9 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several cabin camping options exist near Lake Tapps, Washington with varying levels of amenities and comfort. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park provides cabin accommodations with access to heated bathrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Lake Sawyer Resort offers lakefront cabin rentals with electricity, running water, and fire rings. Most cabins include basic furnishings such as beds, tables, and chairs, though amenities vary by location. One camper wrote, "The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. Although walking distance to bathrooms is a little far away."
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Grove Getaways offers a more upscale experience with electricity and optional hot tub access. Tall Chief Campground and Camp Lakeview provide family-friendly cabin options with varying degrees of privacy. Most locations allow pets, though specific restrictions may apply. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer months when availability becomes limited. A review mentioned, "Loved our spot right next to the lake," highlighting the premium nature of waterfront cabin locations.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations - some provide only outdoor fire rings while others offer basic indoor cooking equipment. Firewood is available for purchase at many locations including Kanaskat-Palmer and Lake Sawyer Resort, though a camper noted it "may be a bit damp" during wetter months. Several campgrounds feature on-site markets for basic provisions, though bringing essential supplies is recommended. Nearby towns provide access to more comprehensive grocery options for longer stays.
"After flying into SeaTac late in the afternoon this campground was a great place to start our Washington trip and only about 30 minutes from the airport."
"I appreciate there is electric, sewer and water. I use this an overnight point to fill my RV before going off grid."
Available next weekend
from $23 - $74 / night
"We stayed 1 night here for the maiden voyage of our recently purchased travel trailer, which was nice since it's only about an hour away from our place near Seattle."
"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!"
Available next weekend
from $23 - $254 / night
"Excellent location for those with military access to the base - active duty, retired or family. 30/50 amp hookups. Beautiful views of American Lake. Pet friendly."
"It is in the wilderness, on the lake, but it is also fairly close to stores and gas stations. Long term max is 28 days per spot."
"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."
"However, the celestial yurt had electricity and a little fan that kept it cool even on the hottest week of the summer. Hot tub is wonderful but is clothing optional, so maybe not great for families."
from $40 - $60 / night
"This campground has super friendly staff, decent bathrooms and showers, laundry facility, access to a lake, fishing is welcome, swimming allowed, great playground for kids, allows pets, has a small store"
"It was a larger site that sits next to the small creek. It was very pleasant and quiet. The bath house isn’t too far and was usually well stocked and clean."
"Unfortunately the restrooms right next to our site were closed so it was a slight walk to the nearest restroom. Restrooms were heated and well taken care of."
"Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities. Cabins too."
from $12 - $35 / night
"Well maintained campground, full hookups and tent sites available. Sites fairly large & private with tons of old trees and right next to a creek. Bathrooms clean."
"Someone came around and made sure we had enough firewood often. My partner cut herself and the owner brought out her first aid kit and cleaned and bandaged her wound."
from $25 - $40 / night
"Lots of trees in our section separating us but in other sections your really close to each other. It is first come first serve and lucky us we got 50 amp."
"We really enjoyed our stay here it was very quiet and peaceful sites were long and roomy with a fire ring and picnic table. Good cell service with AT&T and Sprint."
"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."
"Camping in Tolt McDonald park for Timberfest in the roof top tent was better than any previous camping I’ve done there."
GuideNice campground, well maintained and rangers often patrol the campsite loops. Bathrooms are nice but dated, but quite expensive campground. Paying in-person was $49 for an RV spot with utilities, but booking online was $69 for the same site. Can be busy on the weekend.
TravelerSpacious spots by a scenic lake. Can accommodate just about any size rig, plenty of sites for both tents and rvs.
TravelerBeautiful spot, lots of great spots for tents, rvs and travel trailers. Loved that there was plenty of space between campsites. Would spend multiple nights here!
ScoutI wanted to like this campground, but I wouldn’t stay here again for more than maybe one night.
There are signs EVERYWHERE warning about theft, which immediately tells you something about the area. I didn’t have anything stolen, but I was extremely careful about what I left out.
The biggest problem is that you’re basically on your own after hours. There is no campground host, no posted after-hours ranger number, and no non-emergency number at the campground or through the park’s phone system. The staff hours also seem very limited and inconsistent. I arrived around 6:30 PM and nobody was there, and staff didn’t seem to return until around 9–10 AM.
The bathrooms were dirty, out of toilet paper, and the showers were cold. One morning there was a large unleashed dog in the women’s bathroom that growled at me while its owner was showering. I believe she may have been homeless and using the facilities. Again, there was nobody around to contact about it.
Another night, people were extremely loud until almost midnight. Same problem: no host, no ranger and no non-emergency number. Unless something is serious enough for 911, you’re left to deal with it yourself.
