Camping near McKenna, Washington centers around a mix of state and private options within 30 miles of town. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 400-800 feet, providing moderate temperatures with summer highs averaging 75-85°F and winter lows rarely dropping below freezing. Summer camping reservations typically must be made 3-6 months in advance for weekend stays.
What to do
Waterfront activities at Alder Lake: The lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating options with a designated swim beach area. "This place is beautiful!! There are trails to explore, a sandy beach area that is also for public access, a boat launch and boat dock. The water is that beautiful blue/green glacier water color," notes a visitor to Alder Lake Park.
Trail exploration: Multiple trail systems range from short lake loops to longer forest paths. At Millersylvania State Park, "There are ample trails throughout the park including a lovely trail along the lake, which is not far from the campground," according to one camper who visited during Thanksgiving weekend.
Meadow stargazing: Find open areas for night sky viewing away from city lights. "Nicely maintained property, with spacious sites, great restroom facility, acres to gorgeous meadow and evening star viewing," reports a visitor to Elkamp Eastcreek, noting the host was "gracious and welcoming."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site spacing as a key factor. "I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" says a visitor to Dash Point State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and common areas receive positive mentions. "Clean flushing bathrooms. Staff is friendly. Nice, grassy spots. I will be back!" reports one Alder Lake visitor. Another camper at Elkamp Eastcreek describes it as having "the nicest campground bathrooms we have ever experienced."
Family-friendly amenities: Playgrounds, shallow swim areas, and recreational facilities enhance family camping experiences. A visitor to Camp Lakeview notes, "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 in the office with some essentials."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake conditions change throughout the year, affecting beaches and water access. "The only damper to this year was the dam in Tacoma was partially drained causing a 'low tide' which exposed the dirt and poor beach area... usually when water is at normal level the beach is all sand and water is clean and clear," mentions one Alder Lake camper.
Reservation windows: Most campgrounds open reservations 6-9 months in advance. For American Heritage Campground, availability can be found even on short notice: "We arrived without a reservation and were happy that the office was still open at 7pm on a Sunday."
Cell service variability: Connectivity depends on location and provider. "We have Verizon and had no issues with cell signal at this campground," reports a visitor to Riverbend Campground. At military facilities, "Cell signal is very weak for t-mobile and trees prevent starlink from working well," notes a camper at Holiday Park Military.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas but not too close. Camp Lakeview features "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," according to a recent visitor.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to spot deer and smaller animals. "My kids enjoyed playing in the sand and watching deer from our campsite," shares a visitor to Alder Lake Park.
Winter camping preparations: For off-season camping with children, select campgrounds with heated facilities. At Millersylvania State Park Campground, one camper notes, "We are very late in the season and only stayed here for one night but it's nice! I guess during a warm summer it's nice to be here to swim in the lake."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Consider site angle and accessibility. At Riverbend Campground, "We got site 106 which was the furthest one out, it was right along the river. The site has a concrete slab and fit our Jayco 174BH perfectly. 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."
Hookup variations: Not all sites offer equal amenities. "The site had water and electrical, but no sewer connections. They do have a nice dump station," notes a Riverbend Campground reviewer, while another mentions, "No issues with the camp sites. 1st one had a bad power pole and the next one the water leaked."
Check site dimensions: Size limitations exist at many locations near McKenna. "I really appreciated the ease of getting to the campground off of I-5 and the privacy of the heavily wooded individual sites," reports an American Heritage Campground visitor who had just purchased their trailer.
