Moran State Park's pet-friendly campgrounds span multiple loops on Orcas Island, offering dedicated sites for campers with dogs near Olga. The Midway, Southend, and Mountain Lake campgrounds all welcome leashed pets at their tent and RV sites. Campers praise the cleanliness of these pet accommodations, with well-maintained fire pits, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails where dogs can explore the surrounding wilderness. The park's lakefront sites provide excellent opportunities for dogs to cool off during summer camping trips. Even the glamping sites in the Southend loop permit dogs, though they're tucked in the woods with glimpses of the lake rather than directly on the waterfront. Pets must be kept on leashes no longer than eight feet while in the campground and on trails.
Nearby Obstruction Pass State Park offers walk-in campsites with beach access where dogs can explore the shoreline on leash. The park features newly installed composting toilets and campsites large enough for groups traveling with pets. Trail networks connecting the campgrounds provide extensive walking opportunities for dogs and their owners, with the loop trail around Cascade Lake running directly through Moran's Southend campground. Visitors with pets should note that wildlife is abundant throughout the area—deer frequent the campgrounds, especially in early mornings. The ferry ride to Orcas Island takes approximately one hour from Anacortes, and reservations are strongly recommended when traveling with pets, particularly during summer months when campsites fill quickly. Campers should bring all pet supplies needed for their stay, as island stores have limited stock and close early.
$12 - $40 / night
"Close to water. Close to beach. Lots of hiking trails good for all ages. ADA friendly and pets allowed while on leashes."
"If you look at the map, you can pick some spots with privacy (tent and rv spots) Great trails in the area. For training, hiking, or just casual walking; you can do all of the above."
"Larrabee State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on Samish Bay, six miles (10 km) south of the city of Bellingham, Washington."
"It's only a few miles from town, so you could head in there for a day away from the forest/beach, or you could hike one of the many trails leading to scenic views."
$12 - $45 / night
"I was able to snag one of the amazing sites on the lake. It sits down from the road and an embankment so there is a level of privacy from the road, but not your neighboring sites."
"It’s right above the main road and a freshwater lake. It’s pretty steep, sprained my ankle right before the trip. They were very helpful at the entrance and gave me a lower site."
"There are great hikes all around, we walked around the lake and plopped our canoe in right from the site to go explore around."
"Situated on a small peninsula on gorgeous mountain lake. Great fishing and kayaking. Hiking trail right outside you your campsite. Put toilet only, no room for RV’s or campers."
"Lots of the spots have huge forested areas behind them. Was easy walking distance to the lake where you can rent kayaks and paddle boards or lounge on the beach."
"Its tucked away in the woods. There are usually deer in the morning. So be sure to pack away food. The bathrooms are well maintained. It is well worth the hike to the lookout on the mountain."
"Like all of the sites in the Washington Marine Island state park system, this spot has toilets and well maintained sites."
"The majority of the campsites are up a steep hill away from the water and the precious few sites along the water fill up fast (like 6 months in advance)."
$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."
$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."
"This was our first trip in a new trailer, and the park is close to home for us, so perfect for our maiden voyage. Shaded sites, some hookup (water/electric), but most unserviced."
"Beautiful campground located right next to the bay awesome walking distance from our site to the bay and not too noisy either! Would definitely stay again perfect for small children as well!"
"San Juan Island Washington Is THE Emerald Gem of this state!! If you ever want to find heaven on earth this is it!!"
"The campground location is beautiful. The sites and bathrooms are clean. There aren’t many camping options on the island, so overall it’s a great place to camp."
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.
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.
ScoutWon't let me give zero stars. So I donated$200 plus, and stayed long enough to drive phase 1 and phase 2 loops, and then left and drove 1 hour and 1/2 home. RED FLAG: First, they take reservations but do not reserve a spot for you; rv spots are first come first serve. RED FLAG: No specific photos of RV SITES on website. All roads are gravel. Phase 1 are all straight back in and not angled. You literally butt against the rv directly behind with maybe 12 inches separating you. The slidouts were literally inches away from neighbors. The only thing green were the weeds around the power and water poles. Phase 1 was bascially a refugee camp. The rv pads were weeds, grass, and some gravel. This area is not maintained at all. Phase two was full, with no trees. Grass dead. Nothing green except weeds. Sites were big and wide. It's was dreary and sad. There were two other RV'S circling and appeared to as shocked as us. I've seen better dog parks. I called my friend who wanted a review after our stay as he had a reservation in September. Needless to say he cancelled his reservation. The beach is not walking distance I would never consider this park ever and plan on leaving this review anywhere I can. The photos in other reviews here look nothing like what I saw today.
LegendWonderful RV park for long term Escapee-ers or members just passing through. We stopped here for a night, arriving on the weekend with no prior reservations or contact with them. They make it easy for you to self register when they're closed on weekends, just go up to the office and take one of their welcome packets.
