272 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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 - $74 / 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"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 / 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"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"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 - $61 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"The grounds are well-maintained with easy access to some hiking trails that are easy to moderate in difficulty."
"This campground is right next to a state park. It’s also very close to a river and lots of woods."
from $12 - $61 / 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
GuideIt was MAGICAL- mushrooms, fall leaves, and moss everywhere. Keep in mind that there’s no signal, Starlink nor cell.. we also were freezing at night (35 degrees) in early October and the spots were tricky for our bigger rig. But if you have a smaller rig there’s tons of places off of road 73 for dispersed camping. Bumpy road to get there but keep on driving and you’ll find places with even firepits.
ScoutConfirming the other review saying this is not legal dispersed camping. Luckily was still daylight when he came but would have been fined after dark. Guy was nice though so 🤷
ScoutIt was a quiet and private place to pull in for the day on my way through the peninsula. The casino is literally across the creek for dinner but is still quiet and feels secluded.
ScoutIt IS a pretty, private, moderately priced rv park. Too bad -- there is a note announcing their permanent closure 10/31/2026. Enjoy it while you can!
ScoutJust a car park. Do not go to the front of the casino as there are over hanging branches that that can scratch your RV.
ScoutI wanted to like this campground, but I wouldn’t stay here again for more than maybe one night.
There are signs EVERYWHERE warning about theft, which immediately tells you something about the area. I didn’t have anything stolen, but I was extremely careful about what I left out.
The biggest problem is that you’re basically on your own after hours. There is no campground host, no posted after-hours ranger number, and no non-emergency number at the campground or through the park’s phone system. The staff hours also seem very limited and inconsistent. I arrived around 6:30 PM and nobody was there, and staff didn’t seem to return until around 9–10 AM.
The bathrooms were dirty, out of toilet paper, and the showers were cold. One morning there was a large unleashed dog in the women’s bathroom that growled at me while its owner was showering. I believe she may have been homeless and using the facilities. Again, there was nobody around to contact about it.
Another night, people were extremely loud until almost midnight. Same problem: no host, no ranger and no non-emergency number. Unless something is serious enough for 911, you’re left to deal with it yourself.
There are also a lot of homeless people and visible drug addicts/drug activity around Federal Way. I had been warned about the area before coming here, and I understand why.
The park itself is pretty and might be fine for a quick overnight stay, but for multiple nights, I wouldn’t recommend it. Between the theft warnings, lack of after-hours staff, weird staffing hours, and no way to report non-emergency problems, I never really felt comfortable settling into my campsite.
RangerVery nice! Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers. Sites are wooded between and large with table, firepits/grill combo, and level wooded spaces. 2 clean, well stocked pit toilets are available. Water faucets available at several locations. WA discover pass but free otherwise. It is patrolled regularly.
TravelerI went here with my fiance in September. Went on a Friday and there was only 1 other group. Theres about 16 sites from what I saw. Its free as well but first come first served. Getting to it is pretty easy and straight forward aswell, heads up the road turns to gravel and it can get narrow. Most of the sites are along the creek which was very beautiful. Theres also 2 trails in walking distance aswell. Most sites also have a table, and metal fab firepit. Theres also a few out houses for restrooms.
RangerThe roads were fair to get to it, little bumpy. Right off road but not alot of traffic. You do have cell coverage here so thats nice. Bring anything you want of need, nothings but trees and the sky are close.
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 272 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 78 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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