12 Top-Rated Campgrounds near Spokane, WA

Author Brad Lane lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys camping near Spokane.

Several campgrounds and places to camp surround Spokane in eastern Washington, near the Idaho border. The city is the second-largest in the state, and stunning outdoor landscapes are on all sides. The Little Spokane and Spokane Rivers run right through the heart of the city, punctuated by several units and campgrounds of Riverside State Park.

Other standout scenery like the Selkirk Mountains, Ice Age waterfalls, and massive reservoirs are found nearby. These scenic landscapes lead to a lot of weekend camping getaways. Other common activities with campsites nearby include climbing a mountain, navigating a canyon, or playing disc golf all day.

Because of its proximity, some of Spokane’s best campgrounds, like Farragut and Heyburn State Park, are across state lines in Idaho. These crown-jewel state parks are some of the biggest in Idaho and are the largest campgrounds close to Spokane.

Many of the best places to camp near Spokane cater to tent camping, van camping, and RV camping alike. State park reservations are recommended throughout the summer season (late May through early September). Find your next favorite spot to spend the night with our list of the top campgrounds near Spokane.

1. Bowl and Pitcher Campground, Riverside State Park

Riverside State Park is a sterling natural space of Spokane, encompassing over 10,000 acres along the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers. The state park is divided into several units on the northwest edge of the city, many of which are home to Spokane’s best hiking trails.

Riverside State Park features four different camping areas, including an equestrian-only campground. Some of the most sought-after sites are in the Bowl and Pitcher area of the park, named after large basalt outcroppings on the Spokane Riverbank. Visitors get a great view of this stunning area via a Civilian Conservation Corps-era suspension bridge.

Over 30 sites at Bowl and Pitcher accommodate tent campers and RVs with partial hookups. Two large group campsites are also available. Many of the sites can be reserved ahead of time. All overnight visitors have access to showers and flushing restrooms.

Hundreds of miles of multi-use trails stretch throughout the different units of Riverside State Park, including the beginning of the 40-mile Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail, which extends to the Idaho border. Other units with campgrounds include the Nine-Mile Recreation Area and Lake Spokane.

Address: 4427 N Aubrey L White Pkwy, Spokane, Washington

2. Liberty Lake Regional Park

Liberty Lake Regional Park is southeast of Spokane, near the Idaho and Washington border. It features several park amenities, as well as ways to enjoy the water. The eight-mile Liberty Lake Loop Trail extends from the park’s boundaries, and swimming, non-motorized boating, and fishing are always popular throughout the summer months.

The campground at Liberty Lake features approximately 17 RV sites and 10 designated spaces to pitch a tent, as well as cabins and group sites. The campground is open seasonally between May and October, and all sites are reservable ahead of time. Overnight guests have access to flushing restrooms, hot showers, and a central waste system for sewage.

Location: Liberty Creek Road, Liberty Lake, Washington

3. Mount Spokane State Park

Mount Spokane State Park is an hour northeast of the city and a dominant peak on the horizon. It’s one of the most accessible of the Selkirk Mountains from Spokane, and it hosts one of the largest state parks in Washington.

The campground at Mount Spokane features eight standard campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis with access to flushing restrooms and potable water. The campground is located on Summit Road, which is generally open between mid-June through mid-October.

Alternatively, overnight visitors can reserve the non-electric Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout to spend the night, which sleeps four comfortably at a view-enabling elevation of 5,129 feet.

Year-round recreation is available at Mount Spokane with multi-use trails leading up to and around the summit. Visitors can hike to three different mountain summits within the state park, including Kit Carson, Day Mountain, and Mount Spokane itself. And come winter, alongside 50 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails, the Mount Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park draws major interest.

Address: 26107 N. Mt Spokane Park Drive, Mead, Washington

4. Lake Spokane Campground, Riverside State Park

Lake Spokane Campground overlooks the water on a high bluff 30 minutes northwest of the city. This campground is part of the larger Riverside State Park and a popular spot for those who want quick access to the lake. It has a public boat launch, an accessible fishing dock, and an unsupervised swimming area.

Lake Spokane Campground has 11 primitive sites, which accommodate all sizes of RVs. No hookups are available. Potable water and vault toilets are accessible to all overnight users. Four boat-in camping areas are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Address: WA-291, Tumtum, Washington

5. Nine Mile Recreation Area, Riverside State Park

The Nine Mile Recreation Area is one of four camping areas within Riverside State Park. It’s north of the Bowl and Pitcher on the Spokane River and features 21 full-hookup RV sites next to the water. Three tent sites are also available, but the campground is best suited for recreation vehicles.

