How to snag a campsite in the off-season

Step 1: Check the Winter Schedule 

Start by reviewing our Winter Schedule for the park you want to visit. Each park operates differently during the off-season, and availability can change quickly.  

• If the park is still taking reservations, head to our reservation website and check what’s open. 

• If the park has switched to FCFS sites, look for on-site instructions upon arrival to the campground. 

Step 2: Understand same-day options 

Here’s a curveball – if the park still has reservable campsites, same-day reservations are available until 2 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., leftover campsites are released as FCFS sites. 

Upon arrival, visitors will follow the parks’ posted instructions to check for FCFS site availability. 

Let's recap: 

• 2 p.m. - Same-day reservations cutoff. Leftover sites go to FCFS. 

• 2:30 p.m. - Check-in begins for FCFS campers. 

Arrive early so you’re ready to grab a site as soon as the clock hits 2:30 p.m. 

Step 3: Always have a backup plan 

It's much easier to get a campsite in the off-season, so you shouldn't be afraid of heading out in hopes of getting a FCFS spot. But, of course, be sure to have a backup plan just in case. Check nearby parks (see list below) and double check the Winter Schedule so you have options. 

• Within an hour of Bellingham: Bay View, Birch Bay Larrabee, Rasar, 

• Within an hour of Seattle: Blake Island, Camano Island, Dash Point, Kanaskat-Palmer, Lake Easton, Wallace Falls 

• Within an hour of Olympia: Millersylvania, Hope Island, Jarrell Cove, Potlatch 

• Within an hour of Portland: Battle Ground Lake, Ike Kinswa, Lewis and Clark State Park, Paradise Point, Rainbow Falls, Seaquest 

• Within an hour of Spokane: Riverside 

• Within an hour of Wenatchee: Alta Lake, Bridgeport, Daroga, Lake Chelan, Lake Wenatchee, Lincoln Rock, Twenty-Five Mile Creek, Wenatchee Confluence 

• Within an hour of Anacortes: Deception Pass, Fort Casey, Fort Ebey, Saddlebag Island, Skagit Island 

• Within an hour of Poulsbo: Belfair, Fort Flagler, Illahee, Joemma Beach, Kitsap Memorial, Manchester, Penrose Point, Scenic Beach, Twanoh 

• Within an hour of Port Angeles: Bogachiel, Dosewallips, Fort Flagler, Fort Townsend, Fort Worden, Sequim Bay 

• In the Columbia River Gorge: Beacon Rock, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Maryhill  

• In the San Juan Islands: Blind Island, Clark Island, Doe Island, James Island, Jones Island, Matia Island, Moran, Obstruction Pass, Patos Island, Posey Island, Spencer Spit, Stuart Island, Turn Island 

• In Northeast, WA: Conconully, Curlew, Pearrygin Lake, Steamboat Rock, Sun Lakes-Dry Falls 

• In Southeast, WA: Fields Spring, Lewis and Clark Trail, Potholes, Wanapum Recreation Area, Yakima Sportsman 

• Near the Pacific Coast: Fort Columbia, Grayland Beach, Lake Sylvia, Ocean City, Pacific Beach, Schafer, Twin Harbors 

Step 4: Use our Information Center 

Don’t forget – our Information Center is your friend. State Parks staff can help with trip planning, logistics and updates on campsite availability. They can be reached at (360) 902-8844 or Infocent@parks.wa.gov.  

Important dates to remember 

Seasonal changes kick in throughout the fall: 

• September 15 

• October 1 

• October 15 

• November 1 

These dates often mark shifts in services or campground operations, so double-check the Winter Schedule before heading out. 

Let us walk you through a couple examples 

Example 1:  

Fort Townsend fully switched to FCFS sites Sept. 16. Upon arriving at the park, use the posted yellow phone number to reach the call center. An agent can provide the latest updates on which FCFS sites are currently available. 

Example 2:  

Moran’s Mountain Lake Loop and Midway Loop (sites 18-40) will become FCFS starting Nov. 1. To get one of those sites, visitors should use the physical yellow phone to reach the call center. An agent will provide the most up-to-date information on which FCFS sites are open. 

Example 3:  

Bay View State Park accepts reservations year round, except of sites 39-76, which close from Oct. 15 through May 15. If any sites remain after the 2 p.m. same-day reservation cutoff, the park will post a list of open sites that can be claimed on a FCFS basis after 2:30 p.m. 

What is this physical yellow phone, yellow phone number and list you’re referring to? 

Each park has its own procedures for obtaining FCFS site. Some parks have a physical yellow phone to reach the call center; others list a yellow phone number that you can dial from your personal cellphone and some simply display a list of open sites. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions posted at the specific park you plan to visit. 

If you arrive late 

The call center closes at 8 p.m., so if the park has a physical yellow phone or yellow phone number, it will not be active after that time. 

Check the welcome booth or information board to see which campsites are available. You may also drive through the park to look for open sites. Once you’ve chosen a site, leave an item there to show it’s occupied for the night (a recommended best practice). 

Pay for your site by following the posted instructions – either at the site itself, at the welcome booth or on the information board. 

If you need assistance, contact the Camp Host or our Information Center. 

Off-season camping can be a little unpredictable, but with preparation (and a few backup plans), you’ll have a much smoother trip. The key is to stay flexible, know the system and arrive on time. That way, you’ll spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying the peace of a quieter campground. 

We know this can feel like a bit of a rigamarole – but trust us, fall camping at our parks is a beautiful experience you don’t want to miss. Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll be rewarded with crisp air, stunning colors and the kind of quiet only autumn brings.