Cliffside RV Park offers full hookup sites for pets and their owners along Whidbey Island's scenic waterfront. Located within Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, this military campground maintains exceptionally clean grounds with immaculate bathrooms and showers that accommodate pet owners. Dogs can explore the park's paved waterfront trail along the bluff and access the sandy beach below. North Whidbey RV Park provides convenient pet-friendly accommodations directly across from Deception Pass State Park entrance, featuring a fenced dog play area where pets can exercise off-leash. Both campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs and welcome well-behaved pets at tent sites and cabin rentals. The facilities remain tidy with grass surrounding all campsites and dedicated pet waste stations throughout the grounds.
Rhododendron Campground's 15 secluded sites provide excellent privacy for campers with dogs in a coastal woodland setting. The campground's site placement creates natural buffers between neighbors, ideal for pets that need space from other campers. Trails throughout Deception Pass State Park connect directly to many of these pet-friendly campgrounds, offering miles of hiking opportunities where leashed dogs can accompany their owners. Access to beaches varies seasonally, with some areas restricting pets during summer months while permitting year-round access in others. Camping with pets requires preparation for occasional jet noise from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island operations, as planes can fly directly overhead with extremely loud sounds that may startle animals. The proximity to Oak Harbor provides easy access to veterinary services and pet supply stores when camping supplies run low.
$12 - $40 / night
"The Navy PBY museum in Oak Harbor is not to be missed."
"We saw seal and sea lions playing in the water close to shore. There were owls in the RV campsite."
"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."
"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. "
"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."
$12 - $75 / night
"We were able to make it work, even with our dog-reactive dog, though. Recommend campsite 48 as it seemed to be one of the most private ones. The beach was lovely and not at all crowded."
"Our spot backed up to beautiful trees and was nicely situated to not feel crowded."
"Easy access to Deception Pass State Park as well as a quick drive down all of Whidbey Island. We loved our experience there so much it was the inspiration to the name of our old Westfalia -- Ebey."
"Most sites don’t have a sense of privacy (some are literally right next to each other with no clear delineation where one ends and the other begins), but there were a lot of “extra vehicle parking only"
"Bathrooms are kept clean, mini golf is fun, and the walks to “Lone Tree” at sunset are amazing. The hosts are ALWAYS so friendly!"
"Beautiful location and campground but confusing to find your way around inside"
"Located on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island this is a great site for military and retired vets. They have RV sites as well, but I always use the tent sites."
"A lovely paved waterfront trail on the bluff and then an amazing sandy beach. At low tide, you can walk all the way to Rocky Point and beyond outside of the base."
"We were leery of bringing our trailer onto the ferry for the first time, so we took the driving route via Deception Pass."
"Nice grass around all the campsites, 50 Amp electricity, water and sewer. Picnic table at every site. Lovely location but it can be noisy due to proximity to road and navy jets."
"Great campground this was hands down one of our favorite thousand trails in Washington you will enjoy this campground Great location great campground would go back"
"I love thousand trails, we decided last minute to get out of the house and away for the weekend and spend some time outdoors."
$30 - $37 / night
"Washington Park is a nice clean park with 3 loops. 1 loop for non hookups. Most of these sites are on the outside of the campground and provide good privacy."
"Great medium size campground surrounded by saltwater, short trails, and grassy picnic areas. Great views of islands and sunsets. Boat launch with large paid parking area."
TravelerFort Ebey was such a beautiful experience! A beautiful sunset every night! Easy access to Deception Pass State Park as well as a quick drive down all of Whidbey Island. We loved our experience there so much it was the inspiration to the name of our old Westfalia -- Ebey. Less busy than Deception Pass but close enough you can still go. Close to Oak Harbor (just in case you forgot to pack something)
ScoutTwo nights at Deception pass state park. Great wildlife, from porpoises and seals to eagles flying above.
The Navy PBY museum in Oak Harbor is not to be missed.
GuideThe views at Deception Pass are spectacular whether you are standing on the bridge above or down on the beaches. We saw seal and sea lions playing in the water close to shore. There were owls in the RV campsite. The only draw back that would make me think twice about booking this location again is the constant noise from the military planes running drills in oak harbor.
