These 135 preferred campgrounds are based on camping for camping's sake. Let me explain:
Family-Oriented Vs. Everybody-Oriented Parks
First, Washington has many strictly family-oriented parks. You will not find many of these on my listing that follows. The reason is those of us without children often find ourselves looking out for other peoples’ children, who have a sense of giddy abandon, but lack a sense of self-preservation. In fact, it is in our nature to look out for and protect them. However, this often distracts from the purpose of exploring the “real Washington.” Besides, the best campgrounds have something for everybody -- I.e., everybody-oriented campgrounds should also be the best for families.
RV-only Campgrounds
Secondly, I have included only select RV campgrounds, as many of these do not allow campfires (a deal breaker for most), and are often undesirable for tent campers. Moreover, these are often small, congested, and mere stop-overs for weary RV travellers on the way to grander destinations (hard to focus on the “real Washington” when your sights are set elsewhere!).
Specialty Campgrounds
Third, my preferred campground list contains very few “specialty” parks. By this I mean campgrounds that specialize in a singular activity other than camping: fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, or mere proximity to a local attraction. I have seen fishermen, boaters, hikers, and site-seers leave the campground early in the morning and return late at night without doing much camping. While I personally enjoy all of these activities, I ask myself the question: would I enjoy my experience if I never left the campground? If the answer is no, I seldom call it good camping.
Ground rules for Camp Every County, Washington:
(1) Let’s define “camping” as at least a one-night stay in a campground in a given county. Stop-overs for a picnic lunches, drive-bys, or even hikes in the park should not count as camping for the sake of consistency. Gotta do the real thing.
(2) Some campgrounds straddle county lines. Stays here should count for only one county, namely, the county in which your campsite lies. Examples are Grayland Beach S.P. (Pacific Co.), Dash Point S.P. (King Co.), and Deception Pass S.P. (campgrounds in both Skagit and Island Counties).
(3) Any campground, RV park, private or public, or camping land owned by private individuals should count as camping. One camping spot (Cama Beach S.P., Island Co.) does not even allow tents or RVs, yet considers itself a campground. You decide. I do not want to dictate what “camping” is to anyone else.
(4) And most of all, don’t be afraid to know your geography or be avid map readers. Some might call us geeks, but geeks have a special place in the public eye. So forget the labels. Let’s just call ourselves map aficionados, and let our camping flags fly high!
