Glamping options near Tenino, Washington typically reach capacity by mid-summer, with weekends fully booked 2-3 months in advance during peak season. Located at the southern edge of the Puget Sound lowlands, this region experiences mild summers with average daytime temperatures between 70-80°F and cool, wet winters. Most glamping accommodations maintain limited winter availability while reducing services, with several parks closing tent-focused amenities from October through April.
What to do
Paddle Silver Lake: Alder Lake Park offers excellent paddling options with designated areas. "There is a blocked off no wake area for those that wish to swim fun and the rest of the lake is for small motorized water craft," notes one visitor to Alder Lake Park.
Hike old-growth forest trails: Lewis & Clark State Park features well-maintained paths through ancient trees. "In the morning, we hiked the old growth loop prior to resuming our journey," shares a camper at Lewis & Clark State Park Campground, who appreciated the "beautiful sites, facilities, and walking trails."
Explore Mt. St. Helens: Many campgrounds serve as convenient base camps for volcano visits. "If you want to see Spirit Lake etc, you will want to camp closer to the mountain. From Sequest State Park, it was a 10 hour day to do the loop in order to see the east side," advises a visitor to Seaquest State Park.
Visit interpretive centers: Educational facilities highlight regional geology and history. "The visitor center was a short 1 mile walk from the campground that had an under road tunnel leading under the highway," mentions a camper at Seaquest State Park.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded spots despite high occupancy. At Ike Kinswa State Park Campground, campers appreciate that "the campground is heavily wooded which is really nice for shade" and "we could not see either of the neighboring sites while sitting by our campfire."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms receive consistent praise. "The bathrooms work well and were clean," reports a visitor to Ike Kinswa, while another camper at Elkamp Eastcreek calls it "the nicest campground bathrooms we have ever experienced."
Family amenities: Kid-friendly features make family camping easier. "The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers... My kids enjoyed playing in the sand and watching deer from our campsite," shares a visitor to Alder Lake Park.
Lake access: Water activities rank highly in summer months. "We had a pull-through site right across from the dumpster, bathrooms, and camp host. There are ample trails throughout the park including a lovely trail along the lake, which is not far from the campground," notes a Millersylvania visitor.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between parks. "Limited cell service with T-Mobile but it still works! Free WiFi in the day use area," reports a camper at Seaquest State Park Campground.
Seasonal closures: Many facilities reduce operations in winter. "The park is on their winter schedule so only sites 1-7 and 226-248 were open. It made for a nice, quiet weekend even though the open sites were 80% full," notes a Thanksgiving weekend visitor to Millersylvania.
Water quality concerns: Some parks experience temporary issues. One Lewis & Clark visitor noted "a current e coli water warning which was displayed throughout camp on all water spigots," which prompted the park to place "hand sanitizer in the restrooms, which was a great concession."
Highway noise: Some sites experience road noise, particularly at parks with highway adjacency. At Lewis & Clark, "The RV section had six spots. 3 of those spots back up to a busy paved road with traffic. The road is mere feet from the camper," cautions one visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Choose parks with playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "My kids loved the addition of a playground. Many parks dont have this and it kept them entertained for hours," shares a visitor to Seaquest State Park.
Look for junior ranger programs: Educational activities engage children during summer stays. At Seaquest, a camper appreciated "a great Junior Ranger program with a very enthusiastic park ranger that kept the almost 50 people/kids entertained."
Consider off-peak visits: Shoulder season offers quieter experiences with fewer mosquitoes. "No bugs this time of year," noted a late-season Millersylvania camper, while another visitor to Riverbend Campground mentioned their site "was right along the river" and "the campground did have at least 2 pet areas."
Reserve early for summer weekends: Popular sites book quickly, especially lake-adjacent options. "This place books up so fast. Make reservations early," advises an Ike Kinswa visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Research specific site features before booking. "We had a pull-through site... As we were on the outer part of the loop, we had a view of the woods and quite a bit of space between neighboring sites," shares an Ike Kinswa visitor.
Full hookup availability varies: Many parks offer limited premium sites. "The site had water and electrical, but no sewer connections. They do have a nice dump station," notes one RV camper.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require extra equipment. "The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because our site had a huge mud puddle from the road going to the power and water hook-up. The thin layer of mud on the pavement made things quite slick as I was trying to get leveling blocks down," shares a Millersylvania visitor.
Check site dimensions: Older parks may have tight turns or limited space. "It can make it tricky to get into a spot if you have slide outs," cautions an Ike Kinswa RVer.
