Camping near University Place, Washington covers a range of options within a 30-mile radius, from full-hookup RV campgrounds to primitive tent sites and waterfront cabins. Dash Point State Park Campground in Federal Way and Penrose Point State Park in Lakebay offer tent and RV accommodations. Military members have access to specialized options at Camp Murray Beach and Lewis North Travel Camp on Joint Base Lewis McChord, which provide cabins and waterfront sites. Joemma Beach State Park offers one of the few dispersed camping opportunities in the area, operating seasonally from March through October.
Access and amenities vary significantly between campgrounds in the region. Most established sites require reservations, particularly during summer months when waterfront locations fill quickly. "Great spot on American Lake to camp with many sites on the waterfront. I would highly recommend this location to eligible military ID Card holders," noted one visitor about the JBLM Travel Camp. Hookup availability ranges from primitive tent sites to full-service RV spots with water, sewer, and electric connections. The proximity to Puget Sound means many campgrounds experience moderate year-round temperatures, though winter camping may involve considerable rainfall. Most campgrounds in the area remain open throughout the year, with a few seasonal exceptions like Saltwater State Park which operates May through September.
Waterfront access represents a major draw for campers in the University Place region. American Lake at the military campgrounds receives consistently positive reviews for swimming and fishing opportunities. Several visitors highlighted the value of full hookup sites for longer stays. Campers report that many locations provide a secluded forest setting despite proximity to urban areas. "Great place for a New Year's Eve trip... Super quiet area," mentioned one reviewer about Lewis North Travel Camp, noting the heated restrooms and camp store amenities. While some campgrounds accommodate large RVs with big-rig friendly sites, others focus primarily on tent camping and smaller recreational vehicles. Mixed-use campgrounds featuring a combination of tent sites, RV spaces, and occasional cabin options are common throughout the region, making University Place campgrounds a practical base for both short overnight stays and extended trips.
$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."
$32 / 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."
$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."
$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."
"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."
$12 / night
"We arrived little later around 6 p.m. And being such a nice day there were only few sites left."
"Conveniently located right next to the bathroom with an area for parking two vehicles. I have AT&T and had good service in this spot."
$8 - $32 / night
"Need to reserve your site online with the JBLM MWR or go to the adventure center building nearby on base. Nice access to American Lake and fishing nearby as well."
"This is a great spot on American Lake to camp with many sites on the waterfront. I would highly recommend this location to eligible military ID Card holders."
$50 / night
"The location is great, so close to the water, Penrose and other peninsula activities."
"Great location if you want to relax and take long walks at nearby state parks and beaches. Robyn is a spectacular host who was great to communicate with. We will be coming back."
"Super peaceful, great fire pit location, water at the site entrance, portable restrooms away (but close), and best of all right at the river’s edge."
"We needed something close to the city, but didn’t want to feel like we were in the city, this fit the bill. People are very friendly and accommodating. The park is really clean."
$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"
TravelerExtremely clean showers and toilets. Super friendly staff with on-site staff to help with your issues, super friendly! Close to casino if you are interested.
LegendNear Hoodsport.
Fee campground. Bathrooms with flush toilets. Coin operated showers.
Small general store.
Some RV sites are close together. But there are others with more distance.
Can hold up to a 40 foot RV. Some campsites have lake access.
TravelerFirst, the good points: the location is convenient to the northern Seattle area; the RV park surrounds a lake and is heavily wooded, very pretty, with hiking trails and a dog run; the park is surprisingly quiet considering how much traffic there is in the area; and it is close to a Safeway store.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this park due to its bad points: very expensive (overpriced) at more than $80 per night in their low season; the geese are really noisy and poop EVERYWHERE; the spaces are so narrow that you are practically on top of your neighbors, and you almost can’t put your slides out if you have slides on both sides of your RV; the sites are actually paved incorrectly, very un-level, off by 2 inches and more; the roads are so narrow I don’t know how any of the people in back-in spots managed to get backed in without damage to their vehicles; the park management is extremely inflexible on check-out or check-in. We had to rush out and left at 11:57am. They are the first rv park we have stayed at in over five years that does not take packages. Could not get my medical supplies I need for my health while we were there. Also, you cannot cancel unless you pay fees. We will not stay here again.
TravelerStayed here for 3 days at the start of March. Beautiful weather. We tow a 26ft travel trailer and reserved pull through site 3 which was nice and open and had lots of room for our trailer and tow vehicle. It needed a bit of leveling off on one side but nothing drastic. Walking the loop I'd say it was one of the best sites for a larger travel trailer that was also mostly level. The site is a bit of a walk to the restroom so if this matters to you, just know that. The park is on the smaller side but it makes great use of space. It was quiet and everyone kept their dogs leashed. Park host was very accessible and friendly. There is a dump station with potable water and our site also had water/electric (no sewer). Cell service worked great and we didn't have to use our starlink although our site was more open than others so I think it would've worked. If you have an EV there is a fast charging station at Fred Meyer about 17 minutes away.
ScoutEasy back in spot - we decided just to stay in the main casino parking lot because it was easy and we didn’t need black water hookups for this evening. Pretty simple but also .. a parking lot!
