Securing a Last-Minute Campsite in Washington State Just Became Simpler

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Securing a Last-Minute Campsite in Washington State Just Became Simpler

Some of the best U.S. national parks for camping are in Washington state, including Olympic National Park — this national park on a beach offers about 900 campsites across 15 different campgrounds. But at Washington’s state parks, campsites have always been first-come, first-served unless you reserved them at least a day in advance. Now, snagging a last-minute campsite just got easier, as Washington has expanded same-day campsite reservations.



As of March 2025, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission changed its reservation system to allow same-day booking online or by phone until 2PM on arrival day. This move came after a successful pilot program launched in 2023 at Cape Disappointment, Deception Pass, and Millersylvania state parks and expanded to 24 more parks in 2024. With over 7,000 same-day reservations booked since the test began, it became clear that allowing last-minute bookings helps both travelers and parks by keeping campsites filled while giving campers more flexibility.

So, if you’ve ever had a spontaneous urge to escape into nature at one of Washington’s many beautiful state parks, you can rest assured that you won’t have to roll the dice and hope there are still spots left if you arrive later in the day.



Planning your spontaneous camping trip in Washington

Night view of lit up camping tent and fire along shoreline

Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.