CAMPING
Wondering about camping? Here is your one stop shop for all your questions (hopefully)! If you have specific questions, please feel free to email us. Included are some useful links to camping information at the park. If you have further questions, please email us at [email protected].
Where can I camp?
The park offers volunteers free camping at Longmire Volunteer Campground, White River Campground, and Ohanapecosh Campground. We cannot offer free camping at any backcountry sights (please see this link for backcountry camping information).
How long can I stay?
Through volunteering at Mt. Rainier National Park with MeadoWatch, the park offers volunteers up to two nights at a time per day of volunteering. For example, if you plan to hike on July 13th, you could camp the night of July 12th and 13th and leave July 14th. You may plan your camping dates around your MeadoWatch hike as you see fit, and may opt to only camp for one night.
How early should I put in my camping request?
Please give at least two weeks advance notice of the dates you would like to camp! We cannot guarantee that you will have a campsite reserved if you do not provide us with this time (we require this as we have to send your requests to the park volunteer staff, who will place your reservations).
How do I place my camping request?
Please provide us with the following information, kindly in the following format:
Name: Your name
Email: A good email to contact you at
Where: Which campground
When: The nights you will be staying (e.g. July 12th and 13th would indicated that you will be arriving on July 12th, staying the nights of July 12th and 13th , and departing on July 14th.)
Number of people: How many will be staying with you? If it is just you, please indicate this.
Number of tents/size of RV: How many tents are you bringing? How big is your RV? Note that there are size restrictions and limited maneuverability, so please call the park if you have further questions. This will help the park volunteer staff select the appropriate campsite. Again, if it is only one tent, please indicate this.
Number of cars: The number of cars to be parked at your campsite.
Can I camp with a friend/fellow volunteer?
Yes! Please indicate this in the number of people and tents when putting in your request. The park is able to offer sites that will accommodate multiple tents and people, groups up to 3-4 is optimal. In the spirit of volunteering, we highly encourage all your member to participate in the data collection (remember to include their names on the data sheet).
Will I receive a confirmation of my request?
We will do our very best to let you know that we have sent your camping request to the NPS. When your reservation request has been put in by the park volunteer staff, you will likely receive a confirmation email back from them. However, keep in mind that communication between the park and MeadoWatch can take some time due to our field schedule (we do not check the MeadoWatch email daily), that of the campground hosts (who are largely not behind the computer - especially at White River - no internet!), and internet connection speed (generally somewhat iffy). If you have concerns about your reservation request, please contact us at [email protected].
Can I change my camping request?
Yes! Please send us an email as soon as you know about any changes to your original camping request, including cancelations. Send an email with the subject line: “DATE Camping Request Change” (please write in the appropriate date of your camping reservation in the subject line where the example says ‘DATE’). Again, if you need to reschedule for an earlier date, please note the two week advance notice disclaimer.
Where can I camp?
The park offers volunteers free camping at Longmire Volunteer Campground, White River Campground, and Ohanapecosh Campground. We cannot offer free camping at any backcountry sights (please see this link for backcountry camping information).
How long can I stay?
Through volunteering at Mt. Rainier National Park with MeadoWatch, the park offers volunteers up to two nights at a time per day of volunteering. For example, if you plan to hike on July 13th, you could camp the night of July 12th and 13th and leave July 14th. You may plan your camping dates around your MeadoWatch hike as you see fit, and may opt to only camp for one night.
How early should I put in my camping request?
Please give at least two weeks advance notice of the dates you would like to camp! We cannot guarantee that you will have a campsite reserved if you do not provide us with this time (we require this as we have to send your requests to the park volunteer staff, who will place your reservations).
How do I place my camping request?
Please provide us with the following information, kindly in the following format:
Name: Your name
Email: A good email to contact you at
Where: Which campground
When: The nights you will be staying (e.g. July 12th and 13th would indicated that you will be arriving on July 12th, staying the nights of July 12th and 13th , and departing on July 14th.)
Number of people: How many will be staying with you? If it is just you, please indicate this.
Number of tents/size of RV: How many tents are you bringing? How big is your RV? Note that there are size restrictions and limited maneuverability, so please call the park if you have further questions. This will help the park volunteer staff select the appropriate campsite. Again, if it is only one tent, please indicate this.
Number of cars: The number of cars to be parked at your campsite.
Can I camp with a friend/fellow volunteer?
Yes! Please indicate this in the number of people and tents when putting in your request. The park is able to offer sites that will accommodate multiple tents and people, groups up to 3-4 is optimal. In the spirit of volunteering, we highly encourage all your member to participate in the data collection (remember to include their names on the data sheet).
Will I receive a confirmation of my request?
We will do our very best to let you know that we have sent your camping request to the NPS. When your reservation request has been put in by the park volunteer staff, you will likely receive a confirmation email back from them. However, keep in mind that communication between the park and MeadoWatch can take some time due to our field schedule (we do not check the MeadoWatch email daily), that of the campground hosts (who are largely not behind the computer - especially at White River - no internet!), and internet connection speed (generally somewhat iffy). If you have concerns about your reservation request, please contact us at [email protected].
Can I change my camping request?
Yes! Please send us an email as soon as you know about any changes to your original camping request, including cancelations. Send an email with the subject line: “DATE Camping Request Change” (please write in the appropriate date of your camping reservation in the subject line where the example says ‘DATE’). Again, if you need to reschedule for an earlier date, please note the two week advance notice disclaimer.