State parks requests feedback on proposed update to stay limits for camping

Photo courtesy Washington State Parks

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is asking campers to weigh in on proposed changes to its camping stay limits.

The proposed update limits maximum stay lengths to no more than 10 nights in one park within a 30-day period, according to a news release.

Total nights stayed cannot exceed 90 days per calendar year in all state parks.

The proposed changes will be presented to the Commission during its regular meeting on July 18. If adopted, the new stay limits will go into effect Aug. 18. Camping stay limits are outlined in Section 7 of WAC 352-32-030.

The current WAC has different stay limits depending on the time of year. This update simplifies camping stay limits by making them consistent year-round. It also aims to improve equity by shortening the number of days campers can stay annually to accommodate more recreational use of these facilities.

Learn more about the proposed changes here.

Public comment

Parks is accepting public comment on the proposed stay limit change from June 1-July 12. Themes gathered from the comments will be provided to the Commission during its meeting on July 18.

Submit public comments here. Under the planning project drop down menu, select “Proposed Camping Stay Limits WAC Update.”

  1. I get the 10 days in the 30 day period but I am going on my 16 th camp trip since Oct 2023. Don’t punish people who camp all over because others are trying to live at state parks. I give a lot of money to the state parks from camping.

  2. My wife an I camp quite a bit and I think it’s a great idea to limit the consecutive days camping in a state park to 10 days. Since COVID more people have been camping and it is often quite difficult to even make a reservation. Second of all, if this is in regards to homeless individuals, I can honestly say we have seen very few at the state parks we have stayed at because it is not cheap, so no, I wouldn’t feel as though I am being punished.

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