Yelm is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Yelm is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Yelm, WA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$12 - $45 / night
"This is a very nice, typical Washington state park with plenty of trees, greenery, hiking, pathways and even a lake."
"This is a beautiful park located on Deep Lake just outside of Olympia. The park itself is huge offering lots of options for campers. "
"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."
$40 - $60 / night
"We had a little trouble finding this spot because an industrial area moved in around the campground. Signs tell you where it is, but it feels wrong."
"Site #5 is close to main office where you can get wifi if you want, we declined though. Restrooms were good. No issues. Will definitely return again soon!"
"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."
$20 - $50 / night
"It's ffs camping, but it was the middle of the week so I had no trouble snagging a spot around 7."
"They took us around the farm and showed us the animals. We have a 38-foot trailer and had plenty of room to back in. At the end of the day, soaking in the hot tub was the best!"
$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."
$25 - $40 / night
"The sites are situated amongst beautiful tall trees, spacious and private. A beautiful creek runs through with a foot bridge with access to a beautiful meadow."
"Rainier NP and the town near by has some solid shops. The campsites are pretty private and there’s specific spots for your tent that has an extra layer of mulch underneath for cushioning."
$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."
"One of my favorite campgrounds in Washington! Lots of camping spots right on Lake Mayfield with tons of trails in and around the campground."
"Let me start off by saying - if there are so many campsites in Washington, why would you want to stay at the same place multiple times???
Ike Kinswa is the place I would stay at repeatedly."
GuideLarge sites that are pretty private. Lots of shade and trees. The bathrooms work well and were clean. Our site had a beautiful water view, but there was a trail that went by right next to the site limiting privacy.
GuideA great spot to hang out or use as a jump to the ocean beaches. Located along the Satsop River, Schafer State Park's new East Campground offers up a well designed and quiet alternative to the older West Campground, which is already well covered by reviewers. Addressing specifically the East, this newly opened camp shouts "Somebody finally gets it!". WSP took a probably forlorn area of riparian land and built a camping loop that is private, quiet, suitable for both tents and RV's. Good ADA sites. New yet typical WSP restrooms. Schafer as a whole might rate higher if this newer loop had any grass and the older loop more privacy.
LegendSo many places advertised themselves as a resort when they are not such. This place is very nice. Very well laid out. Beautiful trees and landscaping. Well maintained, full facilities in amenities, A1 staff - very friendly and helpful and wanting to please.
LegendI 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. There’s a grocery store, takeout options, and even coffee if you're feeling soft(I was).
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. Not exactly glamping, but comfortable. It was quiet at night and bathrooms were clean, which is all you can really ask for.
There were signs posted upon entry saying a Discover Pass is required. I wasn’t sure if that applied to campers too, but I already had one and didn’t want to ruin my weekend trying to interpret Washington State Parks signage. If you don’t have a pass, might be worth looking into before you go; I got mine at a nearby REI. 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, skipping rocks, or pretending you're in a moody PNW indie film (yes, I'm talking Twilight). There are also some nice forest trails for an easy hike or post-takeout digestion walk.
Why only 4 stars? It's tucked into the city so it's busy. You might hear a bit of road noise, depending on your site. But it’s a small price to pay for a low-effort, high-reward camping weekend.
TravelerNice state forest with old growth. Lots of walking trails and a lake. Many families and kids running free. Quieted down around 10pm. A bit pricey ($37 peak season) but very convenient if you're in Olympia and need a campsite late/on the fly. Clean bathrooms, water, and a (very cold) shower! As someone who usually disperse camps, the amenities were a nice luxury. No bugs this time of year.
LegendWe stayed here one night while heading north. Hoped to see Mt. St. Helens but it was overcast. Spoke with a very nice camp host. Clean bathrooms, one women’s shower. Walk to Mt. St. Helens visitor center. Very shaded and dense forest. No cell (occasionally 1 bar LTE AT&T). Too heavily forested for Starlink. Had to leave early Monday morning since we were working and needed internet.
TravelerWe stayed 3 nights at Toutle River RV Resort now owned by RV Inn Style chain. Quiet and respectful campers with paroling friendly staff. I5 access is perfect, although road and train noise could be bothersome for some campers as the campground is nestled in between. The camp store and pool were open. The playground, disk golf and basketball hoops accessible but the pickle ball courts had been removed since we last visited. Sites range from open to treed with many of the pick nick tables needing refurbished. Full hookups with gravel pads for 70+$$ per night. WiFi isn’t free, must be purchased. We had spotty cell service with Verizon though we were directly off I5 corridor. The public restrooms were clean, but mostly under construction while we were camping. Many full timers w/park models and trailer/RV’s sprinkled throughout the park. All-in-all we will stay here again in the future and happy to do so.
ScoutThe parking lot has many signs saying no camping. On the way into the parking though, there are three spots on the side of the road. Set up camp there. Very busy road. Other comments say they went up the road aways, there was a piece of metal sticking up across the road, wasn’t going over that. It was intended to keep people out. Where we stayed was slightly sketchy, lots of trash.
TravelerThis is a gravel road through the National Forest with a bunch of pull-offs where you can camp. It was nothing special but very quiet and peaceful other than one or two cars that passed by. Felt safe as a single tent camper
Camping near Yelm, Washington, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Hiking and Wildlife Watching: Explore the trails at Dash Point State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "Several miles of hiking trails and chances to see wildlife or catch frogs." This park is perfect for families wanting to enjoy nature together.
Beach Activities: At Alder Lake Park, you can swim, fish, or just relax by the water. A camper shared, "The lake is beautiful for kayaking, fishing, swimming in approved areas, canoeing, as well as water skiing."
Star Gazing: Many campgrounds, like Ike Kinswa State Park Campground, offer clear skies for stargazing. One visitor noted, "It’s really quiet in the spring and fall which is my favorite time to go."
Camping near Yelm, Washington, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Yelm, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 241 campgrounds and RV parks near Yelm, WA and 21 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Yelm, WA is Millersylvania State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 32 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Yelm, WA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Yelm, WA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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