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Best Campgrounds near Des Moines, WA

1,329 Reviews

Iowa isn’t always considered when you think of states to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or just a place to spend the night, Des Moines, Iowa has plenty of options.

The best camping near Des Moines is going to be near the Saylorville Lake Project. While any lakefront spot is great, the Bob Shetler Recreation area is popular for tents and RVs. If you’re willing to make a bit of a drive, you’ll find the Red Rock Wildlife Management Area near Hartford, IA. While WMA camping depends on the state, you’re welcome to spend up to 14 consecutive days at your campground when you’re at Red Rock. Kick your feet up and enjoy a lakefront campsite when you’re there.

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Best Camping Sites Near Des Moines, Washington (268)

    1. Dash Point State Park Campground

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

    $20 / night

    ""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."

    2. Saltwater State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Des Moines, WA
    1 mile
    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"

    3. Game Farm Wilderness Campground

    15 Reviews
    Auburn, WA
    9 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."

    4. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

    30 Reviews
    Ravensdale, WA
    20 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!"

    5. Manchester State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Manchester, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 871-4065

    $50 / night

    "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."

    6. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor

    10 Reviews
    Gig Harbor, WA
    14 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."

    7. Penrose Point State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Lakebay, WA
    22 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."

    8. Fay Bainbridge Park

    22 Reviews
    Bainbridge Island, WA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (206) 842-3931

    $7 - $95 / night

    ". #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."

    9. Blake Island Marine State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Manchester, WA
    13 miles
    Website

    $12 - $45 / night

    "Hike the perimeter trail for views all around the island. It's a great place to stay in the summer months and relax."

    "Really fantastic location. Very strict rangers which can be good or bad depending on your preference. Quiet hours are at 10pm which is early for some people so be aware."

    10. Angle Lake RV Park

    1 Review
    Normandy Park, WA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (206) 920-1917

    $100 - $120 / night

    "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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Des Moines, WA

412 Photos of 268 Des Moines Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Des Moines, WA

1329 Reviews of 268 Des Moines Campgrounds

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Lewis North Travel Camp - Joint Base Lewis McChord

    Easy

    If you have access, use it. $50 for FHU. The laundry is fine. The bathhouse is big and well maintained. There are two separate buildings with these facilities. I observed Commons#2. The park is kid of tight for my tastes. But the sites are big and separated from your neighbors. Very comfortable and woodsy. Great place.

  • L
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Vasa Park Resort

    Vasa Park Resort

    We have enjoyed our 3 week stay at this little water front event and RV campground. This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic. The facilities and grounds are kept clean and well maintained. It been fun watching the buffet groups come in and have their celebrations. Everyone is friendly and kind.

  • F O.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Tinkham Campground

    One night

    Road getting into the campground was horrendous their was alot of road noise but the camp sites were big and clean. And at $32.00 a night with no electric was kind of pricey. The camp host was nice.

  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Cougar Rock Group Campground — Mount Rainier National Park

    Nice quiet campground

    Well maintained national park campground. Reserve on Recreation.gov. Sites have tables, bear boxes and fire pits. Restrooms have flush toilets and sinks for dishes. Ranger is available at the adjacent ranger station for check in or any other questions.

    Its a dry site - as in no water at the campsites. There is a drinking fountain by the bathroom. The dump station was closed for 2025 season and not sure when or if it will re open.

    Its only $20 in 2025.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Mounthaven Resort

    Like a warm blanket

    First, DO NOT GO PAST THE SIGN where it tells you to stop. If you turn right to the office you will need to back out. We did. The trees are so thick and the spots are separated. It’s wonderful. You have to maneuver your trailer into the spots. The bathhouse is fine with two small “bathrooms”. There is one washer and one dryer at $5 per load. Ouch. There is no real store nearby so have what you need before you get here. WIFI works well; cell service not so much (Verizon). It is beautiful in the woods.

  • c
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Millersylvania State Park Campground

    Nice but crowded

    We enjoyed our stay at Millersylvania. It’s a beautiful place. We purchased firewood from the Boy Scout troop here for $6/bundle. The only downside for us is that it is really crowded, and a few dogs and some very rude people kept us up until about 1 am.

