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Old 04-21-2015, 09:11 PM   #1
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Campground suggestions in Washington State

Hey Everyone,

Soon we will be heading west to Chilliwack to pick up our new 5.0TA, "Our Roam Home". We want to spend two night camping between Chilliwack and Bellevue, WA to check out the new toy, understand how to operate everything properly, and insure that all is in good working order. We have just started to look for campgrounds in the area and are looking for some suggestions from those who have done the same, or who might live in the area. Bay View State Park wanted $65 for a night, plus and extra $13 just to reserve! Are reservations usually required to get into the WA state parks in mid-May? Normally we like national or state forest campgrounds, so we are more used to a $10 to $14 stay. Perhaps the latter price is not realistic in this area, but we simply do not know. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.
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Old 04-21-2015, 10:10 PM   #2
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I'm confused by this extremely high pricing. While our state campgrounds are being operated more as a business model now, I've not seen pricing that high even at Fort Casey which is an extremely popular campground. The highest price there during the high season (last year) was $39 per night for premium spots with water and power. This year during the shoulder season it is $35 per night, same basis, while economy sites (no water or power, less desirable) are $20 per night. Also, I've only seen a one-time $6.50 online reservation fee regardless of the number of nights reserved.

High-season pricing is typically $5 per night higher than shoulder-season pricing.
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Old 04-21-2015, 10:31 PM   #3
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Karen - is there a different fee structure for out of staters?
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Old 04-21-2015, 10:36 PM   #4
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I've not heard of any penalty for out-of-state campers. Here is a pic of shoulder-season pricing for Fort Casey:
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2015 Spring.jpg  
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Old 04-21-2015, 10:39 PM   #5
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As I said, Washington State Parks are being run as a business model now, hence the different pricing for different sites. And they get it, too. Fort Casey is almost always full on the weekends year round (with decent weather) and darned near impossible to get into without reservations during peak season.
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Old 04-22-2015, 12:23 AM   #6
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Looks like another $5 reservation fee for out of staters on top of the regular $8 online reservation fee.
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Old 04-22-2015, 12:38 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by SpokanEscape View Post
Karen - is there a different fee structure for out of staters?
We were there last fall and the fee was only about half of $69 or less and we had a premium site. Definitely no extra for out of staters for the actual campsite. Don't know about the reservation fee.

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Old 04-22-2015, 02:10 AM   #8
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We had paid the extra $5 Non Resident Recreation Fee for some years now. This is on top of the $6.5 Reservation Fee. We always reserve online so I am not sure if that is charged if you just walk in.

Don't forget to read the cancellation policy as well. Not only the Reservation fee is forfeited, there is a fixed charge for cancellation, plus a percentage of the camping fee depending on how long the reservation was held. e.g. If you hold a reservation for 6 months and cancel the fee is 50% of the cancelled nights.
This new cancellation policy only started last year. Luckily we didn't need to cancel anything yet.
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Old 04-22-2015, 07:46 AM   #9
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Washington State Parks have just about priced me out of camping there. I have to pay the out-of-state fee and the reservation fee...

For example, I'm staying at the Wenatchee State Park going and coming to the ETI rally. I was charged $13 extra for EACH night, even though I paid in one check out. I think that's a bad business model.
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Old 04-22-2015, 07:47 AM   #10
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We are planning our first trip to the West coast this fall . After reading this thread ,I guess we can scratch Washington off our list of places to visit .We paid $11 for a full service site this winter and we have no intentions of paying $39 for the same service..
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Old 04-22-2015, 09:16 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
We are planning our first trip to the West coast this fall . After reading this thread ,I guess we can scratch Washington off our list of places to visit .We paid $11 for a full service site this winter and we have no intentions of paying $39 for the same service..
We had planned on using Washington SP's as well. I guess we'll stick to KOA's and recommended RV parks.

P.S. It appears that many newly acquired Escape's spent their first night at the KOA in Linden, WA. Comments anyone?
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Old 04-22-2015, 09:32 AM   #12
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Washington State Parks Fees (vary by park):

2015 Camping Fees

Peak Season: May 15 - Sept. 15
Shoulder Season: April 1 - May 14 and Sept. 16 - Oct. 31
Winter Season: Nov. - March
Primitive and water trail campsites
$12 (peak)
$12 (shoulder)
$12 (winter)
Standard campsites
$25 - $35 (peak)
$20 - $30 (shoulder)
$20 (winter)
Partial utility campsites
$30 - $40 (peak)
$25 - $35 (shoulder)
$25 (winter)
Full-utility campsites
$35 - $45 (peak)
$30 - $40 (shoulder)
$30 (winter)

Nonresident Reservation Fee
Because Washington residents support state parks through sales tax, an additional $5 non-refundable reservation fee will be charged to non-residents when making a reservation for campsites, cabins, yurt, marina slips, and other reserved services. This fee is in addition to the regular reservation fee.
(Note: For reservations only.)

