O
Ocean M.
Traveler
TravelerDash Point State Park Campground
Great stay
Usually, I have a complaint, but there are no complaints.
Camping near Des Moines, WA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options near Des Moines, Washington concentrate primarily along the Puget Sound shoreline, with Saltwater State Park Campground serving as the main developed facility within city limits. The area provides a mix of tent and RV sites across several state parks and private RV resorts, with most campgrounds positioned along waterfront areas. Located approximately 15 miles south of Seattle, Des Moines camping areas balance urban accessibility with marine recreation opportunities.
Many campgrounds in the region have seasonal availability restrictions, with Saltwater State Park open only from May through September. The proximity to Sea-Tac International Airport creates significant aircraft noise at several camping areas, particularly at Saltwater State Park. Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are standard at most developed campgrounds in the region, though sites generally lack privacy due to their urban setting. A frequent observation from visitors notes the constant air traffic: "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)."
Shoreline access represents the primary draw for campers in the Des Moines area, with several campgrounds offering beach access and water recreation. While sites at Saltwater State Park receive mixed reviews due to airport noise and tight spacing, they remain popular for their waterfront location and proximity to Seattle. Campgrounds near Des Moines tend to fill quickly during summer weekends despite their urban setting. One camper noted, "The day use area on the water is really nice, but the park itself is in a weird area and close to the Hwy overpass." For 2024, camping at Saltwater State Park is closed for development efforts, though surrounding options like Dash Point State Park (9 miles south) and Angle Lake RV Park remain open with varying amenities for tent and RV campers.
Best Campgrounds near Des Moines (280)
1. Dash Point State Park Campground
"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 Availability2. Saltwater State Park Campground
"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 $31 - $43 / night
Check Availability3. Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
"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 $31 - $254 / night
Check Availability4. Manchester State Park Campground
"Nice wooded campground with access to the water. Plenty of opportunities for day hikes and not far from port orchard Washington. Some sites have hookups and others are dry camping."
"Trails, views, and history in walking distance. Coin operated showers and clean restrooms."
from $12 - $250 / night
Check Availability5. Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor
"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 Availability6. Penrose Point State Park Campground
"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 Availability7. Fay Bainbridge Park
"2, #3, #4 are IMO best after that as they move away from the beach and then curve around in ascending order.
Some neighbor noise, sites are close, but was not busy."
"Great spot on the edge of bainbridge. Lots of spots depending on your preferred privacy level."
from $25 - $95 / night
Check Availability8. Vasa Park Resort
"This is in the shore of Lake Samammish, giving access to swim, paddle, picnic. The facilities and grounds are kept clean and well maintained."
"Cute campground very close to Seattle and Bellevue right on the lake. Beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site. Spots are a little tight."
from $65 - $125 / night
Check Availability9. Angle Lake RV Park
"Wanted them close by otherwise likely wouldn’t have stayed here. Great option for family in town and wanting to be close by. Close to the airport if you need to leave your RV for a bit and fly out."
from $100 - $120 / night
Check Availability10. Game Farm Wilderness Campground
from $40 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 15 min from Seattle, WA
- 39 min from Olympia, WA
- 40 min from Bremerton, WA
- 1 hr 9 min from Mount Vernon, WA
Recent Camping Photos near Des Moines, WA
405 Photos of 280 Des Moines Campgrounds
Halsey M.
Seattle/Tacoma KOA - PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Isabelle K.
Dash Point State Park Campground
Sarah R.
Lake Sawyer Resort
John K.
Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor
Amy H.
Vasa Park Resort
Jenna T.
Manchester State Park Campground
Debbie H.
Big Backyard
Shay F.
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
Paul Y.
Grove Getaways
Wayne T.
WildHare Retreat
mary F.
Enumclaw Expo Center RV Park
Cari L.
Macie's Brook
Recent Reviews near Des Moines, WA
1433 Reviews of 280 Des Moines Campgrounds
- SSydney T.
ScoutKeechelus Lake
closed when keechelus reservoir <49% capacity
be sure to check the keechelus reservoir level before going because fs-9070 is closed when reservoir is less than 49% capacity
Lee D.