LegendWe spent 4 nights here as a jumping-off point to explore Whidbey Island and a day trip to visit Orcas Island. We were leery of bringing our trailer onto the ferry for the first time, so we took the driving route via Deception Pass. The location is fantastic for access To Oak Harbor, Anacortes and Deception Pass State Park. We spent the weekend here with my sister and her family who rented one of the cabins at the RV Park.
The cabin was very simple, clean and had a well-stocked kitchen. They enjoyed their stay and it was a convenient way for all of us to spend more time together. We were in RV spot C-22 and it was quite a tight and unlevel location. The pavement on the grounds is not in great condition with lots of bumps and ditches, but we were able to finagle our trailer to a stable spot. Your neighbors are very close but the grounds are very quiet. The staff is immensely helpful and friendly. Our water spigot was leaking badly when we arrived and they had repaired it by the next morning.
The grounds aren’t ideal but the location to exploring Whidbey is well worth it. You are steps from the entry of Deception Pass State Park to find tons of hiking but if you venture right (directionally) out of the driveway from the RV Park, you’ll find the Cornet Bay side of the state park that offers quieter, lesser crowded trails and a different view of the bridge. I spent my evenings running through this side of the park and it was lovely with lots of wildlife and nearly complete solitude. Also, make sure you get to Greenbank Farms for some local cheeses and Whidbey Pies because nothing says post-hike refuel like Loganberry pie.
ScoutGood little RV park, within walking distance of a dog park, children's park and public bathrooms which is nice. Only downside is that there is not septic at the spots which for $40 a night I would think that they would, but the water is clean and overall the whole lot is nicely kept up with and clean.
GuideThere aren’t many rv parks that are close (35ish mins) to Seattle but this is the best option. Office staff is friendly, bathrooms are clean, laundry is cheap ($1 wash), maintenance staff is constantly tending to the grounds, full hook ups, and cute (short) hiking paths surrounding the park. The lake is more of a murky pond and the geese are happy residents here so expect a lot of goose poop at any spot near the water. There’s also no dog park.
LegendWe have camped here a number of times, usually during the winter months. It has been almost 3 years since we were here and a few changes have been made. 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.
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. But, this is near a major Naval Air Force base in Oak Harbor. Apparently a few new squadrons were brought in a few years ago. 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.
We have a pop up truck camper so, yes, of course, we can hear more noise. We do not have a TV so can’t drown it out. I am just hoping this was where they fly Wednesday. If you have a larger solid RV, you may not experience that loud dull roar. At least they don’t break the sound barrier.
We paid $20 for site 6. This is a standard site, meaning no hookups. Full hook up sites are available for more. There are flush toilets and potable water. The only faucet operating currently is the pump spigot as others were shut off due to frost. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. The sites are level with gravel surface. There is a grassy area for tents and to play games. There is no privacy but there are beaches to walk on and views of several Cascades peaks and the Olympic Range. This is a good spot to camp awaiting the ferry for the next day or you could walk on to explore Port Townsend which has a historical town center.
ScoutEveryone’s so nice, good dog park, pool, and friendly staff. Little mini mart on site.
TravelerThe campground itself is very clean, you can tell the owners take pride it in. The showers are warm, not as hot as I’d like but very very nice! The dog park is gravel, so that was a bummer. The hot tub, indoor pool, and and gym are closed for the season. Not sure how those are seasonal. Overall it’s clean and quiet.
Camping options around Whidbey Island range from established state parks to military facilities, with most sites situated between sea level and 300 feet elevation. The region's maritime climate brings mild temperatures year-round with summer highs rarely exceeding 75°F and winter lows seldom dropping below freezing. Summer camping reservations should be made months in advance as sites fill quickly during peak season from late June through early September.
Beach exploration at Fort Worden: Just a ferry ride from Whidbey Island, Fort Worden Historical State Park offers extensive shoreline access. "Great coastal views and beach walks with lighthouse and pier access. Possibility to rent kayaks," notes Leonard H., who also appreciated the "clean modern restrooms" and "excellent hot showers." Families can spend hours examining tide pools and watching for marine wildlife.