  • Angelo V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Ranger Creek Airstrip Dispersed

    Beautiful campground

    Multiple spots surrounding the airstrip. Im working remote so having enough of a clearing that I can access the internet was important. Starlink gets the job done but my t mobile service was basically non-existent.

    I stayed on the east side of the strip and there is plenty of space and locations to settle. I explored the loop to the south west of the strip and there were some large campgrounds that looked made for groups. Plenty of trails to explore as well. This section had rocks blocking vehicles from driving into the campground, so tents only. There is also an incredibly steep hill near the end of the loop that is absolutely not safe in winter.

    There are two vault toilets on ends of the east side. The southern one was out of tp, so bring your own septic safe stuff just in case.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    NF-2419 Dispersed Pullout

    Large spot in the woods

    My friend and I met here and had plenty of room for my truck, 21' trailer, and a lost woman who we let pull in and sleep. It was so large that we could have added a few more vehicles. The road wasn't bad. There were blackberry plants all over the place. There was, unfortunately, a lot of trash and no Verizon service.

  • T
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Camp Lakeview

    Ball field camping spots

    Overall very nice but you get what you pay for. Limited fire pits and spots are first come first serve and field is not regularly monitored. Bathrooms are portapotties and no shower facilities. Also it is across the road from main campground.

Guide to Des Moines

Camping near Des Moines, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet place to unwind, 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 see wildlife. One reviewer mentioned, "Several miles of hiking trails and chances to see wildlife or catch frogs."
  • Beach Activities: At Penrose Point State Park Campground, you can enjoy beach walks and tide pooling. A visitor shared, "The sites are decently spaced with tall trees and ground cover between, trails for hiking and beach walks are clean and easy to navigate."
  • Fishing and Kayaking: Campgrounds like Seal Rock Campground are right on the water, perfect for fishing and kayaking. One camper noted, "It’s the best of the best! Both tents or trailer/campers are accommodated at most campsites."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and showers. A review for Dosewallips State Park Campground stated, "Amazing campgrounds. Super clean bathrooms and showers."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park mentioned, "The campground is nice and clean... the sites are level and are a mix of back-in and pull-through."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Tolt MacDonald Park are great for families. One reviewer said, "Kids and families on bikes everywhere, amphitheater, trails, water, grass fields, the works."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to nearby roads or other campers. A review for Belfair State Park Campground noted, "Some of the larger sites... are right next to the beach, and you can set up chairs and have a beautiful view. These sites have little, if any, vegetation to provide privacy."
  • Reservation Recommendations: It’s a good idea to book your spot in advance, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Twanoh State Park Campground mentioned, "I reserved 3 weeks out and got the last spot."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A camper at Tinkham Campground pointed out, "The dispersed campsites themselves are nice enough, but... there's human feces and toilet paper everywhere."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities for kids. One reviewer at Fay Bainbridge Park said, "The beach is beautiful, rocky and sandy - love the PNW beaches."
  • Pack for Activities: Bring toys and games for the kids. A parent at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park shared, "We had a very enjoyable 1st weekend back to camping."
  • Plan for Quiet Time: Make sure to have downtime in your schedule. A visitor at Belfair State Park Campground mentioned, "The kids spent most days playing in the river or at the beach."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookup Availability: Make sure your campground has the right hookups for your RV. A reviewer at Dosewallips State Park Campground noted, "I appreciate there is electric, sewer and water."
  • Be Prepared for Road Conditions: Some campgrounds may have rough access roads. A visitor at Tinkham Campground mentioned, "The road was my only issue. It’s full of deep dips and bumps throughout."
  • Look for Quiet Spots: Choose sites that are away from busy areas. A camper at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park said, "It was surprisingly quiet!"

Camping near Des Moines, WA, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

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 268 campgrounds and RV parks near Des Moines, WA and 30 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 72 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Des Moines, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 free dispersed camping spots near Des Moines, WA.

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