Tent camping near Roy, Washington offers numerous options on the southern side of Mount Rainier National Park. The camping elevation ranges from 1,800 to 4,500 feet, with summer temperatures typically between 45-80°F. Forest Service roads leading to dispersed campsites often require high-clearance vehicles, especially on FR-7810 and the Buck Creek area routes.
What to do
Explore local wildlife sanctuaries: The Healing Farm near Roy offers a unique camping experience alongside animal interactions. "This was our very first Hipcamp stay, and it completely blew us away... We gathered eggs, milked goats, fed a porcupine and capybaras, cuddled baby bunnies, met a joey in a pouch, hung out with emus, and even snuggled with goats," shares a camper who visited with their family.
Paddle pristine waters: Hope Island Marine State Park provides boat-in camping on a secluded island. "We kayaked here from Boston Harbor on a beautiful summer week-end... Several vault toilets throughout the campground, picnic tables on the water, beaches, hiking trails and the change to dig for clams in the right season," notes a visitor who enjoyed the marine sanctuary.
Hike backcountry routes: For those willing to trek, Eagles Roost Camp offers secluded sites accessed via hiking trails. "We hiked in from Mowich Lake and this being my first time backpacking since I was 10 it was a fairly easy hike, 2 miles from where we parked and while this campground is at roughly the same elevation you still get a fair bit of up and down," explains a camper who visited during Labor Day weekend.
What campers like
Protection from elements: Mowich Lake Campground provides strategically situated sites. "The campground is beautiful for car campers! It's a loop layout with trash/recycle, bathrooms and designated box type platforms for the tents," reports a camper who appreciated the organization of the facilities.
River proximity: White River Dispersed Camping attracts tent campers seeking waterside sites. "There are plenty of space and camping areas. Nice view of the river. A bit crowded around the weekend," mentions a recent visitor who found multiple options along the waterway.
Privacy options: Some tent sites offer seclusion from neighboring campers. "Set slightly down the hill from the trail there are 6 sites that I could find, although one of them is #7. While you can be fairly close to fellow campers you still get a good sense of privacy. All of the sites have good level tent pads and enough room for at least 2 tents," describes a hammock camper at Eagles Roost Camp.
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to some tent camping areas requires navigating rough terrain. "The first time I came here was solo camping. That was scary especially because there was a collapsed tree on top of a truck that was abandoned," warns a visitor to White River Dispersed Camping, highlighting potential challenges.
Reservation requirements: Ipsut Creek Backcountry Campground needs advance planning. "We have an America Beautiful pass which I highly recommend because it pays off quickly. We were actually able to use that pass for the campground so it only costed $5 a night," advises a camper who stayed while hiking in Mount Rainier National Park.
Water source locations: Most dispersed sites lack potable water. "Water is from a small waterfall .2 miles from the camp and an easy walk," notes a camper at Eagles Roost regarding the nearest natural source that requires filtration.
Tips for camping with families
Animal experiences: The Healing Farm offers youth-oriented activities. "This was one of the best camping experiences I have ever had. I always go 1 time a year camping with my adult kids and grandkids. (They are under 10 years old). It is hard to find a place to be fun for younger children, but the healing farm was awesome," shares a grandparent who brought their family.
Site selection for groups: Choose locations with proper spacing for multiple tents. "Site 6: great site for a larger group there are 3 good spots for tents and possibilities for 1-2 hammocks," recommends a visitor to Eagles Roost Camp who assessed each campsite for capacity.
Safety considerations: Monitor children near fast-moving water. "Be careful of getting too close to the river because it looks like the earth can erode and break away into the river (why the trees collapse)," cautions a repeat visitor to White River Dispersed Camping about riverbank stability.
Tips from RVers
Vehicle clearance requirements: Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead presents challenges for larger vehicles. "Not suitable for anything wider than a class B. In my opinion this area is not suitable for winter camping. In my opinion if this road got congested it would become pretty dangerous," warns an RVer about the steep access road.
Limited RV options: Many tent camping areas near Roy restrict vehicle sizes. "I drove 5 mi up the road. There are few houses on the side of the road. Speed limit is a maximum 15 mph. There are signs posted thinking drivers for slowing down," notes a visitor regarding narrow access points around Rock Candy Mountain.
Parking constraints: Some campgrounds separate vehicles from tent sites. "You can't park next to your site, no fires allowed. Bit of a rough ride to get up there but totally worth it," explains a Mowich Lake camper about the parking situation requiring equipment to be carried to platforms.
