Best Tent Camping near Raymond, WA

Dispersed tent camping is widely available in the hills and forests surrounding Raymond, Washington, with Road to Snag Lake offering multiple primitive tent sites within the state forest lands. Western Lake Campground provides established tent camping in the same area, featuring basic amenities such as picnic tables and vault toilets. Both locations sit approximately 15 miles southeast of Raymond in heavily forested terrain with access to fishing lakes and hiking opportunities.

Access roads to tent sites often require careful navigation, particularly at Road to Snag Lake where the gravel route becomes increasingly steep and rough near the summit. A Washington Discover Pass is required for camping in these state-managed areas. According to one visitor, "The road is gravel but in great condition, even passenger cars will be totally fine," though others note that smaller vehicles may need to proceed slowly. Most tent campers should bring all necessary supplies as drinking water is unavailable, and pack-it-in, pack-it-out principles apply for waste management.

Tent campers at Road to Snag Lake can choose from several clearing areas along the forest road, with the most desirable spots located at higher elevations near communication towers. A camper remarked that the area offers "complete silence" with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities including rabbits and various bird species. The summit areas provide exceptional views of the surrounding valleys and, on clear days, glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. Spring and summer visitors will find wildflowers blooming throughout the area. Walk-in tent sites at Western Lake Campground offer a more established camping experience with vault toilets nearby, though fires are prohibited in this location. Both areas experience minimal visitor traffic, especially midweek, making them ideal for tent campers seeking solitude in a forest setting.

Best Tent Sites Near Raymond, Washington (16)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Raymond, WA

906 Reviews of 16 Raymond 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

  • April C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2022

    Millersylvania State Park Campground

    Choose your Adventure

    This place had it all; open RV camping, secluded van camping, tree canopy car/tent camping, walk-in camping, and themed safari tent camping, and one cute mini airstream. 

    Lake down the road. Water and electrical hookups, dump station with dump water and fresh water. 

    Restrooms and showers are scattered around. Showers are coin based and there is a machine to turn your dollars into coins.

  • Amanda
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Dragon's Gate Gardens

    A reservable paradise- expansive solitude, out of a picture book

    I just completed my third stay at Dragon's Gate, and I've now stayed in each of the different sections (Moon Meadow, Giant Crystal, Jessie's Camp). Each gives a completely different but wonderous experience, either with open views of flower pastures and woods, or a more insular green surrounded by trees. Each reservable space is massive.... 4-5 times the size of most campsites. While you may reasonably run into other campers within each section if you go for a walk, you won't even know anyone is in the other sections, its so private. Sing at the top of your lungs or let your dog roam, they won't run into anyone. 

    Its just SO pretty. Each campsite is really well maintained- the roads and campsites are mowed, carving into the meadows. There are porta potties and access to drinking water and a great deal on both wood and eggs. Wooden picnic tables are in each site, and a well appointed fire ring. The hosts are really lovely as well, and overly accommodating. The entire site is organic, so they do ask that you participate in their policies of no charcoal usage and leave no trace.

    Tenino itself is a cute little historic town, with a surprisingly well appointed supermarket and hardware store, and on Saturdays there's a farmers market. 

    Mostly, I love how my dog can safely roam, and how, even when I am completely by myself camping, I still feel safe.

  • 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.

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2017

    Middle Waddell Campground

    LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp at Middle Waddell Campground

    Campground

    Fairly large campground, free as long as you have a discover pass! Close to town yet still secluded in the woods. Tons of trails for hiking, horses and dirt bikes! Plenty of sites for trailers and tents. Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and water hook ups. The camp host even had free bottled water for guest if needed. There was a creek near by with people panning for gold which was interesting!

    Product Review

    Being a ranger I get to test some products from time to time! Today's product is the LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp!

    This headlamp is very impressive! Certainly the brightest light I have ever explored with. It comes in a very nice package with a charging cord, two different colored lens attachments, a carrying pouch and a battery. My only complaint is that the headlamp itself doesn't fit very well in the carrying pouch but I made it work! It was also a little heavy and I had to adjust the strap to fit my head more often then I would have preferred. The brightness of the light made up for the flaws completely!

  • 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.

  • d
    Jun. 20, 2023

    Coho Campground

    Great rural campground

    Coho campground is a forested campground overlooking a large alpine lake. Lots of old growth forest, birds and squirrels live in the campground. The sites are large with a paved drive that can accommodate several vehicles and trailers. Large picnic tables and a fire pit on each site with an area for tents. No electric, water or sewer on the site. There are several flush toilets that are well kept. Bathrooms have an electrical outlet if you need to charge something. Faucets with drinking water. No showers. No cell service and starlink doesn’t work due to trees. Nearest gas station and stores about 35 minutes away. There is a boat ramp and a nice lake for kayaking. Several trails around the lake and campground.

