Best Campgrounds near Tacoma, WA

Campgrounds surrounding Tacoma, Washington feature a mix of state parks and military-managed recreation areas suitable for various camping preferences. Dash Point State Park Campground provides developed sites with full hookups and beach access just 30 minutes from SeaTac Airport. Penrose Point and Saltwater State Parks offer additional waterfront camping options with amenities including fire pits, picnic tables, and restrooms. Military installations including Joint Base Lewis-McChord operate several campgrounds with cabin accommodations and RV sites, though some require military affiliation for access.

Most developed campgrounds in the Tacoma region operate year-round, with peak season running May through September when reservations become essential. State park campgrounds typically require advance booking through the Washington State Parks reservation system, while military campgrounds have separate reservation processes. Sites with electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities are common at developed campgrounds near Tacoma, though they vary in availability. Many campgrounds provide both tent and RV sites with specific limitations on vehicle length. "Easily accessible escape from the city life! After flying into SeaTac late in the afternoon this campground was a great place to start our Washington trip and only about 30 minutes from the airport," noted one visitor about Dash Point State Park.

The proximity to Puget Sound creates distinctive camping experiences with saltwater beaches, forested settings, and mountain views. Campers frequently mention the convenience of staying near urban amenities while enjoying natural surroundings. One camper shared that Dash Point offers "spacious spots, although the sites aren't huge, they are wooded enough to provide decent privacy." Campgrounds in the region typically provide clean facilities with flush toilets and hot showers, though shower tokens may be required at some locations. Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with Dash Point receiving positive reviews for its secluded individual sites. The Tacoma region's mixed-use campgrounds accommodate diverse outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, boating and fishing, making them popular destinations for weekend getaways from Seattle and surrounding metropolitan areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Tacoma, Washington (281)

    1. Dash Point State Park Campground

    72 Reviews
    Federal Way, WA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    $20 / night

    "If you are in Tacoma and dont have a chance to get to the East side or the coast, head to Dash Point."

    "The campground for Dash point State Park is across the highway from the actual park, but offers lots of trails and hiking in and around the ocean and forest."

    2. Penrose Point State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Lakebay, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    $32 / night

    "Pros: group camp is very close to beach front area, GREAT CLAMMING AND OYSTERING!"

    "Penrose Point State Park is a great place close to Seattle to go camping in a small or large group. It's tent or camper friendly with plenty of spots for busier seasons."

    3. Saltwater State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Des Moines, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 661-4956

    $60 / night

    "My family stayed here for a night when we went out to Washington a few months ago. It was a nice little place."

    "Pay showers ($1 for 3 minutes) and clean restroom with air dryer, pet friendly, lots of trails to hike and a beautiful beach area with a playground, seasonal/weekend snack shop, outdoor shower by the beach"

    4. Game Farm Wilderness Campground

    15 Reviews
    Auburn, WA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 931-3043

    $40 / night

    "Just like building and exploring in Minecraft for PC, you can craft your perfect outdoor adventure here, surrounded by nature, and enjoy endless fun and exploration."

    5. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor

    10 Reviews
    Gig Harbor, WA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 858-8138

    $57 - $104 / night

    "Close by stores, trails, parks, harbor. Tacoma across bridge (10 minutes - $6.25 toll)."

    "Costco, Home Depot, Albertsons and other shopping close by."

    6. Holiday Park Military - Lewis McChord Base

    7 Reviews
    Spanaway, WA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 982-5488

    "Excellent location for those with military access to the base - active duty, retired or family. 30/50 amp hookups. Beautiful views of American Lake. Pet friendly."

    "It is in the wilderness, on the lake, but it is also fairly close to stores and gas stations. Long term max is 28 days per spot."

    7. Lewis North Travel Camp - Joint Base Lewis McChord

    7 Reviews
    DuPont, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 967-7744

    $12 - $35 / night

    "Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities. Cabins too."

    "Unfortunately the restrooms right next to our site were closed so it was a slight walk to the nearest restroom. Restrooms were heated and well taken care of."

    8. Camp Murray Beach

    4 Reviews
    DuPont, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 584-5411

    $8 - $32 / night

    "Need to reserve your site online with the JBLM MWR or go to the adventure center building nearby on base. Nice access to American Lake and fishing nearby as well."

