Home › Washington › Cougar Rock Campground
Cougar Rock Campground
NPSNational Park Service — Longmire · Washington · Mount Rainier National Park
| Agency | NPSNational Park Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Mount Rainier National Park |
| Location | Longmire · Washington · Mount Rainier National Park · 46.76722, -121.79444 · Map |
| Sites | 176 public sites counted from the federal listing — 176 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 176 sites Water hookups at 0 of 176 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 176 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 176 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 35 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 86 sites · 30 ft: 34 sites · 35 ft: 14 sites · 40 ft: 0 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 12:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Accessible sites | 5 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 360-569-6626 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Cougar Rock Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise. Individual campsites are reservable on this page. Group campsite reservations can be made via Cougar Rock Group Campground .
Paradise is the most popular destination in the park, with a lodge and visitor center, many miles of hiking trails and a commanding view of the mountain-the highest in the state and Cascade range. The main attraction at Mount Rainier National Park is the mountain itself, a massive glacier-clad volcano, peaking at 14,411 ft. and dominating the skyline for hundreds of miles. Visitors travel through majestic old-growth forests, past tumbling waterfalls and historic buildings to reach sub-alpine meadows, where world-famous wildflower displays bloom through July and August. Popular activities in the park include sight-seeing, hiking, rock climbing and camping.
Cougar Rock campground is located at an elevation of 3,180 feet. Summers are dry and cool with daytime temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees. Weather throughout the park can be variable, so visitors should come prepared.
Recreation From the facility, experienced hikers and backpackers can access the well-known, strenuous and beautiful Wonderland Trail, which encircles the park for 93 miles. For those who enjoy learning more about the park's natural and cultural history, there is an on-site amphitheater where interpretive programs are held. Facilities Cougar Rock is relatively rustic, but has drinking water, flush toilets and picnic tables at all 173 campsites. This facility is one of only two campgrounds in the park with campsites that can be reserved. Visitors must use extra caution with food storage, as foxes and other animals have been known to frequent the campground looking for food. Natural Features Cougar Rock Campground has one lookout point from which campers can view Mt. Rainier. Although it is peaceful now, the still active volcano last erupted in the mid 1800s. The campground is adjacent to the Nisqually River and is surrounded by thick forests. A short drive to Paradise in summer reveals fields of lush wildflowers. Nearby Attractions Mount Rainier National Park is about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. Charges & Cancellations If a camper does not check-in at the ranger station by 12:00pm check-out time the day after the scheduled arrival date, their reservation will be cancelled, the camper will incur a $10.00 service fee, and forfeit the first night's camping fee.
Directions, from the listing
Cougar Rock Campground is located 14 miles east of Ashford, Washington, on State Route 706/Paradise Road.
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · Longmire WashingtonFSU.S. Forest ServiceBig Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA)
9 mi straight-line · ASHFORD WashingtonNPSNational Park ServiceOhanapecosh Campground
11 mi straight-line · Packwood WashingtonNPSNational Park ServiceOhanapecosh Group Campground
11 mi straight-line · Packwood WashingtonFSU.S. Forest ServiceLa Wis Wis Campground
12 mi straight-line · Packwood Washington
Trip Card — Cougar Rock Campground
Longmire · Washington · Mount Rainier National Park
| Agency | NPS · National Park Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Longmire · Washington · Mount Rainier National Park |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 35 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 176 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232466 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.