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What could be better than combining a fabulous beach and a great campsite? It’s the best of both water and land. That’s what you’ll find at any of the gorgeous beach campsites in Washington State below. From watersports like fishing, boating, and swimming to land activities like hiking, horseback riding, and singing around a campfire after dark, Washington provides the best places to try both. Here are five gorgeous beach campsites in the state.
Considered the most visited state park in Washington, Deception Pass has a little bit of everything. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, this marine and camping park spans over 4,100 acres and has both saltwater and freshwater shores around two islands and three lakes. Open all year, camping sites can be found at several locations, but only at Quarry Pond Campground during the winter. Visitors can boat, fish, go crabbing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, kayaking, and sail boating during the daytime. Evenings can find campers enjoying a game of horseshoes, a leisurely walk on the beach, watching a presentation at the amphitheater, or just relaxing around a fire circle.
Mount Olympus graciously stands to invite visitors to this lovely beach campground located at Scenic Beach State Park. Dog-friendly and popular with locals, the park is a popular wedding destination and has many handicap-accessible trails so everyone can be included. There are over 88 acres for camping, and 1,500 feet of saltwater beachfront where you spend the day enjoying the sun and water. Boating, swimming, bird watching, horseshoe pits, and volleyball fields are available for cooperative sports. There’s something for everyone.
Located in the majestic Pacific Northwest, Olympic National Park covers the drama and serenity of differing ecosystems. Popular with climbers, Mt. Olympus also has fantastic hiking and backpacking trails that go along the 70-mile coastline and through rainforests. This is wilderness at its best with over one million acres of natural history. Several types of camping await you, whether you enjoy tent camping, rustic cabins or historic lodges, or have an RV. Campsites inside the park don’t have water or electric, and there are only two campgrounds that take reservations.
Camano Island State Park is a publically-owned recreation spot in Puget Sound and encompasses about 173 acres of land with over 6,700 feet of sandy shoreline. The park is well kept and has natural beauty that begs you to sit and relax, sunbathe, or just enjoy the abundant wildlife. Clean public bathrooms and a beach that’s perfect for paddleboarding, you can go crabbing for a special treat.
Whether you’re into hiking or beach walking, Shi Shi Beach provides the perfect beach camping location for both. Part of Olympic National Park, this extraordinary and relatively untraveled area will give you a true Pacific Northwest experience with its primitive beach camping and pure coastlines. Campers must have permits and you’ll have to obtain a Makah Recreation Pass in Neah Bay, which are typically $10 per car and valid for a year. Make sure to bring hard-shell containers to protect food and belongings from the wildlife.
