Camping options near Blakely Island, Washington include several state parks and marine campgrounds scattered throughout the San Juan Islands. Deception Pass State Park Campground on Whidbey Island provides tent, RV, and cabin camping with beach access and hiking trails. Moran State Park on Orcas Island offers multiple campgrounds including Mountain Lake, Northend, Midway, and Southend, each with varying amenities and proximity to water. Washington Park Campground in Anacortes serves as a convenient mainland option with tent and RV sites. Marine state parks like James Island and Doe Island offer boat-in camping experiences for kayakers and boaters exploring the archipelago.
"When I think of the perfect camping island for a sea kayaker, few could come close to Doe. This tiny island just off the south east side of Orcas Island is simply spectacular," notes one camper. Most campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though marine access sites require careful planning around tides and currents. Reservations are essential during summer months when the San Juan Islands experience peak visitation. Many campgrounds offer water and electric hookups, while marine sites typically provide only basic amenities like pit toilets. Cell service varies throughout the islands, with better coverage near larger towns. Weather conditions can change rapidly on the water, making marine forecasts important for boat-in campsites.
The San Juan Islands camping experience centers around water access and marine activities. Several visitors highlight the exceptional views as a primary draw. "Beautiful views of Blake Island on one side and Mt. Baker framed on the other. There are hiking trails, beautiful bluffs to view sunrise and sunset," writes one camper about James Island. Campgrounds like Deception Pass offer both freshwater and saltwater experiences, with opportunities for tide pooling, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Noise levels vary significantly by location—mainland sites may experience highway noise or, as one reviewer noted about Deception Pass, "jets from the nearby naval base are super loud." Island campgrounds generally provide more solitude, though sites with water views tend to fill quickly during summer weekends.
$12 - $40 / night
"Some trails walking distance from the campsite to gorgeous beaches while others we drove to get to other trails and scenic lookouts. I loved every minute staying there."
"This is one of the most popular locations in Washington State and easy to see why. Both fresh and salt water experiences are within a few steps away with amazing sunsets and breathtaking views."
"Larrabee State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on Samish Bay, six miles (10 km) south of the city of Bellingham, Washington."
"There is a train very close to the campground! It didn't bother us, but some might find that useful. We stayed 1 night here. It was pretty nice."
$12 - $45 / night
"I was able to snag one of the amazing sites on the lake. It sits down from the road and an embankment so there is a level of privacy from the road, but not your neighboring sites."
"It’s right above the main road and a freshwater lake. It’s pretty steep, sprained my ankle right before the trip. They were very helpful at the entrance and gave me a lower site."
"There are great hikes all around, we walked around the lake and plopped our canoe in right from the site to go explore around."
"Situated on a small peninsula on gorgeous mountain lake. Great fishing and kayaking. Hiking trail right outside you your campsite. Put toilet only, no room for RV’s or campers."
$12 - $75 / night
"Beach walks and a county path nearby. There is also a marine center with small aquarium nearby."
"Our spot backed up to beautiful trees and was nicely situated to not feel crowded."
$30 - $37 / night
"Washington Park is a nice clean park with 3 loops. 1 loop for non hookups. Most of these sites are on the outside of the campground and provide good privacy."
"Great medium size campground surrounded by saltwater, short trails, and grassy picnic areas. Great views of islands and sunsets. Boat launch with large paid parking area."
"Lots of the spots have huge forested areas behind them. Was easy walking distance to the lake where you can rent kayaks and paddle boards or lounge on the beach."
"Its tucked away in the woods. There are usually deer in the morning. So be sure to pack away food. The bathrooms are well maintained. It is well worth the hike to the lookout on the mountain."
"Like all of the sites in the Washington Marine Island state park system, this spot has toilets and well maintained sites."
"The majority of the campsites are up a steep hill away from the water and the precious few sites along the water fill up fast (like 6 months in advance)."
"Northend is close to the public beach, which has a sandy swimming area, snack bar, and boat rentals. The site is at a trailhead to walk around Cascade Lake or down to Rosario."
"Decent campsites located right after the entrance to Moran State Park."
"San Juan Island Washington Is THE Emerald Gem of this state!! If you ever want to find heaven on earth this is it!!"
"The campground location is beautiful. The sites and bathrooms are clean. There aren’t many camping options on the island, so overall it’s a great place to camp."
