Aubrey M.
Guide
GuideRadar Ridge
Super foggy, no view
About 4 spots 2/4 were taken last two were meh next to comms towers
Camping near Elma, WA
233 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Elma, Washington span multiple management jurisdictions, including state parks and county-operated facilities. Schafer State Park Campground sits directly within Elma city limits along the Satsop River, offering tent, RV, and cabin camping with hookup options. Several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive include Porter Creek, Lake Sylvia State Park in neighboring Montesano, and Friends Landing with its boat-in access options. The landscape transitions from river valleys to forested settings, with both state park campgrounds and more rustic forest service campgrounds available. Most established sites provide picnic tables, fire rings, and at least vault toilets, while dispersed camping opportunities exist on public lands.
Many campgrounds in the Elma area operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through September. Schafer State Park operates primarily during summer months, while Lake Sylvia and Millersylvania State Park remain open year-round. Winter camping options become limited due to facility closures and muddy conditions on forest roads. Most state park campgrounds require reservations through Washington's reservation system, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods. Water hookups, showers, and electric connections are typically found only at the larger state park facilities. A camper noted: "Just about 10 miles north of highway 12 near Elma. Got a great site right by the river. Nice toilets & showers in old building so was pleasantly surprised!"
Access to water features shapes many camping experiences in the region. Several campgrounds provide direct river or lake frontage, with water-based recreation being a primary draw. According to visitor reviews, sites nearest to water tend to fill first and receive higher ratings. River access at Schafer State Park and Porter Creek offers fishing and wading opportunities, while Lake Sylvia provides swimming areas. Cell service varies considerably throughout the area, with better connectivity at developed state parks and limited or no service in more remote forest settings. One visitor to Middle Waddell Campground mentioned great biking and ATV trails directly accessible from the campground. Proximity to Olympic National Forest means many campers use Elma-area campgrounds as staging points for deeper wilderness exploration.
Best Campgrounds near Elma (233)
1. Lake Sylvia State Park Campground
"Great facility and nice lake. If you can, spots 5 and 23 look amazing."
"Lake Sylvia is great for our SUP's and the kids to swim. Only 4 sites with power and water. No sewer. Rest of spots you need generator is you have camper. Reserve early as fills up quick."
from $12 - $71 / night
Check Availability2. Schafer State Park Campground
"Just about 10 miles north of highway 12 near Elma. Got a great site right by the river. Nice toilets & showers (in old building so was pleasantly surprised!)"
"A lot of paths to walk the dogs. Areas for outdoor games in the summer."
from $12 - $87 / night
Check Availability3. Porter Creek
"There are hiking trails close by but be sure to do your homework because there are many trails that allow ATV, horses, bikes, and people on them."
"There is a bunch of awesome trails with beautiful surroundings for every level of hikers and if you can find your way to Porter Falls, you definitely wont be disappointed with the view!"
4. Friends Landing
"Like Lake Sylvia it is super family and pet friendly. The campsite is divided into two different areas...one for RVs and the other for tents."
"We camp here every few weeks to get away from home. Campers and walkers are friendly. Great handicap park."
from $55 / night
Check Availability5. Millersylvania State Park Campground
"This is a very nice, typical Washington state park with plenty of trees, greenery, hiking, pathways and even a lake."
"This is a beautiful park located on Deep Lake just outside of Olympia. The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers. "
from $12 - $162 / night
Check Availability6. Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead
7. Middle Waddell Campground
"Just had to purchase a Washington state parks pass for $10. Had great biking and atv trails right by the campground."
"Close to town yet still secluded in the woods. Tons of trails for hiking, horses and dirt bikes! Plenty of sites for trailers and tents. Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and water hook ups."
9. American Heritage Campground
"We had a little trouble finding this spot because an industrial area moved in around the campground. Signs tell you where it is, but it feels wrong."
"Site #5 is close to main office where you can get wifi if you want, we declined though. Restrooms were good. No issues. Will definitely return again soon!"
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability10. Fall Creek Campground
"You are supposed to have a Washington State Discovery pass to stay here, also they want you to fill out self registration once you arrive, fyi there are no pens onsite to do so."
"We had our choice of campsites, near hiking trails and the creek. The road wasn't too rough to get there, and we were able to park nearby. What more do you need?"
Drive Time
- 26 min from Olympia, WA
- 1 hr 12 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr 19 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 22 min from Seattle, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Elma, WA
270 Photos of 233 Elma Campgrounds
Rich M.
Schafer State Park Campground
SIMPLEGRINN A.
Porter Creek
Kyle B.
Lake Sylvia State Park Campground
Mayna M.
Fall Creek Campground
Katie G.
