Camping opportunities in the Lakewood area encompass a range of developed campgrounds and military-specific facilities, with several sites offering water access on American Lake. Dash Point State Park Campground in Federal Way provides tent, RV, and glamping accommodations with hiking and beach access, while the Lewis North Travel Camp on Joint Base Lewis McChord offers cabins alongside traditional camping options. Military ID holders can also utilize Holiday Park Military - Lewis McChord Base, which features full hookups and cabin options approximately 5 miles east of downtown Lakewood.
Road conditions throughout the region remain generally accessible year-round, though several campgrounds operate seasonally. Joemma Beach State Park operates from March 1 to October 31, while Saltwater State Park Campground in Des Moines is available only from May to September. Many locations require reservations, especially during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Facilities range from basic tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings to full-hookup RV spots with electric, water, and sewer connections. Cell service varies by location and provider, with some military sites reporting spotty coverage. A visitor noted, "Cell signal is very weak for t-mobile and trees prevent starlink from working well."
The military campgrounds near Lakewood receive consistently positive reviews for their amenities and lakefront settings. The Lewis North Travel Camp earns praise for its wooded environment and proximity to base facilities. According to one camper, it offers "a beautiful view of the lake. It's also not too far from the commissary and gas station." Sites within the JBLM area provide a surprising sense of seclusion despite their proximity to urban areas, with another visitor describing the experience as a "secluded tree filled northwest beauty." Non-military visitors will find options at nearby state parks, where reviewers frequently mention the spacious sites and beach access as notable features. Most campgrounds provide at least basic amenities like toilets and drinking water, with many offering shower facilities and trash disposal.
$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 - $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."
$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."
$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."
"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."
$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."
$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."
$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. "
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.
TravelerBe prepared for some noise in the summer time. Its gets full pretty quick and there's a range not too far off. There's some great spots along Pyramid Creek and some across the way and up the mountain if the gate is open. The Greenwater lakes trail is very accessible by foot or by car if you've camped near the trailhead.(parking lot requires pass or payment). There's usually trash left behind and the garbage near the pit toilets are almost always full so be prepared to pack your trash. Tip: always check local burn bans and road closures at the ranger station.
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.
GuideCouldn't have loved this campground more. Stayed for two nights in late August 2025. Serene, even though it was busy. Spots are roomy. Whole place smelled like Christmas trees! Clean, calm, simply lovely. Really close to the park too!
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.
Camping near Lakewood offers opportunities for waterfront recreation, wooded seclusion, and year-round accessibility within 30 miles of the city center. Temperatures range from 35-78°F seasonally, with wettest conditions from November through January. Most campsites in this area don't require high-clearance vehicles, though several access roads become muddy during rainy periods.
Beach exploration: Saltwater State Park offers a distinctive shoreline environment just 20 miles north of Lakewood. "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," notes Saraj B.
Fishing: Riverbend Campground provides river access for anglers approximately 30 miles southwest of Lakewood. "We are looking forward to going back and enjoying the fishing along the river," shares Johnathan R., while another camper mentions the campground's "lovely river walks and nice picnic spots."
Trail hiking: Dash Point State Park Campground includes an extensive trail network suitable for day hikes of varying difficulty. "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," writes Ingrid M. The park maintains over 11 miles of trails, most under 3 miles in length.
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently mention site spacing at Penrose Point State Park Campground. "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. Another camper observes, "Sites were reasonably private and quiet at night (except for a brief invasion of 6 raccoons at our site one night!)"
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and showers. "Bathroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," notes a Saltwater State Park visitor. At Riverbend Campground, campers appreciate that "facilities are also super clean."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Joemma Beach State Park Campground offers a welcoming environment for families. "As a local, this is also the spot where you go to camp and party with friends and family," shares Katiedawn V. The park's $12/night camping fee makes it budget-friendly for families.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance planning, especially during summer months. "You can only stay at the camp site for 1 night at a time," notes a Joemma Beach State Park visitor. At Penrose Point, "the campground was full with lots of families with young kids...sites felt relatively private and the whole park is heavily wooded."
Airport noise: Saltwater State Park experiences significant aircraft traffic. "Commercial jets landing at Sea-Tac fly directly above us at a low altitude and are VERY loud and VERY frequent (every 3-5 minutes)," reports Travis P. Consider this factor when selecting your campsite.
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. At Game Farm Wilderness Campground, visitors report consistent coverage, while at Joemma Beach State Park, "T-mobile service spotty - could not use hotspot. Had to drive about 15 mins down road to park to access 5G."
Waterfront activities: Penrose Point State Park offers family-friendly water access. "Our family had a great time playing in the water each day. The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," shares Sarah H.
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas. At Riverbend Campground, visitors mention "children and dog play grounds" with "a beautiful view of the river." These amenities provide entertainment options beyond hiking and swimming.
Budget-friendly options: Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor provides tent options despite being primarily an RV resort. "This is definitely a RV resort, but there are 5 or 6 tent camping sites under some big trees which provide shade almost all day. Nice bathroom and showers. Laundry, dog run, tv room, plus really friendly employees," notes Jacob P.
Military facilities: For eligible ID holders, military campgrounds offer excellent value. At Holiday Park Military, "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," shares Paul B.
Site selection: At Sun Outdoors Gig Harbor, "The spaces are very close together, but there are a lot of trees and it's very well kept. I stayed for almost three weeks and it was quiet and relaxing, despite how close together the sites are," observes Joseph I.
Hookup availability: Verify utilities before booking. "We had problems with the camp sites. 1st one had a bad power pole and the next one the water leaked. Still we would return," shares a Lewis North Travel Camp visitor, highlighting that even well-maintained facilities may have occasional issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lakewood, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lakewood, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 268 campgrounds and RV parks near Lakewood, WA and 35 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lakewood, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lakewood, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lakewood, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 35 free dispersed camping spots near Lakewood, WA.
Keep Exploring
