1 / 100
Riverside Camping Near Mt Rainier
Hosted by Juuval · Elbe, Washington
10 sites · RV, Tent · 5 acres
2025 Newcomer Award winner
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Near Mount Rainier National Park
Within a 30-minute drive from the Nisqually Entrance.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Select a site
Tent-only sites
7 sites
Site 1: Mountain View Campsite
97%
(84)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
Site 3: Trestle Bridge View
95%
(67)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
Site 4: Trestle Mountain View
95%
(59)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
Site 2: Shaded Grove Campsite
94%
(45)4WD recommended
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Site 5: Scenic Railroad Corner
99%
(42)4WD required
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Site 6: Railroad & Shaded
88%
(29)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
Site 10: Tree Canopy Campsite
90%
(20)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
RV/tent sites
3 sites
Site 8: Twin Plot - Campsite
97%
(85)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Site 9: Twin lot - Campsite
93%
(58)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Site 7: Shaded Railroad Campsite
96%
(53)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Reviews
95% Recommend542 ratings · 387 reviews
This campsite offers a convenient location for exploring Mt. Rainier, with clean facilities and a peaceful atmosphere enhanced by the nearby train. Campers appreciated the spacious, shaded sites and the added amenities like hot showers and flush toilets. However, some experienced issues with bathroom maintenance and noise from the floodlights. Overall, the campsite is well-regarded for its proximity to nature and the park, despite some minor inconveniences.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Recommends
· October 2026
The bathrooms were very nice and clean and had nice campsites with a fire pit, table, hose, and electricity. Everything we needed for our overnight stay on the way to mt rainier national park. we car camp but it had a very nice spot to set up a tent.
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent · With pets ·
Site 1: Mountain View Campsite
We loved our stay. We enjoyed the wooden swing at site 1 and the hot shower!
The location was beyond optimal. The tent set up for you was such a nice option as a couple who flew to WA from PA to explore the surrounding parks, camping, etc. The host was responsive which was nice after we unfortunately had freezing ice cold water for the first day we were at the site. However, the host got the problem fixed the next day. The amenities were good and the flush toilet was nice.
Recommends
· September 2026
Thank you for making our trip a mem
12 ft truck camper ·
Site 8: Twin Plot - Campsite
Very pleasant site. Great communication with host and good amenities. Thank you for making our trip a memory!
Recommends
· September 2026
Great time! Campground is clean, quiet, with great amenities. Plenty of firewood available for purchase, and the metal barrel for the campfire made cooking food really easy with my griddle.
The train also passes right next to the campsite a couple times a day, really cute.
Ten minutes east of Ashford, and just under an hour drive for Paradise visitor center on Rainier (without traffic).
I will definitely be here again!
Pros: close to the national park and quiet at night, plus having water and electricity on site is great
Cons: everything else…the bathrooms were atrocious, as well as the showers (multiple bottles of old shampoo left by previous guests, the shower curtains have mold on them, and it reeked of mildew, plus the changing area outside of the shower had an inch of standing water in it) and there is zero lighting around the “campground” and finally, hot water was in short supply after other sites filled up.
I’ve done primitive camping, camping in state parks, yurt stays and “glamping.” I’m used to no frills camping but when I booked this place, I thought I was getting more amenities than usual from the pictures and if this place was maintained better, that would be the case, but it seemed like no one has maintained anything in a while.
Recommends
· September 2026
29 ft Class A · Group trip ·
Site 8: Twin Plot - Campsite
I loved the nature and quiet environment. Away from busy city life
Recommends
· September 2026
Great spot with great access to Rainier for hiking!
Mixed feelings
· September 2026
The overall property was good but would NOT book site 10 again. Property was clean, showers were hot, bathrooms were clean enough. Ends up being about an hour drive to Mt Rainier which was a little farther than I initially anticipated. Site 10 was the worst spot though. It’s right outside a workshop(?) and the first night, the floodlights were on until well after 10pm - lighting up our tent and making it difficult to get to sleep. The second night, someone was running the ‘find my iPhone’ and it was ringing loud at 2am, then the floodlights came on again and our site was illuminated. Not a happy wake up. Overall the property is decent, personally I will not return
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent · With kids ·
Site 1: Mountain View Campsite
Great camping spot. We were at site 1. Nice hot shower. Clean bathrooms. Potable water and electricity at the site. Little trail down to the railroad and creek. Would stay here again.
Recommends
· September 2026
12 ft campervan ·
Site 8: Twin Plot - Campsite
A nice campground close to bathroom and shower. It was a quiet campground and was shaded by trees.
Overall a fine site! Only 10 spots. Our fellow campers were kind and quiet. Bathrooms are a nice touch, albeit on the small side. Showers a bonus! Our particular experience also included a motion activated flood light that was repeatedly clicked on by a group of people and their dogs who were hanging out, listening to very loud music and letting the dogs bark from midnight to 2am. Based on the camp rules about quiet hours, this was particularly disappointing.
Quiet and clean, right on a creek you can walk to with sandy banks! The old steam train drives over the bridge every few hours Thursday thru Sunday & the travelers wave. My dad hosted his car club and it was a wonderful experience!
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent · Group trip ·
Site 5: Scenic Railroad Corner
The campsite and bathrooms were clean, the hot showers were deluxe! Loved the train coming through and the easy trail access to the Nisqually River. Also loved the proximity to the sculpture garden, and hiking trails.
