Glamping options near Clinton, Washington center around campsites with modern amenities while maintaining easy access to Puget Sound's natural environment. During fall and winter months, temperatures average between 35-55°F with frequent rainfall, making climate-controlled accommodations particularly valuable. The area's elevation ranges from sea level to 500 feet, creating varied terrain for hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities.
What to do
Beach exploration: Kayak Point County Park offers excellent shoreline access with fishing opportunities. "Take a hint from the name and bring a kayak! The coolest thing about the campground is the yurts. They're modern and pretty close together if it's just your family, but we were here for a scout event and it was just so neat staying in the yurts, especially in the colder months," notes Kim B.
Military history tours: Fort Casey State Park provides historical exploration opportunities with former military installations. "Really neat military relics. Walk to the ferry to visit Port Townsend for the day. Camp in the deep woods. This place is awesome!" says Rand H. The fort features gun emplacements and a lighthouse accessible from camping areas.
Seasonal shellfish harvesting: Dosewallips State Park offers clamming and oyster gathering during permitted seasons. "There's so many activities to do; clamming, shrimping, hiking, hunting for oysters, and there's even places to rent kayaks. No shortage of bald eagles here either," shares Shariah T. Visitors need Washington shellfish licenses, available online before arrival.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing platforms: Elk and bald eagle sightings are common at Dosewallips State Park. "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," reports Amy & Stu B.
Beach access campsites: Beach Campground at Fort Worden provides waterfront camping with marine wildlife viewing. "We spend the entire weekend here camping, $50 per night for an electric & water site, the bathrooms are clean and there's always one close. We could spend so many more hours exploring the buildings and beaches! Also saw so much wildlife: otters, deer, crab (lots of baby crabs everywhere!!) and starfish," explains KayLynn D.
Water activities: Boating and fishing opportunities abound throughout the region. "The campground is up top and the day use area (beach and boat ramp and pier) is down below. During a previous trip in April we saw a whale feeding in the bay. We take our boat and crab," says Russ H. from Kayak Point.
What you should know
Navy jet noise: Deception Pass State Park experiences periodic flyovers from nearby Naval Air Station. "Definitely worth a stay with its proximity to the beach, stargazing, hiking. The whole area feels magical. The only downside is the noise from the naval base nearby. You'll hear jets overhead on a regular basis," warns Will L.
Site privacy varies: Many parks have minimal separation between sites. "The upper campground is nicer than the lower (basically a gravel lot for $20). The upper has a lot of trees to divide the non-electric sites nicely. Sites feel far apart but since it's not super green, you can hear neighbors," observes Abby M. about Upper Oak Bay Park.
Winter facility limitations: Seasonal reductions in services occur at most parks. "Jan 24-26, 2025 - We went for a winter meet-up with my local teardrop trailer group. As mentioned in other reviews, the beach campground is very open with little privacy between spots, but there is quite a bit of space," reports Christina F. at Fort Worden State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fay Bainbridge Park offers dedicated children's play areas. "Amazing kids area pirate ship. Great beach walk and good camp sites. Be prepared for showers to be closed but the restrooms were open. Can't beat the views," shares Tanya B.
Marine life discovery: Fort Worden provides educational opportunities for children. "We watched bald eagles circle and hunt for over an hour. The kids found baby crabs and had a blast watching them," notes one visitor, making it ideal for glamping near Clinton with children.
Group camping options: Large family gatherings work well at certain sites. "Stayed in the group site with my daughter's American Heritage Girls troop. We had 22 girls and there was plenty of room. This is a huge group site. Has running water, a couple fire pits and a bunch of picnic tables," explains Bridget S. from Camano Island State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Water and electrical connections differ between parks. "All campsites are surrounded by trees so choose carefully if you need a pull through or if you have a large rig that you're trying to back up. We had a small camper van and it fit perfectly. Water and 30 amp electric at all sites except one tent site," advises Jamie S. about Kayak Point County Park.
Limited dump stations: Plan septic management carefully when glamping close to Clinton. "For those with RVs/Trailers there is no dump station at this park and the sites do not have a sewer hookup," notes Brooks S. about Kayak Point, recommending planning dump station stops in advance.
Cell connectivity: Remote work capabilities vary by location. "Given this new world of remote work, I also included a SpeedTest if someone is considering to work from a campsite," mentions Brooks S., who found adequate connectivity at Kayak Point for basic online tasks while enjoying glamping amenities.
