CampgroundsDB

Ballard

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs Single Site: $10 per night, and it is open from May to October. Ballard is a National Forest campground near Winthrop, Washington.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Winthrop, Washington

A forested campsite with picnic table at Ballard CampgroundThe Ballard Campground sign with lupine in bloom
A forested campsite with picnic table at Ballard CampgroundThe Ballard Campground sign with lupine in bloom1 / 2

A forested campsite with picnic table at Ballard Campground. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)

Managed by
National Forest
Max RV length
28 ft
Access road
Mixed paved and unpaved

Ballard sits inside Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Pasayten Wilderness trails: Robinson Creek Trail #478 and Monument Creek Trail #484 into the Pasayten Wilderness, and the West Fork Methow Trail #480, start nearby. (fs.usda.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Single Site: $10 per night

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Sites and hookups

Max RV length
28 ft
  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets. No potable water.

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Rules

Stay limit
14 consecutive days; 28 days total per calendar year

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Access and cell service

Access road
Mixed paved and unpaved
Elevation
2,518 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE mapped about 0.2 mi away
T-Mobile
No coverage mapped
Verizon
No coverage mapped
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

48.6589, -120.5436 in Okanogan. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Ballard is open from May to October , at 2,518 ft.

Sources: epqs.nationalmap.gov, accessed 2026-09-28; fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-29

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Ballard?
No. Ballard is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Ballard?
Camping at Ballard costs Single Site: $10 per night.
Is there drinking water at Ballard?
No. Ballard has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
When is Ballard open?
Ballard is open from May to October.
How long can you stay at Ballard?
The stay limit at Ballard is 14 consecutive days; 28 days total per calendar year.
Is there cell service at Ballard?
Not at the campground on the FCC map, but AT&T shows 4G LTE about 0.2 mi away. The FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at Ballard itself, and nothing from T-Mobile or Verizon within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.
Who manages Ballard?
Ballard is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Ballard

fishypedia.com · 20 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Patterson Lake, whose mapped center point is 20 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Patterson Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

First-come River Bend Mazama · National Forest Season May to October Fee Single Site: $10 per night First-come Klipchuck Mazama · National Forest Season May to Late October Fee Single site: $20 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night First-come Early Winters Mazama · National Forest Season April to November Fee Single site: $15 per night; additional vehicle $5 per night First-come Lone Fir Mazama · National Forest Season Not on record Fee Single Site: $20 per night; additional vehicle $10 per night

More campgrounds: camping near Winthrop and campgrounds in Okanogan.

Sources

Photo credits

First-come, first-served Single Site: $10 per night
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