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Schafer State Park Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Schafer State Park Campground, near Elma, Washington, is a cozy spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without too much fuss. The campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, with some areas providing a decent amount of space for your setup, making it easy to get comfortable.

One of the highlights here is the proximity to the Satsop River, which is perfect for splashing around or casting a line, though the water can be a bit shallow for serious fishing. Visitors have enjoyed the nearby walking trails, with one reviewer mentioning a “figure eight hiking loop” that showcases some lovely terrain and vegetation.

While the facilities could use some TLC, including the bathrooms, many campers appreciate the laid-back vibe and the chance to gather with friends and family. As one group noted, they had a great time setting up a kitchen and firepit area, making the most of their stay. Just keep in mind that the campground is close to a major road, so you might hear some traffic noise.

If you’re looking for a place to unwind and enjoy nature, Schafer State Park Campground has its charm, especially for those who don’t mind a little rustic feel.

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Location

Schafer State Park Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

Located 12 miles north of Elma, Wash., on the East Fork of the Satsop River in Mason County. From Elma: Drive 12 miles north on the East Satsop Road. The park is also accessible via the Brady exit from U.S. Hwy. 12. This route offers a scenic 10-mile drive.

Coordinates

47.097839979810274 N
123.46639913532314 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
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    Verizon
    No Coverage
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    AT&T
    No Coverage

Drive Time

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • WiFi
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

13 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2025

Great

There was a huge spider at the women’s restroom door that my wife says was asking her for snacks. Other than that this place was very nice and had a ton of lush vegetation and ferns. Beautiful. Also, we watched Harry and the Hendersons here.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by TheFoxphire F., September 23, 2025
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by TheFoxphire F., September 23, 2025
Reviewed Jul. 27, 2025

Great Park with Beautiful New Campground

Just stayed at Schafer State Park and had a great visit. The ranger was so friendly and helpful when we arrived. The sites on the West side of E Satsop Rd are the original sites. We were originally reserved for 55, but ended up switching. 51-55 are pretty compact and small, but there are some really great, private sites on the West side, especially 45-50. The campground on the East side of E Satsop Rd, where the Welcome Center is, is brand new and gorgeous - sites are spacious and well spaced and the bathrooms and showers are the nicest I've ever seen at a campground. The staff and hosts are taking great care of the park and campground.

Site55, 7
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2025

Peaceful, quiet, well mintained. Older West and brand new East Camps.

A 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.

Site21
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Doug , June 28, 2025
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Doug , June 28, 2025
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Doug , June 28, 2025
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Mar. 9, 2025

Great getaway.

Nicely remodeled sites. Paved RV pad, gravel tent area at each site. Fire pit was nice with a grill. Bathrooms and shower rooms were neat and tidy. Camp host was friendly and helpful. A lot of paths to walk the dogs. Areas for outdoor games in the summer.

Site24
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Don M., March 9, 2025
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Don M., March 9, 2025
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Sep. 27, 2024

Great little place by the river

Just about 10 miles north of highway 12 near Elma. Got a great site right by the river. Nice toilets & showers (in old building so was pleasantly surprised!) wifi by information center, cell coverage limited (1 bar t-mobile with Weboost)

Site41
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 12, 2022

Less Than Average Stay

The campground is nothing special. Small grounds overall, but the individual plots are big enough for your camper/tents and easy to get into. If you’re looking for seclusion or privacy, this isn’t the place. You can see everyone in the park from basically any given campsite. The bathrooms aren’t well maintained. You feel dirty coming out of there. The river is nice and there are some walking trails nearby. The water was less than a foot deep so the fishing was a bust. No cell service, but they offer wifi (unsecured network, so that’s your call). Located on major road, so you can hear everything that drives past. Overall DECENT place at best. Probably won’t return for the price.

SiteU2
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 8, 2021

Awesome quiet and quant!

Secluded sites not very much cell service though about a half hour from a little town had bathrooms with showers that weren't coin operated and then there was wifi if you wanted to stay close to the office area camp sites also.

Sitesite 22
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Mar. 24, 2021

The worst

This is not a very big park; the main road runs through the park, so you can hear every car and motorcycle that comes through.

The camp host/staff were absent the whole weekend of our stay, the showers and restrooms were filthy, and the dumpster was overfilled.

There were a couple of RVs with large projectors up and movies playing loud enough for the whole park to hear.

There were multiple sites with underage teenagers drinking and partying.

