Camping options around Puyallup, Washington range from military facilities to state parks and private retreats. The area features established campgrounds like Game Farm Wilderness Campground in Auburn, which offers 18 campsites with water and electricity hookups, as well as Holiday Park Military at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for those with military access. Dash Point State Park Campground in Federal Way and Kanaskat-Palmer State Park in Ravensdale provide year-round camping opportunities within 30 miles of Puyallup, accommodating tents, RVs, and in some locations, cabins and yurts.
Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, especially during the peak summer season from May through September. Game Farm Wilderness Campground and other public sites can fill quickly, particularly on weekends. Several locations offer full hookups for RVs, including electric, water, and sewer connections. Winter camping is available at multiple sites, though with reduced services. Road access varies by location, with most campgrounds accessible by standard vehicles. As noted in feedback on The Dyrt, "Arrived just a few min too late... This looked like a pretty good campground. I could see open tenting spots from the road, even! But I was unable to get in early in the evening with nowhere else to go. Too strict!"
Campers report mixed experiences with amenities and service at campgrounds in the area. Netties Mountain View Retreat receives consistently high ratings for its hospitality and views of Mount Rainier. A visitor noted, "The view of the mountain is breath taking and the host has done an amazing job at creating a beautiful camp ground space to camp in or hook up an RV." Military facilities like Holiday Park on Lewis-McChord Base provide clean facilities with full hookups, though cell signal may be weak in some areas. The proximity to Seattle and Mount Rainier National Park makes this region popular for both quick weekend getaways and longer stays. Campgrounds offering fire pits, picnic tables, and shower facilities tend to receive higher ratings, with waterfront locations particularly sought after during summer months.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$20 / night
"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."
$20 / night
"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!"
"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."
$60 / night
"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"
$40 - $60 / night
"Convenient drive to Mt Rainier and Summit lake trail as well. Definitely worth every penny! "
"Convenient location near Mt. Rainier."
$35 - $58 / night
"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."
$12 - $35 / night
"Very friendly next to the lake plenty of things to do walking, biking, hiking, fishing, Military museums, not to far off of I-5. Full hookups laundry shower facilities. Cabins too."
"Unfortunately the restrooms right next to our site were closed so it was a slight walk to the nearest restroom. Restrooms were heated and well taken care of."
$25 - $42 / night
"It's about an hours drive from Paradise, which makes it less ideal than Cougar Rock if that's your destination, but the reservations do not fill up nearly as quickly."
"Walking distance to the day use beach area. Very clean showers. Well maintained sites and fire wood for sale with the camp host. A great spot for exploring near Mt. Rainer."
$57 - $104 / night
"Close by stores, trails, parks, harbor. Tacoma across bridge (10 minutes - $6.25 toll)."
"Costco, Home Depot, Albertsons and other shopping close by."
"This campground has super friendly staff, decent bathrooms and showers, laundry facility, access to a lake, fishing is welcome, swimming allowed, great playground for kids, allows pets, has a small store"
"It was a larger site that sits next to the small creek. It was very pleasant and quiet. The bath house isn’t too far and was usually well stocked and clean."
GuideGorgeous 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!
ScoutVFW 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.
ScoutBeautiful 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!
GuideIt is first come first serve in may and it was not even half full. Gorgeous trees and secluded drive up rv spots. Big metal fire pits and picnic tables. Bear boxes if you can’t leave food in your vehicle. So cool to wake in the morning and just hike from where you are!
GuideWe could not find an rv park willing to rent to us for 1 day before returning our van the next morning to roadsurfer and flying out of SeaTac. This one did and they were so nice. Last minute on our way from mt ranier called and got a 1 night full hookup for the van. We could fill up water and dump before our return. Also took showers in their shower house and bathrooms. They have laundry as well. Everything is clean and everyone was super nice. Lots of nice campers stored and people who have made this their temporary home away from home. It’s old and right next to the highway. No fire pits and just a little grass but we couldn’t be happier!
GuideWe stayed at one of these dispersed camping spots memorial weekend. Wonderful spot. Plenty of room for our 3 dogs to play around in. Only one issue. Whoever was there before is pretty much emptied all their trash out there. We had extra trash bags so we bagged it all but we didn’t have a truck to load it and take it out. It was like 4 or 5 bags full and some random shelving. So weird. Why are some people like this.
Other than that it was a perfect spot for us.
TravelerThe free dispersed camping at Riffe Lake was wonderful. The views were amazing. It was quite accepting for the few RV’ers who ran their generators all night. But it didn’t bother us since we were in an RV ourselves (we just didn’t run our generator after 8pm). It was clean accept for a pile of trash bags left by one rude family. The lake is gorgeous, the rocks and driftwood were fun to sift through and the sunset was breathtaking. I highly recommend and we will stay again!
