Alder Lake Campground
Rugged yet beautiful
The views by the lake were stunning. Not too many people and even less mosquitoes. I would go back, but the tent sites are brutally uneven and rugged. Pack some extra grit or a thicker air mattress.
271 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Pacific, Washington sits within a region featuring diverse camping options throughout the South Puget Sound area. Several established campgrounds are located within a 30-minute drive, including Game Farm Wilderness Campground in Auburn and Dash Point State Park near Federal Way. These mixed-use facilities accommodate both tent and RV camping, with many offering hookups for electricity and water. The area contains a blend of state parks, privately managed RV resorts, and city-operated campgrounds that serve visitors seeking overnight stays near Tacoma and Seattle.
Campground availability extends year-round at many locations, though amenities and services vary seasonally. Game Farm Wilderness Campground provides 18 sites with water and electricity hookups, accommodating RVs and tent campers throughout the year. State parks like Dash Point and Kanaskat-Palmer maintain more extensive facilities, including shower buildings and sanitary dump stations. Reservations become essential during summer months when occupancy rates increase substantially. Several campgrounds implement after-hours access restrictions, as one visitor noted: "I was unable to get in early in the evening with nowhere else to go. Too strict!"
Campers consistently praise the spaciousness and privacy at sites throughout the region. Dash Point State Park receives particular mention for its well-designed campsites. "I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" remarked one visitor. Most developed campgrounds in the area include standard amenities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and restroom facilities. Water access represents another highlight, with campgrounds like Penrose Point and Saltwater State Park offering proximity to Puget Sound beaches and shorelines. Holiday Park on Joint Base Lewis-McChord provides military personnel and families with cabin accommodations, while private RV resorts like Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor cater to visitors seeking full hookup capabilities.
"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 $20 / night
Check Availability"There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."
"It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"My family stayed here for a night when we went out to Washington a few months ago. It was a nice little place."
"Pay showers ($1 for 3 minutes) and clean restroom with air dryer, pet friendly, lots of trails to hike and a beautiful beach area with a playground, seasonal/weekend snack shop, outdoor shower by the beach"
from $60 / 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."
"Convenient drive to Mt Rainier and Summit lake trail as well. Definitely worth every penny! "
"Convenient location near Mt. Rainier."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Close by stores, trails, parks, harbor. Tacoma across bridge (10 minutes - $6.25 toll)."
"Costco, Home Depot, Albertsons and other shopping close by."
from $57 - $104 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / 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 $35 - $58 / night
Check Availability"There are several dump stations nearby. Very quiet and low key. It is situated next to a H.S. stadium so the game nights get a little bit loud but really not that bad. Showers are available too."
"All with picnic tables but you will be sitting right next to your neighbors if you choose the sites in middle section of park. No view of Rainier but views r very nearby."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful scenery with green all around."












The views by the lake were stunning. Not too many people and even less mosquitoes. I would go back, but the tent sites are brutally uneven and rugged. Pack some extra grit or a thicker air mattress.
the camping spots along this road are very nice, with plenty of space for cars and tents. the only downside is people aren't the best about burying their waste, so watch where you step. otherwise, couldn't ask for more. the sound of the river in the background is so soothing, and the sites offer plenty of shade.
This place is stunningly beautiful. The winding trails throughout the campgrounds are very nice. Restrooms and showers are very well maintained. One of the park rangers helped us book a reservation after showing up since the website wasn't working for us on our side. Overall an amazing time, def my favorite spot in the whole county so far.
USE AS A LAST OPTION ONLY - It's right behind the racetrack so if you like rednecks reving engines until midnight less than 100yds from your campsite you'll love it here! Didn't even bother with the restrooms or showers, everything looks pretty run down at the RV-2 site. Overall, a pretty crap operation. The other parks in the county are AMAZING, just steer clear of this place
Stayed on site 38. Perfect for Van camping. Electric,water and sewer. Some sewer locations may need an extension hose. Power ran about 118 to 120 voltage. Cell service where we were at ...ATT had 3 bars and Verizon at 1 or 2 bars at best. Very dated park. But paved narrow roads and tight sites. Reserved on phone, same day of arrival. At 3:18 pm and checkin was closed. So we just went to site. Our loop restroom was very dated and needed some repairs. X1 shower in men's and women's. Men's side had tile missing but had hot water. Overall....just a very dated park. Airport noise noticeable. But spaces are somewhat spaced out with some privacy.
As cyclists, we really enjoyed this state park. The hiker/biker sites are in a wooded area removed from the other sites which makes them peaceful. Good bathroom and shower amenities, picnic tables by the hiker/biker sites and in the day use area, and a lovely ocean view. Love the cheap, first come first serve option for those arriving by human power! There is also access to a store with supplies and firewood nearby. We enjoyed this spot because we could bike from our home in North Seattle, take the ferry from Edmonds and do a quick one-nighter over here.
