Camping Blue Mountains: your guide to the best campgrounds

The Blue Mountains sit barely 90 minutes west of Sydney, and the national park offers everything from grassy drive-in camping near Glenbrook to remote backpack sites deep in the Grose Valley.

The important part is choosing a campground that matches your vehicle, fitness and facilities expectations. Access and park alerts can change after rain, maintenance or fire conditions, so check the current Blue Mountains National Park alerts before leaving home.

Blue Mountains campgrounds at a glance#

Campground	Sites	Current fee guidance	Facilities	Access
Euroka	5 camping areas	Check live NPWS booking price	Toilets, unpowered tent camping	Glenbrook; tents are a short walk from parking
Murphys Glen	5	No camping fee; $6 booking fee	Non-flush toilets, fire rings	Open via Bedford Road; 2WD without a trailer, 4WD recommended when towing
Ingar	8	No camping fee; $6 booking fee	Non-flush toilets, BBQs, picnic tables	Walk-in; no vehicle access to campground currently
Acacia Flat	30	No camping fee; $6 booking fee	Non-flush toilets	Remote 3–4 hour walk; no vehicle access

The old version of this guide incorrectly listed Perrys Lookdown as a campground. Perrys Lookdown is a lookout and access point, including for the walking route towards Blue Gum Forest and Acacia Flat; it is not one of the current NPWS campground listings used here.

What about the $8 Blue Mountains entry fee?#

The $8 vehicle entry charge does not apply everywhere in Blue Mountains National Park. NPWS says it applies only at attractions in the Glenbrook area. Euroka is reached through the Glenbrook area and its official directions pass the park entry gates. Other campgrounds and access points should be checked individually rather than assuming the fee applies across the entire park.

Euroka campground#

Euroka campground is the Blue Mountains' best-known camping spot near Sydney. It is spread across five camping areas — Appletree Flat, Bennett Ridge, Darug, Nioka and Red Gum — with parking beside each camping area and a short 5 to 15 metre walk to the tent areas.

The campground is known for eastern grey kangaroos and is a convenient base for exploring the Glenbrook section of the park.

Facilities are basic. The current NPWS visitor information says the camping areas are unpowered and suitable for tents only. Flush toilets are available at the park entrance, and a rainwater tank at the campground is suitable for washing but not drinking.

What you need to know about Euroka:

• Tent camping only
• Bring drinking and cooking water
• Gate hours vary with daylight saving; check the current NPWS page before a late arrival
• Up to six guests per standard booking, with larger groups handled separately
• The Glenbrook-area vehicle entry fee applies
• Check current fire restrictions and park alerts before travelling

Euroka can be difficult to book for popular weekends. If the calendar is sold out, set up a CampWatch alert and we'll let you know when a matching cancellation opens up.

Murphys Glen campground#

Murphys Glen campground is a small five-site campground near Woodford surrounded by tall forest. NPWS now lists it as open at all times, subject to alerts, and the campground's local-alerts page reports no current alerts.

There is no camping fee and the page lists a $6 booking fee. Bedford Road is generally suitable for 2WD vehicles without a trailer; NPWS recommends 4WD when towing and warns that wet weather can change access.

Ingar campground#

Ingar campground has eight remote campsites near Wentworth Falls.

Its current NPWS page lists no camping fee and a $6 booking fee. There is currently no vehicle access to the campground. NPWS directs walkers to reach it via a 5 km route using Bedford Creek trail and Ingar Road, or a much longer 13 km walking/cycling approach from the Tableland Road side.

Facilities are basic: non-flush toilets, BBQs and picnic tables. Drinking water is not available, there is no mobile reception, and creeks can flood after rain.

Ingar suits campers comfortable carrying their gear and treating it as a remote trip rather than a simple car-camping weekend.

Acacia Flat campground#

Acacia Flat campground sits deep in the Grose Valley Wilderness near Blackheath.

NPWS currently lists 30 campsites, no camping fee and a $6 booking fee. There is no vehicle access. From Perrys Lookdown or Pierces Pass, NPWS says it is a 3 to 4 hour walk to the campground.

The campground has non-flush toilets but few other facilities. It is remote and requires proper walking equipment, food, water planning and emergency preparation. NPWS also states that wood and other solid-fuel fires are not permitted at Acacia Flat, so bring a gas or liquid-fuel stove and check current Total Fire Ban conditions before relying on it.

How to book a Blue Mountains campground#

Book through the individual campground page on the NSW National Parks website. NPWS requires campground bookings before arrival.

Booking horizons can vary by campground, so don't rely on the old claim that every Blue Mountains campground opens exactly 12 months ahead. Use the live calendar for your chosen campground.

For current charges:

• Murphys Glen, Ingar and Acacia Flat currently state no camping fee plus a $6 booking fee
• Euroka and other fee-paying campgrounds should be priced from their live booking calendar
• NPWS adds a non-refundable booking fee shown during booking; the current general terms do not publish one universal percentage
• Park vehicle entry is separate where it applies

For a complete walkthrough, see our guide to booking a campsite in NSW national parks.

What to do when everything is booked#

If Euroka or another Blue Mountains campground is sold out:

• Try midweek dates — weekend demand is usually highest
• Check live availability regularly — cancellations can return inventory
• Set up a CampWatch alert — CampWatch can notify you when a matching site becomes available
• Consider alternatives — but compare access carefully; Ingar and Acacia Flat are remote walk-in campgrounds, not substitutes for a drive-in family site

Blue Mountains camping tips#

The Blue Mountains sit at higher elevation than Sydney and conditions can change quickly.

• Prepare for cold nights even outside winter
• Bring enough drinking water for campgrounds that don't provide potable water
• Check both NPWS alerts and NSW RFS restrictions before planning a campfire or fuel stove
• Pack layers and wet-weather gear
• Download maps before leaving reception for remote areas
• Treat Ingar and Acacia Flat as remote trips and tell someone your route and return time
• Check the live park alert, especially before using remote roads or trailheads

The Blue Mountains are one of the best campground regions near Sydney, but the campgrounds offer very different experiences. Euroka is the straightforward tent-camping choice near Glenbrook; Murphys Glen is a small drive-to bush option; Ingar and Acacia Flat require carrying your gear in.

Pick the experience that fits your group, confirm the live NPWS access and fee information, and if the bookable campground you want is full, use CampWatch to watch for cancellations.