Camping options near Ocean Park provide access to Washington's southern coastal area, where the Long Beach Peninsula stretches 28 miles along the Pacific shore. Winter temperatures average 45°F while summer highs reach about 70°F, creating mild camping conditions year-round. The area's flat, sandy terrain allows for easy beach access from multiple campgrounds, though inland sites often feature more wooded surroundings.
What to do
Beach exploration at low tide: Cape Disappointment State Park Campground offers excellent tide pool access when waters recede. "Wow, what a beautiful place! Walk to the beach to find treasures and sit to relax and just watch the waves. Very peaceful, and my teens loved it!" notes Kimberly T.
Historical sites: Fort Stevens State Park Campground serves as a convenient base for history enthusiasts. "There is sooo much to do in this area! It's rich with history and we could have easily spent another week touring around. The Martime Museum is up the road," writes Jill T.
Beach kite flying: The Long Beach Peninsula receives consistent ocean breezes ideal for kite flying, especially at Thousand Trails Long Beach. As Nicole R. explains, "The International Kite Festival was in town couple miles up so we walked the beach to it few days while staying. There's a great boardwalk too if you struggle with walking on beach."
Wildlife viewing: Grayland Beach State Park Campground provides habitat for numerous coastal species. "Excellent wildlife (especially birds) and endless beach and dunes to explore. The campsites are surrounded by short trees and are very close to the beach, with some having views of the water," says Justin S.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: The Lamp Camp receives praise for its cleanliness and upkeep. According to Derek & Alex W., "The park is a little cramped but in a fantastic location! Just a quick 5 minute walk to the beach. The sunsets are beautiful! The staff were all super friendly as were every single person we met at this park."
Dog-friendly beaches: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Ocean Park feature proximity to pet-accessible shorelines. At Westgate Cabins and RV Park, Laura M. notes, "The walk to the beach was a pleasant roughly 0.25 mile one. Cars drive straight on the beach so watch your dogs."
Privacy between sites: Grayland Beach State Park Campground offers well-separated camping areas. Joseph M. describes, "We stayed in site 108. The pad was surrounded by trees and felt really private. Protected from the wind. We were a few feet from a beach entry."
Recreation options: Many campgrounds provide on-site activities beyond beach access. A visitor at Astoria-Warrenton-Seaside KOA reports, "This is a great KOA...probably the best I've been to. It's very big with a lot of activity options including an indoor pool, playground and trails."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Coastal fog and rain occur frequently even in summer. At Ocean City State Park Campground, one camper recounts, "It was a Friday afternoon for three tacoma college students, when one came up with the ill-conceived notion to see the ocean. Well, it was February, so we drove on over to aberdeen and then ocean city to witness the Pacific. Unfortunately we had not counted on the thick fog that often blankets the coast that time of year."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially in summer. "Billed as the largest state park campground in the United States, with almost 500 sites. Still, many of the sites are deep and surrounded by trees, keeping the vibe natural and relatively private," says Patrick M. about Fort Stevens State Park.
Campground size variations: Pet-friendly campgrounds near Ocean Park range from intimate to expansive. The Lamp Camp offers just 30 sites while Fort Stevens provides nearly 500, affecting the overall camping experience.
Price fluctuations: Recent ownership changes have impacted rates at some facilities. Richard B. notes about Bay Center-Willapa Bay KOA, "Sadly the campground is under new management and prices for campsites have doubled. What went for $40 is now $80."
Tips for camping with families
Beach play areas: Cape Disappointment State Park Campground provides supervised beach access ideal for children. Ryan T. shares, "Company campout weekend went wonderfully everybody brought something for the potluck lot of trails Great Beach wish we had more time, definitely going back."
Kid-friendly activities: Select campgrounds organize regular family events. At Fort Stevens, Jenny M. explains, "We just got back from our week long camping trip and like always it was fun. We have been there multiple times, it's one of my favorites. So much for kids to do from exploring, riding bikes, fishing and going to the amphitheater for some stories."
Protected camping areas: Some campgrounds feature sites sheltered from coastal winds. Joseph M. notes at Grayland Beach, "The pad was surrounded by trees and felt really private. Protected from the wind. We were a few feet from a beach entry."
Trail difficulty assessment: Evaluate beach access paths before committing with younger children. At Bay Center-Willapa Bay KOA, Kaelin P. mentions, "Your basic KOA with the amenities: flush toilets, showers, dog park, gift shop, kids activities, etc. but comes with the price $38/night basic primitive tent camping."
Tips from RVers
Site orientation challenges: Thousand Trails Long Beach requires careful attention to hookup placement. "The sites are set up so that only the EVEN number sites have hookups on the drivers side. Otherwise, you need extensions for you electric, stinky slinky, and water," warns Devin.
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds provide this service at no additional cost. At Bay Center-Willapa Bay KOA, David M. mentions, "The Willapa Bay KOA was a great place to stay for a long weekend. The owners did a reasonably good job providing some privacy between sites given that it's a typical field with some trees."
Backing difficulty: Some parks feature challenging site approaches. At Thousand Trails Long Beach, Derek & Alex W. cautions, "The spaces are very tight at 90 degree angles to the road. This requires backing skill level 10! The north side and middle give little room for it, and the south side has an area that at least gives some wiggle room."
Hookup options: Various electrical service standards exist across area campgrounds. "RV sites are large, but just gravel. The tent sites are great, especially towards the ocean," notes Laura W. about The Lamp Camp.
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