10 Best Camping Sites In Washington

Washington State is blessed with great camping sites that include the Puget Sound, ocean beaches, mountains, beautiful lakes, and desert.  The diverse landscape also provides a wide variety of camping opportunities.  Identifying the ten best camping sites is difficult but no one can reasonably disagree that these sites offer great opportunities. 

1. Cape Disappointment state park is located at the very southwest corner of the state where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It is a spectacular location featuring beaches, forest, hiking trails and lighthouses. And it is close to Ilwaco, Washington which is a launching point for sturgeon, salmon, halibut and tuna fishing. The area is also famous for the dangerous waters used by the Coast Guard for training.
2. The City of Stehekin, located within the North Cascades National Park, is special because it is not accessible by road. Visitors to Stehekin usually take the 55 mile long ferry from Chelan though the more adventurous can get there by float plane, horseback or a really long hike. Several great camp sites are available in the little community of one hundred isolated by mountains and forest.
3. The San Juan islands offer many spectacular camping opportunities. The islands are located in the newly named Salish Sea about halfway between Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle. The several islands are accessible by Ferry from Anacortes, private boats and float planes. A favorite activity is kayaking as a pod of orcas resides in the area.
4. Boating enthusiasts will love the great camp sites in and around the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The Grand Coulee Dam at the western end of the recreation area is located 90 miles west of Spokane, Washington. It is a mecca for water skiing, houseboating (a kind of camping experience) and fishing. There are many camping sites of all types available in this large recreation area.
5. A trip to Washington State without going to Mt. Rainier is an opportunity missed. The dormant 14,000+ foot peak is surrounded by campgrounds. A favorite site is the elevation 4,400 White River campground. It can be found along the road to Sunrise Lodge. It is located near the glacier melt that forms the White River and hiking trails and abundant wildlife are easy to find.
6. A little used and, therefore, great camp site is Hope Island State Park near Olympia. The reason it is little used is that it only accessible by water. Kayaking is the best way to get there. It is about an hour or two kayak depending on the tides. It has its own population of deer. It is very rustic!
7. The Columbia River Gorge located along the border of Washington and Oregon has many camping opportunities. This area is best known as the capital of windsurfing with amazing winds constantly flowing down the gorge.
8. Deception Pass is a popular state park located about an hour and a half drive north of Seattle. This state park is unique for its variety of activities such as scuba diving and spectacular views. It has both salt water and fresh water activities including kayaking.
9. La Push is the ideal place to camp if you like to hike along the Pacific Ocean. It is located in the northwest corner of the state and has numerous camping sites including Bogachiel state park. You will need to check your tide charts before you start your hike as high water will limit your ability to ford some rivers and access some trails.  This area is close to the City of Forks which is best known as the location for the Twilight movies.
10. It does not get much better for mountain hikers than the trails of Lake Cushman State Park. It is located in the Olympic Mountain range about two hours drive from Seattle. The lake is pristine as it is fed by glaciers. The hiking trails will give you the opportunity for great vistas attained by achieving significant elevations.