The best camping near Saltwater State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Saltwater adventure.

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Discover the coastal charm of Saltwater State Park.

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Community favorites near Saltwater State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Saltwater State Park

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Saltwater Campground

45 sites · RVs, Tents In Saltwater State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Saltwater State Park

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Private Beach, 15 Acres, Vashon

1 site · RV, Tent15 acres · Vashon, WA

Visit Vashon Island and relax on this private 15 acre property. Camp near the bluff, overlooking Puget Sound, walk the trail down to the beach and enjoy 1000 ft. of secluded beach. Please note: There is an additional charge of $25/person/night above the base rate. For some reason hipcamp doesn't automatically add in this charge, so we will request it separately. It must be paid in full prior to arrival to avoid cancellation of your stay. The island boasts great coffee hangouts, galleries, wineries, restaurants (Earthen, The Ruby Brink, The Hardware Store Restaurant), Snapdragon and others. Minglement, the Burton Coffee Stand, and Cafe Olio Vino have great coffee. Thriftway is a great grocery store. The Burton Store is worth a visit if you are coming from the Tacoma/Pt. Defiance ferry as you will pass it on your way to the property. There a galleries, shops and restaurants in the town of Vashon and also in Burton. Vashon Center for the Arts, O-Space and the Chamber of Commerce have events that might be of interest. Bikes, E-bikes, paddle boards and kayaks can be rented from Vashon Adventures and Vashon Bikes.They also rent tents and some camping equipment. Before lighting an outdoor fire, please check with us. There are sometime burn bans for air quality and/or high fire danger. Generally, fires are allowed at the beach below the high tide line and must be put out COLD with water and buried with sand before leaving them unattended. You are responsible for any damage or injuries caused by a fire you start, so please be careful!

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The Cedar River Retreat

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Hobart, WA

The Cedar River Retreat is its own little oasis. Located past an old fisherman's community along the river, close to shopping and stores but tucked away from it all just enough to reconnect with nature. This plot was purchased in 2016 and we hope you have a great time creating memories like we have over the last few years. We currently have an off-grid cabin, RV site and a tent camping only site. The outdoors are for everyone! We are excited to host you soon! Happy adventuring! Follow us on Instagram- @cedar_riverretreat

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Dean’s Campground

14 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Auburn, WA

Welcome to Dean’s! Eight minutes off Highway 18 lies 11 acres of mostly undeveloped land. Dean's is a beautiful, bare-bones place to rest between national parks, before or after crossing the US / CA border, or to set up base camp to explore Seattle / Tacoma. Our location is convenient. We are just minutes from Auburn city limits. Road noise, planes, Pacific Raceways, and freight trains are audible here even if muffled by the trees. In order to provide safety and peace, hosts live just outside the campground and closely manage happenings. All our sites have 2-4 persons occupancy in hopes of deterring parties. Our quiet hours are 8pm-8am so we can rest up for the next day’s adventures. We ban fires during the peak of summer to avoid the issue of wildfires entirely. Propane stoves are welcome. We do not have a check in cut-off time tho reservations do need to be made before midnight. We have zero tolerance for hateful, abusive, or discriminatory behavior toward people, belongings, and wildlife. With that being said, the 40+ year old trees and distance between the campsites provides space for you to bring and create your own vibes. Hosts should only approach you with safety or quiet hour concerns. They are available 24 / 7 for any questions or requests you may have. Feel free to reach out any time (our phone number can be found on Google).

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The Hairy Eagle Lookout 🦅

3 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Olympia, WA

Experience breathtaking views! Positioned atop a 500ft hill, you will witness phenomenal sights of Puget Sound inlets, Mount Rainer, St Helens, Adams, and much more on a clear day. Resting against the Capitol State Forest, and mere miles away from Olympic National Forest, this serene secluded location is surrounded by majestic beauty. Recently awarded runner-up for the best Hipcamp in Washington 2023!

