Photo: JD Hascup Photo

Cougar Rock Campground

179 sites · $10–$60 · Reservable + first come · RVs to 35 ft

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Reservable + first come$10–$60 / nightClosed now: Closed Seasonally

Reserve a site ↗Booking and payment are handled by Recreation.gov.

🧭 Directions Apple Maps

179Sites

133Reservable

46First come

$10–$60Per night

35 ftRVs

78 tent only24 rv only5 group

Reservations

Reservations can be made online or by telephone 1-877-444-6777. Cougar Rock campsites tend to open in mid to late May as weather allows. From opening until the end of June, all open sites are first-come, first-serve. Reservations are accepted up to 6 months in advance.

Fees

Campground Site Fee Fee to camp in one campsite in the campground with up to 2 tents and 6 people (unless immediate family) for one night.	$20.00
Discount Campground Site Fee With an America the Beautiful Access or Senior Pass, the card holder can get a discounted rate for a campsite. A single campsite can have up to 2 tents and 6 people (unless immediate family).	$10.00
Group Site Fee If you plan to use the group sites at Cougar Rock or Ohanapecosh campgrounds between Memorial Day weekend and Columbus Day, you must make reservations. Groups of 12 or more are permitted only in specific group sites. Group sites are designed for tent camping only so RVs are not permitted. At campgrounds throughout the park, parking is limited. Those using group campsites may need to consult the campground ranger to arrange additional parking. Maximum groups sizes vary by site.	$60.00

Season & hours

Cougar Rock

Cougar Rock is only open for camping during the summer season which runs from late May to early October. Opening and closing dates vary depending on the highly variable mountain weather and snow conditions. The number of sites available in the early season can also be affected by this. During the summer season, campground is open 24 hours a day with a noon checkout time.

⛔ Closed Seasonally: Oct 12, 2026 – May 23, 2027

Amenities

Toilets · Flush Toilets - seasonal
Showers · none
Drinking water · seasonal
Trash / recycling · seasonal
Laundry · none
Camp store · none
Firewood for sale · seasonal
Ice for sale · none
Food storage lockers · seasonal
Dump station · none
Amphitheater · seasonal
Camp host · seasonal
Cell reception · none
Internet · none

RVs, trailers & access

RVs	Allowed, up to 35 ft
Trailers	Allowed, up to 27 ft
RV notes	Cougar Rock Campground is located in a steep river valley on the side of Mount Rainier. The loops do include some sharp curves. There are a limited number of pull-throughs. No hook-ups are available though there is a dump station near the campground entrance. Loop E allows no generator use.
Roads	Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Type	Developed Campground
Campfires	Campfires are only allowed in the designated fire pit at each campsite. No gathering of wood allowed though firewood can be purchased at stand in campground or at the Longmire General Store.
Wheelchair	The campground road and parking spurs are paved. Campsites consist of packed dirt of gravel with a picnic table, fire pit and tent pad.
ADA	Accessible restrooms are located at the Cougar Rock campground. There are four wheelchair accessible sites within the campground. An America the Beautiful Access Card is required for these sites. The amphitheater is also accessible using a wooden ramp.
Cell	Cellular service is spotty at best, and varies with service provider. Please contact the cellular providers directly to ask for a coverage map.
Internet	Public wifi is available in the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. The wifi has limited bandwidth and can be slow during times of high volume.

Getting there

Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford, WA 98304

There is no address for Cougar Rock Campground. It is located 14 miles east of the town of Ashford, Washington, on State Route 706/Paradise Road, and about 2 miles uphill from Longmire.

Contact

360-569-6626 · morainfo@nps.gov

Other campgrounds in Mount Rainier

Ohanapecosh179 sites · $10–$60 · Reservable + first come · RVs to 32 ft White River88 sites · $10–$20 · First come, first served · RVs to 27 ft

About Cougar Rock

Cougar Rock Campground is located on the south side of the park, on the road between Longmire and Paradise. It is in a steep valley with the Nisqually River across the main road. Thick forest extends through the whole campground providing privacy for campsites. Access to the Wonderland trail is across the road with waterfalls a moderate hike away. Less than 15 minutes of driving can take you to the trails and facilities at Longmire or Paradise.

