Camping areas surrounding Covington, Washington range from established state parks to RV resorts, with most options located within a 30-minute drive. Dash Point State Park Campground in Federal Way provides year-round camping with tent, RV, and glamping accommodations. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park near Ravensdale offers cabins and yurts alongside traditional camping options. Lake Sawyer Resort in Black Diamond features waterfront sites with cabin rentals. The region includes several campgrounds with river access, including Silver Springs Campground which sits along the White River with proximity to Mount Rainier National Park.
Many campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when sites fill quickly. Dash Point and Kanaskat-Palmer State Parks maintain reservable sites with amenities including showers, drinking water, and electric hookups. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. Cell phone coverage varies significantly throughout the region, with better connectivity at developed campgrounds closer to urban areas. Visitors should check fire restrictions during summer months when wildfire risk increases. According to one visitor, "Silver Springs is my new favorite spot to camp in Washington. The spaces are well distributed, the location right next to the river is beautiful and the site staff were extremely gracious."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Covington area. Tolt MacDonald Park receives consistently positive reviews for its riverside sites and proximity to hiking trails, despite limited privacy between campsites. As one camper noted, "It's right in the floodplain, so it is only enjoyable when it is not rainy season." Campgrounds closer to Mount Rainier National Park offer more secluded experiences with mountain views and hiking access. Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those along major routes like Highway 410. Developed campgrounds with hookups tend to be more exposed with less privacy between sites, while primitive camping areas offer more seclusion but fewer amenities. Mixed-use campgrounds supporting both tent and RV camping are common throughout the region, with most offering fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets.
$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."
$20 / night
"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!"
$60 / night
"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"
$32 - $36 / night
"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!"
"It is a small Forest Service campground next to the south fork of the Snoqualmie river. The site well shaded and fairly privet for the most part."
$40 / night
"Just like building and exploring in Minecraft for PC, you can craft your perfect outdoor adventure here, surrounded by nature, and enjoy endless fun and exploration."
"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."
"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."
$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."
TravelerExtremely clean showers and toilets. Super friendly staff with on-site staff to help with your issues, super friendly! Close to casino if you are interested.
TravelerFirst, the good points: the location is convenient to the northern Seattle area; the RV park surrounds a lake and is heavily wooded, very pretty, with hiking trails and a dog run; the park is surprisingly quiet considering how much traffic there is in the area; and it is close to a Safeway store.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this park due to its bad points: very expensive (overpriced) at more than $80 per night in their low season; the geese are really noisy and poop EVERYWHERE; the spaces are so narrow that you are practically on top of your neighbors, and you almost can’t put your slides out if you have slides on both sides of your RV; the sites are actually paved incorrectly, very un-level, off by 2 inches and more; the roads are so narrow I don’t know how any of the people in back-in spots managed to get backed in without damage to their vehicles; the park management is extremely inflexible on check-out or check-in. We had to rush out and left at 11:57am. They are the first rv park we have stayed at in over five years that does not take packages. Could not get my medical supplies I need for my health while we were there. Also, you cannot cancel unless you pay fees. We will not stay here again.
TravelerBe prepared for some noise in the summer time. Its gets full pretty quick and there's a range not too far off. There's some great spots along Pyramid Creek and some across the way and up the mountain if the gate is open. The Greenwater lakes trail is very accessible by foot or by car if you've camped near the trailhead.(parking lot requires pass or payment). There's usually trash left behind and the garbage near the pit toilets are almost always full so be prepared to pack your trash. Tip: always check local burn bans and road closures at the ranger station.
TravelerLarge, clean, gravelled campsites with sturdy tables and beautiful camp views. The camp host is extremely kind and welcoming, and the bathrooms were extremely clean. Hot showers are free with the bathroom code, and the water gets warm but not hot. The toilets are impeccably clean, and the road is paved and very well maintained. Very little wildlife but beautiful views of the forest. Very close to several Walmarts and grocery stores.
TravelerStayed here for 3 days at the start of March. Beautiful weather. We tow a 26ft travel trailer and reserved pull through site 3 which was nice and open and had lots of room for our trailer and tow vehicle. It needed a bit of leveling off on one side but nothing drastic. Walking the loop I'd say it was one of the best sites for a larger travel trailer that was also mostly level. The site is a bit of a walk to the restroom so if this matters to you, just know that. The park is on the smaller side but it makes great use of space. It was quiet and everyone kept their dogs leashed. Park host was very accessible and friendly. There is a dump station with potable water and our site also had water/electric (no sewer). Cell service worked great and we didn't have to use our starlink although our site was more open than others so I think it would've worked. If you have an EV there is a fast charging station at Fred Meyer about 17 minutes away.
GuideCouldn't have loved this campground more. Stayed for two nights in late August 2025. Serene, even though it was busy. Spots are roomy. Whole place smelled like Christmas trees! Clean, calm, simply lovely. Really close to the park too!
TravelerWe stayed for for a couple of nights this week. Other than the camp host, we were the only ones there. Lots of trails to explore and fun beachcombing. Water was turned off for the season, but the restrooms were functional.
TravelerSun was forecast these few days so we took our R Pod and headed here. Other than the camp hosts, we are the only campers here. Water is shut off for the winter, but the restrooms were fully functional. Fun beach combing and several nice trail to explore.