LegendLake Pleasant RV Park
A lake, but geese, ducks, and birds!
General: 230-site RV park. Some sites are back-in, some pull-through. Some are lakefront. All are FHU. There is also one yurt.
Site Quality: Paved camper pad on level sites. Unlike most other RV parks, there is some foliage separating the sites, providing a modicum of privacy. We chose a lakefront site, but I think the pull-thru sites in the far rear of the park might have been a better choice (less geese traffic!).
Bath/Shower: There is a large main bathroom with showers near the office. At the rear of the property, there are five bathrooms, each with a toilet, sink, and shower; one of these is ADA accessible. When we arrived late Saturday afternoon, two of these had no toilet paper, and one had no soap. I did see they were being attended to in the evening. Also, no hooks or shelves to put toiletries on. There was often water on the floor in these units, I’m guessing from the showers. The main bathrooms at the front are MUCH nicer, but about a third of a mile walk from the rear sites.
Activities/Amenities: Catch and release fishing. A couple of miles of hiking trails around the perimeter of the campground. These are paved, gravel, or grass, and hilly! The road around the campground is just about a mile and flat, so it was good to run laps if that is your thing (good for me!). Amenities include: a playground, laundry ($2 each for washer and dryer), recycling, a library (I was happy to pick up a book on my to-read list), a dog run, and propane. The lake is nice, but there is a lot of algae, and swimming is not allowed. There are about two dozen geese that roam freely around, leaving goose poop wherever they go! I did see someone watering down the goose by-product on Monday morning, so the staff does work to mitigate this situation. Also ducks, birds, and even bunnies and snails.
As far as RV parks go, this is one of the nicer ones we have stayed at (and less expensive than some). It is convenient to the Seattle area. It is well-tended to; there are flower baskets throughout the property. One star deducted for the bathrooms at the rear of the property.
Jacquie B.
GuideLake Pleasant RV Park
Quiet and clean, d
This is a nice park, clean and quiet. But the draw back is the sites are small, there are bushes between the sites to give some privacy. It is camping in a parking lot. I don't believe you can have campfires. Kids have no place on their site to play so play in the street. More than once I had to honk at them to get them out of the way.
Great location for me, I was visiting my daughter who lives in Seattle.
The park was clean, they wash the goose poop off the sites, but still watch where you step. It is very high priced but they are the only game in town.
d
- AAlison L.Traveler
Potlatch State Park Campground
Wonderful Campground
One of my favorite grounds I’ve visited. On-demand hot showers in two buildings, plenty of bathroom stalls (main building has stalls and one shower, second loop has 2 private stalls and 2 private showers, and last loop has one vault toilet)- sites 1-26(?) are fairly close together and close to the main road- second loop I didn’t look too much at, but most of the bigger campers or cars were parked there- last loop has almost all full-shade, larger, and less crowded sites (they’re still fairly small, but with less people it’s not so bad). There are dumpsters and water spigots all over. Clean grounds, friendly on-site host, office staff absolutely wonderful and incredibly helpful. Across the street from the day-use park with lake- super nice, rather small. Rangers do patrol nightly. PLEASE BRING SMALLER BILLS PER OFFICE REQUEST.
Yasir A.GuideCabin Creek Dispersed Camping
Peaceful spot — push a bit farther for the best river sites!
The area is incredibly quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. If you're heading out here, I highly encourage continuing past the main entrance spots and pushing a little farther down the road/trail. Camping closer to the water makes for an even better experience—waking up next to the river sound and scenery is well worth the extra bit of effort. Great dispersed location for anyone looking to unplug and enjoy nature!
Carmen S.TravelerOpen Space on Forest Road 7320
Great gem and quiet spot!!!
I didn’t know what to expect but when I arrived I was pleasantly pleased with the location! I had the whole area to myself. Ample room to space to get situated. (Only drawback was that I did not have extra trash bags to clean up what the prior visitors left)
Marian B.TravelerEnumclaw Expo Center RV Park
Nice little Campground for a short stay
Campground has nice paved spots, but they are very close to each other, so don't expect much privacy.