TravelerThe dispersed campground at Riffe Lake was such a peaceful spot everything was clean, quiet, and well kept. The view of the lake and surrounding mountains was absolutely beautiful, especially during sunset. It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy nature, and escape for a little while.
ScoutNice but noisy from the freeway.
Campgrounds near Puyallup, Washington range from spacious sites with river access to lakefront options with swimming docks. Most sites are accessible year-round with varying levels of privacy and amenities. Winter camping is available throughout the region, though campers should expect reduced services and cooler temperatures averaging 35-45°F from November through February.
Hike to river spots: At Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, visitors can access the Green River via short trails for fishing or wading. "Short hike to river spots that are perfect for wading or fishing. 10 minute drive from Deep Lake which is beautiful and great for swimming and paddle boarding," notes Ashlie M.
Explore marine areas: The Puget Sound shoreline at Dash Point State Park Campground offers beach walking and tide pool exploration. "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. It's more of a rocky, muddy beach than a sandy one," writes Saraj B.
Enjoy water recreation: Many campgrounds feature lakefront access for swimming and boating. At Camp Lakeview, "People were fishing, paddle boarding and swimming. They have a little store in case you forget something and firewood that's way cheaper than buying elsewhere," according to Kira M.
Privacy between sites: Dash Point State Park Campground receives praise for its site separation. "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," reports Brittany D.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. At Penrose Point State Park Campground, "Sites and restrooms were clean. We had a great time exploring the beaches. Sites were reasonably private and quiet at night (except for a brief invasion of 6 raccoons at our site one night!)" shares Rachel.
Close-to-city convenience: Many campsites offer nature experiences without long drives. "This is a cute campground, especially if you don't want to be too far from the city. I was impressed by how spread apart the sites were, I think they could have fit another in between each of them!" says Katie S. about Dash Point.
Reservation timing: Campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer. At Game Farm Wilderness Campground, reservations open January 1st for the year. One camper noted arrival difficulties: "This looked like a pretty good campground. I could see open tenting spots from the road, even! But I was unable to get in early in the evening with nowhere else to go. Too strict!"
Park ranger presence: Some campgrounds have active staff enforcement. At Kanaskat-Palmer, "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 as myself and three 9-year-old girls were talking (no music etc) too loud," reports Kelly P.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Puyallup, WA?
Puyallup offers excellent access to diverse camping experiences. Dash Point State Park Campground stands out for its clean, beautifully laid-out sites and friendly staff, making it a top choice for families. Only 20 minutes from Puyallup, it offers a forested retreat near Tacoma. For those willing to drive a bit farther, Kanaskat-Palmer State Park near Ravensdale provides river access and well-maintained facilities about 30 minutes east. Both parks require reservations during peak season. If you're looking for something more rustic, there are several options within Mount Rainier National Park about an hour's drive southeast, offering spectacular mountain views and hiking opportunities.
What campgrounds near Puyallup offer water access or riverside camping?
Silver Springs Campground offers exceptional riverside camping with well-distributed sites right next to the water. Sites numbered 2-10 are particularly desirable as they're closest to the river. For those seeking a more rugged experience, White River Dispersed Camping provides beautiful riverside spots about 10-15 minutes from Mount Rainier National Park's Sunrise entrance. These free sites are perfect for those who want to fall asleep to the sound of flowing water. Both locations offer different experiences—Silver Springs provides more amenities and designated sites, while White River offers a more primitive camping experience with fewer facilities but greater solitude. Visit during weekdays if possible, as riverside sites tend to fill quickly on summer weekends.
Are there campgrounds with restroom facilities near Puyallup?
Many campgrounds near Puyallup feature quality restroom facilities. Game Farm Wilderness Campground offers clean restrooms and water facilities within a convenient distance from Puyallup. For a more premium experience, Penrose Point State Park Campground has well-maintained restroom facilities with flush toilets and hot showers, making it perfect for families or those who prefer additional comfort while camping. Most Washington State Parks in the region maintain year-round restroom facilities, though some may reduce services during winter months. If heading to Mount Rainier area, even Camp Muir at high elevation offers solar toilets. Always check the specific campground's amenities before your trip, as service levels can vary seasonally.
What RV parks are available in Puyallup, Washington?
Puyallup and its surrounding areas offer several options for RV campers. Lake Pleasant RV Park is one of the nicest parks with competitive rates near the Seattle area, featuring a charming man-made duck pond and easy access to major highways. Eagle Tree RV Park is another option, though be aware that some sites are close to the highway with associated noise. For those with military connections, Holiday Park Military - Lewis McChord Base near Tacoma offers big-rig friendly sites. Most RV parks in the region provide full hookups, but availability can be limited during summer months and especially during the Puyallup Fair in September, so advance reservations are strongly recommended.
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