Camping on Vashon Island: 5 Unique Places to Camp

Vashon Island is a great place to camp if you’re looking for a quiet getaway with beautiful coastal views. Camping on Vashon Island is a great way to enjoy the island’s 45 miles of shoreline and the relaxing pace of island life.

Just a short ferry ride away from both Seattle and Tacoma, camping on Vashon Island provides a nearby escape for city dwellers.

If you want to go camping on Vashon Island, here’s what you need to know about where to camp on the island and how to get there.

Point Robinson Lighthouse in Point Robinson Park, Vashon Island — Photo by Gulnaz Sh. on Unsplash

How to Get to Vashon Island

There is no bridge to Vashon Island, so the island cannot be accessed by car. Depending on which direction you’re coming from, Vashon Island can be reached by the following ferries:

From Downtown Seattle: take the King County Water Taxi
From West Seattle: take the Fauntleroy-Vashon Ferry
From Tacoma: take the Point Defiance-Tahlequah Ferry
From the Kitsap Peninsula: take the Southworth-Vashon Ferry.

Where to Camp on Vashon Island

There are several small campgrounds for tent camping on the island. Their limited capacity guarantees you’ll have a quiet, secluded experience when camping on Vashon Island.

These are not the conventional car camping campgrounds ubiquitous throughout western Washington, but instead offer unique and adventurous camping experiences. Some campgrounds offer primitive camping that can’t be accessed by car, and some are in uncommon settings.

With that, here are 5 places to camp on Vashon Island.

1. Maury Island Marine Park

Maury Island is a peninsula of Vashon Island. The Marine Park is managed by King County Parks.

Maury Island Marine Park has 3 and a half miles of trails and over a mile of shoreline, with stellar views of East Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains.

This park has 7 primitive campsites which can only be accessed by paddling, biking, or hiking in to the campground.

The campground’s amenities include 2 port-a-potties and a shared picnic shelter. There is no potable water at the campground, so make sure to pack enough water with you.

Note that fires are prohibited at the campground.

If you are traveling to Maury Island Marine Park by foot, you can reach the park using Metro bus route 119.

Campsite reservations are managed by Vashon Adventures. Click here to reserve a campsite at Maury Island Marine Park.

2. Point Robinson Park

Point Robinson Park, owned by the Vashon Park District, is located on the eastern tip of Maury Island.

It’s a 10-acre park with scenic views of the East Passage, Tacoma, and Mount Rainier. Enjoy the views and the park’s walking trails when you camp here.

Point Robinson Park has 2 campsites which can only be accessed by paddling or biking in. Click here for directions to the park. These campsites can only be reserved for one night.

Campers have access to port-a-potties managed by the Park District as well as picnic tables. The park does not have potable water or fire rings as fires are prohibited.

Campsite reservations are managed by Vashon Adventures. Click here to reserve a campsite at Point Robinson Park.

3. Lisabeula Park

Lisabeula Park is a 5 and a half acre park and nature conservancy located on the western shore of Vashon Island. It overlooks the Colvos Passage.

Like Point Robinson Park, Lisabeula Park has 2 campsites that are only accessible by paddling or biking in. Click here for directions to the park. These campsites can only be reserved for one night.

Campers have access to port-a-potties managed by Vashon Park District as well as picnic tables. The park does not have potable water for campers, and fires are prohibited.

Campsite reservations are managed by Vashon Adventures. Click here to reserve a campsite at Lisabeula Park.

4. AYH Ranch Campground

AYH Ranch Campground is located in the northwest of Vashon Island.

Formerly an American Youth Hostel, it is now a western-themed campground with reservable teepees and sites for tent camping.

Amenities at AYH Ranch Campground include free showers, a fully equipped kitchen, and free firewood.

Click here to book a campsite at AYH Ranch Campground.

5. Sweet Alyssum Farm

Sweet Alyssum Farm is a 12-acre flower farm located in northeast Vashon Island.

The farm has 3 camp sites spaced throughout the property, giving campers plenty of seclusion even though the farm is only minutes away from restaurants and grocery stores.

Campers have access to a fire pit and picnic table at each campsite as well as communal amenities including a water spigot, sink, propane stove with cooking utensils, and a port-a-potty.

Note that campers can drive to the farm but the parking lot is about 200 feet away from campsites. The farm provides a pull-wagon to help campers move their belongings back and forth between the car and campsite.

Campsite reservations can be requested through the Hipcamp website.

Interested in more places to camp in Washington? Here are more camping articles to check out:

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.