Military history tours: Visit the gun emplacements at Fort Ebey State Park where concrete artillery platforms from WWII remain accessible. "There are old (but well maintained) battery and concrete gun emplacements from WW2 when the Fort was used to defend the West coast," explains Margaret S., adding that "there are so many fun walking paths around the bluffs" with interpretive signage identifying native plants. Many sites include underground areas open for exploration.
Hiking forest trails: Numerous marked paths wind through coastal forests with varying difficulty levels. One camper at Fort Ebey observed, "There are so many 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." Most trails are well-maintained with minimal elevation gain, making them suitable for casual hikers.
Waterfront camping options: Several campgrounds provide sites directly facing marine waters. At La Conner RV, Lindsay K. reported, "We stayed in January in our RV! We're able to get a spot with a water view and full power/water." Waterfront sites typically cost $5-10 more than standard sites but offer direct beach access and superior views.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The island's varied habitats support diverse animal populations. A camper at Washington Park noted, "We also were able to see lots of fun sea life and captured, then released, some larger crabs." Early morning and dusk offer the best wildlife viewing times, with deer commonly sighted in campground areas and harbor seals often visible from shoreline locations.
Seasonal activities: Different seasons offer unique experiences throughout the area. At Fort Flagler State Park, Mike K. advised, "Awesome fall and winter camping. First come first serve after Oct 31st," noting "upper campground is closed during winter." Off-season camping provides more solitude with fewer crowds, though some amenities may be limited.
Naval operations noise: Fighter jets from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island create periodic loud disturbances. At Deception Pass, will L. observed, "The only downside is the noise from the naval base nearby. You'll hear jets overhead on a regular basis." Flight operations typically occur weekdays between 8am-5pm but can occasionally extend into evenings.
Limited full hookup availability: Some campgrounds have restricted sewer connections despite offering other amenities. At Thousand Trails La Conner, Jeff M. noted, "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." Dump stations are available at most parks, but sewered sites often require booking well in advance.
Ferry coordination requirements: For trips to adjacent islands, carefully plan around ferry schedules. Kim G. chose Washington Park because it was "close to ferry," making it convenient for San Juan Islands access, but suggested "would choose Deception Pass State Park even though it is a longer drive to the ferry" due to better amenities. Summer ferry waits can exceed two hours without reservations.
Beach day preparation: Pack appropriate gear for tidal explorations with children. At Washington Park Campground, Marisa N. shared, "There is a park for kids to play and covered bbq shelters that are first come-first served and bonfire pits on the beach." Family-friendly beaches typically have gentle slopes and protected waters with minimal currents.
On-site recreation options: Choose campgrounds with dedicated play areas to keep children entertained. Nicholos J. found Fort Worden "Fun and safe campground. Near the beach with a small aquarium open on the weekend. The family had a blast." Many campgrounds offer junior ranger programs during summer months with scheduled activities for children ages 5-12.
Pet-friendly site selection: When camping with dogs near Oak Harbor, Washington, prioritize campgrounds with designated pet areas. At North Whidbey RV Park, kristin S. appreciated that "There's a fenced dog play area" where pets can exercise off-leash. Most campgrounds limit pets to two per site and require documentation of current rabies vaccination.
Campsite access considerations: Many older campgrounds have limited turning radius for larger rigs. At Fort Flagler, one camper noted, "Managed to get a last minute 2 night reservation in June. Site was great with lots of room and full services." Most state parks can accommodate up to 35-foot RVs, but specific loop restrictions may apply.
Seasonal utility differences: Winter camping may have limited services despite year-round operation. Paula C. explained at La Conner RV, "Not all services are available at each site," recommending choosing "either woods or water views." Water connections at some parks may be winterized between November and March, requiring self-contained units.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require substantial leveling blocks. Christopher M. described Cliffside RV Park as having "Very clean, large public bathrooms and showers. Onsite laundry works well" but mentioned some sites require significant adjustment to level properly. Request site-specific dimensions when making reservations for RVs longer than 30 feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Oak Harbor, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Oak Harbor, WA is Deception Pass State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 180 dog-friendly camping locations near Oak Harbor, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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