The best waterside campgrounds near Leavenworth, Washington

A few hours’ drive east of Seattle, Leavenworth evokes the spirit of Bavaria, complete with faux timber-framed houses and a strict adherence to hand-painted signage throughout the town. Here you'll find a variety of shops hawking beer steins, mustard, and cuckoo clocks, plus Germanic restaurants galore—there’s even a bratwurst spot with a beer garden. Just a few minutes' drive north of town, Lake Wenatchee State Park offers year-round camping, while Leavenworth Ski Hill offers tubing, snowshoeing, and skiing in the snowy winter months.

91% (2.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Leavenworth

The site had so much open space and we had 16 acres all to our selves!

A few hours’ drive east of Seattle, Leavenworth evokes the spirit of Bavaria, complete with faux timber-framed houses and a strict adherence to hand-painted signage throughout the town. Here you'll find a variety of shops hawking beer steins, mustard, and cuckoo clocks, plus Germanic restaurants galore—there’s even a bratwurst spot with a beer garden. Just a few minutes' drive north of town, Lake Wenatchee State Park offers year-round camping, while Leavenworth Ski Hill offers tubing, snowshoeing, and skiing in the snowy winter months.

91% (2.5K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Leavenworth

1. The Landing at Index WA

99%

(2525)

44mi from Leavenworth · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Index, WA

Welcome to The Landing at Index - located on the South Fork Skykomish River, in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains, off of Highway 2. With 16 acres of beautiful, private woods and breathtaking views of Mt. Index, this is a wonderful getaway to kick back and relax after your day of adventures, or just to escape the city rush. This is a gated property, protected with a code, which you will be sent 24 hours before your arrival. The campsites are at the bottom of a long logging road so an SUV or AWD vehicle are preferable , especially during the wetter seasons. When the property was logged approximately 100 years ago they scooped out gravel from the river to make their roads in the area thus creating the back eddy pool along the beach. A rather peaceful setting, including the rushing sound of the river and the occasional whistle of a train. You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after you stay at The Landing. Pets are welcome, there are private outhouses at each campsite. These outhouses are protected with a code, which is sent to you 24 hours before your arrival. Campfires are allowed (when burn bans are not in place).

2. The Lakes

96%

(313)

32mi from Leavenworth · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Manson, WA

We purchased this 60+ acre property in 2004 as an apple orchard. We still maintain 12 acres of the orchard and replaced the rest with grape vines several years ago. This peaceful location with surrounding mountains, lakes and nature will make you want to call it home. Whether you are planning on spending your time relaxing, wine tasting, hiking, fishing, hunting or a little bit of everything this camp site is just minutes from it all. Please arrive by or before 9pm to guarantee check in.

3. Spring Creek Getaway -Lake Cle Elum

96%

(100)

29mi from Leavenworth · 1 site · Tent, RV · Ronald, WA

Now accepting bookings 6 months out! Spring Creek Getaway is a large, one and a half acre campsite private campsite near Cle Elum, Washington. Located on Spring Creek Road in Ronald, WA, it is a three minute drive to Lake Cle Elum. It is an hour and a half drive East of Seattle, and a ten minute drive to Roslyn. There is unlimited recreation in the area, including many hiking and riding trails near by. There is plenty of space on the property to bring your boat or ATVs (or rent from The Last Resort)! The power is 110v. We also have high speed WIFI making it easy to work from the campsite. Please note that we do not have water or sewer hookups. There are two picnic tables and a fire pit in a large open area. There is a creek running through the property and string lights leading to it. If you would like to use the propane fire pit table, please bring your own propane tank or you can fill up an empty one that is available at the campsite to use. Please message me if you have any questions. Thanks for your interest!

4. Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

90%

(104)

3358 sites · Marblemount, Washington

The largest national forest in the Pacific Northwest is a vast and varied haven for recreation.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. Lake Wenatchee State Park

93%

(28)

199 sites · Leavenworth, Washington

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a wonder in all four seasons; the kind of place you want to make lasting memories with friends or fly solo with ambient jams in your headphones while you discover the beauty of Mother Nature. Across 489 acres you have a choice of both South and North Park; South offering campsites with sick views of glacier-fed Lake Wenatchee, horseback riding, and swimming. North offering a more chilled out vibe, less development, and lots of lush forest to explore. No need to choose sides though! The park’s automated pay system makes it easy to stay for a few days. And you’ll want to with robust activities including 8 miles of hiking and biking trails, windsurfing or water skiing in addition fishing, kayaking, swimming, rock climbing, and even golf. A visit in the winter is just as spellbinding with 25 miles of cross-country skiing, interpretive snowshoeing trails, ice climbing, snowmobiling, and dog sleddin’. Perhaps best of all, they offer groomed sled riding trails. With over 150 inches of snowfall every winter, you can barrell your bottom down those groomed hills until your heart’s content. Go back to where you started, and do it all again.

