292 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options in the Kent area of western Washington range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV resorts. Several established campgrounds like Kanaskat-Palmer State Park and Lake Sawyer Resort provide year-round accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Many campgrounds in this region sit within 20-30 minutes of Kent, offering convenient access for urban residents seeking weekend getaways or travelers exploring the greater Seattle metropolitan area.
Access to campgrounds varies with the seasons, with most facilities open year-round but experiencing higher demand during summer months. Road conditions generally remain passable throughout the year, though some sites have limited winter services. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays between May and September. "They require you to cancel 7 days prior to your trip. If you do not, they take your money and offer no refund," noted one visitor about reservation policies at Lake Sawyer Resort. Many campgrounds in this area enforce strict rules regarding pets, quiet hours, and site occupancy limits due to their proximity to residential areas and relatively compact camping spaces.
Campers report mixed experiences with amenities and privacy at campgrounds near Kent. Sites closest to Seattle tend to have more urban characteristics with limited separation between campsites and noticeable highway noise. A review of the Seattle/Tacoma KOA (now permanently closed) mentioned that "the tent sites were a joke. You get a small square in a grid of 16 or so squares. Our 10x10 tent took up more than half of the tent site." For those seeking more natural settings, Dash Point State Park Campground and Kanaskat-Palmer State Park provide better tree coverage and more spacious sites. Water access is available at several locations, including Lake Sawyer Resort, which despite management complaints from some visitors, offers direct lake access that one reviewer described as having "misty mornings and gorgeous sunsets."
"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 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"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 Availability"This is a big park that is part of Thousand Trails. No sales pitch to join, which was nice. Rangers were super nice. Bathrooms very new and clean. Lots of trees between sites. "
"We love Tall Chief because it is super close to a lot of great spots around the Seattle region. It’s super close (like 7 min drive) from one of my favorite coffee shops, Aroma Coffee Co. Try it!"
"The campground is next to a classy laundromat, and I say classy because it’s probably one of the nicest laundromats in the area that even has a dumpsite for RVs."
"The campground is in 500+ acre Tolt-McDonald Park, far enough away from any busy road so that there is no traffic noise, just the sound of the Tolt River rapids."
"This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic. The facilities and grounds are kept clean and well maintained."
"Cute campground very close to Seattle and Bellevue right on the lake. Beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site. Spots are a little tight."
from $65 - $125 / night
Check Availability"Having gone mid week, there were very few other campers, and it was lovely walking around the campground and strolling along a short 1 mile long trail to a mossy and wooded swamp."
"Although the Camp Ground and facilities are great at Tinkham, my advice would be to get into your lifted Off-Roader and hit the mountain roads for this camping trip of a lifetime!"
from $32 - $36 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"It’s in the heart of Issaquah and close to every kind of service, shopping and even nature you could want."
"If you can look past the rundown bathrooms and strict rules about dogs and everything else you’re doing then you can appreciate the beauty of Lake Sawyer every morning."
"A Quiet oasis tucked into the forest. The new and clean bathrooms and showers were a real treat after a 2100 mile journey from Texas."
"It’s a very nice location, exceptionally clean and safe. In site 11 you can hear the highway when outside of rv but couldn’t inside. Neighbors were very friendly."
RangerThe reviews here seem to be from two different places
Parking lot up by the logging operation is fine
Down the road by the creek is a bunch of permanent trailers
Be nice if people reviewed the proper spots
RangerThere’s one site on the hill that’s not occupied permanently and I was there for may 20 mins before they started slowly riding atv by and staring. Wasn’t even planning on staying, just wanted to let the dogs have a swim
Super uncomfortable
Water was nice
RangerAmazing but a bit dirty and lots of other campers. We stopped for a river visit but didn’t stay the night
RangerVery kind of the owners to provide the parking lot
Clean and quiet
GuideWe had such a wonderful stay at American Heritage Campground! The campground has a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere, and you can really feel the history and care that has gone into the property over the years.
We stayed at site 6 which was right by the playground, laundry, pool (closed for the season), and 2 individual bathrooms. There’s more bathrooms in the main bath house with showers! Our site was also able to use the WiFi since it was close to the front of the campground
A huge part of what made our stay so special was our host, Rita. She was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. Learning that the campground has been in her family for over 40 years makes the experience even more meaningful. You can tell how much pride and love she has for the campground and the people who visit.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, relaxing place to stay in Olympia with a personal touch that you just don’t get at the big commercial campgrounds, we highly recommend American Heritage Campground. We’re grateful we got to meet Rita and experience a little piece of her family’s history. We’ll definitely be back!
