287 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Des Moines, Washington concentrate primarily along the Puget Sound shoreline, with Saltwater State Park Campground serving as the main developed facility within city limits. The area provides a mix of tent and RV sites across several state parks and private RV resorts, with most campgrounds positioned along waterfront areas. Located approximately 15 miles south of Seattle, Des Moines camping areas balance urban accessibility with marine recreation opportunities.
Many campgrounds in the region have seasonal availability restrictions, with Saltwater State Park open only from May through September. The proximity to Sea-Tac International Airport creates significant aircraft noise at several camping areas, particularly at Saltwater State Park. Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are standard at most developed campgrounds in the region, though sites generally lack privacy due to their urban setting. A frequent observation from visitors notes the constant air traffic: "Commercial jets landing at Sea-Tac fly directly above us at a low altitude and are VERY loud and VERY frequent (every 3-5 minutes)."
Shoreline access represents the primary draw for campers in the Des Moines area, with several campgrounds offering beach access and water recreation. While sites at Saltwater State Park receive mixed reviews due to airport noise and tight spacing, they remain popular for their waterfront location and proximity to Seattle. Campgrounds near Des Moines tend to fill quickly during summer weekends despite their urban setting. One camper noted, "The day use area on the water is really nice, but the park itself is in a weird area and close to the Hwy overpass." For 2024, camping at Saltwater State Park is closed for development efforts, though surrounding options like Dash Point State Park (9 miles south) and Angle Lake RV Park remain open with varying amenities for tent and RV campers.
"Firstly, I just have to say what a positive and amazing experience I had at this campground. The volunteers were friendly, kind and absolutely awesome to interact with."
"The campground itself is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. Ours had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table."
from $23 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $23 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $23 - $254 / night
Check Availability"Nice wooded campground with access to the water. Plenty of opportunities for day hikes and not far from port orchard Washington. Some sites have hookups and others are dry camping."
"Trails, views, and history in walking distance. Coin operated showers and clean restrooms."
from $12 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Close by stores, trails, parks, harbor. Tacoma across bridge (10 minutes - $6.25 toll)."
"Costco, Home Depot, Albertsons and other shopping close by."
from $57 - $104 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $12 - $72 / night
Check Availability"2, #3, #4 are IMO best after that as they move away from the beach and then curve around in ascending order.
Some neighbor noise, sites are close, but was not busy."
"Great spot on the edge of bainbridge. Lots of spots depending on your preferred privacy level."
from $25 - $95 / night
Check Availability"This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic. The facilities and grounds are kept clean and well maintained."
"Cute campground very close to Seattle and Bellevue right on the lake. Beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site. Spots are a little tight."
from $65 - $125 / night
Check Availability"Wanted them close by otherwise likely wouldn’t have stayed here. Great option for family in town and wanting to be close by. Close to the airport if you need to leave your RV for a bit and fly out."
from $100 - $120 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
Check Availability
ScoutThis site, like many on the Oregon coaster were set up for RVs and camper vans, but not so much for tents. At $68 a night for out of state, it’s too expensive. They should have sites just for tents that are cheaper.
RangerThe reviews here seem to be from two different places
Parking lot up by the logging operation is fine
Down the road by the creek is a bunch of permanent trailers
Be nice if people reviewed the proper spots
RangerThere’s one site on the hill that’s not occupied permanently and I was there for may 20 mins before they started slowly riding atv by and staring. Wasn’t even planning on staying, just wanted to let the dogs have a swim
Super uncomfortable
Water was nice
RangerAmazing but a bit dirty and lots of other campers. We stopped for a river visit but didn’t stay the night
RangerVery kind of the owners to provide the parking lot
Clean and quiet
GuideWe had such a wonderful stay at American Heritage Campground! The campground has a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere, and you can really feel the history and care that has gone into the property over the years.
We stayed at site 6 which was right by the playground, laundry, pool (closed for the season), and 2 individual bathrooms. There’s more bathrooms in the main bath house with showers! Our site was also able to use the WiFi since it was close to the front of the campground
A huge part of what made our stay so special was our host, Rita. She was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. Learning that the campground has been in her family for over 40 years makes the experience even more meaningful. You can tell how much pride and love she has for the campground and the people who visit.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, relaxing place to stay in Olympia with a personal touch that you just don’t get at the big commercial campgrounds, we highly recommend American Heritage Campground. We’re grateful we got to meet Rita and experience a little piece of her family’s history. We’ll definitely be back!
