RV Rental Des Moines, WA

The Saltwater State Park will give you a sense of what Washington natural parks have to offer so it’s a great place to get started. It’s right within the city limits of Des Moines, on the town's south end. Expectedly, you will share the park with a good crowd when there's no cloud. Comb the sandy shore strewn with driftwood, take a dip in the shallows, or put on your fins for a dive to an artificial reef.

Then put your camper rental in Des Moines to good use and see the snow-capped peaks, lush temperate forests, and rugged coastlines of the Olympic National Park. Encompassing an area close to a million acres, the park is home to several distinct ecosystems. Spy orange and purple starfish or the green-tentacled giant green anemone in the tide pools of Kalaloch's Beach 4 and Mora's Hole in the Wall during low tide. Give your legs a good workout in the park's extensive hiking trails passing through lowland forests, along beaches, or up mountain ridges. Or drive the scenic loop of the lush Quinault Valley in your Des Moines RV rental for a view of ice-carved peaks, shimmering lakes, and alpine meadows.

For the keen climber, the alpine summits of the North Cascades National Park are hard to overlook. Close to 400 miles of trails crisscross the park's diverse and rugged terrain so you have no shortage of hiking options. Climb the glaciated slopes of the volcano Mt. Baker or take a quiet stroll along the river while looking out for migrating salmon, birds, and other wildlife. Glacial meltwater feeds the park's 600 lakes and 4,000 miles of rivers and streams so there are also plenty of opportunities to cast a line out for salmon or steelhead or navigate Class II rivers like the Queets and Hoh or Class V rivers like Quinault and Sol Duc.

The Saltwater State Park is just a short drive south of the town center and is one of the most accessible parking places for your motorhome rental near Des Moines. No hookups are available here but there are showers, restrooms, and a dump station. The park offers close to 1,500 feet of Puget Sound's saltwater shoreline, making it an ideal ground to watch wading birds catch fish or watch salmon spawn at the McSorley Creek.

For another state park experience close by but with more amenities, the Dash Point State Park welcomes guests with full hookup sites, restrooms/showers, and a dump station. The park has a much longer sandy shoreline and almost 20 miles of combined hiking and biking trails.

Also within a 20-30 mile radius, you'll find plenty of campgrounds and RV parks with full hook-up sites, showers and restrooms, and other amenities that make for a more comfortable stay. Inquire ahead as few of the parks are members-only or for long-term stays.

If you can live without hooking up to water or electricity, consider staying a night or two at a Walmart parking lot with permission from the store manager. The closest Walmart stores are in Renton and Federal Way, about a 15-minute drive from Des Moines. Around town, you’ll find several gas stations, some with extended hours.

Sit down to a meal of fresh seafood in the bustling Marina District in downtown. Locally owned specialty shops can be found alongside restaurants and bistros where you can tuck into fine or casual dining while enjoying the views. Asian cuisine (Chinese, Japanese, and Thai) are on offer in a few places along with American comfort food, Mexican fares, and Italian staples. Then walk off your dinner on the fishing pier as you watch boats dock into the 700-slip marina.

Leave your travel trailer rental in Des Moines and take the RapidRide bus or light rail mass transit to experience the urban offerings of Seattle. Join a tour of the historic Pike Place Market, visit a zoo to see an African lion or giraffe, or step inside the city’s museums for a close look at Native American, American and Asian paintings, and exhibits. Climb to the observation deck of the iconic Space Needle for a 360° view of Seattle.

Head south and stare at hammerhead sharks and green sea turtles at Tacoma's Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Or see the artistry of Tacoma native Dale Chihuly at the Museum of Glass. You can even walk the Chihuly Bridge of Glass that connects the museum to downtown. If you like cars, the LeMay-America's Car Museum lets you get up close to Ford Model Ts and classic muscle cars and walks you through a century's worth of automobile history.

With two of Washington’s biggest cities nearby and some of the state’s most prized national parks not far away, Des Moines is well-placed to give you a Pacific Northwest experience you won’t easily forget. Find the best RV rental in Des Moines, WA now and soon you’ll be on the road to wild adventures.