Middle Waddell Campground
Tim J.
Artic Park
steve F.
American Heritage Campground
Corinna B.
Olympia Campground
Suzie K.
Olympic National Forest Dispersed Camping
Jeff K.
Millersylvania State Park Campground
Tj J.
Malaney Creek Farm
Taylore V.
Reiki Ranch in Lewis County Campground
Recent Reviews near Elma, WA
952 Reviews of 233 Elma Campgrounds
Stephani B.
ScoutMacie's Brook
Manchester State Park
This is a great spot to camp! It has all the necessities you need. Picnic bench, fire pit with grate, clean bathroom with shower, running water, and dumpster. Beautiful beach front and trails within walking distance. My campsite was a bit closer to my neighbors than I cared for but there are some sites more enclosed. Overall it was a good experience.
- KKatya K.Scout
Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead
Unfit camp
when you enter there’s spots to pull off to right away. We got a knock on the door and told that this area is not dispersed camping. We saw few others there too but they left before anyone came to check up on this place. You can get fined up to 100 dollars per vehicle
Lee D.
LegendSun Outdoors Gig Harbor
An OK Sun Outddoors
General: 132-site RV park in beautiful Gig Harbor. The site layout is a bit wonky. Some are pull-through, some are back-in, some on concrete pads, and others (small tent sites) are just in a grassy area. Some have trees or foliage separating them while others have zero separation.
Site Quality: Varies. We had an electric and water site, located in a cul-de-sac near the tent sites. Our pad was shared by two sites. Fortunately, the site next to us was vacant. Completing the site is a picnic table. IMO the two best sites are 65 and 51.
Bath/Shower: Three stalls and three showers, and although they were clean, it was obvious they were not attended to during our two-night stay (I'm assuming there is a cleaning schedule, but it was not posted). Showers were a bit tight, but the water was warm.
Activities/Amenities: IMO, the nicest amenity this park offers is a small but nicely equipped exercise room. Other amenities include: a pet area (and dog wash), a well-equipped laundry room with an ironing board (but you do need to buy a special card), and a dump station (for an extra fee).
We appreciated a courtesy call the day of our arrival to let us know what to do if we arrived after the office was closed.
While not the fault of the RV park, it was located near the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club, and shots echoed throughout the park from the time we arrived at 5 pm until 8 pm, but fortunately only the first night. This was both annoying and disconcerting.
We opted not to pay the $35 “site-lock” fee. To me, this is a very annoying fee (and the reason for deducting a star), but fortunately we got the site we reserved. RV parks like this are expensive, and while they offer various amenities, they are not our favorite type of place to stay. Given the nature of our travels this summer, we will be staying in quite a few of them.
Darron S.GuideRock Candy Mountain Trailhead
Great spot, Rock Candy trailhead
Bathroom, Internet, no water. Quiet. Legal. Safe. Beautiful.
- Barbara M.Scout
Cowlitz River Blue Creek Boat Ramp
Not very good because my tank got ruined
Not very good because there's no cameras in my tank got cut in the back so I'm not very happy because they can't do nothing about it and I'm out a big price for 10 that I can't even use now
- Darron S.Guide
Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead
Rock Candy dispersed 🏕️near Olympia NP
Anytime a notes dispersed Camp spot is for real, and has Internet I give an inmediate great review. There are several pull-out spots to park a car, van, or Camp. An RV could park here, as well. It is beautiful here, a raíz Forest. 1.5 miles to a gas station. 8.6 miles to a Safeway grocery store. No water.
- Christina F.Guide
Grayland Beach State Park Campground
Puddles puddles everywhere
I like the set up of this campground as it is loops of 10 sites each, however, it is quite spread out. As March is still very rainy in Washington, some sites are not available because they become water logged. Same with the trails to the beach. There are a few different trails that go to the beach, but due to all the rain, there was not a route that would work because of the puddles and inland lake. We ended up driving to the beach, which is the same road that the park entrance is on, just turn left as you exit the park. I don't recall there being a playground, though we did not explore all the loops. Our site had full hook-ups, though this park has the weird 90 degree sewer connection and I forgot to bring my hose support so I did not hook up my sewer hose until I was ready to dump my tanks. I was surprised to have decent Verizon service.
- Christina F.Guide
Pacific Beach State Park Campground
Windy wifi
This park is right on the beach so I felt lucky to have gotten a spot! Camped with friends from my trailer owners group this weekend. I was delighted to find that this is one of a handful of Washington state parks that has free wifi and it worked pretty well! This campground is one big loop with a sort of cul de sac of tent sites and yurts off on one side. The sites are pretty close together with zero privacy between sites and no shade so there is no wind break. That being said, even with a full campground, it was quiet at night and really lovely hearing the waves crash just on the other side of the small berm. There are only electric hook-ups here, no sewer or water. There is a dump station, but I did not use it. There are also no wood fires allowed here any time of the year. Bring a propane firepit or be prepared to schlep your firewood out to the beach.
