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The Olympic Peninsula region surrounding Chimacum, Washington contains multiple state parks and established campgrounds accommodating various camping styles. Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground, located on Marrowstone Island, provides tent, RV, and cabin camping options with beach access and historical attractions. Fort Worden near Port Townsend, Sequim Bay State Park, and Fort Townsend Historical State Park form a network of developed campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of Chimacum, most offering hookup sites for RVs alongside more primitive tent camping areas.
Washington state parks in the Chimacum vicinity typically operate year-round, though some facilities like Fort Townsend Historical State Park limit full operations to May through September. Most developed campgrounds in the area require advance reservations through the Washington State Parks reservation system, particularly during summer weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly. Proximity to water features affects site popularity, with beachfront and bay view locations commanding premium fees and earlier bookings. A visitor to Sequim Bay State Park noted: "The camping for RV's with hookups is iffy. It's very close to the highway and the sites are extremely close to one another... Overall though, the campground was good. A lot of wonderful hiking trails and an adjacent biking trail."
Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the area, with most state parks accommodating both tent and RV campers in separate loops or sections. Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Fort Flagler and Fort Worden where campers can access beaches directly from their sites. Highway noise affects some campground experiences, especially at Sequim Bay and sites closer to major roads. Several campgrounds feature historical attractions alongside natural amenities, with restored military installations at Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, and Fort Casey providing additional activities beyond typical outdoor recreation. A camper at Oak Bay County Park wrote: "There are two sections to this small, tucked away campground on the edge of the Salish Sea, one in the forested area and another out on the beach spit. We camped along the spit, and had an amazing time."
"The kids had a blast exploring the fort and the forest around the campsite. There's a big beach with a small general store/burger joint within walking distance."
"As the beach side has a lot of open camping we opted for the side nearer the trails that had a feeling of being a step away from the woods. "
from $12 - $231 / night
Check Availability"The trade off is the endless opportunity for walking, hiking and learning the history of the area. Charming Downtown Port Townsend is close by and a true National Historic resource! "
"Fort and battery tours. a real gem in Washington."
from $12 - $56 / night
Check Availability"The bike trail runs through the campground and there is access to sports fields via a tunnel under the highway. There are a few short trails around a creek and the beach."
"The winding paths leading from the upper campsites to the water’s edge are a treasure trove for a photographer. Great fun."
from $12 - $56 / night
Check Availability"I would also avoid #2 and #3 as they are literally directly next to the bathrooms and there is a bright metal halide light outside the bathroom."
"I'm slowly overtime trying to visit all of Washington's State Parks, and there are a large number of them in the Port Townsend area."
from $12 - $71 / night
Check Availability"Take your family this summer to enjoy hiking trails, explore the remains of Fort Casey, and visit the diving park at Washington’s Keystone."
"Only 88 miles away from our home, a perfect getaway for a short trip. We are fairly new to the RV life style (always tent camped) and this only our 3rd trip in our new travel trailer."
from $12 - $51 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $12 - $167 / night
Check Availability"It was a quick walk to views of the water, and there were plenty of walking trails around."
"The system in Washington is sometimes showing how overwhelmed and understaffed they are, and this park is so severely understaffed it’s sad."
from $12 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Where this place shines is in its location with beautiful views across the mouth of Puget Sound to Whidbey Island, the Cascades beyond, as well as Point Wilson Lighthouse nearby at Fort Worden."
"Port Townsend is one of our favorite locations, having come here by sailboat for decades and now with a travel trailer."
from $33 - $77 / night
Check Availability"There are two sections to this small, tucked away campground on the edge of the Salish Sea, one in the forested area and another out on the beach spit."
"Nice stream of locals walking dogs and travelers on a pit stop."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"We didn't have a view where we were but I loved the wooded area and it was just a short walk to the bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca."
"The campground is easy to find from the highway and the facilities are very clean and there's a number of showers and bathrooms around the campground."
from $12 - $156 / night
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GuideWe needed a place for the night before hitting North Cascade NP, we were able to pull into the rest areas last spot. A lot of semi's so it's loud if you're in between them but you get used to it after some time
ScoutHikes and beach walking distance from campground, but you hear the road and train at all hours
GuideLeft for the evening for dinner got back and someone stole our stuff smart enough to not leave anything too valuable homeless living in area?
TravelerNo water or amenities - close to road but quiet minimal traffic
LegendGeneral: 132-site RV park in beautiful Gig Harbor. The site layout is a bit wonky. Some are pull-through, some are back-in, some on concrete pads, and others (small tent sites) are just in a grassy area. Some have trees or foliage separating them while others have zero separation.
