Campgrounds near Kirkland, Washington provide a range of accommodations within 30 minutes of this suburban Seattle community. Lake Pleasant RV Park in nearby Bothell serves as a convenient base for exploring the greater Seattle area, with full hookups and a park-like setting around a small pond. The camping landscape includes several established campgrounds offering tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin rentals, with Tolt MacDonald Park in Carnation and Vasa Park Resort in Bellevue being popular options for those seeking mixed-use facilities. Most campgrounds in the region operate year-round, though availability may be limited during peak summer months.
Access to most campgrounds requires advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends when Seattle residents seek outdoor recreation opportunities. The region's mild, rainy climate means campers should prepare for precipitation even in summer months, though July through September typically offer the driest conditions. Many campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, with several featuring sewer connections as well. According to one visitor, "This was a very pleasant and nice place to stay, quiet and set up around a pond. The facilities were very clean, laundry was great and very affordable!" The proximity to urban areas means most campgrounds have good cellular coverage and paved access roads, making them suitable for larger RVs and trailers.
The developed campgrounds in this region tend to be more urban in character than wilderness experiences. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the balance of natural settings with proximity to city amenities. Lake Pleasant RV Park receives consistently high ratings for its duck pond and walking trails, while still being just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Campers note the convenience of nearby shopping and restaurants, with many campgrounds positioned within walking distance of grocery stores or other services. For those seeking more natural experiences, Tolt MacDonald Park offers cabin camping along with tent and RV sites beside the Snoqualmie River, providing water access and forest views while still maintaining good amenities. Most campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and clean restroom facilities.
$62 - $750 / night
"This is the nicest park with the best rates close to the Seattle area. It’s north of Lake Washington so you can skip bridge traffic and tolls. It has easy access to UW Bothell."
"The roadways are easy to navigate and lots of folks walk around the park roads."
"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."
$7 - $95 / night
"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."
"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!"
$20 / night
"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."
$65 - $125 / night
"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."
$50 / night
"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."
$45 - $70 / night
"This is a perfect place for dropping your mobile hotel room and explore Seattle and the surrounding areas. There are clean bathrooms, laundromat and rec room."
"It’s in the heart of Issaquah and close to every kind of service, shopping and even nature you could want."
"This is a nice campground with semi private sites, several of which are generous sized with walking trails, and trails to the lake. Lots of trees for privacy."
"Very close to several Walmarts and grocery stores."
ScoutVery nice dispersed location. We stayed for one night on the way to another place. Good locations, many large pull in spots. Shade is excellent and you can walk in to water spots. One pit toilet. Views are ok, but location great.
ScoutThere is a large gravel parking area immediately off the road. We drove a bit further back to see what we could find with more privacy and found a great spot that would be large enough for a few tents. We walked around and found a narrow path you could drive further into the spot and there were probably another 4 spots further back. There was trash in the site next to us but we didnt have any room in the car to pick it all up. We planned to stay for 3 days and 2 nights but it was pouring down raining the entire time. The rain finally let up for about an hour and the sun came out, but it was still cold enough we could see our breath so we packed up and went home.
TravelerReally enjoyable early May stay at this campground. Sites are mostly shaded and feel fairly private and spacious , and it wasn’t too busy when we stayed Sunday night. Beautiful waterfront—morning walk along the beach was a highlight, very peaceful and scenic with easy access from the campground. Restrooms were generally clean (just some spider webs on the windows) and we didn't get the chance to use the showers. There’s a convenient water station between campsites, and the fire pit/grill were in good shape, though it would be nice if cleaning supplies were provided. A few campers were oddly loud in the evening, but it quieted down by around 10 pm. Location is convenient, with a gas station about 4 minutes away and a grocery store around 12 minutes. Make sure you buy your firewood before you arrive. They have, but they couldn't sell us any, even if we arrived around 4 PM. The $15 non-resident fee was a downside. Overall, a great stay (4/5)—I’d probably come back if I’m in the area.
ScoutGot a spot by the river which was great. There was some people playing loud music, which wasn’t so great. Beautiful views.
ScoutNice park. A little tight in spots if u have a larger RV (me a 38' 5th 🛞) but my back in spot was plenty deep.
TravelerFrom a family of 2 to a family of 4, we’ve enjoyed Fort Flagler every time we’ve visited. There’s a variety of site types for every kind of camper, the bathrooms and grounds are always clean, the beach space is plentiful, and the views are amazing.
Our 2 year old son enjoys the little playground and access to trails for his bike. Definitely kept us busy without having to leave the campground.
The campground was full during our son and you honestly wouldn’t have even known.
ScoutPeople here aren’t friendly.
TravelerI pulled into this quiet and secluded campground after a long day of hiking and birding and proceeded to pass out almost immediately. I was awake by the park ranger doing the rounds at night because I had forgotten to go back and pay for my site 😅 he was nice though to open up the register so I could pay by card and directed me towards some places of interest for birders. This time of year was perfect as it was pretty empty and very serene. There was someone with a generator though that produced a low humming drone all day and night and that was off-putting but that's not the parks fault.
TravelerThe lower loop was still closed at this time of year. Campground was pretty empty but still very noisy because it is right by the highway. I ended up not staying because of the highway noise and the fire "pit" was basically filled to the brink and unusable for cooking. Maybe it gets more attention during the busy season but it was in rough shape at this point in time.
Camping sites near Kirkland, Washington sit predominantly within western hemlock forest zones at elevations between 100-500 feet. The region receives approximately 40 inches of annual rainfall with drier periods from late June through September. Most campgrounds remain accessible year-round despite seasonal precipitation, with winter camping available but requiring preparation for temperatures that regularly dip into the 30s.
