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Nordland, Washington serves as a gateway to several well-maintained state park campgrounds on Marrowstone Island and the surrounding Olympic Peninsula. Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground provides waterfront sites with views of Puget Sound, while nearby options include Fort Townsend Historical State Park and Fort Worden Historical State Park. Most facilities accommodate tents, RVs, and cabins, with varying levels of hookups and amenities. The campgrounds across the region blend historical significance with natural beauty, offering access to beaches, forested trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities within 10-20 miles of Port Townsend.
Campground availability follows seasonal patterns, with most state parks open year-round but offering limited services during winter months. Fort Townsend operates only from May through September, while others like Fort Flagler transition to first-come, first-served after October 31st. Several sites feature electrical hookups, water access, and shower facilities, though amenities may be reduced in off-seasons. Cell reception varies throughout the area, with most campgrounds reporting adequate coverage for AT&T and Verizon. A camper noted, "We will come any season of the year to this campground. There's something different at every time. We especially love spring and fall when it's barely raining and we can walk the beaches with our dog."
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Fort Flagler where beachfront sites offer views of Port Townsend, passing ferries, and the Olympic Mountains. Many reviewers highlight the value of staying in the Upper Oak Bay Campground for privacy while visiting the Lower Oak Bay area for day use and beach access. Wind conditions can impact camping comfort, especially along exposed shorelines. A review from The Dyrt mentioned, "The wind blows, so pull your canopy in at night or when you're away for awhile." Several campgrounds balance historical exploration with natural settings, allowing visitors to explore military installations and artillery batteries while enjoying beach access, wildlife viewing, and hiking trails. Proximity to small towns provides convenient access to supplies and local attractions.
"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"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"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"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"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"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"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"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
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
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GuideThis is a busy campground and day use area, but it’s awesome. You can kayak and swim in cranberry lake, watch the sunset from either north beach or west beach, and hike many different trails all from the campground.
GuideThe sites are up the bluff from the beach/day use. They are clean and spacious. There’s a trail that takes you to the beach but part of it in not accessible. I used the trail that went from the group camp down to day use. The day use parking is really big and has two different sets of restrooms. We parked our van there and spent the entire day on the beach in view of the van. It was great!
GuideIt was so nice to be right at the end of an otherwise very busy downtown area. It’s a plus that the campground has a small buffer due to the marina between downtown and the sites.
ScoutVery friendly and helpful camp hosts. Big dog park, clean bathroom & showers. Paved. Some sites are narrow and shady but overall a very nice park.
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?
GuideNo 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.
Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground offers spacious sites with beach access at 150 feet above sea level on Marrowstone Island. Upper campground sites provide more privacy among trees while lower campground spots face Port Townsend Bay with views of passing ferries. Winter camping options expand as several campgrounds transition to first-come, first-served status after October, allowing for more spontaneous trips without reservations.
Beach exploration: Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground combines forest and shoreline access for varied outdoor activities. "I absolutely love it here. You can walk the beach or walk the beautiful forest. Well maintained, great camphosts and a cool snack shack," notes Linda M. The park features trails connecting both wooded and beachfront areas.
Historic site tours: Beach Campground — Fort Worden Historical State Park provides access to military history with preserved artillery installations. A camper shares, "Fun and safe campground. Near the beach with a small aquarium open on the weekend. The family had a blast." The site includes historic bunkers, a lighthouse, and educational displays about coastal defenses.
Mountain biking: Fort Ebey State Park Campground offers dedicated trails through forest terrain. "There are great hiking and mountain biking trails through forest, ocean views and beach access, and it's also fun to explore the old WWII facilities. Bring flashlights," recommends one visitor. The trail network connects to bluffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Waterfront proximity: Campers consistently rate waterfront sites highest, particularly at Lower Oak Bay Park where the beach section provides direct water access. "We camped along the spit, and had an amazing time. And even in the final days of summer, it was a lovely temperature to hang out for the week and we even got to see the Northern Lights one night!" reports Shari G.
Winter accessibility: Fort Casey Campground remains open during colder months when many other sites close. "We visited Fort Casey in early November, 2020. We used the AC power and water hookups for our 25ft trailer. The site is located near the beach, so naturally there isn't much privacy and you are constantly exposed to the elements. However, the beautiful water and mountain scenery more than compensate," notes Jerry.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds report regular deer sightings, seal watching from shorelines, and tidepools with marine life. "Ive never seen more starfish, and seals. I was here visiting an uncle who lives in the area. We went kayaking on the bay, and enjoyed the weather," reports Anthony S. about Sequim Bay State Park Campground.
Military jet noise: Deception Pass State Park Campground sits near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, causing periodic noise disruptions. "Definitely worth a stay with its proximity to the beach, stargazing, hiking. The whole area feels magical. Plus Anacortes is a fun town just a few minutes away. The only downside is the noise from the naval base nearby. You'll hear jets overhead on a regular basis," writes Will L.
Shower token system: Most state parks require purchasing tokens for shower facilities, typically $0.50 for 3 minutes of water. "The showers were very well maintained, and had hand soap available in the sink area. There also showers in the bathroom. Shower tokens, fire wood and ice, are for sale at the state park office at the main entrance of the park," explains Christopher D.
Campsite privacy varies: While upper campground areas typically provide more separation between sites, lower beachfront areas offer minimal privacy. "The campsite was very well maintained and raked when we arrived. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire pit. The campground has only one bathroom located near the center of the campground, so keep that in mind when you're choosing your campsite," advises one camper.
Kid-friendly beaches: Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass provides shallow-water swimming areas perfect for children. "The hike in from the northern park boundary is amazingly beautiful and it sure makes you appreciate the spot once you get there. Cranberry Lake has a designated swimming area where the water is super shallow and just perfect for the kiddos," notes Travis D.
Junior Ranger programs: Fort Townsend Historical State Park Campground offers educational activities for children. "Lots to do there...beach, crabbing, clamming, playground, sport courts, trails, and the most fun is exploring all the gun batteries. We did the tour and it was very informative. Lots of history and there are even a few geocaches," shares Jill T. about a similar program at Fort Flagler.
Group site options: Camano Island State Park Campground offers designated group camping for families traveling together. "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," reports Bridget S.
Winter utilities: Some parks maintain water access during winter months despite official closures. "Website said water was turned off at the sites but all sites still had water.. nice hosts that left us alone. Docks are pulled out of the water during winter months. Upper campground is closed during winter," shares Mike K. about Fort Flagler.
Site selection: For larger rigs, confirm specific site dimensions rather than general campground classifications. "We stayed in RV in site without hook-ups. Fighter jet noise on a Monday morning during our stay. Be prepared for rain. See website for length of level pad," recommends Leonard H. at Deception Pass.
Day-use strategy: Multiple RVers recommend camping in upper campground areas with hookups while utilizing beachfront areas for daytime activities. "Avoid the crowds. Awesome fall and winter camping. First come first serve after Oct 31st. Spent a long weekend there last week. No problem finding 2 sites side by side for 40 ft rigs," advises an experienced visitor about seasonal approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Nordland, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Nordland, WA offers a wide range of camping options, with 312 campgrounds and RV parks near Nordland, WA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Nordland, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Nordland, WA is Fort Flagler Historical State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Nordland, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Nordland, WA.
What parks are near Nordland, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Nordland, WA that allow camping, notably Keystone Harbor and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
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