Photos

A small brown building with a window for taking questions. — Visitors can check in to the campground and get guidance from park staff at the ranger station. · NPS Photo

A large white RV in front of thick woods — An example of an RV campsite at Cougar Rock · NPS Photo

Rows of wooden benches leading up to a screen with wooden panelling — The amphitheater at Cougar Rock where junior ranger and evening programs are held. · NPS Photo

A brown rectangular metal container marked "food storage" — Bear-proof food storage containers are provided in the campground. · NPS Photo

Three green recycling containers inside a wooden enclosure — Campground visitors are provided with recycling options. · NPS Photo

Four fold up chairs in front of a large tent. — An example tent campsite at Cougar Rock. · NPS Photo

A large open space with scattered sleeping bags and camp materials — Group campsites are available at Cougar Rock. · NPS Photo

A small brown building with a stone structure for obtaining water in front. — Bathrooms are provided at each of the campground loops. · NPS Photo

A yellow flyer noting the times of programs. — Junior Ranger and Evening Programs are provided every night at the Cougar Rock Amphitheater. · NPS Photo

A brown sign noting the distance to trails in the area. — Cougar Rock is located near several trails in the park. · NPS Photo

A forest road with the top of Mount Rainier poking out over the trees. — The campground does provide limited views of the mountain in a few spots. · NPS Photo

A white RV trailer nestled in the woods. — Volunteer campground hosts help orient campers. · NPS Photo

A broad message board with a pay phone. — A machine for paying the camping fee and a pay phone are on a message board at the front of the campground. · NPS Photo

A white sign detailing the allowable lengths of RVs — There are some restrictions on RV lengths. · NPS Photo

Campsites

Site-by-site details (sizes, hookups, shade) for this campground are coming soon.

Conditions at camp

🌤️ Forecast

Wed, Nov 11

Tonight

43°F

Mostly Cloudy

Thu, Nov 12

Day

48°F

Cloudy

Thu, Nov 12

Night

41°F

Cloudy then Chance Rain And Snow

Fri, Nov 13

Day

45°F

Light Rain

Fri, Nov 13

Night

35°F

Rain And Snow

Sat, Nov 14

Day

38°F

Rain And Snow Likely

Sat, Nov 14

Night

35°F

Rain And Snow

Sun, Nov 15

Day

38°F

Light Rain then Rain And Snow

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

🔥 Wildfires nearby

No active fire perimeters nearby. ✅

Source: National Interagency Fire Center (WFIGS)

🗓️ Typical weather

This campground is in a mountain river valley, about 3,180 feet above sea level. During the summer, it typically has comfortable day time temperatures, but expect those to fall quickly near sunset. Mountain weather can change rapidly. Most summer days are dry, but rain, thunderstorms and even snow have occurred in July and August. This area is subject to sudden and severe geological hazards such as flooding, landslides and rock fall.

Rules

Quiet hours must be maintained between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Generators may be used only between 8 a.m.-10 a.m., 12 p.m.-2 p.m., and 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Loop E in Cougar Rock is closed to generator use. Please show respect for others by keeping noise to a minimum at all times. Pets are not permitted in amphitheaters, buildings, on trails or in vegetated areas. Pets are permitted only in parking lots and roads open to vehicles and within the designated campsite. Pets must be crated, on a leash or otherwise under physical restraint at all times. Do not leave pets unattended for their safety and the safety of visitors and wildlife. For your safety and theirs do not feed the wildlife. Never leave food unattended. Store food, including coolers, in vehicles overnight and whenever your campsite is unattended. Keep your campsite clean of food scraps and garbage. Do not drive nails into trees or dig ditches around tents. Tents may not be placed on vegetation.

Trails near camp

🥾 West Side Road Trail 1.3 mi

Campground information from the National Park Service. Confirm current status with the park before you go.