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Campground · Mount Rainier National Park

Cougar Rock Campground

179 sitesReservable & first-comeIn Mount Rainier National Park

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

Campsites

179

How to get a site

Reservable & first-come

Max RV length

35 ft

Max trailer length

27 ft

Fee

$20 / night

Coordinates

46.7676, -121.7924

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46.7676, -121.7924 · Park boundary: National Park Service

About · Real sources only

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.

Hours & season

Every day: All Day

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 · Closed

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Campsites · 179 total

Tent-only

RV-only

Group

133 reservable46 first-come, first-served

Camping fees

Campground Site Fee$20

Fee to camp in one campsite in the campground with up to 2 tents and 6 people (unless immediate family) for one night.

Discount Campground Site Fee$10

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).

Group Site Fee$60

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.

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

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.

Amenities

Amphitheater: Yes - seasonal
Drinking water: Yes - seasonal
Firewood for sale: Yes - seasonal
Food storage lockers: Yes - seasonal
Host on site: Yes - seasonal
Toilets: Flush Toilets - seasonal
Trash & recycling: Yes - seasonal
Camp store: No
Cell reception: No
Dump station: No
Ice for sale: No
Internet: No
Laundry: No
Showers: None

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Access & accessibility

RVs: Allowed · up to 35 ft
Trailers: Allowed · up to 27 ft
Access roads: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Classification: Developed Campground
Cell service: Cellular service is spotty at best, and varies with service provider. Please contact the cellular providers directly to ask for a coverage map.

Wheelchair access

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 facilities

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.

Fires & stoves

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.

Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04

Getting there

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.

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 & regulations

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.

Described in detail

Cougar Rock Campground is located next to the Nisqually River above Longmire along the road to Paradise. The campground is set in a forest of evergreen trees. When you turn into the campground, the campground ranger station is to the right, with parking spots in front. To the left a small side loop provides access to the dump station. Past the ranger station the road continues into the campground loops. The campground has six campsite loops, labeled A through E. Loop A is the first loop to the right. Turnoffs for loops B-D continue in order on the right as you drive down the main road of the campground. A few individual campsites border the left side of the main road. After loop D, the main road curves to the right, with loop E branching off to the left before the main road terminates with loop F, which has 5 sets of parking areas for group camping. The campground amphitheater is located to the right of the main road between loops C and D. There are seven restrooms. One restroom is located between the middle of loop A and B, one is on either end of loop C, two are in between the main road and either end of loop D, one is between loop E and F, and finally one is on the left side of loop F. To access the Nisqually River from the campground, exit the campground via the main entrance and follow the road to the right to the Carter Fall trailhead. Or, a trail leading across the road starts from the main campground road where it starts to bend right after loop D.

Photos · Real imagery only