Staying in Washington state campgrounds is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful state. From mountains to forests and the ocean, the state campgrounds offer up close and personal stays in nature. And you might be surprised by the wildlife you encounter along the way.
Keep reading to learn the best time of year to visit and what the state is known for. We also share 10 of the most stunning Washington state campgrounds that we recommend booking.
Let’s explore!
What Is Washington State Known For?
The state of Washington is known for its Pacific coast, national parks, volcanic mountains, and its agriculture. It’s also known for things like football and as the birthplace of Starbucks. The rugged landscapes of the state include the famous Olympic National Park with its rainforests and coastline.
When Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Washington State?
Travelers flock to Washington year-round, but the best time to visit is in the summer or September and October. The summer peak season draws large crowds and the warmest temperatures.
September and October can be rainier and cooler. But if you prefer fewer crowds and don’t mind the rain, we highly recommend a fall visit. You’ll see gorgeous foliage and can enjoy fun fall festivals and activities.
Pro Tip: Make sure to visit these 7 Awesome National Parks you can easily get to from Seattle.
10 Stunning Washington State Campgrounds You Should Visit
One of the best ways to stay during your visit is at Washington state campgrounds. Let’s look at 10 of the most stunning options. We’ve rated them based on location and amenities.
#1 Hoh Rain Forest Campground
Location: Forks, WA 98331
About: Hoh Rain Forest Campground lies in the temperate rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula. The campground has 72 campsites. And you have so much to see in the area. You can access two short-loop hiking trails near the visitor’s center and one out-and-back trail.
Amenities: Campsites don’t have hookups, but each has a campfire ring and a picnic table. The campground has food lockers, a drinking water station, and a bathroom. In addition, you can find showers and a dump station 23 miles away at Bogachiel State Park.
Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love the proximity to all Olympic National Park has to offer, such as beautiful scenery, wildlife, and hiking.
Morton Road Trip Rating: We rated this a 10/10 for its location and easy trail access.
#2 Colonial Creek Campground
Location: State Rte 20, Rockport, WA 98283
About: Colonial Creek Campground lies near North Cascades National Park along Diablo Lake. The campground provides easy access to hiking trails, fishing, and boating.
Amenities: The campsites don’t have electricity but provide a picnic table and campfire ring. And the campground has food lockers, a boat ramp, and boat trailer parking.
Why You’ll Love It: The campground provides easy access to Diablo Lake and a short drive to Ross Lake. You also have a great chance of seeing wildlife in the area.
Morton Road Trip Rating: We’ve rated this campground in Washington state an 8/10 for being on the lakefront.
#3 Deception Pass State Park
Location: 41229 State Route 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
About: Deception Pass State Park is on the north side of Whidbey Island. The park has stunning views of the bay with a rugged shoreline. You can participate in various activities, from fishing, hiking, boating, bird watching, and sea-life spotting.
Pro Tip: While exploring Whidbey Island, spend the night at these 6 Best Whidbey Island Campgrounds.
Amenities: The Washington state campground has 134 partial-hookup sites. It also has 20 bathrooms, 10 showers, and a dump station. In addition, you can also choose to stay at one of the 172 tent sites in the park.
Why You’ll Love It: You may love the island’s laid-back vibe. The views are epic, and you might just spot a whale or other wildlife.
Morton Road Trip Rating: Deception Pass State Park earns a 9/10 for the beautiful island and its views.
#4 La Conner RV & Camping Resort
Location: 16362 Snee Oosh Rd, La Conner, WA 98257
About: La Conner RV and Camping Resort is a Thousand Trails campground. It sits on a half-mile beachfront, a short distance from the ferry to the San Juan Islands.
Amenities: Amenities include full hookup and non-sewer sites. The campground has bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a fitness center, a hot tub, a restaurant, pickleball courts, RV storage, Wi-Fi, and more.
Why You’ll Love It: Enjoy the amazing views from the campground looking out to the San Juan Islands. And we recommend trying to grab one of the waterfront campsites.
Morton Road Trip Rating: Due to its amenities and location, this campground has earned a 10/10.
#5 Blake Island Marine State Park
Location: Washington 98366
About: Blake Island Marine State Park is only accessible by boat. If you’re a boater or paddler, it’s a great place to get away and spend the night in your boat or a tent on the island. The island has beaches, trails, and views of Seattle and Mt. Rainier.
Amenities: The 44 campsites on Blake Island are first come, first serve. It has restrooms, showers, water stations, and a marine dump station on the island.
