Family-Friendly Skiing in Washington: Tips, Kids, and Smart Planning for Winter Fun

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Olympic National Park
Nearest town: Forks, WA

Sol Duc is one of the best family campgrounds in Olympic National Park and an ideal first stop if you’re exploring the peninsula with kids. The biggest draw is walking access to the hot springs, plus multiple trails that start right from the campground.

If you’re camping with another family or want more breathing room, the group site is worth prioritizing. It’s slightly removed from the rest of the campground, giving you space to spread out. Regular tent sites and RV sites with hookups are available but are closer together.

This is a true rainforest. Our first visit over Memorial Day weekend was the rainiest camping trip we’ve ever taken—and we still loved it.

We hiked to Sol Duc Falls (~2 miles), soaked in the hot springs several times, explored the Hoh Rainforest, visited Hurricane Ridge for Junior Ranger books and scenic viewpoints, and stopped at Lake Crescent on the way home.

Good to know:

• Olympic National Park pass required

• Bring serious rain gear and extra clothes

• Dogs are allowed in the campground, but Olympic National Park restrictions made us leave ours at home

Nearby highlights (choose a few):
Salt Creek Recreation Area tide pools, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, Rialto or Second Beach, Hall of Mosses, Hurricane Ridge hikes and Lake Crescent Lodge. Check low tide times if tide pooling.

Best for: Rainforest adventures, hot springs access, National Park bucket-list trips
Reserve: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground (recreation.gov)

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Nearest town: Carson, WA

Paradise Creek is a quiet, shaded campground near Mount St. Helens that feels secluded without being remote. While mostly tent camping, we did see several RVs (no hookups).

This trip centered around Ape Cave—bring headlamps and jackets even in summer—and waterfall hikes like Panther Creek Falls and Falls Creek Falls. Our site backed right up to the creek, which meant hours of wading, stick throwing and dog play.

Kids rode bikes freely, made quick friends and spent most of their time immersed in forest play. We visited in mid-June and found the weather comfortable, though we were warned bugs can be heavy later in summer.

Good to know:

• Vault toilets only

• Water was listed online but not working when we visited—bring your own

• Dog-friendly

Site 009 comfortably fit two tents and a dog. Calm, clean and quiet.

Best for: Creek play, waterfall hikes, shaded forest camping
Reserve: Paradise Creek Campground (recreation.gov)

North Cascades National Park Complex
Nearest town: Newhalem, WA

Newhalem Creek Campground is a great basecamp for exploring the North Cascades with kids. We stayed here in August with two tents and appreciated the flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits and dump station.

The Skagit River is nearby, and kids loved fishing, roaming camp and exploring the Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Project. In town, highlights included the Skagit General Store, the restored Old Number 6 steam engine and a surprisingly great playground.

We walked the Trail of the Cedars (~1 mile loop) to the Newhalem Creek Powerhouse and explored the visitor gallery. With energy still high, we also tackled Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens.

Road access to Diablo Lake closed due to an August wildfire, but kids were completely captivated watching firefighting helicopters scoop and drop water nearby.

Good to know:

• No national park pass required to explore this area

• Shoulder season (October for larches) can be especially beautiful

Best for: Easy hikes, river access, combining camping with a walkable town
Reserve: Newhalem Creek Campground (recreation.gov)

Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Nearest town: Naches, WA

Kaner Flat is the kind of campground where you arrive, set up and don’t feel the need to leave. We RV camped here in late July while friends tent camped, and both worked well. Dogs were welcome.

There are large loops for walking dogs and riding bikes, plus a path down to the river where kids spent hours fishing, wading and playing. A hand water pump kept kids entertained for long stretches, and there was plenty of log climbing, frog catching and getting dirty.

Some campers come here for ATVing and dirt biking, but it wasn’t overly noisy during our stay. Sites were spaced well enough to feel relaxed without total isolation.

We also drove up the road to access the Tieton River for a different river view—perfect for picnicking and rock collecting.