I’ve stayed at hundreds of campgrounds, and this is one of the worst I’ve ever experienced. I would never even consider coming back.

  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Jason H., March 24, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2020

Great place for a weekend with family and friends

We went to Schafer with four other families and had a great time.  We had five sites all in one area near the entrance to the group camp site.  The sites offered a good balance of privacy and open space.  We were able to set up a kitchen area in one site and a firepit area in another.

We were also able to use the space in the group camp area for the dogs to run and kids to play because it was unoccupied due to COVID restrictions.  The group site is very open, but has a great covered area and a ton of space.  We are considering reserving it for our next group camp activity.

The river is really good for splashing and wading, but a little too shallow for swimming and floating.  There are some great rock beaches that you can set up chairs and hang for the day.  We had a lot of fun watching the kids enjoy the water while kicking back in some chairs with the other adults.

There is a figure eight hiking loop that offers some really great variation in terrain and vegetation without being too long.  There was a really cool section along the back side that was like walking through a forest tunnel.

All in all, we really enjoyed out time at Schafer and it's on our list to go back to.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Michael L., October 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Michael L., October 28, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2019

River side campground

This campground is located along side the Satsop river. The campsites are nice and the fishing is even better.

  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Rich M., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Rich M., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Rich M., July 31, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2019

Great park

Beautiful park, small campground. Nice hiking trails. Great access to the river. Great history to the park. Facilities are in great need of repair. The single shower is beautiful but filthy.

  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Kari T., June 3, 2019
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Kari T., June 3, 2019
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Kari T., June 3, 2019
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2018

Small and quiet

This is a small campground with little amenities. The tent sites are hit or miss on size. Some are way too small for a tent and some are huge and can easily fit 3 tents. Bathrooms are centrally located and clean. Fishing and playing in the river are the only activities this park has. There is a huge group camp area that is away from the rest of the camping area, so that group noises are not noticeable. No phone service, but you're camping so it isn't needed.

  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Deanna M., August 10, 2018
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2017

Could have been nice....

Whatever you do don't camp at site #2 the campground is okay but the other people where pretty much on top of us because it's all so close together. No place for a hammock and no trees at this site it's literally two logs and a bush the whole thing is gravel without a smooth spot to set up your tent. All the other sites had nice grass. They really need to get rid of number 2.

not that it matters when you camp but just so you know there is no cell phone service. Let your family know so they don't worry.

Site2
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Schafer State Park Campground by Kristina  H., July 31, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitor reviews say about Schafer State Park?

Schafer State Park is a small, intimate campground with mixed site sizes and qualities. The park features two distinct camping areas - the original West Campground and the newer East Campground. Visitors appreciate the beautiful riverside setting along the Satsop River and the park's rich history. The campground offers a good balance of privacy and open space, though some sites (particularly #2) can feel crowded. Cleanliness of facilities varies, with some reporting well-maintained bathrooms and showers while others note maintenance issues during busier periods. Overall, campers enjoy the peaceful setting but suggest careful site selection as quality varies considerably throughout the park.

What camping facilities are available at Schafer State Park?

Schafer State Park offers a range of camping facilities split between the original West Campground and newer East Campground. Campsites include paved RV pads and gravel tent areas equipped with fire pits and grills. The park has centrally located restrooms with showers that aren't coin-operated. Many sites can accommodate multiple tents, though size varies significantly throughout the campground. Limited WiFi is available near the information center, while cell coverage is generally minimal (about 1 bar for T-Mobile, even with signal boosters). The campground has a camp host, though their availability may vary seasonally.

Is there a campground map available for Schafer State Park?

A campground map for Schafer State Park is typically available at the park's information center or from the ranger station upon arrival. The map shows the layout of both the West Campground (the original sites on one side of E Satsop Road) and the newer East Campground. For planning purposes, you can obtain a map in advance by visiting the Washington State Parks website or by contacting the park directly. The map will help you identify preferred sites, as the quality and size of campsites vary significantly throughout the park.

What are the best attractions and activities at Schafer State Park?

The Satsop River is the main attraction at Schafer State Park, offering excellent fishing and water play opportunities. The park features nice hiking trails that showcase the natural beauty of the area. There are also open spaces for outdoor games during summer months, making it family-friendly. The campground serves as a good base camp for exploring the region, including trips to nearby ocean beaches. Dog owners appreciate the numerous walking paths throughout the park. While relatively small, the park's historical significance adds interest for visitors wanting to learn about local heritage.