Why You’ll Love It: The island getaway is a unique adventure close to the city, making the perfect weekend escape.
Morton Road Trip Rating: We’ve given Blake Island Marine State Park a 7/10 for its uniqueness and access for paddlers and boaters.
#6 Fay Bainbridge Park
Location: 15446 Sunrise Drive NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
About: Fay Bainbridge Park and Campground are on the Puget Sound on Bainbridge Island. On clear days you can see Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker from the beach. The views from this campground don’t disappoint.
Amenities: The campground has 26 RV sites with water and electricity. You also get bathrooms and showers. However, it doesn’t have a dump station, so come prepared.
Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love the beach and views at Fay Bainbridge Park. Soak in the sun on Puget Sound during the summer and have a peaceful getaway during the spring or fall.
Morton Road Trip Rating: This Washington state campground gets an 8/10 for the beach and small size of the campground.
#7 Hobuck Beach Resort
Location: 2726 Makah Passage, Neah Bay, WA 98357
About: Hobuck Beach Resort is on the Makah Reservation. Each campsite has a view of the Pacific Ocean’s Makah Bay. It’s beachside camping in the northwest at its best.
Amenities: The resort has 10 RV sites in the campground and additional tent camping in the meadow. RV campsites have full hookups with 30 amp electricity, sewer, and water. The pull-through sites have a picnic table. The campground also has a bathhouse with showers.
Why You’ll Love It: The sweeping beaches with sand, rocks, and mountains in the distance draw many to this campground.
Morton Road Trip Rating: Hobuck Beach Resort earned a 10/10 for its oceanfront campsites.
#8 Cape Disappointment State Park
Location: 244 Robert Gray Dr, Ilwaco, WA 98624
About: Cape Disappointment State Park is in southwest Washington. It features a lighthouse and sweeping cliffs cascading into the Pacific Ocean. Here the Columbia River meets the ocean and makes for great hikes and beach combing.
Amenities: The campground is open year-round and has 137 standard sites, 50 full-hookup, and 18 partial-hookup sites with water and electricity only. It also has a dump station, bathrooms, and showers.
Why You’ll Love It: You will love exploring the cliffs and shoreline. Additionally, it offers endless hiking or boating adventures in the area. And the lighthouse makes it all the more picture-perfect.
Morton Road Trip Rating: The epic shoreline and unique views earn this campground a 9/10.
#9 Salt Creek Recreation Area
Location: Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary, 3506 Camp Hayden Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363
About: Salt Creek Recreation Area is on the top of Olympic National Park. It’s an amazing oceanside campground with few amenities, but the views make up for it. In addition, it’s close to hiking trails, scenic drives, and the rainforest.
Amenities: The recreation area has 92 campsites with a mix of electricity hookups and sites without. You can only reserve some campsites, while others are first-come, first-serve.
Why You’ll Love It: With sweeping ocean views, you may easily fall in love with this campground. And you can spend your days exploring Olympic National Park when you stay here.
Morton Road Trip Rating: We’ve rated this Washington state campground 8/10 for its views and access to Olympic National Park.
#10 Bowl and Pitcher Campground
Location: 4427 N Aubrey L White Pkwy, Spokane, WA 99205
About: Bowl and Pitcher Campground is near downtown Spokane. The Washington state campground lies on the Spokane River, where you can kayak, canoe, and fish.
The campground is open to RVers and equestrian camping. It has 55 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, 25 miles of horse trails, an obstacle course, and a 60-foot round pen.
Amenities: The campground has 16 standard sites and 16 with partial hookups. And the equestrian camp has 21 sites with corals. Additionally, it has a dump station, bathrooms, and showers.
Why You’ll Love It: You can go hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and off-roading in the area. The campground is a perfect base for outdoor adventurers.
Morton Road Trip Rating: Bowl and Pitcher Campground has earned a 9/10 for its mix-use of RV and equestrian camping.
Pro Tip: Enjoy going on one of these 7 Easy Hikes in Washington for Enjoying the Pacific Northwest.
Have Fun Exploring Washington State’s Breathtaking Nature
Washington state campgrounds provide the perfect way to explore the state’s breathtaking nature. You’ll find unique mountains, waterways, forests, beaches, and cities. Travelers spend months adventuring around Washington, and for a good reason. You have so much to take in around this beautiful state.
We hope you get to stay at one of the campgrounds on our list soon. And when you do, let us know about your experience.
Which one of these Washington campgrounds would you like to stay at first? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
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