Camping at Wenatchee River County Park in Central Washington

Looking for more to explore near Wenatchee?
Head up the Entiat River for great camping, a gorgeous hike to Silver Falls, and hidden swimming holes.

AMENITIES

• Flush toilets
• Coin-op showers
• Drinkable water
• Picnic tables and fire rings at all sites
• Covered picnic shelter
• Playground, basketball hoop, and volleyball court — there are even balls available at the campground (although if you want one that isn’t flat, bring your own)
• Ice available for purchase
• Small movie & book library on site
• Cell service (we use T-Mobile)
• Free wifi
• Laundry facilities

ABOUT THE SITES

• Wenatchee River County Park Campground has a total of 49 campsites.
• No tent camping is allowed, only RVs. I believe this is because they water the lawns at night and don’t want tents flattening the grass or getting sprayed.
• Fully serviced campsites cost $50 per night. 43 of the campsites are fully serviced, and discounts are available for stays of a week or more.
• Campsites with water and electric hookups only (no sewer) cost $45 per night. Three campsites fall into this category, and discounts are likewise available for stays of seven nights or longer.
• Unserviced campsites cost $30 per night. There are only two unserviced campsites in the entire campground, and remember — no tents allowed! There are also no discounts for extended stays.
• Reservations can be made up to six months in advance for Wenatchee River County Park Campground. Advance reservations are recommended for summer, and can be made online through the park website.
• Campsites at Wenatchee River County Park Campground are partially shaded and surrounded by green lawns. There are no privacy barriers between sites, but most sites are more spacious than typical RV parks.
• Our campsite, #43, was a pull-through site. There was little space between our site and the one next door, but fortunately those were our only neighbors. Since we were staying for only one night, privacy was less of a concern.

FUN STUFF

• Play at the playground. It’s small, but great for young kids.
• Play some volleyball. We’re pretty terrible at volleyball, but had a lot of fun playing a kids versus parents game nevertheless. Volleyballs are available at the campground. I can’t vouch for the quality, but they worked just fine for us.
• Shoot some hoops. As with volleyball, free balls are available, but you may want to bring your own if you’re particular.
• Picnic by the Wenatchee River. Several picnic tables dot the grounds, and there’s a day use area adjacent to the campground.
• Go on a scavenger hunt for sculptures. Yes, sculptures! You’ll be greeted by several at the gate upon arrival, and keep an eye out for others hiding in various corners of the campground. There’s also a unique interpretation of the Statue of Liberty gracing the day use area.

NEARBY & NOTABLE

• Hot Rod Cafe is a short walk from Wenatchee River County Park Campground. A pedestrian overpass makes crossing Highway 2 easy for many. If you’re unable to manage stairs, you can drive instead, as there’s plenty of parking. The cafe serves up a wide range of tasty fast food, including delicious garlic fries and milkshakes.
• Leavenworth is just 16 miles northwest of the campground. Head into town to enjoy the faux-Bavarian atmosphere, tasty food, and a beautiful riverfront park. Between the Wenatchee River County Park Campground and Leavenworth, stop by the Big Y Cafe for an excellent breakfast.
• Wenatchee is only a 10- to 15-minute drive from the campground. Here, you’ll find more restuarnts, stores, Columbia River access, and the Ohme Gardens.
• The Entiat River meets the Columbia River 18.5 miles northeast of Wenatchee River County Park Campground. We enjoyed exploring this area later during the same trip. Drive further up the Entiat River to stay at Lake Creek Campground, hike to Silver Falls, or discover secret swimming holes.

THE VERDICT

Wenatchee River County Park Campground is a solid place to overnight for RV campers traversing Highway 2. For our family, the playground, basketball hoop, and volleyball court made for a fun one-night stop before catching the ferry to Holden Village the next morning. I wouldn’t stay here longer (roadside camping isn’t my style), but for a quick single night stay it was ideal.

Unfortunately, this cute little riverside oasis is only available to RV campers; no tents are allowed (unless you, like us, have a rooftop tent). If this works for you, Wenatchee River County Park Campground is worth checking out for a stopover near Stevens Pass. The campsites were tidy, the bathrooms clean, and the play areas and sports equipment are a big bonus for families. A few quirky surprises, such as the animal statuary found sprinkled throughout the grounds, add to the charm. After all, who can resist a smile when a bugling bull elk trumpets your arrival? That, my friends, is the spirit of Wenatchee River County Park Campground.

After a rainy drive across Stevens Pass, we were thankful to see some sun peeking through the clouds as we arrived at Wenatchee River County Park Campground. We checked in at the entrance station, then pulled into campsite #43, our home for the night. All it took was a few minutes to level the trailer and pop up the rooftop tent, then we were ready to explore.

My expectations for Wenatchee River County Park Campground were fairly low. We were only here for one night, after all, and it was a matter of convenience, not a destination unto itself. The kids were pleasantly surprised to find a basketballs available near a freestanding hoop, and soon pulled me into their game. From there, we wandered over to the sandy volleyball court, where the parents eagerly took on the kids. I don’t recall who won; there was too much laughter and silliness to bother keeping score.

After our volleyball match, I wandered down to the river. Several picnic tables were scattered near the riverbank. Now that the rain had ceased, they were almost dry enough for a picnic. With the sound of the water rushing past, it was easy to forget just how close we were to Highway 2.

I wasn’t alone in my riverside ramble. Just ahead, I spotted a lithe form standing stock still, peeking cautiously through the trees. This, it turns out, was no ordinary deer, but one of many statues found throughout the campground. Some are quite obvious, but a few appear where you least expect them.

By now the sun had fully broken through the clouds. We walked down the campground road to the pedestrian overpass that crosses Highway 2 and leads to the Hot Rod Cafe. Burgers and milkshakes for dinner? The kids were fully on board with this camping experience!

The next morning we arose early. We had an hour’s drive ahead of us to reach the ferry dock at Fields Point Landing, and time was of the essence. Our trip had only just begun, and with our first overnight stop at Wenatchee River County Park Campground, it was off to a great start.