GuideLast time I was here was over 20+ years ago with my parents. It still is a great camp ground and clean. The spots are all paved and leveling out the travel wasn’t an issue. My wife really likes this place, even though it’s heavily wooded, “she’s from northern Nevada.” We did the dry camping spot at site 25 and will be definitely making this our regular spot when we can get a reservation.
TravelerFrom a family of 2 to a family of 4, we’ve enjoyed Fort Flagler every time we’ve visited. There’s a variety of site types for every kind of camper, the bathrooms and grounds are always clean, the beach space is plentiful, and the views are amazing.
Our 2 year old son enjoys the little playground and access to trails for his bike. Definitely kept us busy without having to leave the campground.
The campground was full during our son and you honestly wouldn’t have even known.
TravelerI pulled into this quiet and secluded campground after a long day of hiking and birding and proceeded to pass out almost immediately. I was awake by the park ranger doing the rounds at night because I had forgotten to go back and pay for my site 😅 he was nice though to open up the register so I could pay by card and directed me towards some places of interest for birders. This time of year was perfect as it was pretty empty and very serene. There was someone with a generator though that produced a low humming drone all day and night and that was off-putting but that's not the parks fault.
TravelerThe lower loop was still closed at this time of year. Campground was pretty empty but still very noisy because it is right by the highway. I ended up not staying because of the highway noise and the fire "pit" was basically filled to the brink and unusable for cooking. Maybe it gets more attention during the busy season but it was in rough shape at this point in time.
TravelerNon-residents of the county pay line $45 for non hook-up camping! This is the most expensive I've ever paid for a rent site and for that reason alone I found other options for my second night of camping this weekend.
Other than that, the campsite is decently maintained, quiet (at least during the off season), there was a self service firewood shed I saw but did not use, and fire pits were usable (which is more than I can say for some other campsites)
GuideMy wife and I stayed here for the weekend in our 20’ camper trailer. We stayed in spot #49 (pull through) and the trees/foliage kept the other camp sites out of sight. Our spot did not have hookups.
The bathrooms/showers were clean and there were plenty of nice hikes to go on with great views of the water. Very poor cell reception and our TV antenna did not have any issues picking up the local channels. The campground did not have a dump station. We’d definitely stay here again!
ScoutNice campground with a spot on view of the Coupeville Ferry Terminal and a nice easy walk up to the fort itself. Water is turned off at the sites in winter but can get some at the spigot near the bathroom if needed. Not a ton of privacy but beautiful and right on the water!
TravelerSuper empty and great heated bathrooms. Need access to the park to get in.
LegendThe campground (CG) is right off US-101, so it was easy to find. For an eastbound arrival, there’s a turn lane for the left turn across the highway. Our first impression was a nice CG in a forested setting. During check-in, we asked about the Good Sam discount, which wasn’t an option when we booked online; since we had already paid in full, they couldn’t apply the discount. We were then escorted to pull-through Site 814 with FHUs. The turn into the site was a little tight due to lava boulders (a recurring theme with most of the pull-through sites in this loop). The site was plenty long enough for our 40' toy hauler, with room to put the patio down and park our F450—though we did have to get a little creative squeezing the truck in. Water and electric were centered on the pad, but the sewer was at the back end of the site, so we needed 20+ feet of sewer hose. Water pressure was good, and we got a strong signal on our T-Mobile home internet, so we didn’t need to deploy Starlink. We had 4 bars of 5G on both Verizon and T-Mobile, and the campground Wi-Fi was better than most at 60.6 Mbps download. There’s also a decent-sized fenced dog area. Overall, this was a solid CG that worked well as a base to explore Olympic National Park.
Camping spots near Blakely Island, Washington span across several islands in the Puget Sound, with ferry access required for most locations. The region experiences mild but wet winters, with summer average temperatures around 70°F and winter lows near 40°F. Sites at most San Juan Island campgrounds require booking 6-9 months in advance for summer weekends, particularly for waterfront locations.
Hiking to panoramic viewpoints: At Moran State Park on Orcas Island, trails lead to some of the highest elevations in the San Juans. "If you follow the road up to Mt. Constitution, there is a lookout tower that resembles a castle. From here you get one of the most spectacular views of the San Juan Islands," notes Rich M. The park offers multiple trail difficulties, from the easy 3-mile lake loop to more challenging summit routes.