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Rockin’ Z Ranch

5 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Redmond, WA

At the mouth of the Snoqualmie Valley you’ll find the Rockin’ Z Ranch! Camp among the trees and watch horses gallop past on this tranquil equestrian property. Enter through a separate gate into our spacious and well appointed camp-out corner; a great place to relax or use as a base camp for surrounding activities. Just a short walk away, at the end of our private road, is the trailhead to Soaring Eagle Regional Park. This 750 acre park has endless trails for biking and hiking. Head east to Fall City or beyond to the Cascades. The Rockin’ Z Ranch invites you!

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Curley Creek Canyon

8 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Port Orchard, WA

Forest camping on a huckleberry farm with a salmon stream. 10 acres of permaculture and mycology includes 5 granite fire pits and loop trails with dispersed tent sites. A remote island, naturist beach and kayak at the creek. Parking is limited. Guests love it here: "We stayed two nights at Curley Creek Canyon and loved the experience! Jerrett was a wonderful host and met us upon arrival with great recommendations of places to explore on his beautiful property. The camp sites are clean, private, and have fire pits, and benches provided. We took the roped trail down to the creek (bring gloves its a bit steep) and saw large groups of salmon swim upstream. This time of year is magical with the dropping leafs and lush moss/fungus sightings. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quick getaway from the city to connect to nature. Thanks, Jerrett for the experience and look forward to our next visit!"

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Fern Gully Retreat

1 site · Lodging10 acres · Vashon, WA

Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the tranquility of our secluded Airstream retreat, nestled amidst 10 acres of pristine woodland. Welcome to your own private oasis, where the soothing sounds of nature and the crisp scent of fresh air will rejuvenate your spirit. There is a farm next door for fresh produce and eggs and a canyon in the back filled with old growth trees and ferns.

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The Landing at Index WA

8 sites · RVs, Tents16 acres · Index, WA

Welcome to The Landing at Index - located on the South Fork Skykomish River, in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains, off of Highway 2. With 16 acres of beautiful, private woods and breathtaking views of Mt. Index, this is a wonderful getaway to kick back and relax after your day of adventures, or just to escape the city rush. The campsite is at the bottom of a rugged drive so an SUV or AWD vehicle are recommended, especially during the wetter seasons of Spring and Fall. When the property was logged approximately 100 years ago they scooped out gravel from the river to make their roads in the area thus creating the back eddy lagoon along the beach. The Department of Fish and Game have a fish ladder at Sunset Falls just upstream and BNSF railroad owns the large vacant tract down stream.A rather peaceful setting, including the rushing sound of the river and the occasional whistle of a train. You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after you stay at The Landing.Pets are welcome, there is a toilet on site campfires allowed (when burn bans are not in place).

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Aquaman Mountain

9 sites · RVs, Tents322 acres · Black Diamond, WA

322 acres that was cut down in 2020. We are growing over 150,000 trees on it now with plans to line the 1.5 mile driveway with Japanese Cherry Blossoms from DC (Yoshino, Kwanzan, Weeping, Okame, Higan). The mountain starts at 600 feet elevation and climbs to 1600 feet. Very peaceful and remote yet you can see Seattle and Mt Rainer. In the Fall/Winter of 2023-2024, we have spread millions of wildflower seeds. We are very excited to see the results in Spring 2024. As I will spend over $60k a year fighting blackberry, cottonwood, red alder, and Elk to get our forest established in the next few years, your contribution by staying here will 100% assist with helping the trees. There are 9 different secluded campsites on the mountain. All the sites can be used to host parties of up to 150 people (we have done it several times). The issue to consider is traffic. For large parties, we ask most people (usually car people) to park below on Green River Gorge Rd (there is a large county pull off) and then load into the back of trucks for the drive up the mountain. It is a one lane road, so it could get congested if 100 cars drove up it. One retirement party rented a bus for running people up and down and a porta potty at their site for guests. I am very happy to assist with party planning and setup if you have a wedding or retirement or business party. (or anything else) Boy and Girl Scout troops and Explorer scout units are welcome to camp free (when doing unit camping). Site 4 would be best for large troops.

