Campgrounds near Vashon Island provide a mix of waterfront and forested experiences throughout the Puget Sound region. The area features established campgrounds like Dash Point State Park in Federal Way and Saltwater State Park in Des Moines, both offering beach access within a short drive of Vashon. Several sites accommodate various camping styles, with facilities supporting tent camping, RV hookups, and glamping options. Blake Island Marine State Park stands out as a boat-access-only destination with primitive tent sites, while developed campgrounds like Manchester State Park and Penrose Point offer more amenities within reach of Vashon by car or ferry.
Reservations are required at most established campgrounds in the Puget Sound region, particularly during the peak season from May through September. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter visitors should expect wet conditions and fewer facilities. The proximity to Seattle means several campgrounds experience urban influences such as airport noise, especially at Saltwater State Park. Water access varies significantly between locations, with some offering direct beach frontage while others provide nearby shoreline trails. Campground amenities typically include drinking water, toilets, and fire pits, with hookup availability differing between locations. As one camper noted, "Commercial jets landing at Sea-Tac fly directly above us at a low altitude and are VERY loud and VERY frequent, so if you don't mind the noise, or love airplanes, this is an awesome campground."
State park campgrounds in the region generally receive positive reviews for cleanliness and beach access despite their proximity to urban areas. Visitors frequently mention appreciating the water views and hiking opportunities, particularly at Dash Point and Penrose Point. Several campers highlight the surprising privacy between sites at certain campgrounds, with one noting, "The spots we saw felt more isolated from each other than other campsites we've been to." Sites with water hookups and electric service are limited and fill quickly during summer weekends. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds experiencing consistent aircraft traffic while others offer more secluded experiences. The combination of forest settings and saltwater beaches creates distinctive camping environments throughout the Vashon area, though proximity to Seattle means most campgrounds maintain some urban character.
$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."
$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."
$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."
$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"
$35 - $58 / 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."
$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."
$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."
$12 - $50 / night
"Often our first or last trip of the year, due to its proximity to the greater Seattle area. Most of the folks we meet are from western Washington. "
"On the water of the Hood Canal, it offered more family activities than many of the parks around. The campground itself is situated close to the water with several loops, tightly packed together."
$12 - $50 / night
"The grounds are well-maintained with easy access to some hiking trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty."
"Dump station close by worked great on exit. Wooded with ferns. Rain was nice to enjoy through the windows."
$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!"
GuideGorgeous location. We saw one staff person working SO hard cleaning the campground of weekend trash. The bathroom was ghastly! Big door doesn’t close, the one shower stall so old I don’t think cleaning could help. Totally unsafe with just a couple curtains - no lock. Don’t go in there alone. If you play Pickle Ball you’re in luck - the Founders Course s are wonderful and the Club Members very welcoming!
ScoutVFW 969 Rec Park is clean and quiet. It's run by the VFW and has until recently been just for veterans and active military. They have now opened it to civilians for RV camping at just $50/day, tent camping at $20/day and up to 7 days. It is located right on the Carbon River with a couple awesome swimming holes. Nested between South Prarie and Orting. There is a biking/walking/running path that goes all the way between both towns and then some. There is onsite showers/toilets and coin operated laundry. Full court basketball, softball/kickball field, children's playground/swingset. There is guest parking first come first serve. Guests are allowed to use the clubhouse as long as they clean up after themselves. There is a big screen TVÂ and comfy couch for movie nights and there are also board games and books. The clubhouse can also be rented out for events. (Speak to management for pricing) This place is a little slice of heaven tucked back out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the metro areas surrounding it. There is so much to do around the PNW and this is the perfect base camp.
GuideWe could not find an rv park willing to rent to us for 1 day before returning our van the next morning to roadsurfer and flying out of SeaTac. This one did and they were so nice. Last minute on our way from mt ranier called and got a 1 night full hookup for the van. We could fill up water and dump before our return. Also took showers in their shower house and bathrooms. They have laundry as well. Everything is clean and everyone was super nice. Lots of nice campers stored and people who have made this their temporary home away from home. It’s old and right next to the highway. No fire pits and just a little grass but we couldn’t be happier!
GuideWe stayed at one of these dispersed camping spots memorial weekend. Wonderful spot. Plenty of room for our 3 dogs to play around in. Only one issue. Whoever was there before is pretty much emptied all their trash out there. We had extra trash bags so we bagged it all but we didn’t have a truck to load it and take it out. It was like 4 or 5 bags full and some random shelving. So weird. Why are some people like this.
Other than that it was a perfect spot for us.
ScoutNice but noisy from the freeway.
GuideI would have given this campground 5 stars if it wasn't for the screaming kids all day and up to 10 at night. Otherwise it's a beautiful campground with beach access and very dog friendly.