There are also a lot of homeless people and visible drug addicts/drug activity around Federal Way. I had been warned about the area before coming here, and I understand why.
The park itself is pretty and might be fine for a quick overnight stay, but for multiple nights, I wouldn’t recommend it. Between the theft warnings, lack of after-hours staff, weird staffing hours, and no way to report non-emergency problems, I never really felt comfortable settling into my campsite.
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.
GuideWe spent one night here. Short walk to the riverside.
TravelerI like this park. Beautiful views. Very pleasant and clean. Right next to I-90, easy on and off. Though the highway sounds are a constant. Periodic trains from the other side of the lake (though I find this a positive). Full hook up spots. Can accommodate larger rigs, but a few spots are a little tight to get into. Also a very good hamburger spot near by.
TravelerI stayed there for one night on my way back to Seattle, and it was perfect for what I needed. Very quiet back there. The people were all super nice and accommodating. They had a dump site, restrooms outside and heated restrooms attached to the office area. I really loved that two of the permanent residents would do security at night as well. Being a woman and traveling alone, that made me feel very safe. Highly recommend this place!
Cabin camping near Lake Tapps, Washington offers visitors access to the glacial lake spanning 2,200 acres with an average depth of 35 feet. The area experiences mild summers with typical temperatures between 70-85°F, making it popular from May through September. Winter cabin options remain available with fewer crowds and temperatures averaging 35-45°F during December through February.
Water recreation options: Most cabin sites near Lake Tapps provide access to water activities including fishing, swimming and boating. At Elkamp Eastcreek, visitors can enjoy "a gentle creek" while staying in well-maintained cabins. One camper noted, "The meadow over the bridge is a hidden delight. Constant attention to the grounds regularly."
Mount Rainier access: Cabins at Elkamp Eastcreek serve as excellent bases for mountain exploration, located "within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance" to Mount Rainier National Park. As one camper mentioned, "It would be a great base for exploring the south side of Mt. Rainier."
Winter activities: Many cabin options remain open year-round, with Grove Getaways especially suited for colder months. A visitor observed, "The yurt was lovely but it's definitely meant for the cooler months," highlighting its appeal during non-peak seasons when other facilities close.
Military-exclusive options: Service members can access specialized cabin facilities at Lewis North Travel Camp which offers competitive rates and additional amenities. A military camper reported, "Great place! Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities."
Clean facilities: Many visitors praise the exceptional maintenance at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, with one camper sharing, "Beautiful, clean campground. 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."
Woodland settings: Cabins at Tall Chief Campground provide forest immersion despite proximity to urban areas. As one visitor described, "It feels like you are deep in the PNW rainforest but you close to amenities and shopping."
Reservation policies: Lake Sawyer Resort has a strict cancellation policy requiring 7 days' notice, with no exceptions. One camper warned, "Since I made the reservation 4 days prior to the trip, with their horrible policy, I couldn't EVER cancel and get my$ back."
Seasonal considerations: While summer remains most popular for cabin camping, spring and fall offer greater availability. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, a camper reported, "We got lucky and snagged the very last spot here on a Saturday in late September."
Cell reception variability: Service can vary significantly between cabin sites, even within the same campground. At Tall Chief Campground, a visitor noted, "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!"
Park ranger presence: Camp Lakeview offers family-friendly supervision and facilities. According to one visitor, "This campground has super friendly staff, decent bathrooms and showers, laundry facility, access to a lake, fishing is welcome, swimming allowed, great playground for kids, allows pets."
Activity options: Multiple campgrounds feature recreation facilities beyond just cabin accommodations. At Camp Lakeview, a camper observed, "There is a playground next to a volleyball court and basketball court. A small beach with a large dock was available for use during the day as well as a boat launch and fishing dock."
Privacy considerations: Family cabins vary in seclusion, with some offering greater separation than others. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, campers appreciate that "the sites are large with lots of trees" and that "the sites are large and pretty private with vegetation between them."
Power requirements: Cabin campers using electrical appliances should note varying power capabilities. At Tall Chief Campground, an RVer cautioned, "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."
Dump station access: For cabins without private bathrooms, knowing bathroom and shower proximity matters. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, a camper noted, "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each" and another mentioned, "Showers are hot and free, and there's a free dump and potable water fill as well."
Extended stay options: Some facilities accommodate longer-term cabin arrangements with special rates or services. At Tall Chief Campground, a visitor shared, "For a longer term parking solution, this park was okay. Full hookups weren't always available. Sites are spacious but not always private."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lake Tapps, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lake Tapps, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 79 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lake Tapps, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 57 cabin camping locations near Lake Tapps, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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