Glamping near Des Moines, Washington places visitors within an easy 20-minute drive of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, making it a convenient basecamp for Puget Sound exploration. The region sits at sea level with a mild maritime climate that enables year-round camping, though summer highs rarely exceed 75°F. Many campgrounds in this area face airplane noise challenges, as flight paths directly cross popular outdoor recreation spots.
What to Do
Beach exploration at low tide: At Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island, the beach offers constantly changing landscapes. "Beautiful beach, great views of Mt. Rainier & Baker on a clear day, cruise ships going by," notes Judy J., who suggests timing visits for clear weather to maximize mountain viewing.
Kayaking from marinas: Paddle rentals are available at the Des Moines marina from May through September. Near Dosewallips State Park, a camper recommends "places to rent kayaks" and mentions the park offers "clamming, shrimping, hiking, hunting for oysters" as activities along the Hood Canal.
Wildlife viewing platforms: Several parks offer dedicated wildlife observation areas. At Dosewallips, one visitor shares their routine: "Every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river and see lots of elk and bald eagles."
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Dash Point State Park Campground receives consistent praise for site separation. "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes," reports Brittany D., who appreciates the natural buffer between campsites.
Clean, individual bathrooms: Multiple parks feature well-maintained single-occupancy facilities. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each," shares Kelly P., though she notes the rangers patrol frequently and strictly enforce quiet hours starting at 10 pm.
Waterfront access: Direct water access remains popular for cooling off during summer. One camper at Kanaskat-Palmer explains, "We stayed here to see Olympic national park... The best part about this day was the surrounding area. Every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river."
What You Should Know
Airport noise levels: Saltwater State Park Campground sits directly under Sea-Tac flight paths. "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)," warns Travis P., who adds, "if you don't mind the noise, or LOVE airplanes (like we do), this is an Awesome campground!!!"
Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance bookings, especially during peak season. For Belfair State Park, one reviewer cautions visitors must "make reservations online on the website a few weeks before you plan to come."
Limited sewer hookups: Many parks offer water and electric connections but lack full hookups. At Tall Chief Campground, one camper explains: "I do have to knock a star for the fact no sites have sewer hookups... Most people I saw had a honey wagon. We don't have room for one so we used a pumping service halfway through our time there."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground options: Belfair State Park Campground features kid-friendly day use areas. "They've done a lot with the common grounds to make it more family-friendly over the years," notes a longtime visitor, adding that the campground remains "amazing" despite these updates.
Swimming beaches: Parks with gradual water entry work best for younger swimmers. One Belfair reviewer points out, "The beach was great, water is rather warm for in the sound, it's also pretty shallow which is great for the kids to play in."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy animal sightings. Dosewallips State Park delivers reliably, with one camper noting: "Campground has elk that walk through it and is right on the river. There are several hiking trails that start from the campground."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many regional parks have uneven sites. At Kanaskat-Palmer, one RVer reported: "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."
Limited large rig sites: Reservation specificity matters for bigger vehicles. At Tolt MacDonald Park, RVers appreciate that "sites and roads are paved," but warn that site selection affects comfort: "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through, it's fairly quiet."
Dump station availability: Always check before arrival. One Tolt MacDonald reviewer advises, "There's a charge dump station at the ministorage at the turn off," while Belfair State Park provides on-site dumping included with stays.
