Tacoma camping options extend beyond the nearby glamping sites into traditional tent and RV experiences. Located on the southern edge of Puget Sound at approximately 380 feet above sea level, the area's moderate maritime climate creates a camping season that runs from April through October with occasional rain even in summer months. Most campgrounds within a 50-mile radius of Tacoma feature second-growth forest settings with Douglas fir and western red cedar providing natural shade.
What to do
Waterfront activities at Dash Point: Located just 20 minutes from downtown Tacoma, this state park offers beach access with opportunities for wading 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. It's more of a rocky, muddy beach than a sandy one, but it's still great for exploring," shares Saraj B., who visited Dash Point State Park Campground.
Explore forest trails: Camp Lakeview provides access to hiking trails through old-growth forests with opportunities to spot local wildlife. "The tent spots are clustered together in 2 areas with a shared covered pavilion...Overall, not a bad place to camp at all. Close to the beach," notes Sable from Camp Lakeview, where visitors can find both waterfront recreation and forest trails.
Kayaking and river wading: For river-based activities, Kanaskat-Palmer State Park offers access to the Green River with designated put-in spots. "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," according to Ashlie M., who adds that the campground has "clean bathrooms and free showers."
What campers like
Proximity to Mount Rainier: Elkamp Eastcreek serves as an excellent base for exploring Mount Rainier National Park. "It would be a great base for exploring the south side of Mt. Rainier as it is within minutes of the Nisquilly entrance. The majority of the campsites were amid tall trees," notes Shannon H., who appreciated the Elkamp Eastcreek facilities and location.
Privacy between sites: While many campgrounds near urban areas tend to be crowded, Kanaskat-Palmer offers more seclusion. "Quiet campground with decent privacy between sites. We stayed just one night at site 42, which was on a corner and offered a good amount of privacy and easy access to the clean bathrooms. It's a short walk to the river where we watched the kayakers," says Rachel from Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at Dash Point. "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. The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," writes Brittany D.
What you should know
Road noise and planes: Some campgrounds near Tacoma have noise issues due to proximity to urban areas. At Saltwater State Park, "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), so if you don't mind the noise, or LOVE airplanes (like we do), this is an Awesome campground!!!" explains Travis P. from Saltwater State Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds require advance planning. At Dash Point, weekend reservations often fill up weeks in advance, especially during summer months.
Yurt camping options: For those seeking yurt camping near Tacoma, Washington, several parks offer this hybrid camping experience. Millersylvania State Park provides yurt accommodations with sturdy floors and basic furnishings approximately 30 miles south of Tacoma.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fay Bainbridge Park offers excellent facilities for children. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," notes Tanya B., who visited Fay Bainbridge Park with her family. The pirate-themed playground provides entertainment for younger campers.
Lake swimming options: For families seeking swimming areas safer than Puget Sound, look for parks with lake access. "There's a day use lake and we had a wonderful time camping here!" mentions one reviewer about Dash Point State Park.
Ranger interactions: At Kanaskat-Palmer, rangers maintain an active presence. "The park rangers are no joke...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 too loud," shares Kelly P., explaining that while sometimes annoying, "ultimately as this campground is so close to town I know it's these efforts that keep the campground safe and pleasant."
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Riverbend Campground offers both partial and full hookup sites. "The site had water and electrical, but no sewer connections. They do have a nice dump station," notes Doug, who visited Riverbend Campground in his travel trailer. Many campgrounds offer electric-only sites, requiring water fills and dump station use.
Leveling challenges: Some older campgrounds have unlevel sites. "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," shares Cody F. about his stay at Kanaskat-Palmer with his 30-foot motorhome.
Waterfront RV sites: For RVers who want water views, Belfair State Park offers waterfront pull-through sites. "That is the waterfront loop, the tent loop is also quite nice and a bit more private but we have not stayed there. My chief complaint is that there are no restrooms on the waterfront loop," mentions Doug, who frequently camps there.
