7 Nearby Campgrounds for Seattle-Area Families to Reserve Now

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