Best Tent Camping near Oysterville, WA

Dispersed tent camping near Oysterville, Washington includes several primitive options in surrounding state forests and public lands. Road to Snag Lake offers free dispersed tent sites in a secluded forest setting with potential views of the valley and coast on clear days. Western Lake Campground provides established tent sites with picnic tables and toilet facilities within a short drive from Oysterville.

Tent camping in this region typically requires a Discovery Pass for legal access to state-managed lands. Many sites feature minimal development, with some offering concrete pads left from old structures while others provide packed gravel areas suitable for tent setup. The dirt access roads to popular areas like Road to Snag Lake can be challenging, with several reviewers noting rough, steep conditions with washboard sections. A camper wrote, "The road getting here is a bit rough with lots of washboard, steep grades and rocks. But it's fun." Most dispersed tent sites lack amenities like drinking water, fire rings, or designated parking, so campers should come prepared with necessary supplies.

The coastal forest setting provides tent campers with considerable privacy among stands of alder, maple and pine trees. Cell reception is surprisingly good at higher elevation sites near the communication towers, with several reviewers mentioning the ability to get full service. Areas that require a short hike from parking areas tend to offer more seclusion from road noise and other campers. The primitive nature of these tent campgrounds means visitors often encounter evidence of previous use, including fire rings and occasionally trash, though the setting remains predominantly natural. Some tent sites feature impressive views over the surrounding valley and toward the coast when weather permits, making these locations particularly valuable for tent campers seeking both scenery and solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Oysterville, Washington (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Oysterville, WA

782 Reviews of 9 Oysterville Campgrounds


  • Pinkie K.
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Snag Lake Campground

    Small, cute and quiet.

    Being a new visitor to WA, we wanted to spend our first night in the middle of nowhere and this did it.

    A bit of a climb for our truck camper so 4x4 was handy. There were some lower tree branches but easy to (delicately) pull to the side to get by. The road is 1 lane, gravel but nicely maintained. Not many areas to pull over so go slow and prepare to back up if necessary.

    It's first come, first serve with no hookups or trash service but there is a bathroom. There's a couple spots for a bigger truck camper like ours and a handful of secluded tent sites you can walk to from the parking area. The tent sites we saw had a fire ring (fire ban in place right now) and a picnic table all nestled in the trees and ferns. There's 1 main place to fish from and several little nooks as well. There's a LOT of old, picturesque trees/ stumps in the lake, hence the name. A gentleman we met said the lake is stocked and our son caught some rainbow trout (approx 8 inches) so we put them back to get bigger for the next person.

    There's also paths to enjoy a walk through the trees.

    As far as cell service, we had great Verizon signal and there's a cell tower over the top of the trees so that explains that. 🙂

    You need a Discovery Pass to camp here but it's either $10 a night at various campgrounds around WA (so I read) or $30 for the annual pass.

    Enjoy and please pack it in, pack it out. It was a really nice campsite so let's keep it that way. Thanks!

    Snag Lake Campground (360) 577-2025 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VmQbRypN42ciJemCA

  • Mary C.
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Cape Disappointment State Park Campground

    This place has it all

    Cape Disappointment is a great spot for campers of all kinds. There are RV hook ups, tent sites, hiker/ biker spots, cabins, and yurts. Very easy access to the water as well.

    The yurts are your basic state park round dome with sleeping arrangements for up to 5 people. It has a table, chairs, and indoor heat.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a park store that has basic essentials and the ability to buy wood.

    During the spring, the wind can be pretty intense so beware if you are tent camping.

  • A
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Ocean City State Park Campground

    Walking distance to beach

    Very close to the beach but wind protected sites with lots of trees and bushes. Most sites have privacy. Showers are coin operated but work well.

  • Steve H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2020

    Fort Stevens State Park Campground

    Nice park, great trails

    The park is large but there are only around 5 tent spots available.  The tent sites are nice size and level with a fire ring and picnic table.  There is lots of foliage around the site so you have some privacy.  The tent area is on the same loop as cabins so there isn't a lot of RV traffic.  There is lots to do at this park and wildlife to see. The only down side is the loop is close to the entrance so there is some traffic noise as campers come and go through the night.

  • M
    Dec. 12, 2019

    Fort Stevens State Park Campground

    Stumbled upon a yurt

    We didn’t have a reservation for the campground the afternoon we decided to stop in July. To reserve a yurt typically requires a minimum of two nights. We were fortunate to get a yurt (number 7) for one night in July as a walk in. The ranger was shocked as they are usually sold out months in advance. There is a fire pit and picnic table outside each yurt. The flaps on the windows can be rolled up and down to adjust the airflow. The bathhouse is within walking distance but showed full quickly in the morning. This was a nice park with several things to see and do. Would stay here again if in the area.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 5, 2022

    Skamokawa Vista Park

    Nice little park!

    General: Vista Park, located directly on the Columbia River between Long Beach or Astoria to the west and Kelso to the east. It offers a variety of sites from walk-in tent sites to partial to full hookups to yurts. 