Pets

Electrical Hookup

Toilets

Public campgrounds near Leavenworth

100%

(4)

Eightmile Campground

5.6mi from Leavenworth · 90 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Eightmile Group Campground

5.7mi from Leavenworth · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Bridge Creek Group Campground

5.8mi from Leavenworth · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The Stuart Lake trailhead, one access point to the Enchantments, is close by! If you're feeling strong, head up Asgard Pass and visit one of the most stunning places in Washington!

100%

(1)

Bridge Creek Campground

5.8mi from Leavenworth · 12 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Johnny Creek Campground

7.1mi from Leavenworth · 130 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

100%

(1)

Ida Creek Campground

8.6mi from Leavenworth · 20 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Chatter Creek Group Campground

10mi from Leavenworth · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The trailhead for Colchuk lake is close by. If you're feeling adventurous, go experience the wonder of one of the prettiest alpine lakes in Washington! Overnight camping is permit regulated June 15 - October 15 but it's worth the trek for a glorious swim!

Chatter Creek Campground

10mi from Leavenworth · 24 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Rock Island Campground

12mi from Leavenworth · 44 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Blackpine Horse Camp

13mi from Leavenworth · 20 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Map of the campground. Be aware that as of 07/2019 there is no map available on Recreation.gov when booking.

83%

(3)

Nason Creek Campground

14mi from Leavenworth · 73 sites · Tents, RVs · in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

92%

(13)

Lake Wenatchee South Campground

15mi from Leavenworth · 102 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lake Wenatchee State Park

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

View of Site 2 from the far side of the site. Both sites are gorgeous and huge - you honestly can't lose at The Landing!

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🐼Gage

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

Place was massive!!!! Clean out house and already came with grill at our site. HUGE family dinning table

C

Carter

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to The Lakes

Wonderful property! Peaceful and secluded with an amazing view.

A

Allyson

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

Loved the site, will say be on the lookout though on wild animals as we had an overnight visit from some coyotes so keep that in mind for small animals if off leash. Only con is mainly a 1 way road once in property so when we arrived there was another vehicle trying to leave so caused some issues. Overall beautiful and clean worth the trip over!

L

Laura

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

Wow! What a beautiful spot. Thanks for sharing your property with us. We hope to be back! The views are incredible!

Danielle

September 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

The site was SO beautiful and spacious. There were tons of salmon swimming in the river, the access was easy, the outhouse was well equipped, and the check-in was smooth. Thank you!!

Katie

September 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to The Lakes

Awesome spot! Really quiet and spacious. We had a minor issue when we arrived but Mariah responded to my message and had it taken care of promptly. We brought our own toilet set-up and my friend was kindly informed by staff that the tasting room bathroom isn’t encouraged for campers. There is an outhouse nearby though. Willow Point is a great place to go for a swim in Lake Chelan and is a 9 min drive from the site.

A

Amanda

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Spring Creek Getaway -Lake Cle Elum

This campsite was perfect for our family camping trip. There was plenty of space for both tents and cars. The lights strung around the property were a very nice touch. We also enjoyed the privacy but also close proximity to town.

J

Jeff

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

Incredible camping site. Beautiful setting, great facilities. Kids enjoyed swimming/playing in the river. Quick trip from Seattle. Will definitely return.

S

Samuel

August 2025

19 ft campervan

2 nights at The Lakes

Very beautiful view from the site, quiet away from roads. Sunrises and sunsets very peaceful. Mariah responsive re finding the spot in the orchards when we arrived. We had no trouble with wind at night as others have mentioned. No mosquitoes but flies were significant at times making us glad to have a screen. Overall a very nice spot and we will surely come back to visit again.

Caren

August 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at The Landing at Index WA

The landing is such a special place! All sites are gorgeous and have access to the river, the outhouse are pristine and private, and the views are to die for! We stayed in eagle #4 and it was large and could fit 3 tents if needed!

Furlana

August 2025

Tent

With kids

2 nights at The Landing at Index WA

This is such a beautiful spot, the river is so clear and view is wonderful. Great place to float on a sunny day. The camping sites are large and well kept. I hope to make this a yearly trip for my family!

H

Holly

August 2025

12 ft pop-up camper

With pets

2 nights at The Landing at Index WA

The landing is one of the most magical places I have camped around here, with an incredible river and lots of swimming holes. It was wonderful! We will definitely go back. The owner, Dave, is very kind and attentive.. the property was clean, the outhouse is well cared for, and it is obvious that a lot of loving care has been put into cultivating a beautiful space. Thank you Dave for sharing it with us! Note: the dogs across from site number one howled the entire day after the owners put it inside. We had dogs and when we went down to the beach and the owner was outside, the dogs ran down to their side of the beach and aggressively barked. When they were put inside, they howled for hours. I felt bad for their situation, and there’s nothing that can be changed about it. But just a heads up. In case you are not into howling, barking dogs, you may want to look at one of the sites further down that isn’t number one. If you don’t have dogs, it probably won’t be a problem.