Showers, potable water, and flushing restroom facilities are available to all visitors of the recreation area. The campground is also closely located to the massive Deep Creek Canyon portion of Riverside State Park. Deep Creek Canyon is a basalt landscape that’s fun to explore, featuring creek bed hiking trails and bolted climbing routes.

Popular water activities at Nine Mile include fishing, swimming, and utilizing the public boat launch. The entire Nine Mile Recreation Area is also defined by hiking and mountain biking trails, and come winter, cross-country skiers and snowshoers are often seen moving through the trees.

Address: 9711 W Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls, Washington

6. Heyburn State Park

Heyburn State Park is in Idaho and is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest, established in 1908. It encompasses three scenic lakes: Chatcolet Lake, Benewah, and Hidden Lake. From Spokane, the state park is approximately an hour’s drive southeast across state lines.

Camping at Heyburn State Park is split into three different areas. The scenic Hawleys Landing Campground features over 50 sites, mostly accommodating RVs with full hookups available.

On the opposite shore of Chatcolet Lake, Chatcolet Campground caters specifically to tent campers with 38 sites to pitch a tent.

Farther east within the state park, on the shores of Benewah Lake, the Benewah Campground features a mix of tent sites and RV spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis.

All developed sites at Heyburn State Park feature showers and flushing restroom facilities and can be reserved ahead of time. Some sites close in the winter.

Hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding are all popular land activities enjoyed at Heyburn State Park, and boat rentals enable anyone to get on the water. The 72-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a popular pedestrian path for cyclists and wildlife watchers and makes its way through the park on its route across the Idaho panhandle.

Address: 57 Chatcolet Lower Road, Plummer, Idaho

7. Farragut State Park

Farragut State Park is across state lines in the Idaho Panhandle, on the southern point of the scenic Lake Pend Oreille. Nature and recreation abound at Farragut, as does its interesting naval history with places like the Museum at the Brig at the state park. This history and easy access to nature solidify Farragut’s status as one of Idaho’s best state parks.

Farragut State Park is accessible from Spokane within an hour’s drive. Well over 200 sites are available, spread over four main camping areas. The campgrounds cater to both tents and RVs, and Farragut also offers group camps, equestrian areas, and furnished cabins. Campsites are reservable ahead of time, and all overnight visitors have access to flushing restroom facilities and hot showers.

Miles of multi-use trails wind throughout the park, alongside abundant access to Lake Pend Oreille — the largest lake in the state. But Farragut’s crowning feature is arguably the four professional 18-hole disc golf courses within its boundaries. This makes the state park extremely popular for professional disc golfers and amateurs alike.

Address: 13550 ID-54, Athol, Idaho

8. Camp Coeur d’Alene

Camp Coeur d’Alene is a commercial campground on the eastern edge of the massive Lake Coeur d’Alene, one of Idaho’s best lakes. Visitors from Spokane reach this family campground with an approximately 45-minute scenic drive, mostly on Interstate 90. Take some time to enjoy the lake views along this route.

Camp Coeur d’Alene has terraced sites for RVs, spacious tent sites, and a select number of cabins available. The RV sites range from pull-thru to back-in, and many have full hookups, including water, sewer, and electricity. Some sites only have electric and water hookups and are best suited for smaller camping rigs or van camping.

Other amenities at this campground include a camp kitchen area, hot showers, and a laundry facility. The campground also enables fun activities with a heated pool, playground, and free firewood. It’s also a short commute to the lakeside, where campers can utilize the free canoe rentals. Camp Coeur d’Alene reservations are available for their camping season spanning May 1st through mid-October.

Address: 10588 E Wolf Lodge Bay Road, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

9. Pioneer Park Campground

It’s approximately a 50-mile drive to reach this Colville National Forest campground in northeast Washington.

The Pend Oreille River runs adjacent to the sixteen standard non-electric sites available. About half the sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, while the other half are first-come, first-served. Most sites cater to both tent camping and RVing, accommodating up to 36-foot-long motorhomes.

The Pend Oreille River offers immediate appeal in the campground. Pioneer Park provides a boat launch near the campsites for motorized and non-motorized vessels, and a small sandy area nearby offers a nice swimming spot. The campground and boat launch operate between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Pioneer Park’s larger appeal comes from its southerly location on the International Selkirk Loop. This nation-spanning driving and bicycling route circles the Selkirk Mountains of Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia. And Pioneer Park, adjacent to the Pend Oreille Valley Scenic Byway (Highway 20), is part of this world-renowned travel corridor.