    "This is a great spot on American Lake to camp with many sites on the waterfront. I would highly recommend this location to eligible military ID Card holders."

    9. Joemma Beach State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Lakebay, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (253) 884-1944

    $12 / night

    "We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."

    "Conveniently located right next to the bathroom with an area for parking two vehicles. I have AT&T and had good service in this spot."

    10. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

    30 Reviews
    Ravensdale, WA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    $20 / night

    "There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."

    "It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"

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Recent Reviews near Tacoma, WA

1392 Reviews of 281 Tacoma Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    White River Campground — Mount Rainier National Park

    Beautiful

    Best campground! I was in loop D which is right by the river. Amazing views from my roof tent. Sites are close to each other, but the roaring river drowns out any noise. I believe I had the best site in the whole campground… D29. Pretty big site and best views.

  • Nicole L.
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Woodlands at Lake Stickney

    BEAUTIFUL LOCATION

    I myself have never parked my RV at the campsite. However, I've been to the public Access area and have to say that it's very peaceful and has a restroom which is nice. I'm a local. I live inside my RV and it has been a major adjustment but having places like this has been extremely helpful.

  • Chris H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Mounthaven Resort

    Nice spot

    Very clean and quiet. Close to park entrance

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Top of the Hill camping

    Top of the hill camping

    This is actually a really secluded, pivate location with a beautiful view! The road is fairly easy to get up to this spot but really just room for one vehicle. I guess the last people used it as the dumb spot when they were leaving because there’s a grill and a TV screen there… we did not stay and camp here, but we did check it out and if we didn’t have a trailer, I would definitely have claimed the spot!

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    FR27 Landing

    fr27 landing

    Great large flat spot for camping. Could easily fit about 5 cars here. About 4 fire rings set up and the road is pretty easy getting here.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF-27 Tunnel Creek

    Pull through site

    This is a great spot to stay for a bit if you’re looking to do that OR just stay for a night. It’s like, a big circle that you pull in and out of. There’s a trail from this site that leads to a great tint site as well. Plenty of space if you have a decent sized group. Easily accommodating 3 cars. We have plenty of space with our rig. Star link works great here!

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Forest Road 7300 Pull-Off

    Large open pull off

    Lots of pull offs spots on FS Rd 73 but this spot is very open and it’s the one the GPS guided me to from The Dyrt site.

  • Michelle R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    White River Dispersed Camping

    Couldn’t find it

    The GPS coordinates told me I arrived and there was nothing around me.

  • Eun Ji L.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Big Creek Campground

    I'm an avid camper - this was THE WORST experience ever.

    I'm an avid camper, and the experience I had at this campground with the host was ABSOLUTELY THE WORST ever. We arrived at the campground early to find the best spot as we were planning to take some outdoor wedding photos at the campsite the day after. It was not a busy season, so there were only a couple of sites occupied. We carefully selected a spot, paid for it, and posted the receipt on the site clip. I took a photo of both the envelope and the receipt clipped at the site. 

    After exploring the national park, we arrived at the campground at around 9pm. Most of the campsites were still unoccupied. To our surprise, when we arrived at our reserved spot, there was a group of people who took our campsite! They already put up their tent and a canopy as well. When I checked the pole where I clipped the receipt, it was GONE & REPLACED by someone else's!! When I talked to those people who took our campsite, there were already drunk and were at the verge of becoming hostile. But they did tell us that the host "allowed" them to take the spot. 

    Right then and there, we went to the host and explained the situation, and the host said (1) we never paid and that (2) there was no receipt clipped at the site. When I told him that that wasn't true, he proceeded to tell me that the information I wrote on the clip let him know that we were checking out today. So, for a second, I thought maybe I wrote either the# of nights spent or check-out date incorrectly. But then, I remembered I took pictures of both the envelope and the receipt!! I showed the photos to him, then, of course, he could not lie his way out of this. 

    There was no apology, and he simply proceeded to tell us to sleep at one of the other available campsites. We were super furious because we had NEVER experienced this kind of rudeness, lies, and brazen behavior. As anyone can imagine, we did not want to spend another second there, so we demanded a refund, and "MIRACULOUSLY", the envelope (still glued) with our payment was found in his RV. 

    I'm reporting the host to the US Forest Service.


