RV Rental Wilkeson, WA

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Book an RV in Wilkeson, Washington, and you'll be less than an hour's drive from Mt. Rainier National Park. Within about the same driving distance of Tacoma, Wilkeson is a small, tightly-knit community right in the heart of Pierce County’s Carbon River Valley. It lies close to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains where coal deposits were found in the late 19th century.

When the Northern Pacific Railroad Company came to town to take advantage of the area's new discovery, Wilkeson became a rough-around-the-edges boom town buzzing not only with coal mining activity but also with businesses that support the industry. The last coke ovens fired up until the 1930s, but they remain to this day as reminders to any local or visitor that in this corner of the Pacific Northwest, the Industrial Revolution is burned in the town’s memory.

Discover Wilkeson


From the Carbon Glacier to Chinook Pass, A Breathtaking Journey

Rent a motorhome in Wilkeson and follow the headwaters of the Carbon River to where it is born, as huge chunks of ice on the northwest slope of Mt. Rainier. While the distance only stretches 17 miles roundtrip, the elevation gain is close to 2,000 feet. Get to the lookout point about 3.6 miles from the trailhead to marvel at Carbon Glacier's frozen snout. Boulders might come loose off the melting ice and bounce down so keep your distance.

Soak up the hills, forest, meadows and the calm lake of Eatonville's wildlife park as you spot a variety of animals as iconic as the Roosevelt elk and as graceful as the bighorn sheep. Ride the tram to cover more ground and see more animals that roam freely throughout the park's 435 leafy acres. Get closer to smell moose breath or hear bison grunt and snort on an adventure tour. There's also a paved path through the forest to scope out large predators like wolves, cougars, and bears.

Perhaps hiking up the mountains is beyond your reach at the moment. This is a great opportunity to get more mileage out of the RV rental from Wilkeson, Washington and take it on an epic road trip along the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway. Follow the byway from the rolling hills of Enumclaw ten miles out of town to where it ends in Naches Valley after wrapping around the northeastern shoulder of Mt. Rainier through the 5,000-feet Chinook Pass.

Along the way, expect to be awed by the towering form of the mountain, encounter the glacier-fed White River Valley, and watch the scenery of unique basalt flows unfold as you drive through the Columbia Plateau. Get out of your camper rental from Wilkeson every now and then to explore dense forests, waterfalls, and lush subalpine meadows.

Where to Park Your RV

In a lush forest setting and with an excellent view of Mt. Ranier, the federally-managed Evans Creek Campground in Carbonado is the closest to town. While there are no hookups for your motorhome rental from Wilkeson, a water pump and vault toilet are available for campers. If you like to ride off-road vehicles, the nearby trails offer 45 miles of smooth singletrack to narrow and rugged 4x4 trails to explore.

For access to full hookups, the South Prairie Creek RV Park is worth the short drive. Hikers and cyclists will have more than 20 miles of the Foothills Trail to stretch their legs.

Consider spending a night or two at a Walmart parking lot if you just need a place to park. The closest to Wilkeson is in Bonney Lake. Talk to the store manager ahead of time to confirm your stay.

Step Back in Time in Wilkeson

Wilkeson's sparse population means few businesses around. There are limited choices for eating out, but if you can live off classic American fare and quick bites, you should be covered. Expand your diet with grocery store finds as there a few convenience stores in town, or look around in nearby Enumclaw and Bonney Lake for Mexican and Asian offerings.

If you want to get fresh produce, drive your Wilkeson campervan rental to Buckley just 10 minutes away and buy what you need at the farmers market. Make a fuel stop here as there are no gas stations in Wilkeson.

Thanks to Wilkeson's small-town sensibility, 19th-century architecture remains standing as you walk the town's side streets. The Gothic Revival-styled Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is a handsome example, along with the town hall. Both are on the national registry of historic buildings.

You would be remiss if you don't visit the Coke Oven Park where it all started. Ore dug up from the mines were smelted in the beehive-shaped ovens, which in their heyday were able to produce more than 120,000 tons. All of that work was undertaken by hundreds of immigrants commemorated in a massive stone sculpture near the town hall.

To celebrate the town's coal mining and railroading history, Wilkeson hosts the annual National Handcar Races on the third Saturday in July. The festival kicks off with a traditional parade followed by the actual race. The tracks at Coke Oven Park are where all the action takes place while the rest of the fun happens elsewhere, like at the Wilkeson Elementary for kid-friendly activities.

Wilkeson has the best of many worlds. The majesty of the mountains are at its doorstep; the history and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest are right in its backyard; and some of the biggest cities in Washington, like Seattle and Bellevue, are less than 90 minutes' drive away. Could it be any better? Get the best RV rental in Wilkeson and find out for yourself.

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds


  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Foothills Trail from South Prairie to Puyallup, WAWilkeson, WA
  • Melmont Ghost Town , WACarbonado, WA
  • Mud Mountain Rim Trail, WAMount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, WA
  • Cal Magnusson Trail, WAEnumclaw, WA
  • Pinnacle Peak Loop Trail, WAEnumclaw, WA
  • Orting: Foothills Trail, WAOrting, WA
  • Carbon Glacier Trail, WAMount Rainier National Park, WA
  • Green Lake Trail, WAMount Rainier National Park, WA
  • Carbon River Road, WAMount Rainier National Park, WA
  • Chenuis Falls Trail, WAMount Rainier National Park, WA

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