Address: 1061, Le Clerc Road S, Usk, Washington

10. Edgewater Campground, Colville National Forest

Edgewater Campground is north of Spokane in Colville National Forest and provides quick access to Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding Selkirk Mountains. A public boat launch on Lake Pend Oreille invites jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing, and a small designated swimming area along the river is great for cooling off in the water.

Edgewater features 19 campsites accommodating tent campers and RVs, with drinking water and vault toilets available during the warm-weather operating season. Numerous hiking trails stem from the campground. The nearby Sullivan Lake Road, easily accessed from the campground, is popular for road cycling and auto-touring.

Address: NF-1130, Ione, Washington

11. Palouse Falls State Park

Palouse Falls in southeast Washington earns its status as one of Washington’s best waterfalls. It’s one of the last active waterfalls carved from the Ice Age Floods thousands of years ago. And today, part of the Palouse River, the waterfall still spills 200 feet into a humungous basin. It’s a natural spectacle worth seeing once in a lifetime, alongside being the designated State Waterfall of Washington.

Interested visitors coming from Spokane can reach Palouse Falls State Park within a 100-mile drive (approximately two hours). A rugged landscape surrounds the state park, with limited resources nearby. Eleven primitive campsites await campers on a first-come, first-served basis. No water is available, but the sites come with shade structures and access to a vault toilet.

Palouse Falls really stands out thanks to its sheer size and the colorful basalt canyon into which it pours. Camping is an excellent option because it opens the opportunity to catch a beautiful sunset.

An alternative to the primitive state park campsites, the Starbuck/Lyons Ferry Marina KOA is 15 minutes to the south. This family-friendly campground accepts reservations for tent and RV camping.

Location: Palouse Falls Road, LaCrosse, Washington

12. Kettle Falls Campground, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area lends quick access to the massive 130-mile reservoir on the Columbia River created by the Grand Coulee Dam. Best suited for longer weekend trips from Spokane, this recreation area is approximately a three-hour drive from the city. But make the trip, and there’s a lot to explore.

Numerous designated swimming areas at Lake Roosevelt allow the public to take a dip. And the 22 public boat launches appeal to boat owners or those renting from the two marinas operated within the recreation area. The National Park Service also hosts guided canoe rides throughout the summer. Fishing is allowed on Lake Roosevelt outside of harbors and designated swimming areas, and anglers often aim to land rainbow trout, white sturgeon, and yellow perch.

Other activities of interest at Lake Roosevelt include auto-touring, road cycling, and walking through history at places like the Fort Spokane Visitor Center and Museum. Numerous campgrounds are throughout the recreation area. And like Spring Canyon and Gifford Campgrounds, many have great views of the lake.

One of the largest campgrounds at Lake Roosevelt, Kettle Falls Campground, lends quick access to the Kettle Falls Marina and the corresponding day-use area. It’s a popular place throughout the summer and features 29 campsites accommodating tent campers or RVs. Potable water and flushing toilets are available.

Address: 1368 Kettle Park Road, Kettle Falls, Washington

Where to Stay in Spokane after Camping

Mid-Range Hotels:

• For a hot shower and roof overhead after camping, Spokane offers a plethora of quality hotels to spend the night. For a downtown stay close to Gonzaga University, Oxford Suites Downtown Spokane overlooks the Spokane River and is well-reputed for extra-clean facilities, friendly staff, and an evening reception.
• North of downtown, Quality Inn Oakwood is another favorite mid-range hotel in the city, which provides hot breakfast items, fast and reliable Wi-Fi, as well as a pool and hot tub area.
• A newer hotel in the area, Best Western Plus Spokane North features a modern lobby, guest rooms with comfortable beds, an exercise room, and pool.

Budget Hotels:

• Great hotels in Spokane that won’t break the budget can be found surrounding the downtown area. One of the highest-rated, most affordable hotels in Spokane, the Ramada by Wyndham North Spokane offers competitive pricing and the unbeatable service you’d expect from a major hotel chain.
• Near the Ramada, the Apple Tree Inn provides a more cozy feeling and comfortable place to spend the night.
• South of the downtown district, the Super 8 by Wyndham Spokane/West has an affordable overnight rate, which includes continental breakfast and access to a well-maintained fitness facility and pool and spa area.

Map of Campgrounds near Spokane, WA

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