Campgrounds and RV parks near Stansberry Lake, WA

Saltwater recreation drives most visits. Penrose Point State Park sits on an east-facing peninsula in the southern area of Puget Sound, about an hour from Seattle, with protected waters along Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet that suit kayaking, paddling, and beach exploration. Belfair State Park, on the shores of Hood Canal, offers stunning views and easy access to water activities like clam digging and oyster harvesting, and shellfish seasons are set by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Inland, freshwater fishing is the draw. A mile from Penrose Point is Bay Lake, a popular trout fishing spot with a boat launch, though a Discover Pass or Department of Fish and Wildlife Vehicle Access Pass is required to park. Stansberry Lake itself holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie. For families, the campground loops at both state parks have paved roads suited to kids on bikes, and downtown Gig Harbor is roughly 20 minutes away for restaurants, the waterfront, and the Harbor History Museum.

Peak season runs roughly mid-May through mid-September, when all loops and facilities at the state parks are open and the weather is reliably dry. At Penrose Point State Park, reservations for camping are available May 15 through September 15 and can be made up to nine months in advance, with first-come, first-served camping the rest of the year. Sites in the popular beach loops fill quickly on summer weekends and holidays. Shoulder seasons bring fewer crowds and lower demand. Spring is wet but green, with wildflowers and active salmon streams; fall delivers cool, often clear days before the heaviest rain arrives in November. November is the wettest month, averaging about 208 mm of precipitation over 20 rainy days, while July is much drier with around 14 mm. Winter camping is possible at parks that stay open year round. At Belfair State Park, primitive, standard and full hookup campsites are reservable year-round, though some loops close seasonally and weather can be wet, cool, and occasionally windy.

Most campgrounds in this area are tucked into a shaded second-growth forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and big-leaf maple, so sites are shaded and can stay damp. At Penrose Point, the campground is in the woods with shady or partly shady sites, none on the water but the beach is a short walk away, and typical campsites accommodate a vehicle or combination of up to 35 feet, with a few longer sites available on narrow, winding roadways. Hookups vary by park. Penrose Point has no sites with electric hookups, but generators may be used intermittently between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Belfair's Beach Loop offers waterfront sites with full hookups, more open and close to the water, while the Woods Loop is more forested and better suited to tents and smaller RVs. Cell coverage is generally decent around Gig Harbor and weaker in the more remote stretches of Hood Canal and the Tahuya area. Bring layers, rain gear, and a Discover Pass for any state park day use.