TravelerReally enjoyable early May stay at this campground. Sites are mostly shaded and feel fairly private and spacious , and it wasn’t too busy when we stayed Sunday night. Beautiful waterfront—morning walk along the beach was a highlight, very peaceful and scenic with easy access from the campground. Restrooms were generally clean (just some spider webs on the windows) and we didn't get the chance to use the showers. There’s a convenient water station between campsites, and the fire pit/grill were in good shape, though it would be nice if cleaning supplies were provided. A few campers were oddly loud in the evening, but it quieted down by around 10 pm. Location is convenient, with a gas station about 4 minutes away and a grocery store around 12 minutes. Make sure you buy your firewood before you arrive. They have, but they couldn't sell us any, even if we arrived around 4 PM. The $15 non-resident fee was a downside. Overall, a great stay (4/5)—I’d probably come back if I’m in the area.
ScoutGot a spot by the river which was great. There was some people playing loud music, which wasn’t so great. Beautiful views.
ScoutNice park. A little tight in spots if u have a larger RV (me a 38' 5th 🛞) but my back in spot was plenty deep.
Camping spots near Vashon, Washington range from waterfront to forested locations with varied access types. The Puget Sound region sees average summer temperatures around 75°F during peak camping season, with rainfall significantly decreasing between June and September. Winter camping remains available at several year-round campgrounds, though temperatures typically drop to the 40s with increased precipitation.
Beach exploration at low tide: Belfair State Park offers excellent opportunities to explore the Hood Canal shoreline. "Lots of trails and beach access. There's also a light house to check out while you are here!" notes Carla S. The park features shallow water areas ideal for wading.
Wildlife viewing: Dosewallips State Park provides dedicated viewing platforms for birding and wildlife spotting. "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," shares Amy & Stu B. The elk herds frequently move through the campground.
Hiking forest trails: Dash Point State Park maintains a network of wooded trails near Federal Way. Ingrid M. describes them as "fun and easy enough for me and 2 kids. The beach and its tides are why we came." The park connects forest experiences with beach access via maintained paths.
Site privacy: Dash Point State Park receives praise for its spacious sites. "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," explains Brittany D. Sites feature sufficient separation while maintaining accessibility.
Waterfront access: Penrose Point State Park provides beach areas close to camping. "The beach is beautiful here! And the campsites are very secluded! There are tons of trees and bushes in between everybody's campsite," notes alexandrea L. The park features calm swimming areas within a short walk of campsites.
Historical structures: Manchester State Park preserves military history alongside camping options. Tom N. explains, "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, it took quite a while for the cement to dry before adding the 'next layer'." The park maintains these historic structures while providing camping facilities.
Campfire regulations: Several campgrounds have seasonal or permanent fire restrictions. At Saltwater State Park, "Campfires have been banned for a couple years as the neighbors (who bought houses next to a state park) didn't like the smell," reports Ken. Always check current fire regulations before arrival.
Shower facilities: Most state parks require tokens for showers. "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," notes Travis P. about Saltwater State Park.
Urban noise impacts: Proximity to Seattle means some campgrounds experience aircraft noise. "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)," Travis P. continues about Saltwater State Park. Noise levels vary significantly between locations.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance reservations, especially for summer weekends. "You must make reservations online on the website a few weeks before you plan to come," advises Robert G. about accessing campgrounds in the area.
Playground access: Fay Bainbridge Park offers dedicated play areas for children. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," says Tanya B. The playground provides entertainment between beach activities.
Junior Ranger programs: Several state parks maintain educational activities for children. Sarah H. recalls, "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program" at Penrose Point State Park.
Shallow swimming areas: Choose campgrounds with gradual-entry water access. At Belfair State Park, "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," explains Leah H.
Scavenger hunts: Some campgrounds offer structured activities. Tammy C. notes Manchester State Park "Had a great Atlasquest scavenger hunt for the kids" that engages children with the park environment.
Hookup availability: Gig Harbor RV Resort provides complete services. "Very well laid out. Beautiful trees and landscaping. Well maintained, full facilities in amenities," reports Mike E. The resort accommodates larger rigs with pull-through sites.
Site leveling: Manchester State Park offers level parking pads. "RV sites are blacktop and level. Some sites have partial hookups w/o septic. Dump station is on site," notes James and Susan K. about Dosewallips State Park.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with hookups provide on-site dump stations. At Fay Bainbridge Park, "The Rv spaces are close together but each site has water and electric. The downside is there is no sewage dumping site at the park," warns ML D.
Site selection: Corner sites often provide better views and privacy. "Campsite 10 looks to be the best as it has a little canopy tree and is in the corner without obstruction for a view of the Puget Sound," recommends Brandon K. about Fay Bainbridge Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Vashon, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Vashon, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 257 campgrounds and RV parks near Vashon, WA and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Vashon, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Vashon, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 73 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Vashon, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 free dispersed camping spots near Vashon, WA.
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