Welcome to Elkamp, a different kind of RV park not far from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. The beautifully forested space checks off a lot of boxes, offering hookup sites and a variety of other camping options -- from tent spaces to a vintage Airstream for rent.

Here’s how we found this dreamy destination.

Plugged in: When we were planning a trip to one of our all-time favorite national parks, Leslie spotted a Facebook post from a friend raving about the blast she and her crew were having at Elkamp near the teeny town of Mineral. Their group was tent camping by the stream while others were enjoying the comfort of the Airstream. There’s also a lovely cabin for rent.

This space was a traditional park for many years before the new owners purchased it in 2019. Tom Searl and Brian West spent the next few years updating and upgrading the place -- and the effort shows.

Let’s start in the restrooms: Wow, just wow. The public restrooms in most RV parks vary from adequate to flat-out yucky. At Elkamp, the bathrooms look as if they belong in a fancy hotel. We were impressed.

We were also blown away by the campsites, which were tidy, expansive and plenty private. There are pull-through spots for big rigs and a few off power options for those who don’t mind dry camping. After a couple of nights off power at the wonderful La Wis Wis campground, we were happy to plug in again.

It’s worth noting that there’s no sewer on property, but the team can point you in the proper direction to hit a dump station. We’ve become fans of the rest area off I-5 near Fife.

After we got set up, we explored the vast park, enjoying a stroll across a wooden bridge to a meadow where we found Adirondack chairs. What a pleasant place to hang out and enjoy the mountain views. (Well, we couldn’t see Rainier because it was really hazy that day.)

Extra special: There’s a nifty gift shop at the park and yoga classes are offered regularly. The owners are all about encouraging a community vibe. You can read more about their dream project on the park’s website. We loved how they describe looking for something brand new for the next chapter of their working lives and say in the text “be careful what you wish for!” We know they’re half-joking, but, yeah, we can relate.

After booking at Elkamp, we truly appreciated the personal touch Tom extended when making suggestions about what to do while in the area. Here are some highlights:

• Packwood Brewing Co., which Tom calls “a quaint place with a good atmosphere.”
• The Ice Cream Airstream also in Packwood.
• In nearby Morton, Tom recommends Timber Patch Brewery (with a pizza cart) and River’s Coffeehouse and Bistro.
• In Ashford, near the park entrance, Tom suggests Cooper Creek Inn/Restaurant (“famous for its blackberry pie”), Whittaker’s Mountaineering BaseCamp and Bar/Grill (“a pickup/drop off point for those who summit Rainier, and also has a nice indoor/outdoor space for a beer and burger”) and the Recycled Spirit of Iron Sculpture, an arts space.

Booking out the camp: The park is open seasonally and has become a popular place for gatherings of friends and family, some reserving the entire space. They’re already taking reservations for the 2025 season. The park’s last date this year is Nov. 4.

We’ve experienced quite a few nice national park-adjacent commercial campgrounds over the years, including Wonderland RV Park near Capitol Reef in Utah, and Yellowstone’s Edge RV Park near the Gardiner, Mont., entrance to the park. We enjoyed those, but Elkamp heads to the top of the must-visit list after our recent stay. Thanks, guys!