280 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Roy, Washington encompasses a mix of state parks and established campgrounds within the forested Puget Sound region. The area sits approximately 15 miles south of Tacoma and provides convenient access to Mount Rainier National Park to the east. Notable options include Alder Lake Park near Eatonville and Millersylvania State Park Campground near Olympia, both offering year-round camping opportunities. Military personnel can access specialized camping at Joint Base Lewis-McChord facilities. The region's typical Pacific Northwest landscape features dense evergreen forests, lakes, and proximity to both urban amenities and mountain wilderness.
Most campgrounds in the Roy area remain open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for cold, wet conditions typical of western Washington. A Washington State Discover Pass ($30 annually) is required for day use at state parks, while overnight camping fees vary by location and amenity level. Summer months (June-September) bring the most reliable weather and heaviest visitation. Cell service is generally available near developed areas but becomes limited in more remote locations. Campfire restrictions are common during late summer dry periods, particularly in August and September.
The camping options around Roy range from full-service RV parks to more rustic tent sites. Dash Point State Park Campground provides a unique urban camping experience with forested sites despite its proximity to Federal Way. As one camper noted, "Once in the campground, you would have no idea that you are surrounded by a sprawling metropolitan area." Millersylvania State Park features historic CCC-built structures and offers glamping options alongside traditional camping. According to reviews, "It's just far enough off I-5 to not have the freeway noise, but close enough to be convenient." For RV travelers, multiple campgrounds offer full hookups, including Riverbend Campground and American Heritage Campground, both providing year-round access with modern amenities.
"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."
from $31 - $91 / night
Check Availability"It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."
"Walking distance to the day use beach area. Very clean showers. Well maintained sites and fire wood for sale with the camp host. A great spot for exploring near Mt. Rainer."
from $35 - $265 / night
Check Availability"This is a very nice, typical Washington state park with plenty of trees, greenery, hiking, pathways and even a lake."
"This is a beautiful park located on Deep Lake just outside of Olympia. The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers. "
from $12 - $183 / night
Check Availability"Super peaceful, great fire pit location, water at the site entrance, portable restrooms away (but close), and best of all right at the river’s edge."
"We needed something close to the city, but didn’t want to feel like we were in the city, this fit the bill. People are very friendly and accommodating. The park is really clean."
"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."
"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."
from $12 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance. The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees. "
"The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"We had a little trouble finding this spot because an industrial area moved in around the campground. Signs tell you where it is, but it feels wrong."
"Site #5 is close to main office where you can get wifi if you want, we declined though. Restrooms were good. No issues. Will definitely return again soon!"
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Pros: group camp is very close to beach front area, GREAT CLAMMING AND OYSTERING!"
"Penrose Point State Park is a great place close to Seattle to go camping in a small or large group. It's tent or camper friendly with plenty of spots for busier seasons."
from $12 - $72 / night
Check Availability"The patios are paved but very small and not in a great location for our class A motorhome (better suited for towables with their doors farther back)."
"Great location just a couple of miles from beach. Very clean and friendly staff. Clean pool, laundry, and club house. Nice paved lots with cable and wifi. Nice place."
from $10 - $30 / night
Scoutwhen you enter there’s spots to pull off to right away. Haven’t seen the rest of it so I’m not sure how big this place is. Has public bathrooms, but no where to throw away trash. Would be more convenient to have garbage services, since I noticed not a lot of people care about the environment.
ScoutLots of potholes on the way up but we managed with a sienna minivan, only saw one other group of people who passed us trying to get the spot after we had set up tents. 10/10 view and truly a magnificent view of rainier
ScoutLoved this place, clean showers
GuideOlallie Creek Campground was one of the absolute highlights of our trip through Mount Rainier. We came in via the Cowlitz Trail on the very first weekend the park opened to backpackers. It was a tough route, spotty markings, no cell service, and a pretty long dry stretch. Definitely bring enough water, a reliable map, and a satellite communicator. Bear spray is a must too. Once you're there though, it's magic. Crystal clear, ice cold creeks that converge around what feels like a little island. The group site is roomy. We set up 2 tents comfortably, and the bucket toilet is tucked away for privacy. Thunderstorms rolled through but only added to the atmosphere. We didn’t see another soul. Just pure quiet. We filtered water, soaked our feet in the creek, and played cards before bed. It’s not luxury, but if you want real backcountry solitude in a beautiful setting, it's hard to beat. It stuck with me, and I can't wait to go back.
GuideParadise River Camp was one of the most memorable campsites from our time on the Wonderland Trail. The camp was set beside a creek that provided convenient and reliable water access, making it easy to refill and filter water without having to travel far from the site. The sound of the creek also added to the peaceful atmosphere without being overwhelming. The campsite felt scenic, quiet, and immersed in the landscape. Its location along the Wonderland Trail made it a rewarding place to stop after a day of hiking, and the site layout offered a welcome sense of privacy and separation from other campers. We did not encounter any major drawbacks during our stay. Overall, Paradise River Camp was an excellent and memorable campsite, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We would gladly stay there again.
LegendGeneral: 132-site RV park in beautiful Gig Harbor. The site layout is a bit wonky. Some are pull-through, some are back-in, some on concrete pads, and others (small tent sites) are just in a grassy area. Some have trees or foliage separating them while others have zero separation.
Site Quality: Varies. We had an electric and water site, located in a cul-de-sac near the tent sites. Our pad was shared by two sites. Fortunately, the site next to us was vacant. Completing the site is a picnic table. IMO the two best sites are 65 and 51.