S

Sean

August 2025

Tent

1 night at The Landing at Index WA

This campsite was amazing! Super easy to find, super secluded, quiet and right next to the warmest river I've ever been in, also the outhouse was maintained really well. I can't say enough good things about this campsite, we will definitely be coming back soon!

E

Erin

August 2025

Tent

With kids

3 nights at The Landing at Index WA

After staying three nights and two whole days at the landing at index in campsite number four, I can say with confidence that this is probably the best campsite I have ever stayed in! With a door-to-door drive time of only one hour and 15 minutes, unbeatable views, and amenities, incredible water access For fishing and floating and swimming, hardly any bugs, and a grocery store only 20 minutes down the road if necessary, I’m not sure why you had camp anywhere else! So grateful to David the owner for sharing his beautiful piece of land with all of us. We can’t wait to go back again! The only criticism I have is that our grill over the fire pit was far too small, but fortunately we had a cast-iron grill plate to put over it to extend the surface area. There are other campsites like #2 that has a freestanding barbecue grill, so depending on what site you stay at you may not need to worry about this. We met several guests during our stay while walking along the riverbank and checking out the property and in typical hip camp fashion, everyone was so very friendly and genuinely happy to be there!

We spent so much time at this private sandy beach. Just a short path from Site 2!

Jessica

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

2 nights at The Landing at Index WA

The site was absolutely beautiful, well maintained and peaceful. I had also messaged David a couple times beforehand with questions and his responses were very quick. I will definitely be booking again!

A panorama of the view from the campsite.

M

Maria Isabel

August 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to The Lakes

We enjoyed the stay the place was lovely we really recommend the stay there. Was wonderful

J

Jen

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

The location was beautiful, and the campsites were very well kept. The outhouses were clean and tidy. The river was gorgeous!

M

Maureen

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Landing at Index WA

We had an amazing weekend at the Landing! The river was such a treat on a hot august day. Refreshing but not too cold. The campsite was well maintained and peaceful. The shade from the trees kept our campsite out of the direct sun. We will be back!

Y

Yanira

August 2025

29 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Spring Creek Getaway -Lake Cle Elum

My family and friends love this place, super clean, private, very nice place

C

Chryssa

August 2025

Tent

With pets

2 nights at The Landing at Index WA

Awesome spot for easy camping with a beautiful view and river access. The spots are spaced out and I was lucky to be the only one there for 2 nights so I had the river and beach to myself as well! There are people across the river so it's not entirely private but the sites have plenty of privacy. My pup loved being off leash and the river was the perfect combination of wading height in some spots and easy slope for swimming for me. The drive is also super easy from Seattle as an added bonus. Thanks for sharing your land!

Nearby public parks

Browse national and state parks near Leavenworth

90%

(104)

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Marblemount, Washington

93%

(28)

Lake Wenatchee State Park

Leavenworth, Washington

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside camping near Leavenworth guide

Where to go

The Yakima Valley

South of Leavenworth, the Yakima Valley area offers around 300 days of sunshine per year, making it ideal for hiking and river rafting. This area is also home to over 100 wineries, as well as cultural attractions celebrating the arts and Yakama Nation traditions.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Spanning across the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, this expansive national forest encompasses over 1.7 million acres, with six wilderness areas within its boundaries. While backpacking to remote areas is a popular way to explore the area, there are also plenty of developed campgrounds to choose from.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

On the western side of the Cascades, extending from Mount Rainier National Park all the way up to the Canadian border, this massive national forest is popular throughout the year, attracting locals and out-of-state visitors alike. Expect fantastic skiing and winter sports opportunities in the winter months and excellent camping in the warmer season.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Spanning across the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, this expansive national forest encompasses over 1.7 million acres, with six wilderness areas within its boundaries. While backpacking to remote areas is a popular way to explore the area, there are also plenty of developed campgrounds to choose from.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

On the western side of the Cascades, extending from Mount Rainier National Park all the way up to the Canadian border, this massive national forest is popular throughout the year, attracting locals and out-of-state visitors alike. Expect fantastic skiing and winter sports opportunities in the winter months and excellent camping in the warmer season.

When to go

Leavenworth is at its most charming in the weeks leading up to Christmas, with a holiday market and light displays to mark the season. The yuletide cheer continues well into the new year, but with fewer crowds. If you want to go camping (or are planning on driving over the Cascade Mountains and don’t want to risk getting stuck in a winter blizzard), late spring to early fall make an ideal alternative, with pleasant (but never hot) temperatures.