7 Nearby Campgrounds for Seattle-Area Families to Reserve Now

Camp this summer at these Washington campgrounds

Is your family going camping this summer? Superplanners have likely already snagged their favorite campsite, but it’s not too late. If you want to go camping and you don’t already have a reservation, make one soon at one of our favorite Washington campgrounds. 

With our eye on summer, we’ve picked out seven nearby Washington state park campgrounds that are convenient and fun for Seattle-area families. (Think not too far of a drive after you’ve completed the necessary packing marathon.) Some of these fantastic campgrounds are fairly popular, so you may need to aim for a weekday stay. The best way to have the chance of a camping trip this summer is to book a campsite ASAP.

Use the arrows above the image to see our entire list, or skip to the campground you want to book first:

• Deception Pass State Park, Oak Harbor
• Fay Bainbridge Park Campground, Bainbridge Island
• Camano Island State Park, Camano
• Millersylvania State Park, Olympia
• Birch Bay State Park, Blaine
• Penrose Point State Park, Lakebay
• Lake Easton State Park, Easton

First up: Deception Pass

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago, and updated most recently in February 2025 by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with new details and a thorough fact-check. Allison Sutcliffe contributed to this article.

Deception Pass State Park, Oak Harbor

Deception Pass State Park is a popular Washington campground on the north end of Whidbey Island, about a 90-minute drive from Seattle, near the town of Anacortes. The iconic Deception Pass Bridge connects Fidalgo and Whidbey islands. A look over the edge of the bridge can shake the knees of even the not-afraid-of-heights types in your crew, but the view is incredible.

The state park has some 300 campsites available in different loops. Cranberry Lake is great for swimming, and there’s plenty of Puget Sound shoreline to explore as well. This nearby campground is popular; aim for a weekday stay this summer. Nearby Bay View State Park and Larrabee State Park are other family-friendly camping spots in the area if you aren’t able to reserve a site here. 

Next stop: Fay Bainbridge

Fay Bainbridge Park Campground, Bainbridge Island

Just a short ferry ride away, Fay Bainbridge Park is an easily accessible marine campground for Seattle-area families in search of summer adventure. The 17 spacious campsites for tent camping are set back in the trees, just a short walk away from the shoreline, where Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and the Space Needle seem to appear out of nowhere on sunny days. RV and cabin camping options are also available. The big draw at this Washington campground for families is the pirate-themed playground where kids can climb, explore and imagine for hours each day.

As this is a popular camping destination for Puget Sound families, a weekday stay is encouraged during the busy summer season. If luck isn’t on your side, continue west (off the island) to Kitsap Memorial State Park where 19 campsites, hiking and biking trails, and equally stunning views await.

Next stop: Camano Island

Camano Island State Park, Camano

Heading north to Camano Island State Park is a great option for first-time campers or families with young kids who may not be up for a long drive. Just shy of 90 minutes from the city, Camano offers the same stunning Puget Sound views and amenities found at many of the other campgrounds on our list. Select camping sites in the lower area if you plan to pitch a tent. RV campers will have better luck with campsites in the upper loop. Once settled, families can enjoy hiking, searching for wildlife and fishing.    

Nearby Cama Beach State Park is open for day use, with 15 miles of hiking trails and a cute café where you can stop for lunch on the weekend.

Next stop: Millersylvania

Millersylvania State Park, Olympia

Find Millersylvania State Park just south of Olympia (about an hour and 15 minutes’ drive from the Seattle area). The draw for campers here is Deep Lake, a small lake with a kid-friendly roped-off swimming area (note there is no lifeguard on duty). Families can rent kayaks or paddleboards, and there’s an old-school snack bar by the swimming beach.

Millersylvania is not far from the freeway, but all of the campsites sit in the woods. Bring the kids’ bikes for the 7 miles of biking trails, or plan on a nature wander on 8 miles of hiking trails. A couple of years ago, the adults in our group did a trail run with our school-age kids riding along beside us on their bikes.

If you can’t reserve your ideal camping weekend date here, try nearby Schafer State Park, west of Olympia. It offers swimming and fishing in the Satsop River and usually has more summer availability.

Next stop: Birch Bay

Birch Bay State Park, Blaine

North of Bellingham, about a two-hour drive from Seattle, Birch Bay State Park offers a bayside spot with views, relatively warm water and wide-open tidal flats for exploring. Close to 150 campsites include both tent sites and hook-ups.

Terrell Creek flows by this state park and the creek marsh forms a rare saltwater–fresh water estuary in northern Puget Sound. You can follow a trail through the marsh and spot abundant wildlife.

If summer weekends are already taken at this popular stop, consider reserving a family campsite at Bay View State Park or Larrabee State Park. 

Next stop: Penrose Point

Penrose Point State Park, Lakebay

South Puget Sound’s Penrose Point State Park sits on the Key Peninsula, less than an hour’s drive from Tacoma and about two hours from Seattle. This family-friendly campground combines deep forest with 2 miles of Puget Sound shoreline. On the 2.5 miles of hiking and biking trails, your crew will be dwarfed by Douglas fir, western red cedar and other towering trees. Play on the beach and admire the view of Mount Rainier. This park has 82 campsites that are in the trees and shady. It’s a short walk to the water.

On the other side of the Kitsap Peninsula is Joemma Beach State Park, another fantastic state parks campground for your summer adventures if Penrose campsites are full. About 40 minutes away on Hood Canal, Belfair State Park is also popular with families and may have weekend availability.

Next stop: Lake Easton

Lake Easton State Park, Easton

Lake Easton State Park is a handy camping spot for Seattle-area families, especially Eastsiders. The park’s location just over the Snoqualmie Pass means it can sometimes have sunny weather even when the Puget Sound region is rainy or overcast. The draw at Lake Easton is the water. Families enjoy swimming, paddling and fishing here. There are also trails for hiking and biking.

One note about campsites at Lake Easton: They’re not too far from I-90, so expect a degree of highway noise.