Best Campgrounds near Elma, WA

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 Camping Sites Near Elma, Washington (219)

    1. Lake Sylvia State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Montesano, WA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    "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."

    2. Schafer State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Elma, WA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 482-3852

    "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."

    3. Porter Creek

    7 Reviews
    Malone, WA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 825-1631

    "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. Millersylvania State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Tenino, WA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    $12 - $45 / night

    "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.  "

    5. Friends Landing

    5 Reviews
    Montesano, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 249-5117

    "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."

    6. Middle Waddell Campground

    8 Reviews
    Littlerock, WA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 825-1631

    "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."

    7. Little Creek Casino Resort RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Shelton, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 427-7711

    8. American Heritage Campground

    15 Reviews
    Tumwater, WA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 943-8778

    $40 - $60 / night

    "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!"

    9. Fall Creek Campground

    3 Reviews
    Littlerock, WA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 577-2025

    "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?"

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Recent Reviews near Elma, WA

875 Reviews of 219 Elma Campgrounds


  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Grayland Beach State Park Campground

    Grayland State Park

    Welcoming, friendly host. Well thought out layout of camping spaces in rings to break up the crowds. Clean camp and bathrooms. Area has wide open sky for solar and Starlink connectivity. Poor cell signal at the campground. A broad beach that you can drive on. Snowy Plover nesting areas to avoid while doing so.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed

    Quiet & Cloudy

    Overall this was a great campsite. Very peaceful and quiet. We tent camped at the very end of the road at the top. Unfortunately we could see nothing but clouds this visit, but I would still come back! No photos since it was so foggy and misty. Not much for tent camping but better for cars or campers and very bumpy on the way up.

  • Emily C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Quinault Ridge Road

    Quite & Free 👍

    Easy pull offs, not many people here. I did read the review about the trash. It was disheartening. I’ve been keeping a grabber in my car. But still hadn’t tested it on trash. Took me maybe 2 mins, wasn’t hard and now one of these spots is clean! ✨ Would recommend to a friend!

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Lewis North Travel Camp - Joint Base Lewis McChord

    Easy

    If you have access, use it. $50 for FHU. The laundry is fine. The bathhouse is big and well maintained. There are two separate buildings with these facilities. I observed Commons#2. The park is kid of tight for my tastes. But the sites are big and separated from your neighbors. Very comfortable and woodsy. Great place.

  • Christopher  T.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Lake Sylvia State Park Campground

    OUR FAVORITE

    This is our all time favorite campground. Phone service is non-existent and we had att Verizon cricket and straight talk but it does have free WiFi. Only downside is we can't get our big camper in there and have to use our small one. It is the place we go to camp since we're full timers we have stayed some of all 12 months and many of the sites

  • c
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Millersylvania State Park Campground

    Nice but crowded

    We enjoyed our stay at Millersylvania. It’s a beautiful place. We purchased firewood from the Boy Scout troop here for $6/bundle. The only downside for us is that it is really crowded, and a few dogs and some very rude people kept us up until about 1 am.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    NF-2419 Dispersed Pullout

    Large spot in the woods

    My friend and I met here and had plenty of room for my truck, 21' trailer, and a lost woman who we let pull in and sleep. It was so large that we could have added a few more vehicles. The road wasn't bad. There were blackberry plants all over the place. There was, unfortunately, a lot of trash and no Verizon service.

  • Shantelle B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    The Chunky Squirrel 1

    Quiet place to relax

    Super cute field to relax, have a fire if there's no burn ban, and just relax. Host has a few necessities in their little store such as toasting forks, snacks etc.

  • Bethany P.
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Falls Creek Campground

    Pretty but very small

    We just stayed Aug 11-14, 2025 in sites 21 and 22. I only got pictures of site 22. Each of the sites has enough parking for a single vehicle, a picnic style table that is immovable, and a tent pad limited to 10' x 10'. There is also a dedicated cooking area and camp fire area but open flames were not permitted during our stay. Sadly, our tent was too large so we had to park sideways and place our tent in the parking spot. It's good we knew our neighbors because these 2 sites are VERY close to each other. They were also right next to the main road so you hear traffic all day and occasionally at night. It was OK but not sure for our family we'll reserve at this location again. If we didn't have a family or a large tent, it might have been more OK.


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?

According to TheDyrt.com, Elma, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 219 campgrounds and RV parks near Elma, WA and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

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 4.6-star rating from 20 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elma, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Elma, WA.