Watercraft activities: San Juan County Park provides excellent kayaking opportunities. "We did a sunset kayak tour and advantage was that the tour company met us at the ranger station at the park. We were very lucky as we saw whales!" reports Lee D. The western shore location makes it ideal for whale watching directly from camp.
Beach exploration: Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island offers extensive beach access. "The beach is littered with beautiful driftwood and shells and even clams! There are picnic tables down on the spit, so pack a lunch and spend the day down at the beach, or come down in the evening for star watching and s'mores," writes Valerie. The park includes both forest camping and beach camping options.
Lake access sites: Southend Campground at Moran State Park features prized waterfront locations. "Most sites have their own private beach access if you want to keep your own boat on shore or swim with kids, the bathrooms are newer and much nicer, and it is at the trailheads that goes up the mountains to the falls or beyond," explains Beth E. Reservations for these premium sites often fill 6+ months in advance.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: San Juan County Park offers frequent wildlife sightings. "The views of Haro Strait are breath taking and make up for the cramped quarters. Orcas are often seen just off shore before high tide," shares Shari G. The west-facing location also provides sunset views over the water.
Island-specific experiences: Each island offers distinct camping atmospheres. "Lopez island is a slow paced beauty, and this park is a great place to camp while you explore all there is to see!" writes one camper about Spencer Spit State Park. Hitchhiking is common and accepted on Lopez Island, with rental bikes available at many locations.
Ferry logistics: Reaching island campgrounds requires advance planning. "To get to Moran State Park or anywhere on Orcas Island, you need to take a ferry. I had read that you should get a reservation but I ignored it, thinking it would be no problem. Luckily we were the second to last car to get on," explains Sarah S. Ferry costs average $80 round-trip per vehicle during peak season.
Noise considerations: Larrabee State Park on the mainland experiences railroad noise. "Lovely area and views. We visited in the winter, so it was quiet. Downside was the trains barreling through all night. Could barely sleep with earplugs," reports Daryl N. Similarly, Deception Pass sites experience jet noise from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Weather preparedness: Weather conditions change quickly in the San Juans. "We were soaked the entire time - granted we were fully expecting that going in February - for Valentine's Day no less. We brought all the rain gear," shares Kaysha R. about camping at Moran State Park. Summer months offer drier conditions but can still experience rain.
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Northend Campground at Moran State Park provides lake swimming options. "Directly across the street from the day use area with beach, kayak/canoe/SUP rentals, fishing dock, and snack shack. Beach is great for kids - warm (enough) water, sandy bottom, and gradual depth change," notes Stephen R. Rentals typically cost $15-25 per hour.
Playground-equipped campgrounds: Washington Park in Anacortes offers play structures. "We had such a great time at this site. The bathrooms are centrally located between all sites and they have the option for firewood to be delivered to your campsite. There is a park for kids to play and covered bbq shelters," writes Marisa N. The park's 2-mile loop road is safe for beginner cyclists.
Wildlife spotting opportunities: Wildlife encounters are common at many campgrounds. "We got to see an otter at Cascade Lake," shares Josiah P. about Moran State Park. Deer sightings are particularly frequent on Orcas Island, especially around dawn and dusk.
Site leveling challenges: Bay View State Park campsites require leveling equipment. "The campsites themselves are lovely. The campground is very hilly, which can make for a hike to bathrooms in the night. The sites are not level, we wished we carried leveling blocks in our van when we were trying to figure out how to park," advises Chris N. Most sites have 20-30 amp electrical service.
Hookup availability: Deception Pass State Park offers full-service options. "We stayed in RV in site without hook-ups. Fighter jet noise on a Monday morning during our stay. Be prepared for rain," warns Leonard H. RV dump stations are available at most state parks for $5-10 per use, though lines can form during busy checkout periods.
Size restrictions: Island campgrounds have limited capacity for larger vehicles. "Moran State park is gorgeous! Perfect for kayaking and hiking and driving or biking four miles into town for fancy dinners. I have a small (16-ft) all-terrain trailer and Subaru. I would not want to attempt driving here with a big rig. Space is tight!" cautions Wendy about Mountain Lake Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Blakely Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Blakely Island, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 254 campgrounds and RV parks near Blakely Island, WA and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Blakely Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Blakely Island, WA is Deception Pass State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Blakely Island, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Blakely Island, WA.
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