Edit: we walked around in the morning and found the farm (sheep and chickens), frisbee golf, horse shoes, volleyball and a pavilion. This would be such a fun spot in the summer!
TravelerThere is single camp-host here, the facility’s are in a deep state of disrepair, and the campground is overcrowded when full.
GuideNice urban RV campground.,..good location and price if you are visiting the Seattle area.....I would camp here again if need be. Clean, safe, secure
LegendI’m giving this park only four stars because the roads coming into the park and the road through the park are very narrow and winding. I probably wouldn’t bring a trailer more than 32 or 33 feet long in here as there are tight curves around trees. Did have electric and water. But as others have said, kind of surprised that it doesn’t have a dump station. Very nice walking trail through the forest and next to a lake where one could go swimming or boating. We were here in midweek in September and the park was only about 1/4 full. Our site number 26 was nice, but not very level. Showers were clean and hot water. Very nice play ground.
Camping options near Des Moines, Washington extend beyond the urban setting into surrounding forested areas within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at sea level along Puget Sound with typical Pacific Northwest rainfall patterns creating lush, green camping environments. Many campgrounds maintain year-round availability despite the rainy season from November through March when overnight temperatures average 35-45°F.
Water activities at Penrose Point State Park: Located on a wooded peninsula about 35 miles from Des Moines, this park offers calm waters for swimming, kayaking, and beachcombing. "The beach is a short walk from camp, just long enough to make you feel like you earned your sunset view, but not so long that you regret your life choices," notes Saraj B. of Dash Point State Park.
Hiking on forested trails: Many campgrounds feature shaded hiking paths through dense evergreen forests. "There are great hammock trees at nearly every site. Overall, it's beautiful," says Mike about Penrose Point State Park, which offers shoreline trails with views of the sound.
Beach exploration: Public beaches provide opportunities for shell collecting and wildlife viewing. "The beach is beautiful here! And the campsites are very secluded! There are tons of trees and bushes in between everybody's campsite," reports alexandrea L. about Penrose Point State Park.
Privacy between sites: Unlike the tight spacing mentioned at some urban campgrounds, several nearby options offer more seclusion. "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes, and the walking trails," writes Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park.
Cleanliness of facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," adds Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park. Similarly, at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, Jay F. notes, "Bathrooms in that loop were pretty nice... heated and very clean."
Historical features: Several parks contain interesting historical structures. "Look for the cement form lines on the buildings, they are only 18" high at best, this is because when they were built Portland cement hadn't been invented yet," explains Tom N. about Manchester State Park, which features military ruins.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Can get loud with local partiers and sketchy bookings," warns Joe C. about Saltwater State Park, emphasizing why reservations at more secluded spots are valuable.
Rain preparedness: Pacific Northwest camping often involves moisture management. "It rained... not a bad place to camp at all. I'd stay again," shares Sable about Fay Bainbridge Park, noting how proper gear can maintain comfort.
Park ranger presence: Some parks have active enforcement of rules. "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day," explains Kelly P. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, adding, "if you are a large group, like to stay up late and listen to music and/or party it might not be the campground for you."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," says Tanya B. about Fay Bainbridge Park, highlighting amenities beyond swimming.
Easy hiking options: Trails suitable for younger explorers exist at several parks. "Facilities were good and trails around are fun and easy enough for me and 2 kids. The beach and its tides are why we came," notes Ingrid M. about Dash Point State Park.
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities can enhance children's camping experiences. "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," mentions Sarah H. about Penrose Point State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some parks have terrain issues for larger vehicles. "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground," warns Cody F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Electric-only hookups: Many parks offer limited hookups. "Hook ups are electric only, bring your water. The first time we went we did not know and our Basecamp's heat runs via the hot water heater. It was cold!" advises Shay F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Proximity to resupply: The Des Moines area offers convenient access to urban amenities. "I spent a weekend tent camping at Dash Point State Park, and honestly, it was a great time even though I completely failed to plan any meals. Thankfully, civilization is only about 15 minutes away," shares Saraj B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Des Moines, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 287 campgrounds and RV parks near Des Moines, WA and 35 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 35 free dispersed camping spots near Des Moines, WA.
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