A Complete Guide to Camping Near Seattle

Within 75 miles of Seattle are outdoor adventures that, albeit close to home, are a world away from the city streets and metro area traffic. Places like Lake Cushman, the Hood Canal, Snoqualmie Pass, and the islands of the Puget Sound offer tranquil and revitalizing places to spend a night or a weekend under the Douglas fir and the stars—weather depending, of course.

Getting there is the first step, and you need to find a place to stay. Fortunately, the Outdoor Project has a batch of campgrounds to suit your desires, whether you’re spending your days paddling the water or hiking in the forests.

Keep in mind that some of these campgrounds require the Washington Discover Pass, and most will cost between $15 and $35 per night. That said, there is a wide array of camping options that ranges from tent camping to cabin rentals, and cost will vary accordingly.

Points West

• Fay Bainbridge Park Campground: direct access to the beach on Bainbridge Island with views over the Puget Sound and North Cascades. Separate sections of 10 tent sites and 26 RV campsites. Water hookups. Showers available.
• Fort Flagler State Park Campground: restored military accommodations that are open year round and close to the beach near Port Townsend. Fifty-five RV sites with full hookups, 59 tent campsites, three walk-in tent sites.
• Port Townsend
  • Fort Townsend State Park Campground: comfortable camping with a big group site and nearby hiking options close to Port Townsend. 40 tent sites, and 4 walk-in sites.
  • Point Hudson Marina and RV Park: direct access to the marina and views of the Puget Sound near Port Townsend. Forty-six RV sites with full hookups. No campfires.
  • Fort Worden State Park Beach Campground and Upper Forest Campground: the best campground near Port Townsend. Beach campsites, though exposed, are large and scenic. Former military buildings add a historic atmosphere. Twenty-five tent sites, 50 RV sites with full hookups.
• Lake Cushman area
  • Potlatch State Park Campground: on the Hood Canal near Hoodsport and Lake Cushman. The campground offers two loops, each featuring 38 tent sites and 35 RV sites with water and electric hookups respectively.
  • Skokomish Park South Camp: offering a large day use park, swimming area, and boat ramp access to Lake Cushman. Showers, 21 tent sites, 10 walk-in tent sites, and 35 RV sites with full hookups.
  • Skokomish Park North: more remote and private than the southern camp, the campground is closer to the trails north of Lake Cushman. Thirty large tent sites and one group site.
  • Lake Cushman Resort and Campground: lavish campground for casual campers on Lake Cushman. Marina with moorage, waterfront store, and showers. Forty-seven tent sites, five group sites, 14 RV sites with water and electric, and 11 waterfront cabins.
• Sequim Bay State Park Campground: part of a large marine park at Sequim Bay, the campground here offers bay access, privacy, and plentiful amenities. Softball field, basketball court, tennis court, and horseshoe pit. 49 tent sites. Three walk-in tent sites. Fifteen RV sites with water and electric. Twenty-six RV sites with full hookups.

Points East

• John MacDonald Memorial Campground: best for kids in the Seattle metro area, the campground in Tolt-MacDonald Park along the Snoqualmie River offers 16 RV sites, 22 tent sites, six yurts, and two camping shelters. Open year round. Water and electrical hookups.
• Wallace Falls Campground: tucked into Wallace Falls State Park, the campground offers access to 12 miles of hiking trails to the park’s numerous waterfalls, including Wallace Falls, but it’s small. Two walk-in tent campsites and five cabins. Day-use pass required.
• Tinkham Campground: east of Seattle near Snoqualmie Pass, Tinkham offers convenient access from I-90 and proximity to the Snoqualmie River. There are 47 tent campsites.
• Denny Creek Campground: a small campground near Snoqualmie Pass close to hikes and other adventures, but small. Fifteen tent sites. Eight RV sites with power hookups.
• Miller River Group Campground: a group campsites in a relatively remote location with access to the Miller River and a group capacity of 75. A single group site that includes 30 individual tent sites without hookups.
• Money Creek Campground: 24 tent sites. River access and numerous hiking opportunities in the area with convenient access from Highway 2. 

Points South

• Dash Point State Park Campground: in the largest protected natural area in Federal Way, Dash Point State Park, the campground offers beach access and miles of forested trail. There are 27 RV sites, 115 tent campsites, and one group campsite. Full hookups.

Points North

• Camano Island State Park Campground: a year-round campsite on Camano Island with views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. It offers 88 tent campsites, two walk-in tent campsites, one group campsite, and five cabins available for rent. One campsite sits on the south beach and offers access to the Cascadia Marine Trail.
• Esswine Group Campground: a group campground off of Mountain Loop Highway near adventures, but with few amenities. Four tent sites. One group site.
• Boardman Creek Group Campground: another group campground off of the Mountain Loop Highway, but unlike Esswine, the sites in this campground on the banks of the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River are more privately arranged. There is one group campsite.