Oregon and Washington State Park Campgrounds

[David H]

Starting from Vancouver Island my plan is to travel through Washington and Oregon out via I-5 return along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Don't wish to have a fixed schedule so I'm looking for feedback WRT first come first served sites in the State campgrounds during July and August.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by David H

Starting from Vancouver Island my plan is to travel through Washington and Oregon out via I-5 return along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Don't wish to have a fixed schedule so I'm looking for feedback WRT first come first served sites in the State campgrounds during July and August.

I hope for your sake it is better now than the last time I tried it. It was awhile ago in 2016, but I found first come sites were non existent during the summer.

[Bobbie54]

Washington often has 1 per campground. Better be getting there on a weekday early to get it. Best to try for a reservation the day before. In all FCFS campgrounds (no reservations) it just depends on how close to any city or anything of interest.

[KarenPDX]

The great thing about the Oregon Coast is there are so many great State Park options. State parks will be full, but if you are flexible on which of the many coastal parks you will stay at you can usually find something that opens up. You may need to look every day during the weeks before you head down the coast. The KOA’s in some locations are not bad, there is one near Fort Steven’s that is pretty good, and probably has fewer mosquitoes than Fort Steven’s. I love the Fort Steven’s area for all the historical military and Lewis and Clark sites around, biking and beaches. A good place to start.

[BobG]

I just returned from a week trip to the Washington coast north from Ocean Shores. Some of the the State campgrounds have FCFS sites but it was hard for me to figure them out on line. I think they are listed at the entrance shack but a ranger can tell you which ones are FCFS if they have any. Some campgrounds do not have FCFS sites.

If you are looking for a one night stop, some of the campgrounds post a list of sites available for that day. You can look at the list or in some cases take one of the handout lists from the clip mounted on the entrance shack. If no one is in a site that is listed then you can have it that day/night. You are supposed to register within 30 minutes of occupying the site. There are some community, county and private campgrounds along the coast.

A Washington State ranger told me that I could have any available site that I could fit into without damaging the site. The online registration lists sites suitable for tents and they are often more available than RV sites but some are wet and soft so not suitable for a trailer.

Some Oregon and some Washington State campgrounds wouldn't let me in earlier than the mid afternoon check in time which really pissed me off since the sites I was looking at had been empty for days prior to my arrival. They say they want to clean them or they don't have staff available to guide me or some other excuse.

You can call the specific campground in the late afternoon to see if they have a no show or canceled site available. These may not show up on the reservation site until later.

[Bobbie54]

They (WSP) got told last year not to let people in early as some people were cruising around the campgrounds hassling people to get them to vacate the sites earlier. Some of the parks have relaxed that more than others. (I had someone do that to me once so I stayed right to check out instead of leaving before lunch.)

[Small but Sweet]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

They (WSP) got told last year not to let people in early as some people were cruising around the campgrounds hassling people to get them to vacate the sites earlier. Some of the parks have relaxed that more than others. (I had someone do that to me once so I stayed right to check out instead of leaving before lunch.)

Haha, I would have done that too! Kind of like when someone wants my parking spot, I take extra time to find sunglasses, check mirrors etc Human nature is funny.

[sherminator]

In Oregon , call ahead to the state campgrounds - there are almost always some cancellations on reservations. They have a program where you can sign up for email notifications on cancellations and I have almost always gotten notifications that my chosen campground has cancellations, even on the busiest weekends.

[dosby]

ADA sites are available for anyone for one night if not reserved or occupied before 6pm