    Site Quality: Site 30 was a sweet little site; since it is a pull-through with trees on one side, it offers some privacy, it is tucked away and more private than many of the other sites. While it appears to be a very large site on the map, in reality, it was perfect for our campervan but would be problematic for larger RVs. In my opinion, Sites 27-29 are the most private with lots of trees separating them. Sites 27-33 have their own garbage receptacle at their site while others have a more centrally located garbage/recycling area. If you prefer to be closer to the water, Sites 19 and 20 and V1-V13 would be a good choice. 19 and 20 are very nice as they have a concrete pad, and sheltered picnic table. V1-13 have NO privacy between sites; the same is true for 34-43, which are tent-only sites. The yurts are located on top of the hill, away from the water. Although all of the walk-in campsites had reserved signs on them, not a single one was occupied when we were there on Labor Day weekend. 

    Bathhouse: Basic but reasonable. The showers are $.50 for 4-5 minutes. The shower located in the center of the campground was ok but has seen better days. The shower at the top of the hill is better; it had a sign that said it was only open from 10 am– 8 pm but we were able to use it at 8:30 am. 

    Activities: Fishing and boating (there is a boat launch). Two playground areas; one in the day-use area (but close enough to the camping sites) and one in the loop with sites 1-15. There is a short but nice beach to walk on and a hiking/nature trail that leads to the beach(the beach is also accessed directly from the day-use area).

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Bush Pioneer County Park

    Small, but awesome

    It is a small campground with maybe 12 sites that are spaced out with lots of trees and bushes. No electric hookups, but plenty of space. Showers and restrooms are clean. Short path down to a small beach. Fire pits and picnic tables are at every site.

  • Ronda S.
    May. 21, 2019

    Cape Disappointment State Park Campground

    Cape Disappointment, relax, unstress, breathe the fresh air.

    Cape Disappointment is not disappointing at all. Each camp site has its own fire ring and picnic table. Restrooms are in close proximity to the campsites. It’s a beach campground so remember the weather is going to be beachy. It is rustic but the restrooms are always clean though old.

  • Sarah  B.
    Aug. 11, 2018

    Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA

    Great KOA with lots to do and awesome location!

    While not usually KOA kampers, we had a great, private stay at the Astoria KOA. This place is huge! While mostly an RV campground, the lot features severely more primitive tent sites, which we stayed at. The tent was set up on a wooden platform, which worked really welll and was easy to do. The KOA featured all amenities (showers, restrooms, laundry, pool, restaurant, kid activities), but we did have trouble finding a place to refill drinking water and wash dishes. Overall, we give it two thumbs up and plan to return again!


Guide to Oysterville

Dispersed camping options near Oysterville, Washington cluster in the surrounding state forests along the peninsula's eastern slopes. Forest roads lead to elevation gains of 1,000-1,500 feet, creating opportunities for viewpoints overlooking Willapa Bay when weather permits. These areas typically receive 60-80 inches of annual rainfall, concentrating between November and March, making summer and early fall the most reliable camping seasons.

What to do

**Wildlife viewing: Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the peninsula's forested areas, with rabbits and various bird species commonly spotted. At Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed, a camper noted "Tons of rabbits and wildflowers" while another camper reported seeing a porcupine while exploring the side roads near the camping area.

**Fishing: Western Lake provides seasonal fishing opportunities with reports of beaver activity. At Western Lake Campground, one visitor observed "there were a couple of beaver working at the head of the lake" during their stay.

**Hiking: Access forest roads and unofficial trails for day hikes ranging from easy creek-side walks to moderate climbs. One camper at Road to Snag Lake reported "There's a small trail behind this spot that leads to the creek, which is nice. Other than that, you can hike along the dirt roads, but there aren't any actual hiking trails that I found."

What campers like

**Cell reception: Unlike many remote camping areas, the higher elevation sites offer surprisingly reliable connectivity. A camper at Road to Snag Lake commented "Super quiet. Spots for van or tent are between radio/cell towers, so doesn't feel like wilderness but there is the potential for spectacular views if the clouds clear." Another noted "At least I have great T-Mobile signal. Concrete pads at multiple sites."

**Solitude: Weekday camping often means having entire areas to yourself, especially at sites requiring some effort to reach. One reviewer at Clatsop State Forest Gnat Creek Campground appreciated that "Sites are among the trees and you can hear the creek from your tent. Mossy wonderful surroundings in the Clatsop National Forest."

**Multiple site options: Many dispersed areas offer several potential camping spots along the same forest road. As one Road to Snag Lake camper explained, "There are at least 4 other campsite off this road at different points if you keep driving. Some of them are more or less level and more or less muddy."

What you should know

**Road conditions: Access roads to many dispersed sites require careful driving and appropriate vehicles. One camper at Road to Snag Lake noted "Site is up a decently maintained but long and steep gravel road, doable in a Prius but she was panting by the end." Another suggested "The road getting here is a bit rough with lots of washboard, steep grades and rocks. But its fun."

**Required permits: Many state forest camping areas require a Washington Discover Pass, purchased online or at retail outlets. A Road to Snag Lake camper shared "This site is listed as free, but there is a sign at the entrance for a needing a discovery pass to use the site. Visit their website for payment options. You have to print the pass or write the transaction number on a paper and on your windshield."

**Site conditions: Many dispersed sites show evidence of previous use, including fire rings and occasional trash. A visitor at Sherman Valley- State Forest mentioned "The sites are first come first serve and you okay using and iron ranger."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Oysterville, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Oysterville, WA is Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Oysterville, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Oysterville, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.