Guide to Elma
Camping spots near Elma, Washington range from rustic riverfront sites to modern RV parks with full amenities. The region sits within the lower Chehalis River watershed at elevations between 50-150 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from May through September, with limited winter availability due to rainfall averaging 60-70 inches annually in this part of the Olympic Peninsula foothills.
What to do
Water recreation access: Porter Creek Campground offers excellent creek access for wading and cooling off. According to a camper: "The river is gorgeous and fun to explore!" Many sites provide direct water access making it easy to spend the day splashing around.
Hiking and biking trails: Middle Waddell Campground provides immediate access to Capitol Forest's trail network. A reviewer notes: "Great campground. Great price. Just had to purchase a Washington state parks pass for $10. Had great biking and atv trails right by the campground." The trails range from beginner to advanced difficulty levels.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Sylvia State Park Campground offers both lake and stream fishing options. One visitor mentioned: "This campground is about a 2 hour drive from Seattle and the sites are a short walk to the lake, which is nice." The lake supports trout fishing throughout the camping season.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At American Heritage Campground, campers appreciate the natural screening. One reviewer stated: "The lots are well plotted with space and privacy." Sites with the most separation tend to be reserved quickly during peak season.
Group camping facilities: Millersylvania State Park Campground offers dedicated group camping areas. A camper reported: "We stayed in the group camp and I can highly recommend it. It had its own bathrooms. It was set back in the woods with tons of places for tents. The shelter was large and had water and power."
Reliable facilities: Friends Landing maintains clean restrooms and showers. A visitor noted: "Clean and accommodating. Manager Gary is a friendly and hard working guy. We camp here every few weeks to get away from home." The facilities include accessible options for campers with mobility needs.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds in the Elma area have limited connectivity. At Lake Sylvia, a regular visitor mentioned: "Phone service is non-existent and we had att Verizon cricket and straight talk but it does have free WiFi." Signal strength decreases significantly in more remote forest campgrounds.
Seasonal closures: Several camping areas near Elma close during winter months. Porter Creek's seasonal operation was noted by a visitor: "We arrived at the end of the road to find the campground closed, so we ended up abandoning our final night and driving home." Always check current operating dates before planning your trip.
Reservation requirements: Schafer State Park Campground has a new east campground section with improved layouts. A camper observed: "The East Campground offers up a well designed and quiet alternative to the older West Campground. WSP took a probably forlorn area of riparian land and built a camping loop that is private, quiet, suitable for both tents and RV's."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Friends Landing offers recreational facilities for children. A visitor mentioned: "Two separate areas, one for RV's and another for tents. A river dock for fishing, a playground for kids, plus a beautiful trail around the lake." The playground provides a central gathering point for younger campers.
Swimming options: Fall Creek Campground provides creek access that children enjoy. A camper noted: "Kids really enjoyed the creek nearby and it was great for our tent camping. We were able to hike around and had water, and restrooms that were clean." The shallow creek areas allow for safer water play.
Site selection considerations: Lake Sylvia has specific sites recommended for families. One visitor advised: "If you can, spots 5 and 23 look amazing. Close to the lake and a little more private than the others." Family-friendly sites typically offer more space and better access to amenities.
Tips from RVers
Utility considerations: Little Creek Casino Resort RV Park provides full hookups but limited space flexibility. A visitor noted: "Make sure you get a site that is large enough for both the RV and your vehicle as there is no extra parking. We picked a 50 ft site which allowed us to park the RV and still have room for our towed car."
New facilities at Schafer: Schafer State Park has recently updated its camping areas with RV users in mind. A camper observed: "The campground on the East side of E Satsop Rd, where the Welcome Center is, is brand new and gorgeous - sites are spacious and well spaced and the bathrooms and showers are the nicest I've ever seen at a campground."
Quiet season benefits: Millersylvania State Park offers year-round access for RVers. A winter camper reported: "After months of trying to get reservations for this popular campground, we finally got one for Thanksgiving weekend! The park is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open. It made for a nice, quiet weekend even though the open sites were 80% full."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Elma, WA?
What camping is available near Elma, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Elma, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 233 campgrounds and RV parks near Elma, WA and 18 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Elma, WA?
Which is the most popular campground near Elma, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elma, WA is Lake Sylvia State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elma, WA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elma, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Elma, WA.
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