Camping in Southwest Washington
Great camping options abound within a couple hours of Vancouver! Remember that campgrounds are often full on summer weekends, so reserve a site when possible. If you use a first come/first serve campground, it’s safest to arrive before noon on Friday.
National Forest Service:
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm#washington
Click on your region of interest. From there, find detailed info on campgrounds including number/type of sites, amenities, activities, and fees.
Iron Creek Campground
Randle, WA 541-338-7869
Open May- 2nd weekend September.
Fees start at $20/night.
Reservations: http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Iron_Creek_Campground
Located along the Cispus River and Iron Creek, just 19 miles from the Windy Ridge viewpoint on Mount St. Helens. Creek access, hiking, vault toilets, no hook-ups or showers.
Cultus Creek Forest Campground
Trout Lake, WA
Open July-October, weather permitting.
Fees start at $10/night.
No reservations; first come-first served.
This rustic forested campground of 46 sites is located at a cool 4000-ft. elevation on the east side of the Indian Heaven Wilderness area. Vault toilets.
Washington State Parks:
To quickly find parks with availability, go to https://washington.goingtocamp.com/ and enter your dates without specifying a park. From there, choose a park that suits your needs. Use the “map” option, then click on a specific site to find details: privacy, shade, drainage, pad dimensions, fees, etc.
Seaquest State Park
Castle Rock, WA 360-274-8633
http://parks.state.wa.us/581/Seaquest
Open year round. Reservations: https://washington.goingtocamp.com/
$27-$37/night for tent/trailer sites; heated yurts available at $50/night, but must be reserved months in advance.
Forested campground located at the shore of Silver Lake, across the road from the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center. Flush toilets, showers, children’s play area, hiking trails, horseshoe pits, volleyball court.
Twin Harbors State Park
Westport, WA 360-268-9717
http://parks.state.wa.us/292/Twin-Harbors
Open year round. Reservations: https://washington.goingtocamp.com/
$27/night and up.
Coastal campground offers easy beach access, flush toilets, and showers.
Private Campgrounds:
To find campgrounds with a full list of amenities, try www.campgrounds.com or www.goodsamcamping.com.
American Heritage Campground
Olympia, WA 360-943-8778
http://www.americanheritagecampground.com
$22-$35/night for 2people; kids $4, extra adult $10.
Family-friendly atmosphere. Amenities: store, laundry room, TV room with wi-fi, outdoor heated pool, playground, showers.
The Sou’wester Lodge and Cabins
Seaview, WA 360-642-2542
http://www.souwesterlodge.com for info and reservations
$20-$30/night for camping, with use of outdoor cold-water kitchen. Fully equipped vintage travel trailers starting at $88/night.
Quirky establishment on the south Washington coast.
Going farther afield? The San Juan Islands, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Park, comprise a few more of Washington’s outdoor gems. All offer a variety of camping options.
San Juan Islands
Sparkling waters and breathtaking vistas bring out the best in swimming, fishing, and boating activities. The county park system offers camping (http://www.sanjuanco.com/parks/), but sites are reserved quickly for summer weekends. Try mid-week and September dates for an inexpensive taste of paradise, or go to www.visitsanjuans.com/accommodations for a list of private campgrounds.
Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks
The National Park Service operates 16 campgrounds in Olympic National Park, and three large campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park. Most sites are first come/first served, and fees range from $10-$15/night for tent camping. Go to http://www.nps.gov/ and enter the name of the park for detailed info.
For private campgrounds try:
Rainier: www.visitrainier.com
Olympic: travel.campgrounds.com
To read the entire article on family campout adventures, view the August 2014 digital archive issue below.
