Did you know Washington State is home to one of the largest offshore islands in the continental United States? Whidbey Island is home to approximately 70,000 residents. Bring your camping gear because you’ll find plenty of Whidbey Island campgrounds to consider. Let’s take a look at why we think you should add this island to your itinerary.
Things to Do on Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is full of exciting and adventurous activities for the entire family. Popular outdoor activities include miles of hiking and fishing on the beaches. However, you can find plenty of shopping venues and restaurants to enjoy as well.
Those on the island also enjoy kayaking, boating, and cycling. When you participate in these activities, you can explore the island and gain a different perspective than you might otherwise experience. If you have time, you can even do a bit of clamming, crabbing, or fishing for your dinner.
Whether you want to relax or adventure, Whidbey Island campgrounds can be the perfect spot for a vacation. It may have you considering island life for your permanent residence.
Can You Take an RV on Whidbey Island?
Yes, Whidbey Island is accessible for RVs. The island has several campgrounds for you to find a spot to park your rig for a memorable camping trip. You can find sites with water views or a densely wooded environment. Whether you want to hike, bike, or just sit around a campfire, you can enjoy this RV-accessible island for many adventures.
Pro Tip: Looking for things to do while on Whidbey Island? Check out our guide on what to do here.
The Top 6 Whidbey Island Campgrounds
If you want to visit Whidbey Island, we’ve got six great campgrounds you should consider. They’re all fantastic options for finding a place to call home while enjoying a bit of island life.
1. Fort Casey State Park
Location: Fort Casey State Park sits in the middle of the island on the western coast. The address for the park is 1280 Engle Road Coupeville, WA 98239.
About: This state park has 35 sites, 14 of which have electricity and water connections. You can enjoy views of the water from your campsite, and some campers have watched the ferry pass by from their campsite.
Amenities: It doesn’t have an on-site dump station but does have a restroom and shower. With many of these sites being big-rig friendly, you can even snag one of their 20 pull-thru sites. Enjoy a relaxing time scuba diving, fishing, or taking your boat out on the water.
You can also hike along the Admiralty Head Marine Preserve shores of the Pacific Northwest Trail. If you visit during the summer months, you may find yourself camping next to someone hiking all 1,200 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 7/10 — Some have complained about noise from low-flying jets until late in the night. However, the views and relaxed atmosphere are hard to beat at this campground.
2. Deception Pass State Park
Location: Deception Pass State Park is on the northern point of Whidbey Island. You can find the campground at 41229 State Rte 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
About: Deception Pass is a massive 3,854-acre state park in Washington State. It has 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline from the three lakes. You can find impressive headlands, quiet forests, and sandy beaches to enjoy while exploring Deception Pass State Park.
Amenities: You’ll find a dump station, ADA sites, and over 300 campsites, with 134 designated for RVs. Additionally, you have access to 38 miles of hiking paths and even 1.2 miles of ADA hiking trails.
You can even climb up to the Pacific Northwest Trail and see an incredible view of Goose Rock. If you want to experience a little bit of the 1,200-mile trail, you can explore 10 miles of it within the park.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10 — This is the most visited state park in Washington for a reason. Staying at this Whidbey Island campground offers a little bit of everything — beaches, forests, hiking, fishing, and more. It’s easy to see why so many people love it.
3. Fort Ebey State Park
Location: Fort Ebey State Park lies on the western side of Whidbey Island. The park is at 400 Hill Valley Dr., Coupeville, WA 98239. It sits 8.5 miles south of Oak Harbor.
About: This park is open year-round and contains 50 total campsites, 11 of which have RV hook-ups. You can spend several days here. The fort was originally a coastal defense during World War II. You may enjoy exploring Fort Ebey and appreciate the history.
Some campers have been lucky enough to spot submarines heading out to see, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll see one. However, due to its proximity to the naval air station, you’ll likely see many jets fly over during all hours of the day and night.
