Dear Reader: We are updating these listings now (April-June, 2004). The listings on this page now are in many cases outdated. We except to have our updated directory posted by June, 2004.

WASHINGTON FREE CAMPGROUNDS

Rest areas: Overnight stops are not permitted. (Or are they? See below)

Wal-Mart stores. Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in any Wal-Mart parking lot. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do not permit free overnight stays, click here.

Anacortes
The Swinhomish (Indian) Casino is about three miles east of town on state route 20 and has a special area set aside for overnight RV stays. From I-5, go west nine miles on the main road toward Anacortes and the San Juan Ferry. Immediately after crossing over the big Swinomish Channel Bridge, turn right onto Casino Drive. The casino is right there. RVers park on the fringes of the parking lot where they are out of the way and where it's quiet. -- THE EDITOR

Bellingham
The Wal-Mart about a half-mile east of I-5 on state route 539 appears to be friendly to RV overnighters. When I was by recently (8-00), several RVers were clustered together in the corner of the lot, obviously there for the night. -- THE EDITOR

Coupeville (on Whidbey Island)
Rhododendron State Park, one mile south of Coupeville, has free camping. The sites are primitive but central water and outhouses are provided. As of June 2000, the staying time was limited to 14 days. -- S. FRISWOLD (7-00)

Humptulips
Promised Land Park is on Highway 101 two miles north of town. It's owned by the Rayonier Timber Company and offers free parking on the river for up to five days a month. There are restrooms, fire pits and picnic tables. -- GYPSY JOURNAL

Lake Chelan
The Indian casino at Lake Chelan (located in Manson, 7 miles "uplake" on Hwy 150 from Chelan) allows free parking in designated area behind the casino. It's a nice little casino with good restaurant and snack bar with great sandwiches. -- M. BIRCH

Mount Saint Helens
At about milepost 19 on route 504 (the main tourist highway to the volcano) there is a gift shop with a 20' Sasquatch and a "buried A-Frame." The owner lets you park in a large grassy area next to the gift shop and public restrooms. He has a few picnic tables and fire rings also. -- DEAN H.

Mt. Vernon
The Wal-Mart here permits overnight parking. It's located right alongside I-5, east of the highway at exit 227. Mt. Vernon is about an hour drive north of Seattle. -- THE EDITOR

Odessa
This small community, located 20 miles north of I-90 at the intersections of state highways 21 and 28 in eastern Washington, has a tourist park that permits free camping. It's a grass area with restrooms and central water and electric. Odessa has a 9 hole golf course with no tee times necessary and an outstanding public swimming facility. -- C RYAN (5-01)

Oroville
Prince's R.V. Park, while not free, is only $5.97 per night with a great view. There are electric and water hook-ups only with a fresh water station, dump station and decent showers.Prince's store (grocery/department) is just feet away.

Port Townsend
Haines Place Park and Ride, next to Safeway, allows overnight camping if you call for permission (call 260-385-4777). Ask if you wish to stay longer than one night. Check posted signs when entering. Park and Ride is located a few miles from the historic downtown. A free shuttle is offered to take you there. -- JAYNE NEU

Puyallup
See Seattle area

Seattle area
The Puyallup Fairgrounds in Puyallup has a RV park with full hookups at $12-14/night. While not free, this is the best deal in the Puget Sound area. There are occasional events that occupy the entire park so a call to The Western Washington Fair Association at (253) 841-5018 to check for availability is advised. There are about 160 spaces so most of the time there's space.

North of Seattle along I-5 (about a 20-25 minute drive in light traffic) is Lynnwood. A new Wal-Mart opened in 2000 right along I-5 on the east side, and it allows overnight stays. Farther north about 20 minutes just beyond Marysville on the west side of I-5 is another new Wal-Mart that is also allowing overnight stays. And another 25-minutes later, on the east side of I-5 in Burlington is yet another Wal-Mart where RVers have been staying overnight.

Sappho
(on the Olympic Peninsula west of Port Angeles)
On U.S. 101, a half mile west of the store at the intersection of U.S. 101 and state route 113, is a free campground, Tumbling Waters, owned by the Rainer Timber Company. It has running water in rest rooms, a water faucet at the sink in the pavilion which has two electric plug ins. The park has about 10 sites, some right along a beautiful river. A 35- or 40-footer would have to park by the pavillion while shorter rigs could get in most other sites. -- DAVE B

Spokane/Airway Heights
The Northern Quest Casino permits free overnight RV stays in its parking lot. To get there, exit I-90 in Spokane onto U.S. 2 West and go four miles to the town of Airway Heights. Turn right on Hayford Road. The casino is just ahead. (9-01)

Vantage
From I-90 at Vantage take Exit 137. The free camping starts just south of there. Head South on State Hwy 26 for about a mile and take State Hwy 243 to the right. All the free camping is along the shore of the Columbia River with Sani-cans and dumpster boxes. This is the sun belt of Washington. Continue south on 243 past Beverly and Schwana and thru the Sentinel Buttes. Look to the right for a gravel road and the Sani-cans and there is additional free camping along the Columbia. This area gets full when there is a fruit harvest in May and June for cherries, and September for apples. Other than that, it's wide open. -- P. KELLY

WARNING about this area from William Hooper (2-00): "Don't send anyone down to that sandtrap. It cost me over $130, and overheated the tranmission and engine. The road may look like gravel, but it's all loose sand. The tow truck driver said that even 4x4s get stuck out there. Take Vantage off the list."

LONG NAPS OKAY? Washington rest stops may not allow camping, but its signs approve of a short stay. A 7.5-hour nap is perfectly legal.