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.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Capitol State Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Capitol State Forest

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Riverside Camping Near Mt Rainier

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Elbe, WA

Welcome to our campsite located near Mt. Rainier. Our property is close to the Nisqually River on one side and the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad track on the other. The entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park is just a 15-minute drive away, making our campsite a convenient base for exploring the park. Enjoy fishing, hiking, and watching the scenic railroad pass by. Our campsite offers a peaceful place to relax and enjoy nature. Whether you're here for the outdoor activities or just want a quiet spot to camp, we look forward to hosting you.

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Unique Bay Front Camping

5 units · Motorhomes6 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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Elysian Retreat

10 units · 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 for rent in our extras along with Firewood Bundles and 1Dozen eggs available for purchase. Trash and recycling are available at the entrance to ensure a clean campsite is left behind. Fire pits also need to be returned to their pickup location. 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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Skokomish Park At Lake Cushman

60 units · Motorhomes, 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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Hairy Eagle Lookout 🦅

3 units · Motorhomes, 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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The Healing Farm

7 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Yelm, WA

Come enjoy your stay with farm animals! When you get here you will get a tour of the farm and introduced to all the animals. After, you can spend as much time with them. We have chickens, turkeys, baby chicks, ducks, goats and baby goats, livestock guardian dogs, wallabies, two capybara's, a porcupine, guinea pigs, patagonian mara's, alpacas, a llama, ponies, cats, rabbits, and a tortoise. We love our animals and each one has a specific purpose they fulfill. Enjoy some quiet time in nature and with all the animals. We encourage to just sit and hang out with the animals and be in the present moment. Animals are very healing. We are about an hour from Mount Rainier National Park, an hour and a half from Seattle and Portland and Olympia is only 30 minutes away. To see more of what we do and more of the animals, add us on Instagram@thehealingfarmwa or check out our website thehealingfarmwa.com We are happy to share our space with others! -Jason and Kat

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Green Acres for Friends and Fam

3 units · Tents22 acres · Centralia, WA

Green Acres is a beautiful 22 acre piece of land with a creek running top to bottom. Their is a lush valley where the campsites are, a 6 acre pasture and woods to hike, discover and play. We are conveniently located at the halfway point between Seattle and Portland. Centralia has a lot of recreational opportunities, plenty of shopping and dining. Come and discover Green Acres and Lewis County. Learn more about this land: 3 camp sites available ...set up your tent...each site has a grill...4 minute walk to your car...2 miles from the center of Centralia...lots of nearby activities and scenery.. 4 miles to Interstate 5...beautiful and secluded...Downtown Centralia has great antique shopping local restaurants and watering holes.

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Summit Farms: Peaceful & Enjoyable

12 units · Motorhomes, Tents28 acres · Olympia, WA

We are Mitch and Michelle, and we welcome you to our little slice of Heaven. While we are working hard to be good stewards of this beautiful land, and growing produce to be sold at local farmers markets and through other community-based channels – we also love sharing this hidden gem with visitors. Our 30-acre property is a turn-of-the-century homestead, featuring a Heritage listed barn, located on the Thurston Bountiful Byway, and just minutes from the HWY5/Exit 99 - yet private and secluded. Bordering a state park – with a mix of wetlands, prairie grass and forest – we offer both RV full hook-ups and dry campsites. Great for digital nomads, families, travel nurses, solo retreats or small group gatherings - safe, secure, serene, and enjoyable! Come to relax, have some fun, or both! Welcome to Summit Farms! WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE: ~Our 115 y/o Big Red Barn is a sight to see! Not only gorgeous and unique, but a cool place to hang out. A perfect indoor spot for morning yoga, a quiet place to read, board games, a group meal, or some tunes and a game of pool on the slate table! We also have a 10ft screen, projector, speakers, mics and dozens of DVDs (or bring your own) And for a small additional fee, we can set up a movie and/or karaoke night. Please ask for details. ~We are just a few minutes’ drive from Millersylvania State Park, where you’ll find amazing trails, a lake for fishing, swimming and paddling, a seasonal snack bar and beer garden. ~There is Room To Roam. Our place boasts plenty of open space for walks, outdoor games, kiddos to run around, and secluded sanctuaries. Toss a ball with your youngster, play an unforgettable cornhole tournament, or just wander about, pick a spot and let your senses take over - a perfect place for quiet reflection. ~ If you pay attention, you’ll enjoy much wildlife not just on the ground, but in the air and waterways! Depending on the season, you’ll spot frogs, butterflies and dragonflies, eagles, hawks, garden snakes, rabbits, salamanders, herons, dozens of wild birds – of course the greedy deer families stealing apples and bedding down at dusk – and much more! ~Here, you’ll see Wide Open Skies! So, we don’t have the shadiest campsites around… but during your stay, you’ll never miss any of the sublime beauty above