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Two Frog Bog

4 sites · Lodging20 acres · Roy, WA

Welcome to Two Frog Bog, a 20-acre forested haven featuring 5 acres of wetland. Our accommodations include a 24-foot yurt with a private, semi-attached bathhouse, two 10 x 20-foot tent cabins with outdoor kitchens and private outhouses with composting toilets. You’ll enjoy the outdoor shower that is available for all guests. The communal fire pit is a great place to roast s’mores and maybe meet new friends. But wait, there’s more: a two-tent campground where we provide the tents, a shared, covered and fully equipped outdoor kitchen, a shared composting outhouse (cleaned at least once a day). Campground has access to shower and fire pit as well. Explore our forest trails leading to the serene wetland, and don't miss our unique 26-foot-wide, 10-foot-tall Woodhenge – a magical spot to relax in a hammock, read a book, or stargaze. Two Frog Bog invites you to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the variety of accommodations and shared spaces we offer.

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Green Apple Alpacas

2 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Auburn, WA

We are a 5 acre working alpaca farm with alpacas, llamas, chickens, and sheep. We have lush green pastures with a garden, greenhouse, barn, and animal shelters. We specialize in agritourism and do tours, classes, events, and parties. We also have a darling boutique on site for all of your souvenirs and gifts. Can't wait to meet you and share our wonderful farm with you. Let us know if you want us to save you a dozen eggs. We are in the foothills of Mt. Rainier with skiing about an hour away at Crystal Resort. There are several state parks within a short drive including Flaming Geyser and Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. You can hike, kayak, or just enjoy a picnic lunch. The town of Enumclaw is minutes away with its darling downtown area that is fun to explore the shops and grab a meal or an ice cream cone.

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Sweet Alyssum Farm

3 sites · Tents13 acres · Vashon, WA

The farm is on 12 acres of sloping field set against a tall forested backdrop, and only a 5 minute walk from restaurants, shopping, bars and groceries. Three designated level campsites are spaced around the property, each with a fire pit and picnic table. Please pay attention to the fact that these are walk-in sites, and you'll be hauling your camping items from the parking area over uneven ground. We provide a cart to help tote your items, if needed. There is a communal central deck for camper's use, with a water spigot, power outlet and sink, plus a propane stove and some cooking utensils. A communal port-a-potty is available to campers. Parking is in one designated location, and campers must be prepared to walk about 300 feet over uneven ground to their campsite. The working farm fields are not open to campers, but can be admired as a backdrop. A You-Pick flower patch and farm stand at the entrance of the property are open for shopping, picture-taking and flower-picking seasonally. Pets and campfires (outside of burn bans) are permitted. Guests love staying here: "We loved our experience at Alyssa's Flower Farm. The property is beautiful - everywhere you look, you're surrounded by gorgeous scenes of nature. Sunrise and sunset was amazing, and there's something so lovely about hearing songbirds in the trees. They have a beautiful flower farm, and we fell very lucky to have gotten the chance to enjoy it. We loved every moment here, and we can't wait for an opportunity to come back!"

The best camping near Saltwater State Park guide

Overview

About

Saltwater State Park is located midway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle, and is a splendid escape from urban living. The park showcases a combination of forested trails and 1,445 feet of stunning saltwater shoreline along the Puget Sound. Curious cats can explore the tide pools for marine life, or check out McSorley Creek, where salmon spawn seasonally. There is also an underwater artificial reef here, so bring your diving gear and explore the diverse sea life of the Puget Sound. You might even spot a shark or whale! Prefer to stay dry? Chill out on the driftwood and just take in the scenery. Sounds like time well-spent to us!

When to go

The best time to visit Saltwater State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park's full splendor can be enjoyed from 8am to dusk. Winter visits offer a stark, quiet beauty, but be mindful of shorter days and the occasional park alerts for closures or burn bans.

Know before you go

Check for burn bans and part closures before your visit to ensure a smooth experience.
Remember to bring a Discover Pass for park access; annual passes are $30 and one-day passes are $10.
Leashed dogs are welcome, but horses are not permitted within the park.
Alcohol consumption is restricted to registered campers of legal age at their campsites only.
For fishing and shellfish harvesting, a recreational license is required, available through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.