There are three stunning campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park, and each is wonderful, beautiful and… popular.
Ohanapecosh Campground is usually the least crowded of the three, away from the hustle and bustle of the summer crowds at Paradise and Sunrise. The main reason it tops my list is for its magical old-growth forests and the wild river that runs right through the middle of the campground. Hike the little .5 mile nature loop trail out of the campground through enormous Doug firs and hemlocks to the bubbling waters of the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs. Up the road a bit is the famed Grove of the Patriarchs trail, also an easy, flat loop to see (and hug) some of the biggest trees on earth.
Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
website and reservations | 360-569-2170
Campground type: national park
Rates: $15
Details: 188 sites, 2 groups sites. $15 a night for single site. Open late May – early October. RVs up to 32 feet. Some tent-only sites, including several walk-ins for additional privacy. Water and flush toilets. About half the sites can be reserved in advance (recommended) and half are first-come, first-serve. Reserve here.
