The best camping near Lake Chelan State Park

Straddling the southern banks of Lake Chelan, Lake Chelan State Park attracts campers, anglers, and water sport enthusiasts with its lakefront location and easy access to hiking. The Lake Chelan Campground has 139 campsites, including 18 partial hookup sites and 17 full hookup sites, along with restrooms and hot showers. It's a popular spot, especially among Washington families who have been coming here for generations, so it's wise to arrive early. Other park features include 495 feet of dock and a single launch, plus a couple of miles of hiking trails, horseshoe pits, a playground, and a shop offering non-motorized water sport rentals.

• You can reserve campsites through the Washington State Parks online reservation system or over the phone, but phone reservations incur an additional fee.
• Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance, and new sites go live at 7 am Pacific time each day.
• You can split your stay across two campsites without having to pay double reservation fees. However, this can only be done over the phone.
• The campground is open from March through November, but sites are only reservable between mid-April and the end of September. Camping at all other times is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The best time to camp in Lake Chelan State Park is in July or August, when the weather is at its warmest and driest, but the campground consistently fills up this time of year, even on weekdays. For fewer crowds, consider visiting in September, before temperatures drop and the long rainy season begins. March through May and October through November attract fewer crowds, but the weather during these shoulder seasons can be unpredictable. 

• You can pick up camping supplies, groceries, firewood, and ice, as well as coffee and sandwiches at the on-site cafe, Paninis in the Park, open seasonally until Labor Day.
• Gas, groceries, and other supplies are easily available in the town of Chelan, about 15 minutes by car from the park, on the southeastern end of the lake.
• You can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and hydro bikes from Barefoot Water Sports right in the park.
• The park offers ADA-accessible camping, picnic areas, restrooms, and 0.2 miles of wheelchair-friendly hiking trails.
• Fishing is allowed in the park, but a license from the Department of Fish and Wildlife is required.