Site Quality: Varies. We had an electric and water site, located in a cul-de-sac near the tent sites. Our pad was shared by two sites. Fortunately, the site next to us was vacant. Completing the site is a picnic table. IMO the two best sites are 65 and 51.
Bath/Shower: Three stalls and three showers, and although they were clean, it was obvious they were not attended to during our two-night stay (I'm assuming there is a cleaning schedule, but it was not posted). Showers were a bit tight, but the water was warm.
Activities/Amenities: IMO, the nicest amenity this park offers is a small but nicely equipped exercise room. Other amenities include: a pet area (and dog wash), a well-equipped laundry room with an ironing board (but you do need to buy a special card), and a dump station (for an extra fee).
We appreciated a courtesy call the day of our arrival to let us know what to do if we arrived after the office was closed.
While not the fault of the RV park, it was located near the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club, and shots echoed throughout the park from the time we arrived at 5 pm until 8 pm, but fortunately only the first night. This was both annoying and disconcerting.
We opted not to pay the $35 “site-lock” fee. To me, this is a very annoying fee (and the reason for deducting a star), but fortunately we got the site we reserved. RV parks like this are expensive, and while they offer various amenities, they are not our favorite type of place to stay. Given the nature of our travels this summer, we will be staying in quite a few of them.
GuideSign states you can only stay here for 8hrs, a few cars look like they may live here.
Right off 101 and you can hear every car.
They have about 5 spots for an RV.
TravelerI had the place to myself for 4 nights. It's not easy to get here as the road is full of potholes. Once you turn down this little "driveway" past an old open gate (didn't look like it had been closed in a long time - trust me I checked lol). Anyways you can fit many people, tents, probably campers too but you'll hit some brush or hanging branches - plenty of space to turn around though.
GuideHIGHLY recommend site 33 as it is secluded! Once in the site, I could not really see my neighbors. And this site was huge! I was in the Forest loop, which was lovely. Probably not for big trailers like 5th wheels or longer bumper pulls as the road through is very narrow and campsites are between big trees. It was perfect for my little 18 foot teardrop though. No playground. Good cell service. Here's the thing though, this is pretty much right next to NAS Whidbey so if jet noise bothers you, don't camp here. They were not doing night ops while we were there, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
GuideThis is a nice campground, but I just needed a place to sleep so $60 was a little steep for me. There is also a motel here.
Camping options near Chimacum, Washington range from waterfront sites to forested retreats within the eastern Olympic Peninsula. Winter camping opportunities exist at several locations, with Fort Casey and Deception Pass remaining open year-round despite reduced services. Many campgrounds in the region maintain operation through seasonal weather patterns typical of the Pacific Northwest's maritime climate, with average winter temperatures between 40-45°F.
Beachcombing and shoreline exploration: At Fort Casey Campground, campers can walk directly from their sites to explore tidal pools and watch marine traffic. "We spent many hours exploring the beach and observing sea life. We were not disappointed and plan to return," notes Jerry, who visited in November.
Historical exploration: Military installations provide educational opportunities throughout the area. At Fort Worden Historical State Park, families can investigate bunkers and lighthouse facilities. According to Christina F., "There are two gun batteries right next to the campground and a trail right out to the beach. You are also close to the Point Wilson Lighthouse."
Wildlife viewing: Dosewallips State Park offers nature observation platforms for bird watching near Chimacum. Michael B. explains, "Every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river and see lots of elk and bald eagles."
Tidepooling: Lower Oak Bay Park provides direct access to marine ecosystems during low tide. Shari G. notes, "This is a great tide pooling and bird watching area, with great opportunities to put the kayaks, or paddle boards in the water for a short trip."
Beach access and views: Waterfront sites at Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground offer direct water access. "Spacious campground compared to most. Great views and several trails. Definitely will be back. Has electrical hook-ups and water," reports Jack P.
Hiking trail networks: Campgrounds frequently connect to trail systems with varying difficulty levels. Reviewer Rachel M. appreciated that Fort Townsend Historical State Park Campground had "decent privacy" and noted, "Several of the campsites in our loop had woods behind it so there was plenty of space to set up a hammock."
Aquatic recreation: Many campsites near Chimacum provide boat launches and water sport access. At Sequim Bay State Park, Anthony S. observed, "This Bay is absolutely stunning. The water is so clear, and there is so much wildlife in this park. Ive never seen more starfish, and seals."