It sits behind a smal stadium.
For the restrooms and shower you'll have to walk pretty far. These are just simple ones, like in a sportsclub usual. Shower is warm enouth but not hot (for my wife it was not hot enough).
Camphost is very friendly and will help you, if needed. We came in at about 8:30 pm without a reservation, she helped us with the booking and all went good.
45 $ per night with electric and water hookup.
MariScoutFay Bainbridge Park
$25 a night - not bad
For the price it’s pretty good. $25 a night! There’s a bathroom and a porta potty close by the campsite but no sink. You have to park in a close parking lot not at your site which we would prefer. Our site was very slanted and hard. Lots of bunnies hopping about. The only lone women’s shower is down near the beach. Same with the men’s. The beach is beautiful but covered in tiny thorns of some kind so don’t wear sandles or flip flops!! It will hurt you! The ocean is beautiful of course but lots of kelp so no swimming for us.
Guide to Des Moines
Camping options near Des Moines, Washington extend beyond the urban setting into surrounding forested areas within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at sea level along Puget Sound with typical Pacific Northwest rainfall patterns creating lush, green camping environments. Many campgrounds maintain year-round availability despite the rainy season from November through March when overnight temperatures average 35-45°F.
What to do
Water activities at Penrose Point State Park: Located on a wooded peninsula about 35 miles from Des Moines, this park offers calm waters for swimming, kayaking, and beachcombing. "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," notes Saraj B. of Dash Point State Park.
Hiking on forested trails: Many campgrounds feature shaded hiking paths through dense evergreen forests. "There are great hammock trees at nearly every site. Overall, it's beautiful," says Mike about Penrose Point State Park, which offers shoreline trails with views of the sound.
Beach exploration: Public beaches provide opportunities for shell collecting and wildlife viewing. "The beach is beautiful here! And the campsites are very secluded! There are tons of trees and bushes in between everybody's campsite," reports alexandrea L. about Penrose Point State Park.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Unlike the tight spacing mentioned at some urban campgrounds, several nearby options offer more seclusion. "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," writes Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park.
Cleanliness of facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," adds Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park. Similarly, at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, Jay F. notes, "Bathrooms in that loop were pretty nice... heated and very clean."
Historical features: Several parks contain interesting historical structures. "Look for the cement form lines on the buildings, they are only 18" high at best, this is because when they were built Portland cement hadn't been invented yet," explains Tom N. about Manchester State Park, which features military ruins.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Can get loud with local partiers and sketchy bookings," warns Joe C. about Saltwater State Park, emphasizing why reservations at more secluded spots are valuable.
Rain preparedness: Pacific Northwest camping often involves moisture management. "It rained... not a bad place to camp at all. I'd stay again," shares Sable about Fay Bainbridge Park, noting how proper gear can maintain comfort.
Park ranger presence: Some parks have active enforcement of rules. "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day," explains Kelly P. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, adding, "if you are a large group, like to stay up late and listen to music and/or party it might not be the campground for you."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," says Tanya B. about Fay Bainbridge Park, highlighting amenities beyond swimming.
Easy hiking options: Trails suitable for younger explorers exist at several parks. "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. about Dash Point State Park.
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities can enhance children's camping experiences. "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," mentions Sarah H. about Penrose Point State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some parks have terrain issues for larger vehicles. "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground," warns Cody F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Electric-only hookups: Many parks offer limited hookups. "Hook ups are electric only, bring your water. The first time we went we did not know and our Basecamp's heat runs via the hot water heater. It was cold!" advises Shay F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Proximity to resupply: The Des Moines area offers convenient access to urban amenities. "I spent a weekend tent camping at Dash Point State Park, and honestly, it was a great time even though I completely failed to plan any meals. Thankfully, civilization is only about 15 minutes away," shares Saraj B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Des Moines, WA?
What camping is available near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Des Moines, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 280 campgrounds and RV parks near Des Moines, WA and 34 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA?
Which is the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 77 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Des Moines, WA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 free dispersed camping spots near Des Moines, WA.
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