Best Campgrounds near Lake Forest Park, WA

Campgrounds near Lake Forest Park, Washington range from established state parks to privately operated RV resorts, with most sites located within a 30-minute drive of the city. Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island offers tent sites, RV spots and cabins with beach access, while Lake Pleasant RV Park in nearby Bothell provides full hookups for recreational vehicles. The region includes several mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV camping, with Tolt MacDonald Park in Carnation featuring yurts and cabins alongside traditional campsites along the river.

Access to most campgrounds remains consistent year-round, though reservations become essential during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds in the area maintain all-season operations, unlike more remote locations in the Cascades that close during winter. "This is one of the most popular locations in Washington State and easy to see why. Both fresh and salt water experiences are within a few steps away with amazing sunsets and breathtaking views," noted one camper about the regional waterfront camping options. Most established campgrounds require a Washington State Discover Pass for day use, which costs approximately $30 annually. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though coverage may vary at campgrounds tucked into forested areas.

Waterfront camping consistently ranks among the highest-rated experiences near Lake Forest Park, with Hood Canal and Puget Sound sites particularly popular. Several visitors mentioned the convenience of camping so close to urban areas while still enjoying natural settings. A recent review highlighted that "It's right in the floodplain, so it is only enjoyable when it is not rainy season" regarding Tolt MacDonald Park, underscoring the importance of timing visits to avoid seasonal challenges. Campgrounds with RV hookups tend to be more developed and often feature amenities like showers, flush toilets and picnic areas, while tent-focused sites typically offer more privacy between campsites. Public campgrounds in the region typically feature fire rings and picnic tables, though fire restrictions may apply during dry summer months.

Best Camping Sites Near Lake Forest Park, Washington (270)

    1. Fay Bainbridge Park

    22 Reviews
    Bainbridge Island, WA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (206) 842-3931

    $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."

    2. Lake Pleasant RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Bothell, WA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (425) 487-1785

    $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."

    3. Manchester State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Manchester, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 871-4065

    $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."

    4. Kitsap Memorial State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Poulsbo, WA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 779-3205

    "There is a big field to play ride bikes walk dog etc . The beach is really nice and nearby and at low tide is so peaceful to take a walk. There’s group activities too which is great for the kids."

    "Very quiet area, lots of room on site 9, walked to beach area. Bathrooms for camping have code, cleaned frequently. 5G service was fast. Very nice place."

    5. Tolt MacDonald Park, WA

    22 Reviews
    Carnation, WA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (206) 205-5434

    "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."

    6. Dash Point State Park Campground

    72 Reviews
    Federal Way, WA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 226-7688

    $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."

    7. Woodlands at Lake Stickney

    3 Reviews
    Mill Creek, WA
    9 miles
    +1 (425) 280-0317

    $60 - $68 / night

    "The tent sites at Hearth Street Properties offer secluded spots near the water, with conveniences like restaurants nearby.  Check them out and share some pics from your trip on the Dyrt!"

    "Despite the moss on the roof shingles of the outbuildings, this was best camping site near Seattle I've ever been to."

    8. North Sound Recreational Vehicle Park

    3 Reviews
    Lynnwood, WA
    7 miles
    +1 (425) 743-6180

    "I looked at all the RV/Trailer Parks close to Seattle. They were either over priced money traps, or crammed in so tight that there was no room to turn yourself around.

     "

    "Located in Residential area with mostly full- time residents. Clean, safe, quiet. Staff was very friendly and helpful."

    9. Paine Field Community Park

    3 Reviews
    Mukilteo, WA
    9 miles
    Website

    "A great clean safe place in the city and surrounded by trees and nature"

    10. Tall Chief Campground

    15 Reviews
    Fall City, WA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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!"

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Recent Reviews near Lake Forest Park, WA

1402 Reviews of 270 Lake Forest Park Campgrounds


  • Nicole L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Woodlands at Lake Stickney

    BEAUTIFUL LOCATION

    I myself have never parked my RV at the campsite. However, I've been to the public Access area and have to say that it's very peaceful and has a restroom which is nice. I'm a local. I live inside my RV and it has been a major adjustment but having places like this has been extremely helpful.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Top of the Hill camping

    Top of the hill camping

    This is actually a really secluded, pivate location with a beautiful view! The road is fairly easy to get up to this spot but really just room for one vehicle. I guess the last people used it as the dumb spot when they were leaving because there’s a grill and a TV screen there… we did not stay and camp here, but we did check it out and if we didn’t have a trailer, I would definitely have claimed the spot!

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    FR27 Landing

    fr27 landing

    Great large flat spot for camping. Could easily fit about 5 cars here. About 4 fire rings set up and the road is pretty easy getting here.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    NF-27 Tunnel Creek

    Pull through site

    This is a great spot to stay for a bit if you’re looking to do that OR just stay for a night. It’s like, a big circle that you pull in and out of. There’s a trail from this site that leads to a great tint site as well. Plenty of space if you have a decent sized group. Easily accommodating 3 cars. We have plenty of space with our rig. Star link works great here!

  • Eun Ji L.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Big Creek Campground

    I'm an avid camper - this was THE WORST experience ever.

    I'm an avid camper, and the experience I had at this campground with the host was ABSOLUTELY THE WORST ever. We arrived at the campground early to find the best spot as we were planning to take some outdoor wedding photos at the campsite the day after. It was not a busy season, so there were only a couple of sites occupied. We carefully selected a spot, paid for it, and posted the receipt on the site clip. I took a photo of both the envelope and the receipt clipped at the site. 