Off-season solitude: Less crowded winter camping opportunities exist at multiple locations. Mike K. found Fort Flagler ideal for "Awesome fall and winter camping. First come first serve after Oct 31st... No problem finding 2 sites side by side for 40 ft rigs."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby facilities. Fort Casey visitors report periodic aircraft noise from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Judy T. notes, "For over two hours, we were treated to intermittent but frequent LOUD jets flying close to the ground. We both had headaches and our dogs were upset."
Site privacy varies significantly: Even within the same campground, site selection matters for privacy levels. At Sequim Bay State Park Campground, Amanda B. found that "The camping for RV's with hookups is iffy. It's very close to the highway and the sites are extremely close to one another."
Reservation requirements change seasonally: Many campgrounds switch to first-come, first-served in off-seasons. Fort Casey's policies changed recently, as Judy T. discovered: "You used to be able to snag one of the standard campsites (no hookups) by driving in, selecting one then paying. Now, they all require registration year round."
Facilities maintenance varies: Bathroom and shower quality differs between campgrounds. At Fort Townsend, "Restrooms and Outhouses are numerous and dispersed throughout. Pay Showers ($.50 token) are in central Restrooms. Only 1 shower per Restroom," reports James and Susan K.
Educational activities: Campgrounds with historical features provide learning opportunities. At Deception Pass State Park Campground, Erica G. found that "trails to the bridge and beaches leave from right next to the sites" making it easy for children to explore safely.
Beach swimming options: Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass offers family-friendly swimming areas. Travis D. notes, "Cranberry Lake has a designated swimming area where the water is super shallow and just perfect for the kiddos."
Playground access: Fort Flagler provides recreational facilities beyond camping. Jill T. writes, "Lots to do there...beach, crabbing, clamming, playground, sport courts, trails, and the most fun is exploring all the gun batteries."
Child-friendly campground layouts: Certain campgrounds offer traffic-free zones for safer play. At Fort Worden, Nicholos J. found it was a "Fun and safe campground. Near the beach with a small aquarium open on the weekend. The family had a blast."
Urban access for supplies: Point Hudson Marina & RV Park provides walkable access to Port Townsend shops and restaurants. Clyde W. appreciates that it has "beautiful views and access for culling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. There is no tent camping. It is an easy walk or bike ride to coffee shops, beach, State Park, etc."
Winter hookup availability: Several campgrounds maintain water and electrical service during colder months. At Fort Flagler, Mike K. found that "Website said water was turned off at the sites but all sites still had water" during winter operation.
Limited big rig accommodations: Some waterfront sites have size limitations. At Lower Oak Bay Park, Doug M. cautions, "Nice views and right on the water but each site is very small with a 30' total vehicle length limit. We had a 19' trailer and it was tight and had to park the truck crosswise."
Leveling requirements: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. At Fort Worden Historical State Park, Leonard H. appreciated the "Paved level sites and most have good separation. Quiet. Highly recommend."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities do Chimacum campgrounds offer?
Campgrounds near Chimacum offer a range of amenities to enhance your stay. Fort Worden Historical State Park provides two distinct camping experiences—a wooded Upper Forest Campground and a Beach Campground—both with reasonable access to shorelines. Sites are somewhat close together but include basic facilities. For RV travelers, Lake Pleasant RV Park offers full hookups in a well-maintained setting with a picturesque man-made duck pond. Most state parks in the region provide potable water, flush or vault toilets, and fire rings, though hookup availability varies by location.
What campgrounds are available in Chimacum, WA?
While Chimacum itself has limited camping options, the surrounding Olympic Peninsula offers excellent alternatives. Dosewallips State Park Campground is about 30 minutes away with well-maintained grounds and access to hiking trails of varying difficulty. Another nearby option is Fort Townsend Historical State Park Campground, which provides drive-in sites with water and toilet facilities. Both parks are within easy driving distance of Chimacum and serve as great basecamps for exploring the area.
What is the best time of year to camp in Chimacum?
Summer months (June through early September) offer the most reliable weather for camping around Chimacum, with pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall. Moran State Park on nearby Orcas Island showcases this summer advantage with opportunities for lakeside camping and refreshing swims. Fall can be beautiful but unpredictable, while winter camping at locations like Dungeness Forks Campground may involve significant rainfall, especially in November through February. Spring brings emerging wildflowers but often with intermittent showers. For the best experience, aim for July and August when conditions are driest and warmest.
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