Recommends
· September 2026
Convenient location next to Rainier, nice campsite layout, clean bathroom, hot showers, water spigots, would recommend.
Recommends
· August 2026
better than i was imagining and ill be back. loved the steam training coming by around 4pm to wave at the passangers. so cool. bathrooms and shower were a bonus though i was one night and didnt use the shower and i still prefer to pee out side :P fire would and being able to have a conainted fire was perfect.
cheers
Mixed feelings
· August 2026
i got a flat tire while staying here which was quite stressful because of how rural this area is, but the person working helped me switch to my spare!
Recommends
· August 2026
Tent ·
Site 6: Railroad & Shaded
Great place to camp! The facilities were clean and the site was great.
We came to Elbe to take the train ride and this turned out to be the perfect location to camp with our RV. It was exciting to realize that the train tracks went right by our campsite and we could see it when we were on the train! It was a calm and relaxing place to camp. Our only recommendation would be a little more attention to the restrooms. The shower was roomy and had a great shower head.
Was a nice spot! Had a beautiful trail to a a stream nearby. Will be back.
What an amazing campsite! Site 1 is so great. It has a cute swing and an amazing view of the train. Campground feels safe and peaceful. The bathrooms are awesome.
Not recommend
· August 2026
The water in the shower is very very very cold ! Hot water is necessary !
This was our first time using hipcamp. We were delighted at watching the mtrainierrailroad.com throughout the day because the property is right next to the tracks and we could literally see the train between the trees. We stayed at site 9 with our dog and big SUV tent. Things we loved: the starry nights, the bathroom with running water and sinks, the railing up the 4 steps to the bathrooms, the sturdy railing and steps down to the river, walking down to the river and watching the train, all the birds and chipmunks, the cutie resident kitty, all the shade of the trees at site 9, the shade umbrella at the picnic table, water & power hookups at site 9, the friendly yet nice vibes from the helpers/hosts when we caught site of them, and how the sites are really set up like a little park with a nice flat walk around for taking our dog for little walks. We liked all the wood sculptures but our favorite was the racoon. We spent a lot of time just chilling in our hammocks in the shade enjoying being away from the city and at night playing board games while listening to what I think were frogs/toads? Not sure if it was related to our very hot dry summer but there were practically no mosquitoes like I think only saw one. Thank you to our hosts!!
Recommends
· August 2026
Tent ·
Site 3: Trestle Bridge View
Great amenities while still feeling private and outdoorsy
Recommends
· August 2026
Basecamp Day 4 Trips to Mt. Rainer!
Tent · With pets ·
Site 3: Trestle Bridge View
We selected this site because it was cllse to the entrance to rainer (but not too close) - about 20 minutes from the park entrance.
Simple camp setup with no big complaints. Clean bathrooms and they had private showers available for use as well.
Site was good, and not busy like a typical public campground but sites are fairly close and not as private as I'd like. We we're only there after a full day at rainer so other than sleeping didn't spend much time at camp.
Right from our campsite, we were able to take a small trail down to the nisqually river to scope things out. Great views for a private residence.
It's a great place if you're looking for something simple to set up while doing other activities in the area, and we'd stay here again if doing so.
Recommends
· August 2026
Tent ·
Site 3: Trestle Bridge View
This spot was east to find and nice. The train made my day. I would stay here again.
Recommends
· August 2026
Tent · Group trip ·
Site 5: Scenic Railroad Corner
Mt rainier basecamp really close Showers bathrooms safe place for a family
Recommends
· August 2026
21 ft campervan ·
Site 7: Shaded Railroad Campsite
Nice and private space in a secluded campsite. Bathrooms and showers are decent for a campground.
An experience like no other.
When I booked this stay nearly 6 months ago there were great reviews.
As a family that camps without a bathroom in our popup camper, we rely on there being facilities to use. Upon arriving to our site and inspecting the bathrooms for use, we found the bathrooms flooded, full of trash, covered in "dirt" and toilets backed up. The showers were filthy, covered in dirt and backed up from septic clogs. We spent 3 days with no bathroom the first 2 with very unurgent responses like "sorry for the inconvenience" we then spent day 3 watching them dig up the septic and be assaulted with the smell. By the last night the bathrooms were I guess fixed and slightly clean. There were many other tent campers and van campers who were in need of the facilities as well. An update or warning that the facilities were not in working order would have gone a long way to allow campers to better prepare for their experience. The lack of care from the host was disappointing at best.
Also, listing this as "river side" is quite the exaggeration as there is only a mud/clay filled trickle creek with no shore to play on.
The location and size of the campsites and the excitment of the train were the only positives I saw here.
If looking to book please ensure you guarantee the bathrooms are in working order before you arrive.
We will definitely not be returning.
Mixed feelings
· August 2026
Tent ·
Site 6: Railroad & Shaded
Overall, the place was great. Our campsite was a little closer to others that we didn't expect. Great, close access to rainier park. Easy to get in and out, flat spot for tent, bathrooms clean, it was quiet.
I think they're more successful than expected so the bathrooms were out of soap and ran out of toilet paper in the morning. But no biggie - we had both. Our site's water did not work so we relied on our own water, plus water from the showers.
Don't underestimate how long it takes to get into the park. You can be waiting for hours - even tho' the park is just a few miles away. We biked in and skipped all that :)
Location
Elbe, Pierce, Washington, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Juuval R.
Joined in June 2024Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.