Edit: we walked around in the morning and found the farm (sheep and chickens), frisbee golf, horse shoes, volleyball and a pavilion. This would be such a fun spot in the summer!
TravelerThere is single camp-host here, the facility’s are in a deep state of disrepair, and the campground is overcrowded when full.
GuideNice urban RV campground.,..good location and price if you are visiting the Seattle area.....I would camp here again if need be. Clean, safe, secure
LegendI’m giving this park only four stars because the roads coming into the park and the road through the park are very narrow and winding. I probably wouldn’t bring a trailer more than 32 or 33 feet long in here as there are tight curves around trees. Did have electric and water. But as others have said, kind of surprised that it doesn’t have a dump station. Very nice walking trail through the forest and next to a lake where one could go swimming or boating. We were here in midweek in September and the park was only about 1/4 full. Our site number 26 was nice, but not very level. Showers were clean and hot water. Very nice play ground.
GuideWe spent one night here. Short walk to the riverside.
Camping options near Kent span from riverside tent sites to full-hookup RV parks within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at moderate elevations in western Washington's lowlands, with a temperate climate that supports year-round camping. Most campgrounds remain open all seasons, though winter rainfall can create muddy conditions at primitive sites from November through March.
Hiking and biking trails: Tolt MacDonald Park offers access to multiple trails along the Snoqualmie River. "Great spot close to the city if you want to get away but not drive too far," notes one camper at Tolt MacDonald Park, who appreciated the well-maintained trails.
Water activities: Swimming and paddling opportunities abound during summer months at Lake Sammamish. A visitor at Vasa Park Resort reports: "We loved the Vasa Park Resort. We roasted hotdogs and s'mores over the camp fire and our dog loved swimming in the lake."
Kayaking: The Green River through Kanaskat-Palmer State Park draws experienced paddlers. "Big entertainment for three boys who explored the woods and played on the rocks and in the eddy pools at the public river take-out," shares a family who camped at Kanaskat-Palmer.
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention appreciating separation between campsites in certain parks. "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes," writes a visitor to Dash Point State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathroom facilities. One camper at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park reports, "It has 6 very clean individual bathrooms with a shower in each," adding that the campground is "heavily patrolled by the park rangers."
Proximity to urban conveniences: Several campgrounds offer wilderness settings with urban amenities nearby. A camper at Dash Point noted, "I spent a weekend tent camping at Dash Point State Park, and honestly, it was a great time even though I completely failed to plan any meals. Thankfully, civilization is only about 15 minutes away."
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds book quickly, especially during peak season. For Game Farm Wilderness Campground in Auburn, one visitor advises: "Book early—reservations open January 1st!"
Noise considerations: Airplane noise affects some campgrounds due to flight paths. At Saltwater State Park, a camper reports, "No joke- ALL day and night the planes felt like they were in our tent/heads. Every 3-30 seconds it was LOUD."
Space constraints: Some campgrounds have tight spacing between sites. A visitor to Vasa Park Resort observed, "Spots are a little tight. Looks like they cater mostly to day use and corporate events during season."
Strict rule enforcement: Several campgrounds enforce regulations diligently. A Kanaskat-Palmer visitor experienced, "I have been asked by the park rangers at 10:01 p.m. to be quite as myself and three 9-year-old girls were talking too loud."
Yurts for less experienced campers: Alternative accommodations provide camping comfort. A visitor to Tinkham Campground enjoyed their experience, noting, "Wonderful time at Tinkham! Most of the sites are on the water and it is GORGEOUS!"
Campgrounds with play areas: Some locations offer dedicated recreational spaces. A camper at Vasa Park Resort mentions, "Beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site."
Weekday camping: For quieter family experiences, consider non-weekend stays. "We picked tall chief because it was close to home for our first trip with new trailer," a family reports about their experience at Tall Chief Campground, noting the site was not busy on a weekday.
Electric-only hookups: Several campgrounds offer limited hookups. An RV camper at Tall Chief Campground shares, "No sewer connections which can be a bummer, but the nice bathrooms make up for it. The staff are always super nice and helpful."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require equipment for leveling. One RVer at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park reported, "The gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground."
Cell reception variability: Signal strength varies considerably among the best places to camp near Kent, Washington. A Tall Chief camper advises, "Another thing that can be annoying is trying to find a site with good cell reception due to all the trees. I would say arrive early so you can drive by all the sites while checking to make sure you have good reception if you need it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kent, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kent, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 292 campgrounds and RV parks near Kent, WA and 45 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Kent, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kent, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kent, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 45 free dispersed camping spots near Kent, WA.
Keep Exploring
