Glamping options near Clearlake, Washington offer access to the area's diverse natural attractions at elevations ranging from sea level to about 450 feet. The region experiences a moderate marine climate with cool summers averaging 70-75°F and wet winters with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in the area have open season policies allowing year-round camping, with spring and fall offering less crowded conditions than peak summer months.
What to do
Explore historical military sites: Fort Casey State Park provides camping adjacent to historical military installations and a lighthouse. "The fort is fun to explore all the dark nooks and crannies. The light house is just cool. The land around the Fort is easy to hike around to see the different parts and buildings," notes Emily S., who adds the beach along the Sound is "a little steep but manageable."
Watch naval aircraft: Many glamping sites in Clearlake offer views of military aircraft from nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. At Cliffside RV Park, "Air force planes fly right above so it can be noisy (but also exciting) when they are flying by," explains Emma A., who was impressed by the "immaculately maintained" grounds and "sparkling clean" bathrooms.
Crabbing and boating: The waterfront location of most glamping sites makes seafood harvesting accessible. "This campground's beach access gets very busy during crabbing season as all the boaters rush to the boat launch here," reports one reviewer about Camano Island State Park, where multiple beaches provide varied water access options.
What campers like
Private beach access: The shoreline access from glamping accommodations ranks highly with visitors. At Kayak Point County Park, campers appreciate the beach proximity despite being on a bluff. "Campsite is on a bluff above the beach, but you can't see the sunset from the campground you would have to go down to the beach," explains Jamie S., who notes that "all campsites are surrounded by trees."
Woodland trails for dog walking: Multiple glamping locations offer pet-friendly trails. At Greenstone Farm Camping, Ken F. appreciated the "woodland trail on the 10+ acres was a real plus for our two dogs" and mentioned the "quiet rural setting but close to town (Mt. Vernon) if you need anything or just want to explore the farmer's market."
Clean facilities: Consistent mentions of well-maintained facilities appear across reviews. "The showers have great water pressure and hot water," notes Bri S. about Kayak Point County Park, adding that despite being "kinda disappointed that they aren't a little more private" the facilities "still got the job done."
What you should know
Ferry noise considerations: Some glamping locations near ferry terminals experience intermittent noise. "There is some noise here from the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry that docks here but it is only every 1.5 hours during the low season. We like to watch the ferries and they don't make that much noise," explains Judy T. about camping at Fort Casey.
Seasonal closures impact facilities: Winter camping brings reduced services at some locations. At Deception Pass State Park, Erica G. notes "The only campground open in the winter at Deception Pass State Park is the Quarry Pond area. And even though the weather was wet and cold the campground was far from empty during our stay."
Sewer hookups limited: Many glamping locations offer partial hookups only. At La Conner RV, Jeff M. found "the few sites that have a sewer connection were all taken and no way to know this in advance. The Wi-Fi they have is only at the recreation building so that amenity should not have been listed on their website."
Tips for camping with families
Secure adjacent sites when group camping: Family groups need to book early for multiple sites. Briggetta B. from Deception Pass shares: "We went with family in two different vehicles and were able to secure two spots next to each other. Busy place, but the spots are partitioned off by natural trees and shrubs."
Select campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities: Look for parks with dedicated play areas and recreational options. At Thousand Trails Grandy Creek, Jamie A. found "very nice place clean and quiet people here are so nice. So much here to do for the kids. And really cute dog walk."
Consider off-peak camping: School breaks can mean crowded conditions at popular glamping sites. "This campground is great, the reservation system is super easy to use, facilities are clean, theres a convenient store within walking distance for any forgotten camp essentials," mentions Erica G. about winter camping at Deception Pass, noting it was "far from empty" despite cold weather.
Tips from RVers
Limited privacy between sites: Many glamping locations have open layouts. "This campground has one loop of camping and it's a small county park, but surprisingly the sites are not on top of each other and there is good privacy between sites," explains Brooks S. about Kayak Point, contradicting the typical open layouts at other parks.
Cell service and remote work considerations: Coverage varies significantly between glamping locations. Brooks conducted a speed test at Fort Casey with T-mobile and "was getting 5 bars and had speedy internet to be able to work from this site if necessary," while Emma A. reported "poor AT&T cell reception" at Cliffside RV Park despite "decent WIFI throughout the campground."
Reservation requirements vary by season: Some parks switch between first-come and reservation systems seasonally. "You used to be able to snag one of the standard campsites (no hookups) by driving in, selecting one then paying. Now, they all all registration year round," notes Judy T. about changes at Fort Casey.
