Camping options near Des Moines, Washington concentrate primarily along the Puget Sound shoreline, with Saltwater State Park Campground serving as the main developed facility within city limits. The area provides a mix of tent and RV sites across several state parks and private RV resorts, with most campgrounds positioned along waterfront areas. Located approximately 15 miles south of Seattle, Des Moines camping areas balance urban accessibility with marine recreation opportunities.
Many campgrounds in the region have seasonal availability restrictions, with Saltwater State Park open only from May through September. The proximity to Sea-Tac International Airport creates significant aircraft noise at several camping areas, particularly at Saltwater State Park. Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are standard at most developed campgrounds in the region, though sites generally lack privacy due to their urban setting. A frequent observation from visitors notes the constant air 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)."
Shoreline access represents the primary draw for campers in the Des Moines area, with several campgrounds offering beach access and water recreation. While sites at Saltwater State Park receive mixed reviews due to airport noise and tight spacing, they remain popular for their waterfront location and proximity to Seattle. Campgrounds near Des Moines tend to fill quickly during summer weekends despite their urban setting. One camper noted, "The day use area on the water is really nice, but the park itself is in a weird area and close to the Hwy overpass." For 2024, camping at Saltwater State Park is closed for development efforts, though surrounding options like Dash Point State Park (9 miles south) and Angle Lake RV Park remain open with varying amenities for tent and RV campers.
$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."
$60 / night
"My family stayed here for a night when we went out to Washington a few months ago. It was a nice little place."
"Pay showers ($1 for 3 minutes) and clean restroom with air dryer, pet friendly, lots of trails to hike and a beautiful beach area with a playground, seasonal/weekend snack shop, outdoor shower by the beach"
$20 / night
"There is good system of trails, tons of picnic tables along the river, and good river access to the Green rivers. Campground is well maintained, clean bathrooms and showers available."
"It's close proximity to our house allows us to hook up the trailer after work and include a Friday night in our camping weekend!"
$50 / night
"Nice wooded campground with access to the water. Plenty of opportunities for day hikes and not far from port orchard Washington. Some sites have hookups and others are dry camping."
"Trails, views, and history in walking distance. Coin operated showers and clean restrooms."
$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."
$40 / night
"Just like building and exploring in Minecraft for PC, you can craft your perfect outdoor adventure here, surrounded by nature, and enjoy endless fun and exploration."
$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."
$7 - $95 / night
"2, #3, #4 are IMO best after that as they move away from the beach and then curve around in ascending order.
Some neighbor noise, sites are close, but was not busy."
"Great spot on the edge of bainbridge. Lots of spots depending on your preferred privacy level."
$12 - $45 / night
"Hike the perimeter trail for views all around the island. It's a great place to stay in the summer months and relax."
"Really fantastic location. Very strict rangers which can be good or bad depending on your preference. Quiet hours are at 10pm which is early for some people so be aware."
$100 - $120 / night
"Wanted them close by otherwise likely wouldn’t have stayed here. Great option for family in town and wanting to be close by. Close to the airport if you need to leave your RV for a bit and fly out."
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.
TravelerLarge, clean, gravelled campsites with sturdy tables and beautiful camp views. The camp host is extremely kind and welcoming, and the bathrooms were extremely clean. Hot showers are free with the bathroom code, and the water gets warm but not hot. The toilets are impeccably clean, and the road is paved and very well maintained. Very little wildlife but beautiful views of the forest. Very close to several Walmarts and grocery stores.
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!
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 options near Des Moines, Washington extend beyond the urban setting into surrounding forested areas within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at sea level along Puget Sound with typical Pacific Northwest rainfall patterns creating lush, green camping environments. Many campgrounds maintain year-round availability despite the rainy season from November through March when overnight temperatures average 35-45°F.
Water activities at Penrose Point State Park: Located on a wooded peninsula about 35 miles from Des Moines, this park offers calm waters for swimming, kayaking, and beachcombing. "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," notes Saraj B. of Dash Point State Park.
Hiking on forested trails: Many campgrounds feature shaded hiking paths through dense evergreen forests. "There are great hammock trees at nearly every site. Overall, it's beautiful," says Mike about Penrose Point State Park, which offers shoreline trails with views of the sound.
Beach exploration: Public beaches provide opportunities for shell collecting and wildlife viewing. "The beach is beautiful here! And the campsites are very secluded! There are tons of trees and bushes in between everybody's campsite," reports alexandrea L. about Penrose Point State Park.
Privacy between sites: Unlike the tight spacing mentioned at some urban campgrounds, several nearby options offer more seclusion. "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. about Dash Point State Park.
Cleanliness of facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. "The washroom and shower is kept clean, as is the rest of the campground," adds Brittany D. about Dash Point State Park. Similarly, at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, Jay F. notes, "Bathrooms in that loop were pretty nice... heated and very clean."
Historical features: Several parks contain interesting historical structures. "Look for the cement form lines on the buildings, they are only 18" high at best, this is because when they were built Portland cement hadn't been invented yet," explains Tom N. about Manchester State Park, which features military ruins.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "Can get loud with local partiers and sketchy bookings," warns Joe C. about Saltwater State Park, emphasizing why reservations at more secluded spots are valuable.
Rain preparedness: Pacific Northwest camping often involves moisture management. "It rained... not a bad place to camp at all. I'd stay again," shares Sable about Fay Bainbridge Park, noting how proper gear can maintain comfort.
Park ranger presence: Some parks have active enforcement of rules. "This campground is heavily patrolled by the park rangers. I usually have contact with them in my campsite at least twice a day," explains Kelly P. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, adding, "if you are a large group, like to stay up late and listen to music and/or party it might not be the campground for you."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites," says Tanya B. about Fay Bainbridge Park, highlighting amenities beyond swimming.
Easy hiking options: Trails suitable for younger explorers exist at several parks. "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," notes Ingrid M. about Dash Point State Park.
Junior ranger programs: Educational opportunities can enhance children's camping experiences. "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program," mentions Sarah H. about Penrose Point State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some parks have terrain issues for larger vehicles. "I only took away a star because it was advertised as ok for a Motorhome but the gravel pull through was so not level the jacks pushed the front tires 6 inches off the ground," warns Cody F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Electric-only hookups: Many parks offer limited hookups. "Hook ups are electric only, bring your water. The first time we went we did not know and our Basecamp's heat runs via the hot water heater. It was cold!" advises Shay F. about Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.
Proximity to resupply: The Des Moines area offers convenient access to urban amenities. "I 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," shares Saraj B.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Des Moines, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 275 campgrounds and RV parks near Des Moines, WA and 34 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Des Moines, WA is Dash Point State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 72 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Des Moines, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 34 free dispersed camping spots near Des Moines, WA.
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