Like other states, Washington State is struggling with its budget and has resorted to hiking user fees to maintain services. As distasteful as these high prices are, if the campgrounds are still full, the business model must be good.
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Old 04-22-2015, 09:33 AM   #13
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Starting out camping in Washington State gave me a scare! I had budgeted $25 a night for the 9 week trip home. Washington State Parks averaged $34.00 per night! Once I left Washington and also took advantage of our senior discounts, the prices dropped dramatically. After 49 nights in our trailer, we averaged $19 per night! (That included all non commercial campgrounds except for 1 night.)
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Old 04-22-2015, 09:50 AM   #14
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WA State Parks are beautiful. KOA's usually cost as much or more. Linden is nice, as is The Cedars in Ferndale if that's what you're looking for. Birch Bay is great, and so is Deception Pass State Park - spectacular! After a night at the Cedars which is close to everything like I 5 and Camping World, we headed over to Ft Worden by Port Townsend- took the ferry from Coupeville. It is one of our favorite places to camp. Then we headed down 101 which is a beautiful drive or, if you have the extra time, you could go the other way on 101 around Olympic Peninsula.
There are some COE parks in WA but most of them are in the SW part of the state.

Have fun, safe travels, and as always, Happy Trails!
Kathie
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Old 04-22-2015, 10:48 AM   #15
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We stayed our first night at Sedro Woolley Riverfront RV park. It's a county park with electric and some water. At $15 a night it was a great overnight spot - sites are easy to get into and it's fairly close to Chilliwack. However, it's a very basic campground without much ambiance. We found it using the Allstays app and stayed only one night.
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Old 04-22-2015, 11:01 AM   #16
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Am trying to get our reservations together for late June when we pick up our 19, since we'll be camping over the 4th of July and just paid $58 for a night at Grayland beach state park, which is $48 plus a $10 fee for each additional vehicle, the tow being an additional vehicle.....crazy.....Karen
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Old 04-22-2015, 11:35 AM   #17
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Washington State Parks have just about priced me out of camping there.
That's been our conclusion for quite a while. Not only the cost, compared to Oregon, not as nice. If we're on the way to somewhere else we usually just stay at a casino or Camping World.

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Old 04-22-2015, 12:14 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Karen

[B
Non-existent Reservation Fe[/B]e
Because Washington residents support state parks through sales tax, an additional $5 non-refundable reservation fee will be charged to non-residents when making a reservation for campsites, cabins, yurt, marina slips, and other reserved services. This fee is in addition to the regular reservation fee.[/I] (Note: For reservations only.)

Like other states, Washington State is struggling with its budget and has resorted to hiking user fees to maintain services. As distasteful as these high prices are, if the campgrounds are still full, the business model must be good.
The reasons given for the exorbitant camping fees at the Washington State Parks may well be correct but that does not change the fact that the cost is too high for many individuals / families. If the State of Washington is trying to discourage tourism they are headed in the right direction. The citizens of Washington can do as they wish ,it is their state . I have no intentions of paying for their State Parks because the residents of Washington do not want to pay taxes . Oregon here we come ,they evidently want tourism and our tourism dollars
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Old 04-22-2015, 12:24 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
The reasons given for the exorbitant camping fees at the Washington State Parks may well be correct but that does not change the fact that the cost is too high for many individuals / families. If the State of Washington is trying to discourage tourism they are headed in the right direction. The citizens of Washington can do as they wish ,it is their state . I have no intentions of paying for their State Parks because the residents of Washington do not want to pay taxes . Oregon here we come ,they evidently want tourism and our tourism dollars
Washington's parks are more than Oregons' which is a shame. However, saying that "the residents of Washington do not want to pay taxes" when comparing us to Oregon is a little misleading; Oregon's residents don't pay a sales tax. I doubt they're not too enthusiastic about having too, either. State budget directors, not those promoting tourism, are responsible for the rate hikes. Anyway you look at it, it's a shame tho.
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Old 04-22-2015, 12:45 PM   #20
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A plug for Harvest Hosts.

For those of you who don't want to stay in Wa State Parks, I will put in a plug for the Harvest Hosts program. The last night we spent in Washington was at the Lone Pine Apple Orchard and Espresso shop, just south of Chelan, WA. We spent the night in the middle of an apple orchard, right beside the Columbia River. The air was redolent with the smell of ripe apples. There are a couple of drawbacks. The expectation is that you will buy something from the business, and you can only stay one night -- although we have heard of folks who have negotiated a two night stay. At our last Harvest Host stay (The St. Croix Winery in Deming, NM), we ended up buying a case of wine, which was more expensive than the state park would have been, but we had wine for the rest of the trip...

by my count there are almost 30 Harvest Host Places to stay in WA, including several wineries, a distillery, a lavender farm, a car museum, and an Alpaca Ranch.

Lindy found out about Harvest Hosts after talking to a lady who objected to spending $30 - $50 for a campsite when she was only going to stay for one night and didn't need any hook ups.
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