Cabin camping options thrive near Seattle, offering recreational diversity across Puget Sound's eastern shores and mountain foothills. Most cabins provide year-round access despite the region's wet season from November through March. Cabin sites typically range from highly developed resort-style accommodations to rustic structures with minimal amenities.
What to do
Water activities at beach campgrounds: Lake Pleasant RV Park maintains a central pond where "watching the resident ducks in the pond" creates relaxing entertainment. According to campers, "the view from water is stunning... Just a long hike back up!" at Illahee State Park Campground.
Hiking local trails: The forested areas around Tolt MacDonald Park offer "plenty of trees to hang your hammock in" with "nice forest trails for an easy hike or post-takeout digestion walk." The park maintains "walking trails, playground for the kids, and watching the resident ducks in the pond."
Wildlife viewing: Campers at Dosewallips State Park report "every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river and see lots of elk and bald eagles." The park "has elk that walk through it and is right on the river."
What campers like
Proximity to urban conveniences: At Dash Point State Park Campground, "civilization is only about 15 minutes away. There's a grocery store, takeout options, and even coffee if you're feeling soft." Campers appreciate that "it's a cute campground, especially if you don't want to be too far from the city."
Water access: At Vasa Park Resort, visitors enjoy "access to swim, paddle, picnic" on Lake Sammamish shoreline. One visitor notes the resort is "gorgeous and very quiet and right on the water. The bathroom, laundromat, etc. are sparkling clean."
Private sites: Campers at Tall Chief Campground appreciate that "most sites are pretty big too. We can easily fit our trailer, tow vehicle, and extra vehicle and still have space!" The campground offers "large private sites. It feels like you are deep in the PNW rainforest but you close to amenities and shopping."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most Seattle-area campgrounds require advance booking through online systems. At popular sites like Blake Island Marine State Park Campground, "you do need a boat or a ticket on the Argosy to get here, but it's so worth it!"
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience urban noise. At Dash Point State Park, "it's tucked into the city so it's busy. You might hear a bit of road noise, depending on your site." At Saltwater State Park, "planes fly by constantly" as it sits under the Sea-Tac flight path.
Hookup limitations: Many parks offer partial hookups only. At Tall Chief Campground, "no sites have sewer hookups. This is fairly understandable though as it appeared that a service needs to pump the septic tank by the dump station for the entire park."
Weather preparations: The Seattle area experiences significant rainfall from October through April. Waterproof tents and rain gear remain essential even during summer months when occasional showers occur. Dosewallips State Park campers note "rain was nice to enjoy through the windows" of their RV.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fay Bainbridge Park offers "a pirate ship playground for children" and "great beach walk and good camp sites." One visitor noted it's "great for families that looks to be kept really clean."
Swimming areas: Vasa Park Resort maintains "beautiful beach area, basketball courts, playground, and volleyball right at the site." Fay Bainbridge provides "beach volleyball courts, a covered rec area, kids jungle gym, and (relatively) clean bathrooms."
Easy trails: Dash Point State Park features "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." The trails maintain "the privacy between each of the camping spots, the bird life, the wild and deep forest vibes."
Pet-friendly sites: Dog friendly campgrounds near Seattle like Tolt MacDonald and Dosewallips State Park welcome leashed pets. Blake Island Marine State Park offers "a unique opportunity for campers with dogs to explore a car-free island environment."
Tips from RVers
Dump station access: RVers at Lake Pleasant note the park offers "water, propane, and a dump. They also have great long-term rates." Visitors should check if "Discover Pass is required. I wasn't sure if that applied to campers too."
Electricity limitations: At Tall Chief Campground, "the majority of the sites are only 30 amp with antiquated posts. There are a few 50 amp sites but from what I saw they were all taken by RVers that are there on a more permanent basis."
Site selection: At Fay Bainbridge Park, "campsite 10 looks to be the best as it has a little canopy tree and is in the corner without obstruction for a view of the Puget Sound." The park features "water and electric hookup, picnic table, fire pit at each site with additional bathroom with a shower for the grounds."
Cell reception: At some forested campgrounds like Tall Chief, "trying to find a site with good cell reception due to all the trees" can be challenging. Campers recommend "arrive early so you can drive by all the sites while checking to make sure you have good reception if you need it."
