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

British Columbia Designated Campgrounds

• Lillooet Lake Campground, Driftwood Bay: 39 tent/car sites, 16 tent/walk-in sites
• Cal-Cheak Recreation Site + Campground, Whistler: 55 tent/car sites
• Cat Lake Campground, Squamish: 50 tent/walk-in sites
• Stawamus Chief Provincial Park + Campground, Squamish: 15 tent/car sites, 47 tent/walk-in sites