First-Come, First-Serve Campgrounds for Last Minute Plans

Still haven't decided on holiday plans? Don't fret. Though many of the campgrounds that accept reservations are filled to the max, there are a number of beautiful campgrounds that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These sites are often a bit further from the crowds and may offer fewer amenities, but are well worth it. The primitive campsites listed below are some of our favorite gems, be sure to leave them better than when you arrived. Head out Friday morning, if not Thursday evening, for your best chances of getting a site. Trust us, it's not too late to make this vacation one to remember.

Washington Designated Campgrounds

Goodell Creek Campground, North Cascades National Park: 19 tent/car sites, 2 group sites
Colonial Creek Campground, Ross Lake Recreation Area: 100 tent/car sites, 42 tent/walk-in sites, 1 group site
Ida Creek Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: 10 tent/car sites
Rock Island Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: 22 tent/car sites
Red Mountain Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: 10 tent/car sites
Owhi Campground, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: 22 tent/walk-in sites
Willaby Campground, Quinault National Forest: 21 tent/car sites
Falls Creek Campground, Quinault National Forest: 15 tent/car sites, 12 tent/walk-in sites
Lower Falls Campground, Mount St. Helens, 40 tent/car sites
Jones Island, Northern Puget Sound: 24 tent/paddle-in sites

Washington Primitive Campsites

Nisqually River Campsite, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: 1 site on river
Buck Creek Campsites, Mount Rainier area: 38 tent/car sites
Cispus River Campsite, Mount Adams area: 1 site
Klickitat River Campsite, Columbia River Gorge: 1 site
Cat Creek Campsites, Mount Adams area: 11 tent/car sites
Reed Island State Park Campsite, Portland Metro area: 1 site

Oregon Designated Campgrounds

Keenig Creek Campground, Tillamook State Forest: 12 tent/walk-in sites
Elk Creek Campground, Tillamook State Forest: 14 tent/walk-in sites
Jones Creek Campground, Tillamook State Forest: 14 tent/walk-in sites
Wyeth Campground, Columbia River Gorge: 14 tent/car sites
Herman Creek Campground, Columbia River Gorge: 7 tent/car sites
Eagle Creek Campground, Columbia River Gorge: 16 tent/car sites
Kinnikinnick Campground, Mount Hood area: 20 tent/car sites
Nottingham Campground, Mount Hood area: 21 tent/car sites
Bonney Meadows Forest Camp, Mount Hood area: 8 tent/car sites
Barlow Crossing Campground, Mount Hood area: 12 tent/car sites
Shady Cove and Cedar Creek Campground, Opal Creek Wilderness: 12 tent/car sites, 14 tent/walk-in sites
Horseshoe Lake Campground, Mount Jefferson area: 8 tent/walk-in sites
Breitenbush Lake Campground, Mount Jefferson area: 20 tent/car sites, 4 tent/walk-in sites
Cold Springs Campground, Central Oregon: 23 tent/car sites
Chimney Rock Campground, Central Oregon: 16 tent/car sites
Ochoco Divide Campground, Deschutes National Forest: 25 tent/car sites
Chickahominy Reservoir, Southeastern Oregon: 28 tent/car sites
Bates State Park, John Day: 28 RV sites, 6 tent/walk-in sites
Strawberry Campground, Eastern Oregon: 12 tent/car sites
Fish Lake Recreation Site Campground, Steens Mountain Wilderness: 23 tent/car sites
Thompson Reservoir Campground, Southeastern Oregon: 17 tent/car sites
Huckleberry Mountain Campground, Southern Oregon Cascades, 25 tent/car sites
Lost Creek Campground, Crater Lake: 16 tent/car sites
Boice-Cope County Park, Oregon Coast: 18 RV sites, 10 tent/car sites, 3 tent/walk-in sites

