Camping areas near Bow, Washington sit between the Puget Sound shoreline and the North Cascades foothills at elevations ranging from sea level to about 300 feet. The region averages 32 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forest environments with peak camping season running May through September when temperatures typically range from 45-75°F. Most campsites require reservations during summer months when ferry traffic to nearby San Juan Islands increases demand for overnight accommodations.
What to do
Beach exploration at low tide: Washington Park Campground provides easy water access with trails to the shoreline where campers can explore marine life. "Nice big sites, park for the kids, and trails down to cool spots to hang out by the water," notes Ashlie M., mentioning the campground's clean bathrooms as another benefit.
Hiking nearby trails: Larrabee State Park Campground offers several hiking and biking trails connecting to the campground. "There are hiking trails and bike trails nearby," explains Izzy H., who scouted the park during a visit to Bellingham. The park's location between mountains and water creates diverse terrain for day hikes.
Whale watching excursions: From Thousand Trails La Conner, campers can easily reach whale watching tours. "Close to Anacortes and whale watching boat trips," writes Paula C., highlighting the campground's convenient location for water activities while noting "a quiet place to get away from it all."
What campers like
Natural privacy between sites: Bay View State Park Campground offers secluded camping areas with natural buffers. "The majority of sites have decent privacy via trees + shrubs," writes CJ W., adding that "even when it's full, it's peaceful."
Waterfront views: La Conner Marina RV Resort provides camping with water views. "We enjoyed the view of the Fields behind us. Extremely quiet, open, not dusty," says Stan & Jesús H., who appreciate the premium sites that include space for both RV and vehicle parking.
Location near ferry terminals: Friday Creek Campground sits just 15 minutes from the Anacortes ferry terminal, making it ideal for San Juan Island trips. Kate K. notes it's "well manicured" with good facilities and "super convenient" for ferry access, though she mentions it's "not especially private."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds in the area have limited seasons. Friday Creek Campground operates only from May through November according to their listing information. Kate K. confirms this timing constraint noting "Only open May-Oct!"
Train noise considerations: Campers at Larrabee State Park should prepare for train disruptions. "There is a train that runs right by the campground and it is loud!" warns Danielle S., while Michael L. adds "trains hooting every 2 hours or so throughout the night as they chug through near the park. It was hard to get a good sleep."
Jet noise from naval base: Deception Pass State Park Campground experiences occasional aircraft noise. "The only downside is the noise from the naval base nearby. You'll hear jets overhead on a regular basis," explains Will L., though he still rates the experience highly for its proximity to beaches and stargazing opportunities.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and swimming areas: Deception Pass offers family-friendly water activities. "Cranberry Lake has a designated swimming area where the water is super shallow and just perfect for the kiddos," explains Travis D., who backpacked to the campground with his three-year-old.
Short hikes for kids: Washington Park features accessible trails for young hikers. "There is a two mile loop road that is great for walking, but also had trails to the beach for great exploring," writes Marisa N., adding that the park includes "a park for kids to play and covered bbq shelters."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Keep children entertained with wildlife watching at La Conner RV. "Just be aware that it has some nosy raccoon residents who feel very comfortable coming right up to camp to investigate your food situation," advises wisepig, cautioning campers to "be careful not to encourage them."
Tips from RVers
Unlevel sites: Check site descriptions carefully for leveling information. At La Conner Marina RV Resort, one camper reports premium sites as "extremely unlevel front to back so much so my rear stabilizers barely touched the ground," forcing them to reposition when dumping waste tanks.
Reservations essential: Burlington-Anacortes KOA fills quickly during peak season. "Love the location, just a few minutes off the freeway, and easy in/out," writes Kathy A., though she notes "the spots in the new section are strangely not level, you can tell by the amount of blocks under the motorhomes."
Limited sewer connections: At many campgrounds, full hookup sites are scarce. "There are about 5 or 6 newer pull through that are good size. The remainder of the sites are small," reports Jim about La Conner Marina RV Resort, while Jeff M. says of La Conner RV: "it was disappointing to find that the few sites that have a sewer connection were all taken and no way to know this in advance."
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