Travelerhost was very nice, site is right across from easy water access. beautiful kayaking and many harbor seals.
dont leave anything unattended by the boat launch, we were stupid enough to leave our paddles there and one was stolen overnight oddly enough.
also minutes from 2 margaritas! cute small mexican resteraunt with a nice breakfast menu
Seasonal camping opportunities near Covington, Washington vary dramatically between summer drought conditions and fall's rainy periods. The region sits in a transitional zone between the Cascade foothills and Puget Sound lowlands, with elevations ranging from 350 to 1,500 feet within a 30-mile radius. Campgrounds closest to Covington typically operate on city water systems, while those in more remote areas utilize well water that can become limited during peak summer months.
River access trails: Kanaskat-Palmer State Park offers walking paths along the Green River with several access points perfect for viewing or fishing. "Short hike to river spots that are perfect for wading or fishing. 10 minute drive from Deep Lake which is beautiful and great for swimming and paddle boarding," notes Ashlie M. at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Low-impact water sports: Lake access at Vasa Park Resort accommodates paddle boards and small watercraft with a dedicated swimming area. "We stayed here while visiting my brother in Seattle and had so much fun. We roasted hotdogs and s'mores over the camp fire and our dog loved swimming in the lake," reports Amy H. about her experience at Vasa Park Resort.
Playgrounds and courts: Several campgrounds feature sports courts and children's play areas. "The park is kept incredibly clean. Bathrooms in that loop were pretty nice... heated and very clean," writes Jay F. about Kanaskat-Palmer, adding, "Took a walk down to the day use area by the river, which was easy for us."
Proximity to Seattle with forest feel: The best places to camp near Covington include spots that feel remote while being convenient. "We love coming here. Its close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!" shares Shay F. about Tolt MacDonald Park, located under an hour from Covington.
Clean bathroom facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for restroom facilities. "The bathrooms and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," notes Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park. This campground earns praise for "Cleanliness, peace and quiet, and ease of access" from Evan F., who adds "better signage for the restrooms would be helpful, but this place is pretty sweet overall!"
Private campsites: For those seeking space between neighbors, several options stand out. "This campground is remarkable in the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes, and the walking trails," writes Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park. Jeff O. similarly praises Kanaskat-Palmer: "The spaces are very private and spread out. Everything is clean including the bathrooms."
Campground security levels: Park ranger presence varies significantly between campgrounds. "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day," explains Kelly P. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. "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. I have also seen the park rangers call in the King County Police."
Airplane noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience significant aircraft noise due to flight paths. About Saltwater State Park, Travis P. warns: "Commercial jets landing at Sea-Tac fly directly above us at a low altitude and are VERY loud and VERY frequent (every 3-5 minutes)." At the same location, Mark M. notes the noise can sometimes be helpful: "Planes fly by constantly but if you have noisy neighbors it's kind of nice."
Seasonal water hazards: Rivers can be dangerous during certain times of year. At Kanaskat-Palmer, Kelly P. cautions, "The riverfront accessed from the campground tends to be a bit too raging for my taste with children. We usually take the kids to the lake at Nolte state park (approx. 3 miles away) for water play."
Beach access options: Shoreline swimming varies widely between locations. "The beach is a short walk from camp, just long enough to make you feel like you earned your sunset view," shares Saraj B. about Dash Point. "It's more of a rocky, muddy beach than a sandy one, but it's still great for exploring, skipping rocks, or pretending you're in a moody PNW indie film."
Alternate water activities: When river conditions aren't suitable for children, nearby lakes offer alternatives. "There's a day use lake and we had a wonderful time camping here!" says Brittany L. about Dash Point State Park. For families at Kanaskat-Palmer, Kelly P. recommends, "We usually take the kids to the lake at Nolte state park (approx. 3 miles away) for water play."
Group-friendly areas: Several campgrounds accommodate larger family gatherings. "Loved Kanaskat Palmer. Stayed in spot 13 - each site seems to have a trail connecting to the outer trail that runs along the river. Big entertainment for three boys who explored the woods and played on the rocks and in the eddy pools," writes Julie M. about her family's experience at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer partial rather than full hookups. "Hookups are easy but there is no cable tv hookups which we didn't need," reports Todd B. about Blue Sky RV Park. At Vasa Park Resort, Ralph D. shares, "The full hook up spaces seem a bit close together but I was willing to do partial and got a roomier spot."
Leveling considerations: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. Cody F. notes about Kanaskat-Palmer: "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground." In contrast, Russ H. praises Tolt MacDonald: "The only campground we've been to where we didn't need to level the trailer. RV sites are all pull through its fairly quiet."
Cell service variability: Connectivity ranges from excellent to none depending on location. Ashlie M. reports "Great cell service if you have TMobile" at Kanaskat-Palmer, while Laura M. found "Zero cell reception here for ATT and Verizon" at the same location. At Blue Sky RV Park, Mark O. noted his site was "paved, level and long enough for Super C and toad."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Covington, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Covington, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 276 campgrounds and RV parks near Covington, WA and 44 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Covington, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Covington, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Covington, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 44 free dispersed camping spots near Covington, WA.
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