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Honeysuckle Meadery

2 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Rainier, WA

Welcome, to the Meadery, we are a working winery with several other interests to investigate as well. Come learn about making Mead. We have an annual cider press in late September or early October as well. Want to learn how to Roast your own coffee bean? Or maybe you are competitive and want to race 132 or 124 slot cars on a Carrera 124 Digital Track. There is also a nice walk in the woods, and if it is hot you can float down the Deschutes River that is very close by. Pitch your tent in a few areas you pick, there are Mountain Bike and Little kid ATV trails around the property as well. For more extensive ATV trails Capital Forest is about 30 minutes away. If you have a Weyerhaeuser permit for the area near me the gate is 2.5 miles away. There is a winery on site and an outside tasting area with a fire pit. Each camp site also has their own fire pits. Two bathrooms with showers. There are powered and non-powered RV sites. Water is available at the water station but not directly at the camp sites. We are pet friendly. We offer firewood for sale on site, camp fires permitted outside of a burn ban. We do not provide garbage service, we expect everyone to carry out what they bring in. Guests love staying here: "Dean's acreage is a dream! We stayed there in our motorhome and absolutely loved it. We have two dogs and they are picky about making friends but adored Deans dogs. They are the sweetest and make the camping even more enjoyable. Dean was kind enough to show us his Meadery and the property so we felt comfortable exploring and walking around. We would definitely recommend it for other campers whether you have an RV, tent, van, etc. For reference we comfortably parked our 31 ft motorhome and we were able to hookup to electricity (only available in one spot so inquire with dean!). There is a shower and toilet available for use in a separate building from his home in the backyard."

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Private Beach, 15 Acres, Vashon

2 units · Motorhomes, 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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Relax at the River

1 unit · Motorhome, Tent1 acre · Castle Rock, WA

We have a 1/2 acre property on the Cowlitz River in the middle of Cooks Ferry Park in Castle Rock WA. We bought the property to relax in a beautiful setting close to home. We only live 15 minutes away. The property is made up of dredge spoils from when Mt. Saint Helens blew and is inside of a park where people can go to fish and enjoy the river. There are only 8 lots privately owned and we are the first lot that you come to. There is plenty of room for an RV. Guests can also tent camp or stay in our shack that has a sleeper sofa. There are snacks, a sign in book, an axe, briquets, a fire extinguisher, and other items the shack. There is a picnic table, fire pit, BBQ, and wood stove. There is a porta potty on the property. We keep our travel trailer there to enjoy when we can. We will try our best to not be there when you are staying at the property but if you book less than 1 week in advance, we may be there. In summer, we may be kayaking. We put in upriver and get out at the property. If that is a problem, please message me before you book. If you continue going past our property, there are some nice rock beaches with pretty views. People fish there and wade in the water in the summer. Castle Rock is a cute little town with some nice shops, restaurants and bars. I recommend checking it out! We are not picky about check in/check out time. It would only matter if someone else was checking in the day you are checking out. Please ask if you expect to arrive earlier or want to check out later. If your plans change, please cancel through Hipcamp to get a refund.

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Wildfern Grove

8 units · Glamping, 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.

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.

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