Glamping options near Chehalis, Washington sit at elevations ranging from 125 to 500 feet in the western foothills of the Cascades. The area receives approximately 45-60 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forest conditions ideal for summer camping but requiring proper rain gear during spring and fall visits. Most campgrounds offer a mix of open meadow and dense forest sites within a 30-minute drive of Chehalis.
What to do
Hiking through old-growth forests: Lewis & Clark State Park Campground offers trails winding through some of the region's last standing groves of old-growth forest. One visitor noted, "We hiked the old growth loop prior to resuming our journey" and another mentioned the "beautiful trails that wind through very large, old growth cedar forests."
Water activities on Mayfield Lake: Mayfield Lake Park provides extensive waterfront options with swimming areas, fishing, and boat access. "Bring your kayak, paddle board or boat. The water is awesome. Fishing is good for trout out on the water," shares one camper, while another mentions that "the lakefront spots are awesome. We were able to beach our boat right in front of our spot."
Visit Mt. St. Helens: Toutle River RV Resort serves as an excellent base for exploring the volcano. "We used this campground as our base camp for exploring the area... drive up to Mt St Helens visitor's center," notes one reviewer. The resort is "only about 7 minutes to the visitors center for Mt. St. Helens" according to another camper.
What campers like
Private camping spaces: Ike Kinswa State Park Campground receives high marks for site privacy. "Very private spaces, clean restrooms," notes one visitor. Another camper elaborates: "As we were on the outer part of the loop in a pull-through site, we had a view of the woods and quite a bit of space between neighboring sites. We could not see either of the neighboring sites while sitting by our campfire."
Clean facilities: Elkamp Eastcreek stands out for cleanliness. One reviewer called it "the nicest campground bathrooms we have ever experienced," while another praised it as "meticulously maintained (and that includes the two spacious and sparkling clean restrooms)." A third camper noted the "designated dish washing station" and consistently clean bathrooms.
Family-friendly amenities: Toutle River RV Resort offers numerous recreation options. A visitor explains: "There's a frisbee golf course that we didn't use but looks fun, really nice playground for the grandkids that's a fort, a store, swimming pool, a recreation hall." Another reviewer adds, "You can check out basketballs and such, which is fun."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Late fall through spring camping requires preparation for rain. At Millersylvania State Park Campground, one November visitor noted: "We had a pull-through site right across from the dumpster, bathrooms, and camp host. We had decent service for Verizon...the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because our site had a huge mud puddle from the road."
Busy summer season: Many campgrounds fill completely during peak months. At Millersylvania, a camper observed: "After months of trying to get reservations for this popular campground, we finally got one for Thanksgiving weekend!" Similarly, at Ike Kinswa, a reviewer mentioned that "the biggest downfall is that this place books up so fast. Make reservations early."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly. "Beautiful campsite, amazing trails just no cell service," reports one Millersylvania visitor. At Seaquest, a camper noted: "No cell (occasionally 1 bar LTE AT&T). Too heavily forested for Starlink. Had to leave early Monday morning since we were working and needed internet."
Tips for camping with families
Look for inclusive amenities: Seaquest State Park Campground offers programs specifically for younger campers. "At night the campground had a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained. She was great at engaging all the kids and teaching them about the park," reports one visitor.
Choose sites with playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "My kids enjoyed playing in the sand and watching deer from our campsite. I especially liked how the sites were layed out in the trees on the side of a hill. Lots of privacy even when crowded," notes a reviewer at Alder Lake Park.
Consider tent-specific areas: Lewis & Clark State Park offers distinct camping sections. One family notes that "The camp site I chose was equipped with the standard amenities of a picnic table and fire ring and the pull in section was just large enough for my smaller car. Throughout camp I did notice some sites were designed specifically for tent campers."
Tips from RVers
Select sites based on size needs: Alder Lake Park offers varying RV accommodations. "There are multiple camp sites for tents and RV hook ups," explains one camper. Another mentions: "Throughout camp I did notice some sites were designed specifically for tent campers while others would cater better to larger units."
Check hookup locations: At Millersylvania State Park, one RVer noted a practical consideration: "We had a pull-through site right across from the dumpster, bathrooms, and camp host. We had decent service for Verizon...our site had a huge mud puddle from the road going to the power and water hook-up."
Consider noise factors: Highway proximity affects some sites. At Toutle River RV Resort, one RVer warned: "Was hard for us to get a good nights sleep in between a highway and train tracks." Similarly at Lewis & Clark, a reviewer cautioned: "The RV section had six spots. 3 of those spots back up to a busy paved road with traffic. The road is mere feet from the camper."
