 5, in the gravel area ¾ the size of a football field. Beside the fact that we were camping around car campers eating their pasta salad, filet mignon and sleeping on their elk skin covered air mattresses, while we were eating Ramen noodles. Moral of the Story for this day; while hiking never camp in an area the cars can drive to. Approx. hike time 6 hrs, including the play time in the snowfields. http://www.webofroses.com/scouting/cataract_valley_to_mowich_lake_pictures.phtml

Ohanapecosh Campground
Location: SE corner of the park, 11 miles north of Packwood off SR 123 (165K map)
Elevation: 1914 feet
Campsites: 188 individual sites (2 Accessible) & 1 group site (12 to 25 campers).
Season: Late May to mid-October
Availability: Last Friday in June - Labor Day: Reservations only. Make reservations online or call 1-800-365-CAMP. Reservations may be available upon arrival if sites are available. Group sites for 12 or more people are available. You can reserve group sites between the Friday of Memorial Day weekend until October 12.  Remainder of the season: First-come, first-served only. Register at campground.
Facilities: Water, flush toilets, trailer dump station, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, visitor center, amphitheater, hiking trails and fishing.  No RV hookups. No showers.  Maximum RV length is 32 feet and maximum trailer length is 27 feet.
Fees: Late June - Labor Day (reservations only): $15; Remainder of the season: $12.  Group site: $40.  There is a cancellation fee of $13.65 which also applies to reservation changes.

Sunshine Point Campground
Location: SW corner of the park, 0.25 miles inside the Nisqually Entrance. (87K map)
Elevation: 2000 feet
Campsites: 18 individual sites (2 Accessible), no group sites.
ADA Handicapped Accessible Sites: Sites 1 and 3.
Season: Open year-round.
Availability: No reservations. Register at the campground.
Facilities: Water, chemical vault toilets, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans. No RV hookups.
Fees: $10 per site.

White River Campground
Location: NE corner of the park, five miles west of White River Entrance off SR 410. (148K map)
Elevation: 4400 feet
Campsites: 112 individual sites
Season: Late June to mid-September
Availability: No reservations. Register at campground
Facilities: Water, flush toilets, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, hiking trails. No RV hookups.
Fees: $10 per site.