The best camping near Capitol State Forest

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

Discover Capitol State Forest's lush landscapes and outdoor adventures.  

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Community favorites near Capitol State Forest

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Capitol State Forest

99%
(1463)

Unique Bay Front Camping

5 sites · RVs6 acres · Aberdeen, WA
PLEASE NO FIREWORKS ON SITE OR SURROUNDING AREA. We bought this land in 2017, there were 7 derelict mobile homes on the property. We cleaned up the area and remodeled the house next door and put in the 5 RV sites. We hope you enjoy this property as much as we do, it is a one-of-a-kind beautiful, quiet place. All of our sites have full hook-ups (water, sewer, and power). The sites are just a couple feet from the bay with access to miles of beach hiking. You can walk to Bottle Beach State Park which is approximately 1 mile north or hike about a mile south to Elk River. Enjoy unobstructed views of Westport and the freight ships coming into the harbor. Enjoy a peaceful beach with amazing sunsets. Whether you are surfing for the weekend or tuna-fishing, this is your go to spot - you will not be disappointed. Westport is 7 miles by car and the Westport Winery is only 5 miles. There is two nearby boat launches - one off of Elk River just 2 miles away and the other off of Johns River launch just 6 miles away. We are located in the middle of an outdoor paradise and want others to enjoy all it has to offer. ***If you have questions about how to add sites to your reservation or change dates, please reach out to HipCamp support. They will be able to better assist you.***
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$50
 / night
94%
(67)

Skokomish Park At Lake Cushman

60 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Hoodsport, WA
2024 Reservations are Open 2024 Season runs from March 29 - November 3 KING5 Evening Magazine's "The Best of the Northwest Escapes" competition voted us 2nd Best Campground. Come on out and check out the natural beauty Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman has to offer. Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman, formerly known as Camp Cushman or Lake Cushman State Park, covers over 500 acres with three boat-launch ramps on the 41,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Cushman. Park facilities include campsites, RV pull-thru and back-in sites, walk-in campsites, and two group camping areas. Plus, two fantastic day-use areas with picnic sites, a picnic shelter, and comfort stations located throughout the park. The natural beauty of the area can be explored on any of our trails. The eastern part of the Olympic Peninsula has loads of great trails around us in the Olympic National Park. Trailheads nearby include Big Creek, Mount Rose, Mount Ellinor, Dry Creek, Copper Creek, Wagonwheel Lake, Staircase Rapids, Big Log Camp, and Flapjack Lakes. Mount Ellinor Trail is rated 5 stars by many.
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$48
 / night
94%
(148)

Wildfern Grove

8 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · Buckley, WA
Learn more about this land: Immerse yourself in tranquility at our unique sanctuary nestled on 40 acres of pristine Pacific Northwest forest. Our property offers a captivating blend of intentional community living, event hosting capabilities, and short-term rentals.Find solace in one of our beautifully crafted yurts, each designed to provide a comfortable and harmonious living space amidst the towering trees. Step outside your yurt and into a relaxing meadow, perfect for quiet reflection or gathering with friends and family under the vast, starlit sky. Whether you seek a transformative community experience, a memorable event venue, or a peaceful retreat, our haven offers an unparalleled opportunity to reconnect with nature and yourself. 10 minutes from Bonney Lake, 15 minutes from Lake Tapps and one hour from Mt Rainier. We have 40 acres of sloped land with trails, wildlife, and nature to explore. Your yurt/tent site has territorial views of South Prairie, and includes a fire pit. Owners live on the property about a quarter mile away from the tent site, where you will find a communal kitchen and bathroom available for use.
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$36
 / night
98%
(99)

