Table of Contents
Introduction
Whether you want to explore the mountains, lakes, or forests of Washington state, you’ll be able to find a campsite that’s perfect for you. To help you find the best camping experiences in Washington State, we’ve put together this guide to some of our favorite campgrounds.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a great place for camping. Located in Washington state, Mount Rainier is the highest peak in Washington state and offers many hiking trails that are open year-round. The park has a wide variety of wildlife including deer, elk, black bear, cougar and coyote. There are many campsites to choose from and several restaurants and bars located within the park where you can enjoy some delicious food or drinks after a long day at camp!
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. You can camp in rainforests, beaches, mountains, and coastal regions. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out these three campsites:
- Campground on the beach at Lake Quinault Lodge (South Shore)
- Murhut Valley Campground (Central Coast)
- Hurricane Ridge Campground (Northwest corner)
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is located in Washington State, and it’s the largest national park in the contiguous United States. The region has a long history of human use, including native tribal peoples and European settlers who arrived in the 1800s. In 1968, President Lyndon B Johnson signed into law legislation that made North Cascades National Park one of our country’s newest federally protected areas.
The park is known for its rugged terrain and mountain peaks like Mt Baker (10,781 feet) and Mt Shuksan (9,131 feet). Its two million acres are home to an abundance of wildlife found nowhere else on earth! Some animals you’ll find here include deer mice (small rodents), marmots (large ground squirrels), wolves (a type of dog) and grizzly bears—the largest species on land today with males weighing up to 1,400 pounds!
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a great place to go camping in Washington State. The lake itself is surrounded by mountains, and there are many campgrounds where you can pitch your tent. There are also many activities to do while you’re here, such as kayaking or canoeing, fishing, swimming and hiking the trails. If you want to explore some of the waterfalls around the area then make sure you visit during spring when they’re flowing at full strength!
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LRNRA) is located in the north-central part of Washington. It’s a great place for camping because there are plenty of campsites, wildlife and water activities. You can hike on the many trails here or take part in fishing or boating.
The lake itself is the largest man-made reservoir in the country, but it actually wasn’t created by humans at all—it was formed by a massive landslide almost 100 years ago that blocked river flow and created new land where there once was none!
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon carved by the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. It’s also one of Washington’s most visited natural recreation areas.
The National Scenic Area is located within Oregon, but it offers plenty of activities for anyone looking to explore this stunning area. You can hike along the trails, take a scenic drive along one of many roads that lead through it or even rent bikes from local shops and ride on bikeways that run throughout the area! If you’re traveling by car, free camping sites are available at several locations along State Route 14; these spots offer stunning views but no electricity or water hookups so make sure that your tent will be able to withstand any elements before setting up camp there!
Deception Pass State Park
You should definitely make a stop at this park. The Deception Pass State Park is located at the northern end of Whidbey Island in the U.S. state of Washington and is a great place to enjoy nature while you’re camping in Washington state.
The park was named after the narrow, dangerous passage between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island, which was named Deception Pass by Captain George Vancouver in 1792 because he thought it was too treacherous for ships to pass through safely due to its strong currents and rocks; however, he later learned that ships had safely navigated through prior to his arrival on the scene (perhaps by those clever locals).
It’s best known for its scenic views of Puget Sound as well as its many trails leading down from cliffs high above sea level onto beaches below where you can go swimming or play volleyball during your time here!
Moran State Park
The park is located in Port Townsend, about an hour north of Seattle. The beachside location gives you a stunning view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which connects Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean and makes for some great whale watching during their spring migration.
Moran has both RV sites and tent camping available at its campground, as well as yurts that are rented out seasonally.
Cape Disappointment State Park
Cape Disappointment State Park is a campground in Washington state, and it can be found on the southwestern corner of the Olympic Peninsula. It’s a popular place for whale watching and camping, with three miles of sandy beach that you can use to explore tide pools or take a hike along the shoreline. The park has a lighthouse (one of only four left in Washington State), as well as five hiking trails that range from just under two miles up to ten miles long.
If you’re looking for something more adventurous than just sleeping under the stars—not that we’re knocking that—then consider taking advantage of their sea kayaking tours or climbing classes. You’ll also find plenty to see if you visit between December and April (when most wildlife are migrating).
Neah Bay Washington Coast Camping
Neah Bay is a small town on the coast of Washington. It’s a great place to go camping in the summer, with beautiful beaches and many campgrounds. The area also features restaurants and shops for those who want to stay out of the wilderness for a little while.
For those looking for something more adventurous than traditional camping, Neah Bay offers an array of different activities including fishing tours, whale watching tours and hiking trails that take you through some of Washington’s most beautiful scenery.
Conclusion
We hope this list helped you find some great camping spots in Washington state!
