No Reservations, No Problem: A Panic-Free Guide to Camping on the Fly

We’re a camping family. When we haven’t slept outside for a while, our senses long for it. I can’t wait to smell ponderosa pine in the air and campfire smoke in my hair, awaken to the moody call of a varied thrush and see the look on my son’s face as he tastes a gooey toasted marshmallow s’more. 

There’s just one hiccup that you may be familiar with — we haven’t made campground reservations. Or the ones we made didn’t work out because of weather or other commitments. 

You may think spontaneous campers don’t stand a chance of finding a last-minute camping reservation, but fortunately for my family (and yours, fellow procrastinators!), spontaneous camping is still quite possible. You just have to know where to go. And here’s the great news — some of the Northwest’s best campgrounds for families are first come, first served, including some options in our national parks. 

Here are our top picks for no-reservation campgrounds around Washington state. One quick note: Do check your destination for fire restrictions, which tend to expand as we go through summer. 

• White River, Mount Rainier National Park
• Beacon Rock, Columbia River Gorge
• South Beach, Pacific Coast
• Owhi Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
• Staircase Campground, Olympic National Park
• Pro tips for last-minute camping

First up: White River

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and updated most recently on July 18, 2025, by ParentMap’s associate editor, Kari Hanson. All information was fact-checked and new details were added.