286 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 $23 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Labor Day weekend was nearly packed full, plus visiting friends and family. It was almost too busy. But after everyone left, it was a lot more peaceful and quiet."
"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."
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 - $140 / 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."
"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."
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
TravelerBumpy road all the way to the top but worth every minute of the climb. Nice and peaceful and hardly saw any traffic up there. Sadly I didn’t get to see Rainer until the morning for like 15 minutes until clouds rolled in lol
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.
ScoutMy wife and I came to this campground recently (9/26 - 9/29) and overall it was a great trip. The staff (Rangers) were so friendly and helpful. The site we had for our 20 ft trailer was a pull-through site which was quite level. It was pretty shady and use of our solar panel was minimal. The proximity to Paradise was great. It was incredibly crowded at Paradise despite being so late in September. The campground filled up to full within a couple of hours of our arrival around 2:30 pm. Bathrooms are very basic (flush toilets and only cold water sinks). There was a water bottle filler right outside the bathroom and tasted great. There is no option to fill trailer tanks with water. Their water filler and dump station has been out of order for a couple of years per the ranger, so I don't expect it to be fixed anytime soon. We were told that there was a water filling station in Alder Lake Park but it is a ways from this campground. We brought our own water so didn't need it. Our site itself was great but there is a reasonable amount of debris around other sites. Overall, we would come again.
RangerVery nice! Horse camp but sites 21-30 are for non equestrian campers. Sites are wooded between and large with table, firepits/grill combo, and level wooded spaces. 2 clean, well stocked pit toilets are available. Water faucets available at several locations. WA discover pass but free otherwise. It is patrolled regularly.
TravelerI went here with my fiance in September. Went on a Friday and there was only 1 other group. Theres about 16 sites from what I saw. Its free as well but first come first served. Getting to it is pretty easy and straight forward aswell, heads up the road turns to gravel and it can get narrow. Most of the sites are along the creek which was very beautiful. Theres also 2 trails in walking distance aswell. Most sites also have a table, and metal fab firepit. Theres also a few out houses for restrooms.
GuideThe roads were fair to get to it, little bumpy. Right off road but not alot of traffic. You do have cell coverage here so thats nice. Bring anything you want of need, nothings but trees and the sky are close.
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.
GuideDecent campground....Ideal location for visiting Mt St Helens....clean, safe, secure.....only issue is locating shower house etc...we ended up using the RV for our needs....full hookups...reasonably priced....easy late evening check in however they should do an upgrade to their campground maps they hand out with check in package...Super tiny print...difficult to read....Checked in after dark which was also challenging due to the tiny print on the map....All in all a decent campground
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 286 campgrounds and RV parks near Roy, WA and 35 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 78 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Roy, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 35 free dispersed camping spots near Roy, WA.
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