Emmi O.
Guide
GuideKanaskat-Palmer State Park
Good place to stay overnight
We spent one night here. Short walk to the riverside.
Camping near Vashon, WA
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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.
Best Campgrounds near Vashon (268)
1. Dash Point State Park Campground
"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 Availability2. Manchester State Park Campground
"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 Availability3. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor
"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 Availability4. Saltwater State Park Campground
"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 Availability5. Fay Bainbridge Park
"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 Availability6. Penrose Point State Park Campground
"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 Availability7. Belfair State Park Campground
"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."
from $12 - $65 / night
Check Availability8. Blake Island Marine State Park Campground
"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."
from $12 - $70 / night
Check Availability9. Dosewallips State Park Campground
"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."
from $12 - $77 / night
Check Availability10. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
"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
Drive Time
- 31 min from Bremerton, WA
- 33 min from Seattle, WA
- 51 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 27 min from Mount Vernon, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Vashon, WA
353 Photos of 268 Vashon Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Vashon, WA
1353 Reviews of 268 Vashon Campgrounds
- SSam B.
ScoutAlder Lake Campground
Nice not during holiday weekends
Labor Day weekend was nearly packed full, plus visiting friends and family. It was almost too busy. But after everyone left, it was a lot more peaceful and quiet. Many walking paths for walks (people or with a dog). I wish speakers were actually not allowed. Headphones or ear buds is a more considerate way to listen to music while in close proximity to others.
- AAmandaScout
Forest Road 7300 Pull-Off
Someone trashed the site and left used toilet paper everywhere
We left someone left trash everywhere
- LLori R.Guide
Falls View Campground
Quiet forest camping at Falls View — spacious Site 12, a steep river hike, and Highway 101 for a soundtrack
Falls View Campground is a small, primitive U.S. Forest Service campground in Olympic National Forest, about 3.5 miles south of Quilcene on Highway 101. We spent two quiet nights here and had the place mostly to ourselves. That emptiness is the tradeoff: no potable water (the campground is under redesign), vault toilets only, no hookups, and first-come, first-served sites. If you want flush toilets and a water spigot, this is not it. If you want tall timber, a river below you, and room to breathe, it works. We stayed in Site 12, one of the newer spots. It was spacious, with good privacy from the next site and easy pull-through options for a van. Picnic table, fire ring, and enough gravel pad to park without a scramble. The campground map notes that Sites 1, 2, 3, and 9 are small and limited to car/truck campers; 12 felt like a different category. Payment is cashless. You can occupy a site, then either scan the QR code with the Recreation.gov app or drive about three miles north to the fee machine at Quilcene Ranger Station (295142 US-101). Official rate is $10 per night for a single site, plus $5 for an extra vehicle. Display the receipt on the site post. The Falls View Canyon Trail starts in the campground and drops to the Big Quilcene River. It is not an easy stroll. What goes down must come up, and the climb is steep — switchbacks, stairs in places, and enough grade to make you notice. The payoff is the river: mossy basalt, clear water, and that classic Olympic Peninsula green. There is also a shorter loop to a viewpoint of the waterfall plunging toward the river. Bring water; there is none at the campground. Highway 101 is close enough that you hear traffic. It did not ruin the stay for us, but light sleepers or people hunting total silence should know that going in. Pets must be leashed. Season is roughly May through September. Bottom line: Cheap, quiet, and pretty if you are self-contained and okay with vault toilets and a steep hike. Site 12 was a winner. Pack your own water and expect the highway
- JJude B.Scout
View Disperesed Camping
Beautiful road side spot on a cliff
Very rough and narrow road that follows a cliff face. 4wd not needed but sedan or mid sized truck would be most practical. Go past the marker just a little bit and there is good sized pullouts with fire rings.
- JJennifer M.
TravelerSage Horse Camp
A Quiet, Serene Equestrian Camp
My feline and I were looking for a quiet, off the beaten path sanctuary and found it. We chose spot 14 in the nw corner, hidden and along the northern treeline. The road is gravel and took us a minute to roll in and once there, magnificent. There are amenities for horses to play, trails to ride, and corrals at each of the 15 sites. Although we did not have horses, this place was a wonderful spot to rest our road legs for a couple days.
- JJennifer M.Traveler
Olympia Campground
Very quiet and great people!
I stayed there for one night on my way back to Seattle, and it was perfect for what I needed. Very quiet back there. The people were all super nice and accommodating. They had a dump site, restrooms outside and heated restrooms attached to the office area. I really loved that two of the permanent residents would do security at night as well. Being a woman and traveling alone, that made me feel very safe. Highly recommend this place!
- DDonna B.Traveler
Millersylvania State Park Campground
Quiet.
Quiet, but we were here mid week in late August….
Kim G.
LegendDosewallips State Park Campground
Great overnight stop
We stayed here for a short overnight as we made our way up the Olympic Peninsula to Port Townsend. Nice park with a some trails right from the campground. We enjoyed the Maple Valley loop. There are elk at Dosewallips but we didn’t see any. Some road noise from our site (21) and heard a low-flying helicopter in the morning. Shower water pressure was a bit low and the water not hot enough.
Guide to Vashon
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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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?
What camping is available near Vashon, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Vashon, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 268 campgrounds and RV parks near Vashon, WA and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Vashon, WA?
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 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Vashon, WA?
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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