Guide to Tacoma

Camping near Tacoma, WA, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Wildlife Watching: Many campgrounds, like Dash Point State Park Campground, have trails where you can hike and spot wildlife. One visitor mentioned, "Several miles of hiking trails and chances to see wildlife or catch frogs."
  • Beach Access: Campgrounds such as Dosewallips State Park Campground provide access to beautiful beaches. A reviewer noted, "The beach itself is fairly large with plenty of space to stretch out."
  • Fishing and Kayaking: At Penrose Point State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and kayaking. One camper shared, "We caught a bunch of little trout (catch and release) with the kids and kayaked around."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Alder Lake Park said, "The bathrooms are very nice. They charge a nominal fee for the showers but they have great water pressure and hot water."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful hosts. A family at Belfair State Park Campground shared, "They got us into an emergency spot... they even checked on us each day to make sure everything was going well."
  • Spacious Campsites: Campers enjoy having room to spread out. A reviewer at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park mentioned, "The campground is nice and clean... the sites afford good privacy between sites."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to nearby roads or other campers. A visitor at Potlatch State Park Campground noted, "The sites are dramatically close, so there is little to no privacy if it was busy."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots fill up quickly, especially during weekends. A camper at Millersylvania State Park Campground advised, "Probably need to reserve far in advance."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A visitor at Fay Bainbridge Park mentioned, "The campground was loud... the toilet for the campground was out of order."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and open spaces. A family at Dosewallips State Park Campground said, "There are lots of families -- meaning, kids running around and riding bikes."
  • Safety First: Choose sites that are away from busy roads. A camper at Millersylvania State Park Campground warned about a site that was "downwind of the dump station and dumpsters."
  • Pack for Rain: The weather can be unpredictable, so bring rain gear. A visitor at Alder Lake Park noted, "It rained a couple of nights but being surrounded by huge trees made it really cozy."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park mentioned, "The campground is in two loops: one with electric hookups and one without."
  • Use Full Hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups for convenience. A visitor at Potlatch State Park Campground appreciated having "water, power AND its own sewer hook up."
  • Plan for Limited Cell Service: Some areas may have poor reception. A camper at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park noted, "Surprisingly we had zero cell coverage."

Camping near Tacoma, WA, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent or an RV. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best camping locations near Tacoma, Washington?

Tacoma offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Dash Point State Park Campground is just twenty minutes from the city, featuring trails, beach access, and family-friendly amenities. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Belfair State Park Campground on Hood Canal provides opportunities for clamming and oyster harvesting. Other notable options include Penrose Point State Park for a quieter experience, Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor for RV camping with modern amenities, and the campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park for more adventurous campers seeking mountain views and hiking trails.

What waterfront camping options are available near Tacoma?

The Tacoma area offers diverse waterfront camping experiences. Staircase Campground - Olympic National Park provides riverside sites with excellent water access along the right main loop. The Dalles Campground offers beautiful waterfront settings as well. Other waterfront options include Joemma Beach State Park on Puget Sound with beach access, Kanaskat-Palmer State Park along the Green River, and Dosewallips State Park where the river meets Hood Canal. Most waterfront sites are highly sought after, especially during summer months, so early reservations are recommended. These locations provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and enjoying scenic water views.

When is the best season for camping in the Tacoma area?

Late spring through early fall (May through September) offers the most pleasant camping weather in the Tacoma area. Summer months provide the warmest and driest conditions, making it ideal for enjoying outdoor activities. July and August are peak camping months with the most reliable weather, but also the busiest periods when campgrounds like Silver Springs Campground fill quickly. Fay Bainbridge Park is particularly popular in late July. For fewer crowds, consider the shoulder seasons of late May/June or September when temperatures remain comfortable but reservation competition decreases. Winter camping is possible but requires preparation for cold, wet conditions.

How much do campgrounds in Tacoma typically cost?

Campground prices around Tacoma vary based on amenities and location. State parks like Saltwater State Park Campground typically charge $25-40 per night for standard sites. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor, an RV resort with full hookups, runs higher at approximately $45-70 depending on the season and site type. Military campgrounds like Holiday Park on Lewis McChord Base offer discounted rates for service members. Primitive camping options in national forests are more affordable at $5-20 per night. Most campgrounds charge additional fees for extra vehicles, and many require a Discover Pass ($10 daily/$30 annual) for day use areas. Reservation fees typically range from $5-10 per booking.