Seattle is an epic city for art lovers, foodies, music fans, and outdoor enthusiasts. Once you get immersed in the city’s culture, it can be easy to forget how much amazing nature actually surrounds you. The best way to remind yourself of this beauty is to take a camping trip; however, lots of camping spots require ferry transportation and can take a couple of hours to get to. When you’re pressed for time but still want to get away, here are some great campsites within about an hour’s drive of Seattle.
Lake Pleasant RV Park, Bothell
The nearby suburb of Bothell has a very convenient and beautiful campground called the Lake Pleasant RV Park. This has been a family-owned and operated RV park for over three decades and welcomes long-term and short-term guests. The park has a unique little lake by the campsites that are filled with wildlife. Meanwhile, all the great attractions, restaurants, wine tastings, and nature trails are just a short drive away. This pet-friendly campground offers Wi-Fi, cable TV, full hookups, and catch-and-release fishing. Propane fills, laundry machines, and shower houses are also available when you book one of the 184 paved RV sites here.
Vasa Park Resort, Bellevue
The Vasa Park Resort offers campsites that are about 26 feet by 75 feet in size and require paying an entrance fee at the park. Stays are limited to 14 days during the peak season from May to October. The park has full hookup RV sites, water, and 20-amp sites, and tent sites available. You can stay here long-term during the off-season. Some of the amenities that the campground offers include Wi-Fi, laundry machines, a field for dogs to play in, and sports courts. For water recreation, there is a boat launch, water slides, a diving board, and easy lake and beach access.
Saltwater State Park, Des Moines
People in the Seattle area love camping at Saltwater State Park, which is just two miles from I-5 and a fun sandy beach getaway. It’s on the shore between Seattle and Tacoma, which makes it a very popular spot in the summer. This state park spans 137 acres of land and 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. You’ll find 35 campsites here, as well as a dump station, restrooms, and showers. The campground is open from mid-May through Mid-September, and reservations can be made online or by phone.
Blue Sky RV Park, Issaquah
The Blue Sky RV Park is a year-round campground that’s family-owned and operated with a location just 20 miles east of Seattle. It’s at the base of Tiger Mountain and features large full hookup sites with plenty of room for awnings and slide-outs. Campers here will have great cell service, high-speed internet, cable TV, 30/50-amp electric service, coin laundry machines, and a clubhouse. The campground welcomes children and pets. Nightly, weekly, and monthly rates are available here, as well as RV and boat storage onsite.
Nor' West Properties, North Bend
Nor’ West Properties is a sister park to the Blue Sky RV Park and offers a year-round RV park, apartments, a mobile home park, and RV and boat storage. This well-maintained complex is in nearby North Bend and welcomes families and pets. The full hookup sites here have 20/30/50-amp electric service; however, tent camping is not allowed. Features of this park include coin laundry machines, a BBQ and picnic area, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and a quiet setting with mountain views for your stay.
Tall Chief RV Resort, Fall City
Just 25 minutes from Seattle, you’ll find the Tall Chief RV Resort, which is an Encore RV Resorts/Thousand Trails property. This is a great location to be in as you explore the city and also natural attractions, such as Snoqualmie Falls just 10 minutes away. The resort’s amenities include a pool, hot tub, mini-golf, laundry facilities, clubhouse, sauna, sports courts, and dog park. However, you should know that this park does not have sewer sites, so you should bring your own portable tote and use the honey wagon service.
Dash Point State Park, Federal Way
Another public park to consider for your camping excursion near Seattle is Dash Point State Park, which has a campground with 114 standard sites and 27 utility sites. The campground also has a dump station, showers, and restrooms. The maximum site length is 40 feet, and there are also cabins available for rent here if you feel like glamping. This is a great park to be in for kayaking, fishing, skimboarding, and hanging out at the beach. Overall, this Puget Sound destination spans 461 acres and has 3,301 feet of saltwater shoreline.
Camp Long, Seattle
If you want to camp very close to Seattle and don’t have your own RV, Camp Long is a great choice. This park has 10 rustic cabins available to rent – each with six full-size beds in three sets of double bunks. The rentals also have outdoor fireplaces and sinks with faucets. Camp Long is a 68-acre park in West Seattle that offers rock climbing, hiking, a lodge, picnic areas, and lessons about natural history.
Flowing Lake County Park and Campground, Snohomish
Here is a county park in Western Washington that’s less than an hour from Seattle and that offers 48 campsites, as well as four cozy cabins. You must hike into all of the campsites, which are open between March and November and do not offer utilities. It’s a good idea to book your site online or by phone in advance; however, walk-ins are also an option if there are any sites still available (usually a challenge in the mid-late summer). Flowing Lake County Park is also a popular day-use park with a boat launch, fishing dock, playground, picnic areas, and amphitheater. There’s a wading area here too but no lifeguard on duty.
Middle Fork Campground, North Bend
Middle Fork Campground is accessible from Seattle and in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest along the Snoqualmie River. You’ll be near some nice hiking trails when you stay here, making it perfect for family and small group camping. The sites are surrounded by Douglas fir, Western hemlock, and cedar trees to provide you with shade and serenity. In total, the campground has 39 standard (non-electric) sites, including two group sites. There are vault toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water stations here. Middle Fork has around 1,500 miles of trails are popular during all four seasons for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, skiing, and snowshoeing.
Issaquah Village RV Park, Issaquah
You’ll be just outside of Seattle and at the foot of the Cascade Mountains when you make a reservation at the Issaquah Village RV Park. This camping destination has spaces for big rigs and is by a walking/biking path that leads you to Downtown Issaquah. It’s right off of I-90 and just 15 minutes from Seattle. Amenities offered here include cable TV, Wi-Fi, and full hookups in all 56 sites. Discounts are available if you have a Good Sam or AAA membership, as well as for seniors and members of the military.
Tolt-MacDonald Park and Campground, Carnation
Get out into nature without being too far from Seattle with a stay at the Tolt-MacDonald Park and Campground. This 575-acre park is in the Snoqualmie Valley and a popular spot to watch salmon spawning and eagles soaring. There are trails here for hiking and biking, as well as a 500-foot suspension bridge to walk across the Snoqualmie River. Seasonal camping is available here for RVs and tents. There are also six yurts available for rent. You can contact the park’s regional scheduling office to book your camping spot. The Timber! Outdoor Music Festival and Beat the Blerch are annual events to look forward to at Tolt-MacDonald Park.