Oregon Primitive Campsites

Pike Creek Campsites, Southeastern Oregon: 3 tent/car sites
Fish Lake Campsites, Willamette Foothills: 2 tent/car sites
Tall Tree Campsites, North Santiam River: 4 tent/walk-in sites
Sandy River Campsites, Mount Hood area: 10 tent/walk-in sites
Sparks Lake Shoreline Campsites, Central Oregon: 22 tent/walk-in sites
Clackamas River, Upper Campsites, Clackamas River area: 2 tent/walk-in sites
Alder Flats Campsites, Clackamas River area: 5 tent/walk-in sites
Timothy Lake, Meditation Point Campsites, Mount Hood area: 12 tent/walk-in sites

California Designated Campgrounds

Juniper Point, Siskiyou Mountains: 5 tent/walk-in sites
Florence Keller County Park + Campground, Northern California Coast: 49 tent/car sites
Fowler's Campground, Mount Shasta: 37 tent/car sites
Lassen Southwest Walk-in Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park: 20 tent/walk-in sites
Yellow Creek Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park: 11 tent/walk-in sites
Silver Lake West Campground, Lake Tahoe: 7 RV sites, 35 tent/walk-in sites
Crystal Springs Campground, Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest: 16 RV sites, 2 tent/walk-in sites
Chris Flat Campground, Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest: 15 tent/car sites
Buckeye Campground, Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest: 68 tent/car sites
Wakaluu Hep Yoo Campground, Stanislaus National Forest: 49 tent/car sites
Upper Deadman Campground, Inyo National Forest: 15 tent/car sites
Big Springs Campground, Inyo National Forest: 26 tent/car sites
Pleasant Valley Campground, Eastern Sierra: 200 tent/car sites
Bitterbrush Campground, Inyo National Forest: 30 tent/car sites
North Lake Campground, Eastern Sierra: 8 tent/car sites, 11 tent/walk-in sites
Alabama Hills Dispersed Camping Area, Eastern Sierra: 100 tent/car sites
Trail Camp Walk-In Campground, Big Sur: 24 tent/walk-in sites
Horse Flat Campground, Angeles National Forest: 10 horse stall sites
Buckhorn Campground, Angeles National Forest: 38 tent/walk-in sites
Chilao Campground, Angeles National Forest: 42 tent/car sites

California Primitive Campsites

Cabin Creek Campsites, Mount Shasta: 3 tent/walk-in sites

Colorado Designated Campgrounds

Buckingham Campground, Roosevelt National Forest: 3 tent/car sites
Peaceful Valley Campground, Roosevelt National Forest: 11 tent/car sites, 5 tent/walk-in sites
Meeker Park Overflow Campground, Roosevelt National Forest: 29 tent/car sites
Longs Peak Campground, Rocky Mountain National Park: 26 tent/car sites
Lowry Campground, White River National Forest: 23 RV sites
Pine Cove Campground, White River National Forest: 32 tent/car sites, 4 tent/walk-in sites
Willows Campground, Green Mountain Reservoir: 35 tent/car sites
Parry Peak Campground, Leadville: 25 tent/car sites
Fulford Cave Campground: 7 tent/car sites
Yeoman Park Campground, White River National Forest: 24 tent/car sites
Cottonwood Lake Campground: 24 tent/car sites
Oh Be Joyful Campground, Crested Butte: 15 tent/car sites
Spruce Grove Campground, Grand Mesa National Forest: 16 tent/car sites
Ward Lake Campground, Grand Mesa National Forest: 27 tent/car sites
North Fruita Desert Campground, 18 Road Camping: 58 tent/car sites
Silver Jack Campground, Uncompahgre National Forest: 60 tent/car sites
South Mineral Campground, San Juan Mountains: 26 tent/car sites

Utah Designated Campgrounds

Maple Lake Campground, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest: 7 tent/car sites
Horsethief Campground, Moab: 55 tent/car sites
Willow Flat Campground, Canyonlands National Park: 12 tent/car sites
Fruita Campground, Capitol Reef National Park: 64 tent/car sites, 7 tent/walk-in sites
Big Flat Dispersed Camping Area, Fishlake National Forest
South Campground, Zion National Park: 119 tent/car sites, 8 tent/walk-in sites

Arizona Designated Campgrounds

Twin Peaks Campground, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: 174 RV sites, 34 tent/car sites
Gilbert Ray Campground, Tucson Area: 130 RV sites, 5 tent/car sites