Advice on a place to camp near Mt. Rainier and Mt St Helens

Any place with full hookups?

We booked Taidnapam for late summer (September). Nothing open before then. It seems like a nice, quiet place.

Provided you're willing to stay in an RV park (you mentioned "campground") there is a very nice one that is convenient to both mountains. "Shady Furs" located in Randal which is about half way between the two. VERY nice folks operating the park (they brought us fresh produce to our door every couple of days). Peaceful setting, in a rural community with restaurant and stores close at hand.

For Mt St Helen you might like Silver Cove RV Park at 351 Hall Rd Silverlake, WA (877) 380-7278 they are Passport America also Good Sam

We stayed at Seaquest last summer at the tail end of our trip to Yellowstone. We didn't love it. Might have been end of trip fatigue partially, but the forest loop feels very closed in and dark to us. The trees are dense and TALL and the undergrowth thick. Our site was a very tight and uneven sloped pull through. Mosquitos were also a bit of a nuisance. We prefer sites that are more spacious and open, so maybe others would like it more. We haven't stayed in the area much so don't really have an alternative recommendation for you.

There are three campgrounds located off of SR 12 that put you roughly midway between either mountain....okay you will be closer to Mr. Rainier. Tacoma Public Utilities has two nice parks on Riffe Lake. One at Mossyrock and the other east of Morton (Taidnapam). Don't forgot Ike Kinswa State Park (if you can get in). The Tacoma Public Utilities park on Alder Lake are very nice, but would not be convenient for a visit to Mt. St. Helens. You can make reservations for all of these parks through the WA State Park Reservations site.

We've stayed at Seaquest a couple times. I would avoid Sites T1 thru T16. They have full hookups, but they're lined up one right next to each other. Last time we were there I couldn't open my truck door all the way without hitting the neighbor's picnic table. There are sites in the forested loop with electric and water that are much nicer. It's a great park to explore Mt. St. Helens.

Pat

For Mt Raineer, Alder Lake looks good. Nice park, I have stayed there.

We are thinking of doing Mt St Helens and are looking at Seaquest state park or probably the KOA in Longview. We haven't stayed at either of these yet.

We are also considering staying at Taidnapam and trying to do both from there.

I'd like to hear what people think about where to stay as well.

Trouble is Mt Rainier is too far out of the way from MT ST Helens. You could go to Mt Rainier Cougar Rock CG but then would have to double back to get to Mt St Helens Windy Ridge or go back to I-5 to go to Johnstone Ridge Observatory. JRO there is a $15 per person charge to see the show. There are many CG in Gifford Pichor NF but some roads are not trailer friendly. I think you should choose one or the other. Mt Rainier Cougar Rock or Ohanapecosh CG is very nice both can handle large trailer or MH. Both have Dump Stations and water. Mt Rainier should be showing it beauty this week very well. However make your reservations.

Paradise Creek in the Gifford Pinchot NF. It's on the south side of Mt. St Helens but you have Ape Caves, Lava Canyon, Swift Reservoir, and the Columbia Gorge all nearby. It is dry camping but the sites are great.