The South Puget Sound region surrounding Anderson Island, Washington features a mix of state parks and private campgrounds accessible by ferry or mainland routes. Penrose Point State Park, located on the Key Peninsula about 10 miles from Anderson Island, offers year-round camping with tent and RV sites in a forested setting with beach access. Nearby Joemma Beach State Park provides seasonal camping from March through October with waterfront views. Dash Point State Park in Federal Way, approximately 20 miles northeast of Anderson Island, combines wooded campsites with beach access and hiking trails, creating a natural retreat despite its proximity to urban areas.
Washington State Parks in the region typically require a Discover Pass for day use, which costs $30 annually. Most campgrounds near Anderson Island maintain clean facilities but offer varying levels of privacy between sites. As one camper noted about Dash Point: "The campground is tucked into a beautiful, forested area with plenty of trees and privacy between sites. It was quiet at night and bathrooms were clean." Road noise can be an issue at some locations, particularly those near highways. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with stronger signals at campgrounds closer to urban centers. Weather conditions remain mild year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for rain and temperatures that occasionally drop below freezing.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in this region. Sites with water views tend to fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. Many visitors appreciate the balance between natural settings and proximity to services. According to one reviewer of a nearby state park: "Close enough to town for any necessities but far enough to get the secluded feeling." RV campers will find several parks with hookups, including Millersylvania State Park south of Olympia and Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor, though site privacy varies considerably. Tent campers generally have more options for secluded sites, particularly in the wooded sections of state parks. Traffic noise affects some campgrounds, with several reviewers noting highway sounds as a drawback at otherwise scenic locations.
$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."
$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."
$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. "
$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."
"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."
$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."
$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 - $50 / night
"Tucked away remote campsite in a forest next to estuary. Two sites have hookups. Clean restrooms with shower."
"Site 8 is a pull through and is very large, but not so private as everyone walking to the main dock walks right past your site."
$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!"
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 spots near Anderson Island, Washington offer a mix of beachfront access and forested retreats around the South Puget Sound. The average elevation in this region is just 200-300 feet above sea level, creating mild temperature variations between coastal and inland sites. Campgrounds typically remain open year-round with winter temperatures rarely dropping below 35°F, though some smaller parks like Joemma Beach operate seasonally from March through October.
Beach exploration at low tide: Jarrell Cove State Park provides excellent opportunities for discovering marine life. According to one camper, "When the tide goes down the rocky beach comes out full of crabs and other treasures that were fun to find" and "A short drive to Harstine Island state park is great for collecting sand dollars and clams, you see a ton of little crabs and we went kayaking."
Hiking forest trails: Dash Point State Park features several well-maintained paths for all skill levels. A visitor noted, "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." Another camper mentioned, "There are also some nice forest trails for an easy hike or post-takeout digestion walk."
Fishing and boating: Penrose Point State Park offers water access ideal for anglers. "This park is on an east-facing peninsula in the south of the sound. Views are rolling wooded hills, with some shorelines to explore. It's not the most exceptional park in this area if you're looking for classic PNW experiences, but it is a great camping site if you just want to take your boat out."
Privacy between campsites: Many campers appreciate the natural buffers at certain parks. At Dash Point State Park, one reviewer stated, "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."
Clean facilities: Millersylvania State Park maintains well-kept amenities despite high usage. "Clean facilities, some nice perks like a beer garden and ice cream and the lake is great. You're packed in pretty close to each other, but the trees provide pretty good insulation."
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings are common at several campgrounds in the region. At Jarrell Cove State Park, a camper observed, "Several deer came up throughout the day to eat the apples off the ground and trees in those spots, that was fun." Another mentioned, "I read previous reviews and they do have deer that roam and when we pulled up there was one at our site to greet us."
Reservation requirements vary: While most state parks require advance booking, some smaller locations offer first-come options. At Joemma Beach State Park, "It is now reservable online, but if you get there and there is an available spot it is $12 a night that you pay at site. The host is on site and checks the areas very regularly."
Cell service inconsistency: Signal strength varies significantly by location and provider. At Jarrell Cove State Park, visitors report "zero Verizon cell service," while at Lakebay Getaway, a camper noted, "We use Verizon and no issues."
Payment options: Many campgrounds require specific payment methods. At Joemma Beach State Park, "You get the little slip, fill out the info and out cash/check and deposit the envelope portion, keep the detachable slip and display on vehicle." For shower facilities at Penrose Point, "There's only 1 shower per bathroom, and you have to pay to make it work... it's tokens, not quarters."
Look for kid-friendly amenities: Riverbend Campground offers specific areas for children. As one visitor mentioned, "Friendly staff, nice river walks and nice picnic spots. Children and dog play grounds."
Plan for busy weekends: Family-oriented parks fill quickly during summer months. A Penrose Point camper advised, "The campground was full with lots of families with young kids (guilty as charged) but the sites felt relatively private and the whole park is heavily wooded. Bathrooms are clean!"
Pack for temperature changes: Despite mild daytime temperatures, evenings can cool significantly. At Joemma Beach, "It got little chilly at night but wasn't too bad." Another camper at Penrose Point noted, "Honestly,if you have a boat or kyak absolutly check this place out. If you don't care about entertaining young kids and just want a quiet, relaxing, off grid place to watch the water this is your spot."
Site dimensions matter: Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor offers pull-through sites but space can be limited. A camper noted, "The spaces are very close together, but there are a lot of trees and it's very well kept. The facilities and grounds are clean and well cared for. I stayed for almost three weeks and it was quiet and relaxing, despite how close together the sites are."
Consider hookup locations: At some campgrounds, utility connections may require planning. One Riverbend Campground visitor shared, "This site does is a back in, but the slab is at a 90 degree angle from the drive. So you will have to back your trailer around a corner if you plan to park it on the slab. Didn't see other sites like this."
Check for dump stations: Not all parks with RV sites offer full hookups. At Penrose Point State Park, "There are two sites here with hookups. No dump station on the grounds. Site 8 is a pull through and is very large, but not so private as everyone walking to the main dock walks right past your site."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Anderson Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Anderson Island, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 259 campgrounds and RV parks near Anderson Island, WA and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Anderson Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Anderson Island, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Anderson Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 free dispersed camping spots near Anderson Island, WA.
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