Good to know:

• No hookups at our site

• Prebooking recommended, though we found last-minute availability in July

Best for: River play, biking loops, low-key camping days
Reserve: Kaner Flat Campground (recreation.gov)

San Juan Island
Nearest town: Friday Harbor, WA

We stayed in a canvas cabin at Lakedale that slept five, and it was such a fun change of pace from traditional camping. Lakedale also offers standard cabins, tent sites and RV camping.

This place feels like summer camp. On-site amenities include walking and biking loops, volleyball, tie-dye, lawn games, and three spring-fed lakes. There’s a swimming hole, a small dock and rentals for paddle boats and other small watercraft.

You can’t use personal paddleboards on-site, but we took ours to Egg Lake, just up the road. It has a dock and is stocked with rainbow trout and largemouth bass.

Beyond the resort, all of San Juan Island is within about 30 minutes.

Island favorites:
Lime Kiln State Park, Roche Harbor (including the sculpture park), Westcott Bay Shellfish Company, Amaro Farm (sheep and kittens), alpaca farm, lavender farm + ice cream and Serendipity Books.

Best for: Resort-style camping, built-in kid activities, island exploring
Reserve: Lakedale Resort (direct booking)

Olympic National Forest / Quinault Area
Nearest town: Quinault, WA

This is an RV-only campground located on the quieter side of Olympic National Park. It’s less crowded than the Hoh Rainforest but just as beautiful.

We stayed in July and spent most of our time on Lake Quinault—paddleboarding, swimming and letting the kids fully take over the shoreline. Nearby trails work well for short nature walks or longer hikes, including a visit to the world’s largest Sitka spruce tree.

Lake notes:

• Personal paddleboards require a permit and inspection

• The lake is managed by the Quinault Indian Nation

• Rentals available nearby

• Fishing and boating require checking tribal permit rules

If you’re tent camping:
There are several National Forest and National Park campgrounds along the Lake Quinault corridor that allow tent camping. We haven’t stayed at these yet, but they’re worth researching if you want a similar location without RV-only restrictions. Examples include Falls Creek Campground and Willaby Campground.

Good to know:

• Reservations by phone only

• Electric and water hookups available

• No national park pass required (unless you’re entering Olympic National Park)

• The Pacific Ocean and Ocean Shores are under an hour away

Best for: Lake days, RV comfort, quieter rainforest setting
Reserve: Rain Forest Resort RV Campground (phone reservation)

Washington State Parks (Discover Pass required)
Nearest town: Chelan, WA

I struggled on whether to include this campsite in the roundup, and ultimately decided to give it a wildcard spot so people can make an informed decision. Lake Chelan is an amazing destination, and we love being in the area. We stayed here in early June and it was nice to experience early summer before it came to western Washington.

This campsite stands out because it is on the lake—walk from your campsite to swim. There’s a playground our kids loved and plenty of other kids nearby. Not only that, there are kayak and paddleboard rentals for extra fun.

Here’s what we didn’t love—campsites were the closest together and the most cramped sites of any I can remember. We tent camped here, but there was a separate section for RVs (basically lined up in two rows). We brought our anxious dog and still had very little space for the kids. People were constantly cutting through our site, which set our dog off and made wrangling kids more challenging. We also had a noisy weekend with some upset kids nearby, which made mornings earlier than we were used to. Perhaps it was just factors we couldn’t control, but it was a more stressful camping experience than usual.

That said, swimming in Lake Chelan (cold but refreshing), visiting town for ice cream, bookstores, mini golf and great food made the trip memorable.

Best for: Lake access, town amenities, social camping (with flexible expectations)

Reserve: Lake Chelan State Park (parks.wa.gov)

As we’ve gotten more comfortable camping as a family, we’ve started leaning more into dispersed camping—and it’s been a game changer. We love the freedom of choosing spots with more space, fewer neighbors and less structure.

It does take more planning—bringing enough water, having backup locations and being comfortable without amenities—but we’ve had great success this past year using The Dyrt to help find locations that work well for families. More on that soon.

Hi, I’m Jen — mom of three and the voice behind The Wandering Winders. I share family-tested itineraries, RV trips and practical tips to help you travel with kids confidently and joyfully.