Campgrounds and RV parks near Cle Elum, WA

Cle Elum sits just off Interstate 90 on the east slope of the Cascade Range in Kittitas County, roughly 80 miles east of Seattle. The town serves as a practical staging point for RV travelers heading into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, the Teanaway Community Forest, and the Cle Elum Lake corridor. Cle Elum, Kachess, and Keechelus reservoirs sit within the surrounding national forest and store water for the Yakima Basin. Campground options range from full-service private parks to primitive public sites. Whispering Pines RV Campground and Sun Country Golf And RV cater to hookup-equipped rigs, while Elk Haven Equestrian Center serves horse campers. Public land camping is concentrated up the Teanaway River drainage, where the Department of Natural Resources co-manages the Teanaway Community Forest with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The two DNR sites listed here, Teanaway and Indian Camp, are drive-in but undeveloped. Teanaway sits along the West Fork of the Teanaway River within the community forest, while Indian Camp is a smaller area near the Middle Fork.

Reservation rules vary sharply by land manager. Private parks such as Whispering Pines RV Campground and Sun Country Golf And RV take direct bookings through their own websites and are the most reliable option for hookups and long rigs. Book these well ahead for summer weekends. Elk Haven Equestrian Center also books directly with the operator. The DNR-managed Teanaway and Indian Camp sites work differently. There is no fee, and access is provided on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations. Sites are undeveloped, so plan to arrive early on Fridays in peak season. A Discover Pass is required to park on DNR land. Federal campgrounds around Cle Elum Lake and elsewhere in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are bookable through Recreation.gov, typically on a rolling six-month window ahead of arrival, though some sites remain first-come, first-served.