Hidden Meadow on Henderson Inlet

5 sites · RVs, Tents16 acres · Olympia, WA
Our camp is currently closed for the season. Thank you everyone for sharing such an amazing Summer at Hidden Meadow with us. We will be opening again starting in June 2025. See you next year and have a great winter season! Burn ban information here: https://www.southbayfire.com/thurston-burn-information About us: Hello and thank you for checking out Hidden Meadow, our names are Jake and Molly. We love camping, hiking and any opportunity to be outside with our two children! In 2020 (one week before the whole world shut down from Covid) we found the hidden gem we had been searching for! A perfect place to raise our family, space to play and explore nature, super private and close to town! It seemed too good to be true and still does! After settling in and realizing what amazing natural beauty we had, we got to work developing our garden, orchards, trails, fire pits and….Campsites! After building a camp site for our family, we decided that we wanted to share this amazing space with other families to enjoy! We built Hidden Meadow to be the campsite that we have always searched for on our family adventures, surrounded by nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, with trails for hiking and a HOT TUB to relax in, in the evening! We hope that you enjoy it! About the property: We are located on a very private property (the only houses you will see are across the inlet) surrounded by nature but only about 10 minutes from downtown Olympia and 5 minutes from I-5 and Lacey. The property is situated on the very south end of Henderson Inlet. We are on the tide flats so twice a day (at high tide) we have the opportunity to explore on the water in canoes and kayaks. The property is spread over 16 acres and is comprised of two large fields (one in front of our home and the other is a smaller meadow off to the side (hidden meadow) and forest land. There is tons of space for playing, exploring and tiring out your kids and pups! Wildlife is abound with eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, shore birds and a variety of forest birds make this place their home. We are also frequented by the local deer who wonder through and say hi. About the campground: The campground is located in the far northeast corner of the property on the edge of the forest and meadow. In the common areas you will find the bathroom which has a shower and a toilet. The toilet is a porta-potty and the shower is propane headed. There is also a supply closet at the bathroom that has the yard games and extra supplies. There is a hottub situated right on the edge of the forest with peek-a-boo views of the inlet. You will also find garbage and recycling bins as well as a sink for washing hands (please water only down the sink). We have provided soap that is biodegradable for the sink and shower to help reduce our impact on this beautiful environment. There are trails throughout the forest along the 600 feet of water (tide) front. Along the trails you will find several different benches, seats and swings to relax and enjoy nature from. There is also several fairies and gnomes who have been sighted in the forest. If you look closely, you might spot one too! We ware, if you touch a fairy or gnome they do lose their magical powers so please respect the mystical creatures. 😊 The sites are about 500 feet from our house and offers great privacy. You may see us throughout the day and evening coming and going from the campground, working on the property or playing with the kids on the trails! Dogs: We do have two dogs on the property (Wilma and Bean) who are very friendly and we will keep them out of camp during your stay. Although they typically follow us when we walk down there. We allow dogs to be off leash at owner’s risk. There may be other dogs in camp so please use discretion when letting your dogs off leash and be mindful of other campers. You must be responsible for your own dogs, we are not responsible for any dog related or dog inflicted injuries. Getting here: We are off of Sleater Kinney Rd in Olympia. We have a long, steep, curvy driveway. At the bottom of the driveway, you will find signs directing you to the camp site. If you have extra vehicles, we have extra parking spaces adjacent to the campsite. The road out to camp may be bumpy (we do our best to keep it smooth) so go slow and beware of natural obstacles. Rules: 1. Check in time is 2:00pm or later. For afterhours arrivals, please let us know. 2. Check out time is 12:00pm or earlier 3. Quiet hours from 9pm to 8am. You are far from our house, so we can’t hear you but sound travels well over the water to our neighbors. Nobody wants grumpy neighbors, please be respectful. 4. Remain within the campground boundary during all times. If you need us, please feel free to text or call. 5. Please put all trash in the trash cans or take it with you. 6. Remove all dog doo and dispose of in the trash. 7. Leave what you find (except ripe blackberries). Please leave any forest treasures where you found them. 8. Cleanup any debris left from firewood/camp activities before departing. 9. Enjoy nature and respect it. Please stay on trails and respect the plants and the natural habitats. 10. Stay off the dock. It is closed for repair. 11. Do not use the trailside fireplace (if you find it) or our personal canoe or kayaks. However, feel free to enjoy the view from the seats by the fireplace. 12. Be cautious when walking around, the ground is bumpy and there are exposed tree roots that can be tripping hazards. We are not responsible from injuries. 13. Help us keep it clean- if you find any garbage around, please pick it up or let us know. 14. Keep fires small and when you are finished PUT YOUR FIRES DEAD OUT! There are 5 gallon buckets by each fire put to fill before you start your fire for putting them out. 15. Please do not burn trash or food. It can create issues with the wildlife. Put all waste in garbage cans.
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$45
 / night
98%
(102)

Private Beach, 15 Acres, Vashon

2 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Vashon, WA
Visit Vashon Island and relax on this private estate property. Camp near the bluff, overlooking Puget Sound, walk the trail down to the beach and enjoy 1000 ft. of secluded beach. You can camp in the field by the bluff, or in the forest on either side of the driveway. 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. Outdoor fires are by permission only. 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, between October 1 and June 15, but there are various reasons they may not be allowed (air quality bans, windy conditions, etc.) Any fire you light must be put out COLD (no steam, no heat) 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! Please note: It is very important that the number of people on site is accurate. Please contact Hipcamp to change the number of people - there currently is no way to do that on the site?! There is an additional charge per person above the base 2 person rate. If 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. There is no outdoor music at any time. Quiet hours are 8 pm to 10 am. There is no picnic table or any amenities, but you can fill up water at our barn if needed. DO NOT USE THE WOODS AS A BATHROOM. It is necessary to bring your own latrine. Please clean up after your pet. Dogs must be leashed AT ALL TIMES in the field. If no one is around at the beach, they can be off leash, but leash up if anyone approaches until they pass. Please never leave your dog unattended outside where barking will disturb the peace. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Looking forward to hosting you! Lisa 206 498 4359 Larry & Sherry 206 295 4564/206 295 7333 Andre 206 335 6731 Emergency 911
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$85
 / night
92%
(66)