Gorgeous location. We saw one staff person working SO hard cleaning the campground of weekend trash. The bathroom was ghastly! Big door doesn’t close, the one shower stall so old I don’t think cleaning could help. Totally unsafe with just a couple curtains - no lock. Don’t go in there alone. If you play Pickle Ball you’re in luck - the Founders Course s are wonderful and the Club Members very welcoming!
VFW 969 Rec Park is clean and quiet. It's run by the VFW and has until recently been just for veterans and active military. They have now opened it to civilians for RV camping at just $50/day, tent camping at $20/day and up to 7 days. It is located right on the Carbon River with a couple awesome swimming holes. Nested between South Prarie and Orting. There is a biking/walking/running path that goes all the way between both towns and then some. There is onsite showers/toilets and coin operated laundry. Full court basketball, softball/kickball field, children's playground/swingset. There is guest parking first come first serve. Guests are allowed to use the clubhouse as long as they clean up after themselves. There is a big screen TV and comfy couch for movie nights and there are also board games and books. The clubhouse can also be rented out for events. (Speak to management for pricing) This place is a little slice of heaven tucked back out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the metro areas surrounding it. There is so much to do around the PNW and this is the perfect base camp.
Beautiful and clean campgrounds! Everyone was very respectful and the nights are very nice and quiet. No loud music was heard during our stay! Just real traditional camping. Very clean bathrooms that were cleaned twice a day! There are three facilities to buy firewood if needed around the campgrounds, and lake access was very close by!
Camping spots near Pacific, Washington offer diverse overnight experiences within easy reach of urban centers. The region sits at low elevations between 200-600 feet, creating mild year-round accessibility with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F and winter lows rarely dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this area remain operational through winter months, though water systems may be winterized at primitive sites from November through March.
Shoreline exploration at Dash Point: Visit the beach area for family-friendly activities including tidepooling and swimming. "Facilities were good and trails around are fun and easy enough for me and 2 kids. The beach and its tides are why we came," notes Ingrid M. at Dash Point State Park Campground.
Hiking near Ravensdale: Access trails that follow the Green River with varying difficulty levels. "Lots of great fishing spots" are available along the river paths according to Cody F. who visited Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Observe birds and small mammals throughout wooded campgrounds near Pacific. One visitor at Penrose Point State Park mentioned encountering "a brief invasion of 6 raccoons at our site one night!"
Privacy between campsites: Many campsites offer natural screening from neighboring campers. A Brittany D. review of Penrose Point State Park Campground notes: "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."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain good sanitation standards. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, a camper commented, "It has 6 very clean individual (one person) bathrooms with a shower in each."
Proximity to water: Access to lakes, rivers, or Puget Sound is a major draw for campers. "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," explains Saraj B. about Dash Point State Park Campground.
Airport noise: Some campgrounds experience overhead air traffic. One camper at Saltwater State Park noted: "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)."
Reservations essential: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. Game Farm Wilderness Campground operates year-round but requires planning ahead. "Book early—reservations open January 1st!" advises Dale B.
Access restrictions: Several campgrounds implement strict entry rules. A visitor to Game Farm Wilderness Campground reported: "I was unable to get in early in the evening with nowhere else to go. Too strict!"
Security considerations: Some parks have theft concerns. A camper at Saltwater State Park mentioned: "It's kinda unsettling though seeing signs that it's a high theft area."
Beach access for children: Parks with protected water areas work well for young swimmers. At Dash Point State Park, Brittany L. enjoyed her family time: "This campground was beautiful! There's a day use lake and we had a wonderful time camping here!"
Ranger enforcement: Campgrounds have varying levels of rule enforcement. At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, a camper shared: "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day. I have been asked by the park rangers at 10:01 p.m. to be quiet."
Group-friendly spaces: Some camping areas accommodate larger family gatherings. Sarah H. noted that Penrose Point "seems to be popular for group camping and is a great place for socializing."
Proximity to services: Family camping often requires quick access to supplies. About camping at Dash Point, Saraj B. mentioned: "Civilization is only about 15 minutes away. There's a grocery store, takeout options, and even coffee if you're feeling soft."
Hookup variations: RV sites offer different utility connections. At Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park, a camper reported: "Water and Electric (50 amp) only. There are several dump stations nearby."
Site spacing considerations: Some RV parks have tight spacing between units. "The campground is small but does have bathrooms. The sites are pretty close together," noted Jason H. about Saltwater State Park.
Vehicle age restrictions: Some facilities limit older RVs. A visitor to Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park mentioned: "It looks really nice but they don't allow drop-ins or vehicles older than 20 yrs."
Military options: Service members have exclusive camping access at Holiday Park Military on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "To a military ID card holder, you won't find a better deal. Full hookups, sites are a bit close, but the campground loop makes it feel spacious," notes Paul B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pacific, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pacific, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 271 campgrounds and RV parks near Pacific, WA and 44 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pacific, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pacific, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 74 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pacific, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 44 free dispersed camping spots near Pacific, WA.
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