TravelerWe stayed for for a couple of nights this week. Other than the camp host, we were the only ones there. Lots of trails to explore and fun beachcombing. Water was turned off for the season, but the restrooms were functional.
TravelerSun was forecast these few days so we took our R Pod and headed here. Other than the camp hosts, we are the only campers here. Water is shut off for the winter, but the restrooms were fully functional. Fun beach combing and several nice trail to explore.
ScoutNot a large spot but plenty of room for car camping or even a single tent. It does get cold up here was about 32F when I was there.
Travelerhost was very nice, site is right across from easy water access. beautiful kayaking and many harbor seals.
dont leave anything unattended by the boat launch, we were stupid enough to leave our paddles there and one was stolen overnight oddly enough.
also minutes from 2 margaritas! cute small mexican resteraunt with a nice breakfast menu
Camping options near University Place, Washington extend beyond established parks to include waterfront access points and tent sites with varying seasonal availability. The region experiences average January lows of 37°F and July highs of 77°F, with significant rainfall (37 inches annually) concentrated between October and March. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations below 500 feet and face moderate wildfire risk during summer months.
Beach exploration at low tide: Dash Point State Park offers access to tidal pools and beachcombing along the Puget Sound shoreline. "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," notes Ingrid M. about Dash Point State Park Campground.
Fishing from dedicated piers: Joemma Beach State Park provides a long dock for anglers. "Long dock in the area where you can go fishing. You can walk along the beach as well," reports Diamond A. about the Joemma Beach State Park Campground.
Walking trails at varied difficulty levels: Penrose Point State Park features interpretive trails suitable for families. "Penrose Point Park nearby has a great beach and a fun interpretive trail to do with kids. Facilities were clean," according to Big_Tan_Turtle visiting Penrose Point State Park.
Water activities on American Lake: Military campgrounds provide direct lake access. "This is a great spot on American Lake to camp with many sites on the waterfront," reports Robert K. regarding Camp Murray Beach.
Private, wooded campsites: Many campgrounds near University Place feature tree cover between sites. "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," writes Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park Campground.
Proximity to urban amenities while feeling remote: Campsites maintain a wilderness feel despite urban proximity. "I spent a weekend tent camping at Dash Point State Park, and honestly, it was a great time even though I completely failed to plan any meals. Thankfully, civilization is only about 15 minutes away," shares Saraj B.
Warm swimming in protected coves: The water temperature at Penrose Point reaches comfortable levels for swimming in summer months. "The beach is a medium-length walk and very warm and swimmable for NW standards," notes Adrienne Q. about Penrose Point State Park Campground.
Year-round access at select sites: Some campgrounds maintain operations throughout winter. "Sites and restrooms were clean. We had a great time exploring the beaches," Rachel shares about her October visit to Penrose Point.
Airport noise impacts certain campgrounds: Saltwater State Park experiences significant aircraft traffic. "The planes fly by constantly but if you have noisy neighbors it's kind of nice," notes Mark M. about Saltwater State Park Campground.
Shower facilities require tokens or payment: Most state park campgrounds charge for shower use. "The showers are not near the entrance. There is firewood for sale, lots and lots of shade," explains Adrienne Q. about Penrose Point.
Cell service varies significantly: Coverage depends on location and carrier. "T-mobile service spotty - could not use hotspot. Had to drive about 15 mins down road to park to access 5G," reports Callie C. about Joemma Beach State Park.
Seasonal limitations for smaller parks: Several campgrounds operate on limited schedules. "The campground is open April 1– mid-December but the day use area is open year-round," notes a visitor to Saltwater State Park.
Select sites away from main roads: Campgrounds with internal loops offer quieter experiences. "Our site was near the entrance so traffic was heavy at times. Next trip we'll stay farther in," advises Adrienne Q. about Penrose Point.
Look for designated Junior Ranger programs: Some parks offer educational activities. "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," shares Sarah H. about Riverbend Campground.
Consider proximity to playgrounds: Recreation areas vary between parks. "Children and dog play grounds," notes Lai La L. about the amenities at Riverbend Campground.
Expect varying noise levels at different campgrounds: Some locations host more family gatherings than others. "I had to cap the families because our first night Campsite Karen went crazy because I was camping with kids," warns Katiedawn V. about Joemma Beach State Park.
Book hookup sites well in advance: Limited RV sites with full services fill quickly. "W/s/e at each site. Great stay for the price. Laundry washers work well, but driers don't heat up," advises William B. about Lewis North Travel Camp.
Military ID holders have expanded options: Several quality RV parks restrict access. "To a military ID card holder, you won't find a better deal. Full hookups, sites are a bit close, but the campground loop makes it feel spacious," explains Paul B. about Holiday Park Military camp.
Consider concrete pad availability: Some sites offer improved parking surfaces. "We got site 106 which was the furthest one out, it was right along the river. The site has a concrete slab and fit our Jayco 174BH perfectly," shares Doug about Riverbend Campground.
Check dump station hours: Not all campgrounds offer 24-hour access. "The site had water and electrical, but no sewer connections. They do have a nice dump station," notes Doug about Riverbend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near University Place, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, University Place, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 276 campgrounds and RV parks near University Place, WA and 32 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near University Place, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near University Place, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near University Place, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 free dispersed camping spots near University Place, WA.
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