The 17 Most Diverse Campgrounds in Seattle

The environment in Seattle includes lakes, mountains, forests, and oceans since the city is located close to these natural features. Thus, the opportunities for choosing the campgrounds are as diverse as the landscape of the country allows. Whether a person wants to camp with the ocean in front of them, mountains behind them, or other natural elements, Seattle has it all. 

1. Dash Point State Park

This campground is located near the waters of Puget Sound and as such you will be able to enjoy amazing views of the water body. They are a combination of open and wooded and also feature spacious and separated RV sites and several small tent-only sites that are accessed via hiking trails. It is a good place for simple recreational activities such as picking seashells on the sandy beaches or fishing, and there are 2.5 miles of nature trails going through the marshes and forests.

2. Kayak Point County Park

Located in Snohomish County with its sites stretching on Port Susan Bay, it offers sites that are open with direct sunlight and those that are a bit enclosed by forestation. It’s ideal and frequently used in water activities such as sailing and kayaking. The coastal habitat may vary from sandy beaches to small cliffs along the water for view.

3. Deception Pass State Park

This park covers the area of Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands, with the famous bridge called Deception Pass Bridge. These camps range from the coastal areas where there are shoreline beaches to the forested regions. It is perfect for hiking, fishing, and boating besides observing wildlife especially the bald eagles common in the area.

4. Fort Ebey State Park

Located on the Kitsap Peninsula with a view of the Admiralty Inlet, these campgrounds vary from exposed bluff sites to fairly sheltered wooded sections. The park has easy to moderate hiking trails, touring through prairie and old-growth forests, with a rocky shore offering the best opportunity for exploring tide pools.

5. Saltwater State Park

The strangest thing about this campsite is that it is situated adjacent to the Puget Sound coastline with sites available on the rocky and sandy shorelines. It has several types of grounds, which include open grounds with grassy and woody and forested grounds that are less open. While high tides are by no means all bad, some of them are particularly picturesque, especially if you have a view of the water from your tent.

6. Manchester State Park

The park is situated in Manchester, Washington and it has virtually one kilometer of stretch of the Puget Sound coastline; it is dominated by the Olympic Mountains. Various camping places are located between meadows and dense Douglas Fir tree stands that include; walk-in and ADA permitted campgrounds.

7. Moran State Park is found on Orcas Island.

Moran State Park is on the eastern part of the stunning Orcas Island covering an area of 5, 252 acres. It has access to fresh water and saltwater shoreline and has 30 miles of trail with beautiful hikes around the lakes, waterfalls, and old-growth cedar groves, which provide glimpses of the San Juan island.

8. Larrabee State Park

Larabbee State Park: With 8 miles of saltwater shoreline which has rich resources in tidal invertebrates and the ground from forest to the saltwater beach, there are primitive campsites that offer seclusion as well as variety. This means that tucked-away sites are found amidst the shrubs and trees such as the western hemlock and Douglas fir in the main region of the Chuckanut Mountains and Samish Bay.

9. Lime Kiln Point State Park, San Juan Island Road, Washington

This park is most famous for its whale-watching abilities, which are located directly on the park’s coastline. Cliffs due to the rough sea lead to lawny heights and some of the forest grounds. See the ocean and hear it as well and marvel at the beauty of the Cascade Mountains in the distance.

10. Camano Island State Park

Based on the relatively less crowded Camano Island, this park offers some shaded forest areas and several sites that you can enter by foot near the shore. Through stands of fir and madrona trees, two miles of hiking led me directly to the shores of a picturesque Pacific Northwest beach.

11. Rasar State Park

Rasar State Park occupies a small territory by the Skagit River; it is one of the quietest parks. It is important to note that the varied geography of the area includes shallow beaches and sand-bottom rivers through to fully developed forests. The site also differs from a sunny and open riverside to a shaded place with tall fir and cedar trees.

12. Blake Island Marine State Park in the state of Washington.

Bainbridge has no roads being a small island situated in Puget Sound in the state of Washington. There are many sites, and they are easily reachable only by boat since most of the island’s territory is occupied by dense forests and covers 475 acres. Some of the beaches are rocky and secluded, with a sheltered coastal area between the mountains and the ocean, and other beaches are sandier and more exposed, offering views of Seattle and Mount Rainier.

13. The Hope Island Mason State Park

The 10-island Marine Park has normal inland forest but also nice and sandy beaches and sheltered rocky coastline where you can pitch your tent. Some sites range from more secluded simple areas to bigger community sites for family get-togethers or celebrations.

14. Federation Forest State Park

This park is predominantly characterized by fir and cedar forest but opens occasionally to provide fine views of the Snohomish River. Trails are best used for hiking and biking where the landscape is characterized by slight undulations. Some areas have open flat spaces with just grass and no trees to those that are rocky spaces with small patches of grass that provide shade though they are few and far between they are adequately complemented by the tall Douglas fir trees.

15. Scenic Beach State Park

In keeping with the name, the sites are well located on a superb Pacific sandy beach. But it also has sites in wooded cliffs over it and sites located all over trees and lawns. Take time to visit a local interpretive center where one can get details about the wildlife and plant life in this region as well as history.

16. Flaming Geyser State Park

This park features campgrounds that are situated between the Green River Gorge and gorgeous evergreen trees. Visit a former coal mining town, learn about native California redwoods, and observe the Flaming Geyser – a natural rock fountain that pumps water and hot vapor.

17. Seaquest State Park

Seaquest State Park is located on Longbranch Peninsula which protrudes into the unspoilt Carr Inlet. Forest roads and walking paths allow access to sites located deep into the woods and swampy grounds for the most seclusion. Some other campgrounds are located at the waterfront and you will be able to have a great view of the pretty little bay formed by a slow-moving stream.

Seattle can boast of offering the following types of places: ocean shores, alpine lakes, river banks, and sea islands. And for those in search of the thrills, the fun, or even for the quiet and peaceful rest in the lap of nature, the public campgrounds indeed provide an ideal place to be.