Bath/Shower: Three stalls and three showers, and although they were clean, it was obvious they were not attended to during our two-night stay (I'm assuming there is a cleaning schedule, but it was not posted). Showers were a bit tight, but the water was warm.
Activities/Amenities: IMO, the nicest amenity this park offers is a small but nicely equipped exercise room. Other amenities include: a pet area (and dog wash), a well-equipped laundry room with an ironing board (but you do need to buy a special card), and a dump station (for an extra fee).
We appreciated a courtesy call the day of our arrival to let us know what to do if we arrived after the office was closed.
While not the fault of the RV park, it was located near the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club, and shots echoed throughout the park from the time we arrived at 5 pm until 8 pm, but fortunately only the first night. This was both annoying and disconcerting.
We opted not to pay the $35 “site-lock” fee. To me, this is a very annoying fee (and the reason for deducting a star), but fortunately we got the site we reserved. RV parks like this are expensive, and while they offer various amenities, they are not our favorite type of place to stay. Given the nature of our travels this summer, we will be staying in quite a few of them.
GuideBathroom, Internet, no water. Quiet. Legal. Safe. Beautiful.
ScoutNot very good because there's no cameras in my tank got cut in the back so I'm not very happy because they can't do nothing about it and I'm out a big price for 10 that I can't even use now
GuideAnytime a notes dispersed Camp spot is for real, and has Internet I give an inmediate great review. There are several pull-out spots to park a car, van, or Camp. An RV could park here, as well. It is beautiful here, a raíz Forest. 1.5 miles to a gas station. 8.6 miles to a Safeway grocery store. No water.
Camping options near Roy, Washington include multiple private campgrounds and military facilities offering year-round access within a 25-mile radius. The region sits at elevations between 300-500 feet with moderate rainfall even during summer months. Several campgrounds maintain access to American Lake and regional forests while providing a base for Mount Rainier National Park exploration.
Lake activities at Alder Lake Park: Located 20 miles southeast of Roy near Eatonville, campers can enjoy swimming and boating. "The water is that beautiful blue/green glacier water color. The campground we stayed at did not have designated fire rings, but did have a metal BBQ that we used for the kids to make s'mores on," notes Nicole P.
Forest hiking at Elkamp Eastcreek: This campground provides access to wooded trails and serves as a convenient gateway to Mount Rainier National Park. "Only an hour from Mt. Rainier NP and the town near by has some solid shops. The campsites are pretty private and there's specific spots for your tent that has an extra layer of mulch underneath for cushioning," reports Sarah Claire B.
Stargazing opportunities: Some campgrounds offer exceptional night sky viewing away from urban light pollution. At Sasquatch Farm, one reviewer noted they provide "a beautiful, quiet spot and the hosts are great folks! Perfect base camp to explore Mt Rainier."
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the maintenance standards at regional campgrounds. At Millersylvania State Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Clean bathrooms, water, and a (very cold) shower! As someone who usually disperse camps, the amenities were a nice luxury. No bugs this time of year."
Privacy between sites: Despite being established campgrounds, many locations offer good separation between campsites. At Dash Point State Park Campground, Brittany D. observed, "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."
Proximity to urban conveniences: The best places to camp near Roy provide quick access to services while maintaining a natural setting. At American Heritage Campground, a camper appreciated that "I really appreciated the ease of getting to the campground off of I-5 and the privacy of the heavily wooded individual sites."
Military-only facilities: Several camping options near Roy require military identification. At Lewis North Travel Camp, a reviewer clarified, "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. Cabins too. Open to active military, military retirees, DoD and family members with access."
Seasonal water levels: Water-based recreation varies with seasonal dam operations. At Alder Lake Park, a camper reported, "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."
Campfire regulations: Fire restrictions commonly affect camping during late summer. American Heritage Campground provides fire rings, but during restriction periods, campers noted, "There was a burn ban so didn't get to have a campfire but the option was nice."
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide dedicated play areas for children. At Alder Lake Park, Ashley Y. shared, "We stayed here because we wanted to be close to Northwest Trek and Mt. Rainer. The park is large with a play ground and beach area. My kids enjoyed playing in the sand and watching deer from our campsite."
Swimming options: Water features provide recreation for children in warmer months. At Riverbend Campground, a visitor observed, "This was a really nice park. We needed something close to the city, but didn't want to feel like we were in the city, this fit the bill. A short walk within the park and you're at a lovely river."
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy animal encounters at regional campgrounds. At American Heritage Campground, Olaf P. mentioned, "The campground is great, in a little forest with plenty of space between the lots and very quiet. Clean facilities and they even have a little farm."
Site accessibility: Many campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles with minimal difficulty. At Riverbend Campground, Johnathan R. shared, "The staff was great in accomodating our last minute reservation and we ended up in a great location convient to all the amenities the campground had to offer."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites with water, electric and sewer connections are common in the Roy area. Millersylvania State Park Campground offers varied utility options, with one RVer noting, "We had a pull-through site right across from the dumpster, bathrooms, and camp host. We had decent service for Verizon."
Winter camping considerations: Year-round campgrounds remain open but require preparation. At American Heritage Campground, one camper reported, "Unfortunately due to COVID, the tent area is closed, and due to terrible weather recently part of the campground was flooded."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Roy, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Roy, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 280 campgrounds and RV parks near Roy, WA and 34 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Roy, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Roy, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 76 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Roy, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 free dispersed camping spots near Roy, WA.
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