Campgrounds near Lakewood, Washington offer a range of forest and lakeside options between 300-500 feet elevation. Winter camping temperatures typically range from 33-45°F while summer sees averages of 65-80°F. Many sites feature conifer coverage providing natural shelter from rain that averages 37-41 inches annually throughout the region.
What to do
Paddle American Lake: Camp Murray Beach provides direct waterfront access for kayaking and canoeing. "The beach is a short walk from camp, just long enough to make you feel like you earned your sunset view, but not so long that you regret your life choices," reports Saraj B. about nearby Dash Point State Park.
Hike forested trails: Millersylvania State Park features old-growth forest paths with minimal elevation gain, ideal for nature walks. "There are ample trails throughout the park including a lovely trail along the lake, which is not far from the campground," notes Christina F., who visited during Thanksgiving weekend.
Explore tide pools: Joemma Beach State Park offers marine discovery opportunities during low tide. "Across from our campsite is a trail that leads down to the pier and walk to the beach," explains Rebecca V., who secured a first-come, first-served spot at the park.
Wildlife viewing: Look for bald eagles at dawn around peninsular parks. "We did spot a bald eagle early in the morning," reports Asuka S. during an Easter weekend visit to Joemma Beach.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Penrose Point State Park Campground features well-separated camping spots. "The campground was full with lots of families with young kids but the sites felt relatively private and the whole park is heavily wooded," shares Adrienne Q., noting the camp's popularity despite good site separation.
Shoreline access: Dash Point State Park Campground provides beach opportunities with minimal crowds. "The beach is a short walk from camp...It's more of a rocky, muddy beach than a sandy one, but it's still great for exploring, skipping rocks," reports Saraj B.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathrooms and showers. "Sites and restrooms were clean. We had a great time exploring the beaches," explains Rachel after visiting Penrose Point State Park.
Family-friendly environments: Multiple campgrounds accommodate children with play areas and junior ranger activities. "Our family of four tent camped for three nights in this happy go lucky campground...and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," shares Sarah H. about Penrose Point.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "After months of trying to get reservations for this popular campground, we finally got one for Thanksgiving weekend!" notes Christina F. about Millersylvania State Park.
Military-only options: Some quality campgrounds require military ID. "Bottom line, this is a DoD facility, so will be helpful for Active, Reserve, Retired military only," explains Michael C. about JBLM Travel Camp, where full hookups cost about $28/night.
Environmental closures: Check current status before planning. "Great spot, I have been there before. But a recent fire has closed the grounds till 30sept2025," reports johnathan B. about Camp Murray Beach.
Airport noise considerations: Sites near Sea-Tac flight paths experience regular aircraft noise. "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)," warns Travis P. about Saltwater State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Look for junior ranger programs: Several Washington state parks offer educational activities. "Our family camps often, and Penrose stands out as one of our top experiences," writes Sarah H., highlighting the junior ranger programs.
Consider early morning beach trips: Riverbend Campground provides river access that gets busy later in the day. "We went early in the morning and staked a claim and were happy all day. There is a nice shallow area and two large swimming areas as well as a fishing dock," recommends Ellen T.
Pack for variable weather: Spring camping often brings rain. "It was raining for nearly our entire time here, but we still enjoyed the close/easy access to bathrooms, showers, potable water, and hiking trails," shares Geanna R. about Millersylvania State Park.
Select family-specific loops: Some campgrounds designate quieter areas for families with young children. "This campground seems to be popular for group camping and is a great place for socializing. Although the grounds were busy, the densely tree-lined sites provided privacy," notes Sarah H.
Tips for RVers
Check site angles: Some pull-through sites require specific approaches. "This site does is a back in, but the slab is at a 90 degree angle from the drive. So you will have to back your trailer around a corner if you plan to park it on the slab," cautions Doug about Lewis North Travel Camp at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
Weather-related leveling challenges: Winter camping may create muddy conditions affecting setup. "The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because our site had a huge mud puddle from the road going to the power and water hook-up. The thin layer of mud on the pavement made things quite slick as I was trying to get leveling blocks down," warns Christina F. about Millersylvania State Park.
Dog-friendly sites with restrictions: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Lakewood limit pets to two per reservation. "Only 2 dogs allowed per reservation. No camp-wide wifi but we didn't care about that," notes Emma Y. about JBLM Travel Camp, which enforces consistent pet policies.