Elysian Retreat

10 sites · Tents15 acres · Orting, WA
Welcome to our tranquil retreat on 15 acres of diverse landscapes at Elysian Retreat in Orting, WA. Our property offers a harmonious blend of open pasture, lush tree cover, and dense woods, providing the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventure. Access the Carbon River and Orting Foothills trail via our coded gate in the NW corner of our paddock. You'll enjoy a 5-minute walk or bike ride along a small, maintained path that opens up to a beautiful view of the Carbon River. (Map included in our Hipcamp images) As you explore our serene surroundings, you'll discover a peaceful small stream meandering through the property, offering a constant flow of natural beauty and wildlife. Watch for majestic elk, graceful deer, vibrant waterfowl, and elusive fish as they frequent the stream, creating a symphony of sights and sounds. Our friendly herd of five horses & four goats roam freely within the fenced area, adding to the enchanting atmosphere of our retreat. They're always eager to greet visitors and may even offer a helping hoof as you set up camp or simply relax under the shade of a tree. Whether you prefer to unwind with a good book beside the babbling stream, take a stroll through the woods, or simply soak in the serene ambiance of nature, our property offers endless opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. Parking is available within the securely locked pasture, ensuring easy access to your vehicle throughout your stay. In rare instances of excess rain, alternative parking arrangements will be made to ensure your safety and convenience. We have Portable Fire Pits that are free to use while staying with us and we try to supply firewood (please contact us before your stay to ensure we have stock). Additionally, we have 1 porta-potty located at the gate for camper use and a dumpster for trash. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature at our picturesque retreat. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the beauty of our land with you. 5 Min to Downtown Orting 40 Min to Rainier National Park 45 Min to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
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$22.50
 / night
96%
(75)

Secluded Olympic Cabin ☜(゚ヮ゚☜)

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Brinnon, WA
Incredible location! This sweet cabin is nestled at the base of Mt. Jupiter, directly between Dosewallips beach and the Olympic national Park. There's lots of gorgeous, mossy maples, shaggy cedars, and elk herds roaming free. The Cabin is easily accessible from the road, and has parking available. There's a secluded fire pit behind the cabin with a seasonal stream running by. Its a relaxing place to hang out for a few days, and/or excellent basecamp to explore the amazing forests, mountains, and beaches nearby. Also, there's lots of great foraging to be done (nettles, mushrooms, and oysters; oh my!) GPS LOCATION: When driving to the cabin, your GPS will tell you that 'your destination is on the left'. This is a lie. The cabin will be on the right. There is a metal gate that is closed with a chain but not locked. CABIN LAYOUT AND SLEEPING AMENITIES: The Cabin is just a little guy; only 16'x20'. There is a kitchen, living room, and dining room area, and the bathroom is a separate room - we call it our 'studio cabin'. We have a fold out couch for which we provide linens, pillows, and a comforter. There is also an inflatable mattress that is a tight squeeze, but can allow for four people to sleep (with a little furniture rearranging). There is a deck that is large enough for a two person tent that would also make a four person camp-out comfortable. All linens and towels are stored in the trunk and the bathroom cabinet. There is a 4' round dining room table with four chairs and a small table on the porch with two more chairs. All the cushions for the chairs are in a cabinet under the table inside. ACCESSIBILITY: Unfortunately, the cabin is not wheelchair accessible. There are 5 stairs up to the deck and the bathroom door is only 27" wide. SURROUNDING AREA: There are small trails leading away from the cabin; do not walk down them! They lead to neighboring properties and I cannot guarantee that there won't be neighbors who would be very surprised by a stranger showing up on their land! There are lots of public trails only a few minutes drive in either direction from the property :) STOLEN LAND: This property is on stolen, indigenous land. If you are Coast Salish or Makah, please get in touch with me for a discounted stay.
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$88
 / night
98%
(352)