Amenities: Some sites have 30 or 20 amp power, but most are for dry camping. Come and enjoy fishing, hiking, and swimming in the water. You might even catch some waves as many people enjoy surfing from the beach. You may also spot paragliders taking off from the bluff in the park.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10 — With most of these sites being dry camping, many RVers must rely on their own power source. Many also have dense tree overage, making them less ideal for using solar power to charge batteries.
4. North Whidbey RV Park
Location: This RV park is in North Whidbey and sits at 565 Cornet Bay Rd, Oak Harbor, Washington 97277. This private RV park lies directly across the street from Deception Pass State Park.
About: This is a safe and well-maintained RV park. It stays busy with guests coming to visit Deception Pass State Park and the surrounding area.
You’ll be minutes away from hiking, beach-combing, whale watching, festivals, photography opportunities, crabbing, or even clam digging in Cornet Bay. Management prides itself in providing one of the best guest experiences in the area, and you may feel right at home here.
Amenities: This private RV park offers 100 full hook-up, level, and paved campsites. You won’t have to worry about leveling when you stay here. It has free Wi-Fi, a playground, and coin-operated laundry to help make your life as easy as possible during your stay.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10 — This Whidbey Island campground has everything you could ask for and is conveniently located to many of the local attractions. If you want the full hook-up campsites that many of the area state parks can’t provide, this is a great alternative.
Pro Tip: Need to work while on the road? Or maybe you just want to stream Netflix? This is How to Find Campgrounds with WiFi.
5. Cliffside RV Park (Navy Getaways)
Location: This private RV park overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Peninsula. There’s no shortage of views when you stay here. You’ll find the park on the naval base in Oak Harbor.
About: Cliffside RV Park is available to active and retired military, reservists, authorized DoD civilians, and full-time contractors. However, sites are on a space-available basis.
The park sits on the Air Station property in Oak Harbor. Most of the spots in this park have excellent beach views.
Amenities: All of the RV sites have concrete pads and come with full hookups. However, the park also has tent campsites, furnished yurts, and even RV trailers that you can rent nightly.
You’ll also find restroom and shower facilities, coin-operated laundry, Wi-Fi, and easy access to the beach for an evening stroll on the soft sandy beach.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10 — We love campgrounds that honor the brave men and women who serve our country. The view from this campground and the purpose behind it easily earns this campground every point possible.
6. Rhododendron Campground
Location: Rhododendron Campground sits just off Highway 20 in the middle of the island. You’ll find the park at 20265 SR 20, Coupeville, WA 98239.
About: This 160-acre campground in Central Whidbey has first-come, first-served sites. So make sure you get here early on busy weekends like holidays or anytime during peak camping season.
It has 15 total sites, but only three of them can accommodate RVs. So don’t come expecting anything fancy, but the campground provides a ton of privacy and a very rustic camping experience.
Amenities: This Whidbey Island campground provides water only. It doesn’t have any electricity or dump stations on site. However, you will find vault toilets, BBQs, picnic tables, and fireplace rings at each spot.
You can easily connect with Rhododendron Park Trails and the nearby athletic fields too. The park is seasonally open and closes from November 1 to April 1 each year.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 7/10 — This is a great rustic experience if you have a smaller camper. If you want a place to camp while you explore the island and can snag one of these sites, it’s a relatively inexpensive place to stay.
Is Camping on Whidbey Island Worth It?
Being able to spend as much time exploring as you can while visiting Whidbey Island is most definitely worth it. Many of the campgrounds provide easy access to the beaches and area attractions.
If you get lucky enough to get a campsite with a view of the water, you can appreciate the coastline during your stay. If you find yourself exploring Washington State, we hope you’ll check out one of these fantastic options for camping while on the island.
Have you visited a Whidbey Island campground? Tell us about your experience below!
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George
Thursday 2nd of December 2021
You forgot to mention the naval air station on the island. While it is fun to watch the fighter jets fly over, the noise from their takeoffs and landings can be horrendous.
Mortons on the Move
Sunday 12th of December 2021
True! We are very familiar with that noise.