  • 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.


Guide to Raymond

Tent camping near Raymond, Washington gives campers access to multiple forest environments in the Willapa Hills region. The elevation ranges from near sea level to approximately 1,500 feet at higher forest sites, creating varied camping experiences within short distances. Winter brings significant rainfall with annual precipitation exceeding 70 inches, while summer months typically offer drier conditions with temperatures averaging 65-75°F during camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Western Lake Campground provides direct lake access for anglers. As one visitor noted, "When I was there, there were a couple of beaver working at the head of the lake," adding wildlife viewing to the fishing experience.

Bird watching: At Road to Snag Lake, the higher elevation creates excellent bird watching conditions. A camper reported seeing "tons of rabbits and wildflowers" in addition to various bird species during their stay.

Hiking forest trails: The surrounding state forest lands contain numerous unmarked trails. According to a camper at Gnat Creek Campground, "The trails are nice going along gnat Creek and you can visit the fish hatchery at the end of the trail," suggesting similar opportunities exist in the Raymond area forest lands.

Photography: The elevation changes create excellent opportunities for landscape photography. One visitor to the area mentioned, "If you go farther up the road there is a viewpoint that lets you see clear to the coast on a sunny day," highlighting the photographic potential from higher camping areas.

What campers like

Midweek solitude: The area receives minimal traffic outside weekends. A camper at Rose Creek Retreat valued "the solitude and the silence other than the leaves rustling in the light breeze," which mirrors the experience in Raymond's forest camping areas.

Concrete pads: Several sites at Road to Snag Lake feature helpful level surfaces. A camper stated, "Cement pad makes a flat tent site," which provides more comfortable tent setup options, especially in wet conditions.

Wildlife encounters: The forested environment supports diverse wildlife viewing. One camper observed, "There are several spots off the road around these radio tower stations and it is quite secluded. We didn't see any other person the whole time we were there."

Cell service: Despite the remote feeling, many camping areas maintain usable phone service. A visitor noted, "At least I have great T-Mobile signal," which can be important for safety or staying connected while camping.

What you should know

Road conditions vary: Access requires preparation for various road types. A visitor to Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead warned, "The road is dirt but some parts are very rocky. Not many dispersed camping spots just pullover spots really," which applies to many forest roads in the Raymond area.

Discovery Pass requirement: A Washington Discover Pass is mandatory for camping on state lands. One camper confirmed, "There is a sign at the entrance for 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."

Limited amenities: Most dispersed camping areas have no facilities. A camper reported, "No amenities, obviously, but there is a concrete pad from an old structure you can park on. Other sites have solid pack gravel covered by grass."

Weather considerations: Coastal influence creates variable conditions. According to one camper, "Very peaceful and quiet. We tent camped at the very end of the road at the top. Unfortunately we could see nothing but clouds this visit," highlighting how coastal fog can affect visibility.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection strategy: Choose camping areas based on vehicle type and equipment. One visitor to Sherman Valley State Forest shared, "The campground is located in Capital Forest which is home to lots of hiking, mountain bike, equestrian, and ATV trails," suggesting families should select sites compatible with planned activities.

Safety precautions: Higher elevations require attention to edge areas. A camper warned, "There is a long drop if you lose control and fail off road. I feel if you did and survived the fall it would be expensive to recover your vehicle," emphasizing the need for careful site selection with children.

Educational opportunities: The forest environment offers natural learning experiences. One camper mentioned, "I grew up camping here, as a Boy Scout this was a perfect location for many activities," highlighting the area's value for teaching outdoor skills.

Weather preparation: Coastal proximity means changeable conditions. "It gets pretty steep going up the road. The right steep," noted one visitor, suggesting families should prepare for temperature differences between lower and higher elevation camping sites.

Tips from RVers

Small RV advantages: Compact camping vehicles work best on forest roads. At Western Horizon Ocean Shores, a camper observed, "Each site is screened by pine trees, giving you privacy in your own site," which reflects the forest environment that limits larger RV access around Raymond.

Site arrival timing: Earlier arrival improves camping options. The same visitor noted, "Not all the sites had picnic tables and fire pits, so make sure you get there early to snag the best site," advice that applies throughout the Raymond area camping locations.

Road width limitations: Forest roads often restrict larger vehicles. One camper stated, "They wrote it on barely white enough for two vehicles to safely pass each other. Not suitable for anything wider than a class B," cautioning those with wider recreational vehicles.

Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at most sites. "Site is up a decently maintained but long and steep gravel road, doable in a Prius but she was panting by the end," reported one camper, indicating RVs will face similar or greater challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Raymond, WA is Road to Snag Lake - Dispersed with a 4.4-star rating from 17 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Raymond, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.