Each year an estimated 40 million people visit only 124 Washington State parks. State campgrounds are open for booking up to nine months in advance, and they book out almost immediately. Most state campgrounds are already full this summer. State campgrounds are fantastic, but they are not the only options. Other locations have fewer crowds, more privacy between sites, and are easier to book closer to the dates you need. If you’re a camper who has missed the State Park booking rush, there are still plenty of spots open. Skip the crowds this summer and book an independent campsite in Snohomish County.
The Hipcamp website, Harvest Host, and other local options have plenty of availability.
Hipcamp is the self-proclaimed Airbnb of campsites. You can book traditional, independent camp and RV sites on private property, and you also have the choice of booking glamping sites (glamorous camping) where the tent and foundation are there for you, like a yurt or a teepee on a wooden platform, with a real bed. Some sites have RV site hookups; a few offer cabins and tree houses. Sites can be on ranches, farms, beaches, or private land. You can find lots of interesting stays in Washington, and most of the time large privately owned land has only one or two sites leaving you a quiet night under the stars without rowdy camp neighbors or light pollution. Alternatively, these secluded campsites are also great for big parties if your group is the rowdy neighbor.
Tent, Cabin, and RV Sites in Snohomish County
The Landing at Index, Washington, by Gold Bar, was voted one of the best Hipcamp campsites to visit in 2025. Only four sites are available across 16 Skykomish riverfront acres. Private sites on the waterfront. Fish in the afternoon and cook it over the fire for dinner.
Camp Hideaway in Darrington, Washington, offers riverfront fishing, kayaking, trails, fire pits, and a playground. Six sites across two acres of house RVs, tents and a full cabin with a kitchen.
Valhalla Tree Farm is only 15 minutes outside of Arlington, but it feels like worlds away from the city. Only five sites spread across 75 acres of land for RVs, tents, and two solar cabins with warm, relaxing outdoor showers.
Glamping and Cabins
The Landing at Lake Ploenta outside of Arlington has three wildly different places to stay. Fern Gully sites one and two are large canvas tents on a wooden platform with cots and wood stoves, a beautiful new yurt with a kitchen, and a cabin with all the amenities of a full home. All are located on 60 acres on a forested lake with lots of wildlife.
RV Camping in Unconventional Locations
For RV campers, Harvest Hosts is an entertaining place to find unforgettable campsites with a bit of a twist. You can find farms, wineries, breweries, and golf courses with thousands of locations across the country and right here in Snohomish County.
Stay on a Family Dairy and Beef Farm Retreat in Monroe where you will wake to the gentle mooing of cows outside of your RV window. You can milk cows and tour the farm to buy fresh eggs for breakfast.
Bring your dog and don’t drive home after tasting handcrafted vodka, coffee liqueur, and beer made on the premises at the Artisanal Craft Distillery in Snohomish.
Roll the Dice with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Natural Resources maintains 80 campgrounds across the state. Six are in Snohomish County. These sites can be used without a reservation for free with a Discover Pass. The caveat is it’s first come, first serve. So, if you’re driving a long distance and have a car packed ready to camp, but the spots are all taken, you are out of luck. The full list of campsites can be found here.
Ready to Really Rough It?
The Dyrt website contains a list of dispersed camping areas in Snohomish. Dispersed camping is free camping in the wild on public land owned by the national forests or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Camping must be done in areas where you won’t be disturbing the land, and fires must be built only if there isn’t a burn ban and only in an existing fire ring. “Leave no trace” is always a good rule of thumb, but especially when camping out of a designated campsite. More information can be found here.
No matter where your summer adventures take you, be safe, leave wildlife alone and food out of reach, pack out all garbage, leave the wilderness the way you find it and make unforgettable summer memories.