Water access at beach parks: Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island offers beach camping with water recreation opportunities. "Beautiful beach, great views of Mt. Rainier & Baker on a clear day, cruise ships going by, pirate ship playground for children," notes one visitor, who also mentions the "great beach walk and good camp sites."
Hiking trails: Tolt MacDonald Park features walking paths along the Snoqualmie River, accessible via a suspension bridge. A camper explains, "If you venture across the Shakey bridge there are hiking trails, access to the water, and plenty of trees to hang your hammock in. There are also additional more remote camping spots on the other side of the bridge."
Military history exploration: Manchester State Park preserves historical military structures from the Spanish-American War and World War II. A visitor points out the unique construction: "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'."
Privacy between sites: Many campsites at Dash Point State Park feature good separation. "I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" reports one camper. Another mentions the "privacy hedges between spots" at a nearby campground.
Clean facilities: Lake Pleasant RV Park maintains well-kept amenities. A visitor notes: "The grounds are quiet... truly silent... save for the many geese that call the lake in the center of the property their home." Another mentions, "Office staff is friendly, bathrooms are clean, laundry is cheap ($1 wash), maintenance staff is constantly tending to the grounds."
Cost-effective extended stays: Tall Chief Campground offers affordable monthly rates. "Stayed 3 months for work, perfect beautiful, CHEEP CHEEP, not too good to be true, just right. All hookups included. (Bring your dump tote!) easy easy easy dump station," reports one visitor. Other campers mention "reasonable rates" at campgrounds in the area.
Tent sites may require walking: Some campgrounds advertise tent sites that aren't directly accessible by car. At Fay Bainbridge, a visitor reported being "very disappointed. Booked and told tent sites could be driven up to. Not the case. Host was very nice. Beautiful place."
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. At Issaquah Village RV Park, campers note being "200' from I-90" but found that "ear plugs did a good job of quieting that noise enough for us to get a good sleep." Similarly, another notes some spots have "very tight camping sites, no privacy, plenty of noise in summer."
Sewer hookup limitations: Several campgrounds lack full hookups or have restrictions. A camper at one park mentions "no dump station" while another notes that "most sites are pretty big too. We can easily fit our trailer, tow vehicle, and extra vehicle and still have space! No sewer connections which can be a bummer."
Playgrounds and recreation: Vasa Park Resort offers family-friendly amenities on Lake Sammamish. "Cute campground very close to Seattle and Bellevue right on the lake. Beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site," notes one visitor. Multiple campers mention this is "a great summer family spot."
Kid-friendly beaches: Beach access makes several parks popular with families. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," reports a visitor to Fay Bainbridge Park, who also recommends being "prepared for showers to be closed but the restrooms were open."
Weather preparations: Families should pack for variable conditions, even in summer. The region experiences sudden weather changes, with morning fog common along waterfront locations. One camper advises, "It's tucked into the city so it's busy. You might hear a bit of road noise, depending on your site. But it's a small price to pay for a low-effort, high-reward camping weekend."
Power supply considerations: Electrical service varies significantly between parks. A visitor at Tall Chief Campground notes: "Knocking another star as the majority of the sites are only 30 amp with antiquated posts. There are a few 50 amp sites but from what I saw they were all taken by RVers that are there on a more permanent basis."
Cell reception: Tree coverage affects connectivity at some parks. A camper advises: "Another thing that can be annoying is trying to find a site with good cell reception due to all the trees. They definitely have a few, but 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. I'm getting 120+ mbs download on AT&T in my site right now, but several sites down from me, it can dwindle down to 5mbs!"
Urban proximity advantages: Blue Sky RV Park provides convenient access to city amenities. "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," mentions one RVer. Another calls it a "quiet oasis tucked into the forest" with "new and clean bathrooms and showers."
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Kirkland for tent camping?
Tent campers near Kirkland have several quality options within driving distance. Dash Point State Park Campground offers a clean, beautifully laid-out camping experience with friendly staff and is highly rated by tent campers. For a more backcountry experience, Pete Lake Backcountry Camping provides a relatively short drive from Seattle with a dusty trail leading to the lake, making it popular among hikers. Tall Chief Campground near Fall City and Vasa Park Resort near Bellevue also accommodate tent camping with basic amenities. Most sites offer fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets, though amenities vary by location. Weekends fill quickly during summer months, so advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Are there RV parks or campervan parking areas in Kirkland?
While Kirkland has limited dedicated RV facilities within city limits, there are options in the greater area. Lake Pleasant RV Park is one of the most convenient options north of Lake Washington, offering good rates, easy access to Seattle, and amenities including a man-made duck pond. For overnight parking, note that the Kirkland Costco explicitly prohibits overnight stays despite its ample parking. Other nearby options include Trailer Inns RV Park in Bellevue, Issaquah Village RV Park, and Blue Sky RV Park near Issaquah. Most RV parks in the region require reservations, particularly during summer months, and typically offer full hookups with water, electric, and sewer connections.
Where can I find camping sites near Kirkland, WA?
While Kirkland itself doesn't have dedicated campgrounds within city limits, several excellent options are available within a short drive. Tolt MacDonald Park is relatively close in the Carnation area, situated on a floodplain with proximity to the town of Duvall. For a slightly longer but worthwhile drive, Kachess Campground is about 1.5-2 hours from Seattle near Cle Elum, offering walk-in sites with great lake access. Other nearby options include Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island and Dash Point State Park. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations during peak season (May-September), and many offer a mix of standard and primitive sites with varying amenities.
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