Capa Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Quinault, WA
Private property along the Quinault River between NFS land and Olympic National Park, adjacent to Colonel Bob Wilderness and just past The Quinault Nation reservation. Homesteaders came here in 1890, prior to that there was no human habitation. A perfect base camp to explore the many varied facets of the West side of the Olympic Peninsula. The campsites are on acreage of a very small off-grid farm. Relax and forget the stress. There are 6 tent sites and 2 small RV sites. Toilets are available, as well as trash bins, potable water, and picnic tables. We do not allow pets. Guests love staying here: "This spot was everything we were hoping for and more! Awesome location near everything in Quinault. Received a fun, short tour of the property from our hosts who are incredibly nice. The campsite was tidy and exactly what we imagined. Plenty of room between us and our neighbors, and we barely knew that they were there. The outhouse is basic but clean and charming. Imagine the friendliness of staying at a distant cousin's organic farm, with the facilities of a top-notch campsite. Only regret was that we were crashing there quickly, and weren't able to stay longer and relax on-site. If the description on the website seems like what you're looking for, I would highly recommend this location."
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$45
 / night
91%
(105)

Cowlitz River Sandy Edge Campground

9 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Castle Rock, WA
The Cowlitz River Sandy Edge Campground is 20 acres of serenity and peace. A bird watchers dream place to be! lots of singing birds throughout the campground and the anglers delight with known fishing holes right off the banks. Enjoy the private campsite with ample space for family fun and cool quiet nights on the sandy edge of the Cowlitz River. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and a large trash can. All campsite will have their own pathway to the river with seasoned blackberries to pick! I ask to help keep our environment as natural as possible pick up after yourselves and your furry friends. Also do not leave personal items on the beach overnight we need to leave a natural environment and we are not responsible for missing or lost belongings. As we all know about bodies of water and to be as safe as possible around or near them and I advise life jackets especially for the little guys. The campground has no life guards so swim at your own risk waiving all liability from Cowlitz River Sandy Edge campground. Each site are allowed 7 campers and 2 vehicles.... $5 charge per day guests and $5 per guest vehicle. Apply that cost to campsite booking please. Thank you Dry camping with self contained travel trailer only at River Run and River View Tent sites will have access to a porta potty with permanent bathroom in near future. Fishing, (w/your own lic.) kayaking, hiking and exploring. Leave what you find. Preserve as much as possible. Close to I-5 and is located adjacent to the quaint town of Castle Rock with everything less than a half mile away! Such as; coffee shops, donut bakery shop, Mexican restaurant, other great places to eat, Cascade grocery store, souvenir shops, farmers market on the weekends, motocross flat track racing usually on memorial weekend, and several different attractions at the Castle rock fair grounds. Mount Saint Helens only 30 minutes away! Sky diving, zip lining and big cheese festival in the town of Toledo next city northeast of Castle Rock. DIRECTIONS: If you're coming from South take I-5 North exit 49 make a left onto Huntington go over frwy bridge first right is Cowlitz View drive. If coming from the North take I-5 South exit 49 make a right onto Huntington then first right is Cowlitz View drive stay left and I'll meet you at the gate to escort you to your site.
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$55
 / night

The best camping near Capitol State Forest guide

Overview

About

Embark on a Capitol State Forest camping trip, where the verdant canopy of old-growth trees creates an enchanting backdrop for your wilderness adventure. With campgrounds scattered around its outskirts, camping near Capitol State Forest guarantees serene mornings accompanied by birdsong and dew-kissed foliage. Here, hiking and biking trails lure campers into the forest's heart, while nearby rivers offer opportunities for kayaking and fishing. As night descends, the clear sky sets the stage for unforgettable stargazing sessions. This Capitol State Forest camping experience weaves a tapestry of outdoor delights, offering both tranquility and thrilling explorations, making it a go-to destination for avid campers and nature enthusiasts alike.

Notable campgrounds

  • Browns Creek Campground - A serene spot nestled by the creek, ideal for a peaceful retreat amid the woods.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • Book early to secure your spot, as campgrounds fill up quickly during peak seasons.
  • Check for cancellations regularly, as last-minute openings can occur.
  • Consider visiting during the weekdays for better availability and a quieter experience.
  • Explore nearby camping options if your preferred site is unavailable.

When to go

The best time to visit Capitol State Forest is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers warm days perfect for hiking and camping, but be prepared for crowds. Winters can be wet and chilly, making some areas less accessible.

Know before you go

  • Check the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website for the latest information on trail closures and safety advisories.
  • Cell service may be limited, so plan your route and communicate with your group in advance.
  • Day-use areas are open from 8:30am to 5pm, but times can vary seasonally.
  • Remember to pack out all trash and leave no trace to preserve the forest's natural beauty.
  • Some trails may be multi-use, so be courteous to other hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

Top state forests near Capitol State Forest

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