    After exploring the national park, we arrived at the campground at around 9pm. Most of the campsites were still unoccupied. To our surprise, when we arrived at our reserved spot, there was a group of people who took our campsite! They already put up their tent and a canopy as well. When I checked the pole where I clipped the receipt, it was GONE & REPLACED by someone else's!! When I talked to those people who took our campsite, there were already drunk and were at the verge of becoming hostile. But they did tell us that the host "allowed" them to take the spot. 

    Right then and there, we went to the host and explained the situation, and the host said (1) we never paid and that (2) there was no receipt clipped at the site. When I told him that that wasn't true, he proceeded to tell me that the information I wrote on the clip let him know that we were checking out today. So, for a second, I thought maybe I wrote either the# of nights spent or check-out date incorrectly. But then, I remembered I took pictures of both the envelope and the receipt!! I showed the photos to him, then, of course, he could not lie his way out of this. 

    There was no apology, and he simply proceeded to tell us to sleep at one of the other available campsites. We were super furious because we had NEVER experienced this kind of rudeness, lies, and brazen behavior. As anyone can imagine, we did not want to spend another second there, so we demanded a refund, and "MIRACULOUSLY", the envelope (still glued) with our payment was found in his RV. 

    I'm reporting the host to the US Forest Service.

  • alexandrea L.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Penrose Point State Park Campground

    Beautiful

    The beach is beautiful here! And the campsites are very secluded! There are tons of trees and bushes in between everybody’s campsite

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Dungeness Recreation Area

    Nicely treed park.

    Spectacular views and walking on the beach and the spit. We were able to drive in and reserve a spot on the fly. Free hot showers. RV dump site for a $10 fee, $40 for a site per nite. We were ok with that as we have been paying $12 in the cascades.

  • Chuck P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    North Whidbey RV Park

    Nice park

    Great checking. It is an RV park and there is jet noise from the Naval Air Station. We would stay here again.

  • 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.


Guide to Lake Forest Park

Cabin camping options near Lake Forest Park, Washington include multiple styles from rustic to more upscale accommodations. Temperatures range from 40-75°F in summer months, with frequent morning fog along waterfront sites. Many cabins remain accessible year-round, though some facilities reduce services during winter months.

What to do

Tide exploration: At Manchester State Park Campground, visitors can access excellent shoreline areas. "There are several hiking trails that start from the campground. Make sure and go to near by Hama Hama for their oysters," notes one visitor who found the riverside location ideal for wildlife viewing.

Hiking access: The trails around Dash Point State Park Campground provide easy outdoor access with minimal travel time. "The trails are fun and easy enough for me and 2 kids. The beach and its tides are why we came," reports a camper who appreciated the combination of forest and shoreline trails within walking distance of campsites.

Wildlife viewing: At Dosewallips State Park Campground, regular elk sightings enhance the camping experience. "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," reports one visitor who stayed in the full hookup area.

What campers like

Private spaces: At Tall Chief Campground, sites offer more distance between neighbors than many urban campgrounds. "Large private sites. It feels like you are deep in the PNW rainforest but you close to amenities and shopping," notes one camper who appreciated the balance of seclusion and convenience.

Bathroom quality: Clean facilities consistently rank high in visitor satisfaction. "The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," reports a visitor to Dash Point State Park, while another mentions the "spa feeling" of the facilities at Tall Chief, noting "Bathrooms are usually found to be immaculate."

Water activities: Multiple camping areas offer direct water access. "The campsite backed up on the river, so we were able to wade in it and put out some chairs and sit on the beach," reports a camper at Dosewallips State Park, highlighting the appeal of sites with immediate river access.

What you should know

Site differences: Not all sites at the same campground offer equal experiences. At Kitsap Memorial State Park Campground, "The sites with hookups are REALLY close together though. This was our first time in a hookup spot so we were a bit surprised how close we were to our neighbors, but this could be typical, we're not sure."

Off-season advantages: Winter and shoulder seasons often provide more availability and quieter experiences. "We went from Sunday to Tuesday to avoid the crowd and actually get a decent campsite which we did," reports a camper at Dosewallips, demonstrating the value of timing visits to avoid peak usage periods.

Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance planning, especially for cabin options. At state parks, expect to pay approximately $30-45 per night for standard sites, with cabins typically ranging from $60-90 depending on location and amenities.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Fay Bainbridge Park provides specific amenities for younger campers. "Great place for families that looks to be kept really clean... There is a ship playground for the kids and beach volleyball court," reports one visitor who found the park particularly suited for family activities.

Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water access specifically designed for children. "The pool, miniature golf, playground and basketball were great," notes a visitor to Tall Chief Campground, highlighting the range of activities beyond standard camping.

Site selection: For families with small children, selecting sites away from high traffic areas improves the experience. "The tent spots are clustered together in 2 areas with a shared covered pavilion," explains one visitor about Fay Bainbridge Park, noting the communal design of certain camping areas.

Tips from RVers

Hookup variability: At Lake Pleasant RV Park, full hookups remain standard, while at other sites like Tall Chief, options may be more limited. "Full hookups weren't always available. Sites are spacious but not always private," notes a long-term visitor to Tall Chief Campground.

Leveling needs: Some campgrounds provide more naturally level sites than others. "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through," reports a visitor to Tolt MacDonald Park, highlighting an often-overlooked convenience for RV campers.

Laundry access: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. "Laundry facilities came in handy," notes a visitor to Tall Chief, while another visitor to Lake Pleasant RV Park specifically mentioned "laundry is cheap ($1 wash)," providing practical information for extended stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Lake Forest Park, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Forest Park, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 270 campgrounds and RV parks near Lake Forest Park, WA and 21 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Lake Forest Park, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lake Forest Park, WA is Fay Bainbridge Park with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lake Forest Park, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Lake Forest Park, WA.

What parks are near Lake Forest Park, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Lake Forest Park, WA that allow camping, notably Keystone Harbor and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.