We stayed in a dry camp site for only $7.50, and paid $5 for the dump (dump is only for members as well). FHU sites are around $33 depending on in-season/off-season, but I don't know how we would have figured out which sites were available. There are so many activities and amenities here for the long termers (I believe it's a 55+ park), I couldn't even list them all.
Showers and laundry were clean and efficient. There's a dog park and a dog walking path (there are signs everywhere about not letting your dog pee or poo on their nice plants). Cell service was good and they have good wifi as well. This would definitely be a spot we'd stop at again when we're in the area next.
GuideWe have stayed here many times. This campground has everything you need for a nice getaway. The sites are somewhat private, the bathrooms are sufficient, and there are trails to explore close by. The campground IS in the National Park, so make sure you have your Access Park Pass or you must pay the entrance fee to the park. Also keep in mind that National Park rules apply to dogs. So you will want to keep your pet leashed at all times, or risk a hefty fine.
RangerGreat spot for an Overnighter on the road through quaint Sedro-Woolley WA, this spot contains amenities for all, along with RV parking and a handful of tent lots. If you care to go swimming it has easy access directly to the lake with a primitive boat launch meant for smaller, canoe-like, vessels. Clean Restrooms, no showers, but they have a stage and performances during the summer months and two Parks, meant for all ages! Surrounding areas to explore include a Dog Park just across the way, and a spooky hike among abandoned buildings which were once part of Northern State Mental facility. Be sure to take in the Train display at the Town’s enterance and have a great trip!
RangerThe service… At first, over the phone, the worker here seemed very nice but upon arrival, this campground was very off-putting. I’m not a big fan of anyone walking into my campsite even if they think they are being helpful. But this worker followed us into the site and immediately told us our rig was too far forward… we hadn’t even cut the truck off yet. And proceeded to talk to us while we were just trying to get settled. Just really weird vibes.
About this site itself…. TIGHT. No room on either side. No privacy. No place for pets to go even though it advertises that there is a pet area. This morning, after walking to the back of the campground where the worker told us we could take our dog when we checked in, he told us that we couldn’t let our dog walk in that grassy area. We were like, there is literally nowhere else to take the dog. It’s entirely surrounded by business and the airport.
We kept to ourselves and got a refund for the final booked night so we could just leave. The worker was really not thrilled about that request and was pretty rude about it.
The only reason we give it two stars is for the location. You can’t get any closer to Bellingham which is absolutely awesome.
TravelerI’ve stayed at Rainbow’s End twice. Both times were in their overflow camping area, which are two spots with water and electric only, under some trees which made for comfortable shade. The staff at the park are nice and professional, the facilities are always clean, and there is a large dog park (it has a somewhat short fence, perfect for my small dogs but be careful with bigger animals). Lots of people live at Rainbow’s end full time. It’s very clean and well maintained. You do get some road noise from the US 101, but it’s not too noticeable. If you aren’t taking advantage of water and electric hookups, it could be a little expensive.
Camping options around Olga center on forest environments with nearby access to both freshwater lakes and saltwater beaches. The area receives less rainfall than other parts of Washington due to its location in the Olympic rain shadow, with annual precipitation averaging 29 inches. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-75°F, making it ideal for camping from May through September when most campground facilities are fully operational.
Hiking trails from campsites: At Mountain Lake Campground — Moran State Park, trails begin directly at your site. "Miles of hiking trails that lead to the highest point in the San Juans, Mt Constitution. One of the most incredible views I have ever seen in the PNW," says Hilary S. The 4-mile loop trail around Mountain Lake is especially popular among dog owners.
Kayak rentals and water access: Cascade Lake at Southend Campground — Moran State Park offers equipment rentals during summer months. "The site has a swimming area and you can rent kayaks, etc. There's an undercover kitchen area you can rent if you want to cook with friends and there's electrical outlets inside," reports Amanda W. Rental rates range from $15-25 per hour depending on boat type.
Bird and wildlife watching: Early mornings at dog friendly campgrounds near Olga provide opportunities for wildlife observation. "We got to see an otter at Cascade Lake," mentions Josiah P., who stayed at Mountain Lake Campground. Bring binoculars as eagles, herons, and harbor seals are commonly spotted from waterfront sites.
Lakeside swimming access: Many campers praise the swimming opportunities in Cascade Lake. "We had a spot right on the water with a very shallow area for about 20 yards out. My 2 year old spent the entire weekend wading around the shallows," writes C.M. about Midway Campground — Moran State Park.
Quiet off-peak camping: Visiting outside summer offers more solitude. "We camped mid week in May and had the campground to ourselves. It was heavenly. The lake is placid and clear, there were NO mosquitos at all," reports Valerie about Mountain Lake section of Moran State Park.
Dog-friendly beaches: Pet-accessible shorelines extend beyond campgrounds. "We ended a two week long sea kayaking expedition here in the fall. The facilities were well kept and the access to the water and trails in the area was quite easy," describes Sarah C. about her stay at Deception Pass State Park Campground.
Reservation timing requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly, especially for waterfront sites. "We reserved our spot 6 months ahead of time (It took us weeks of early mornings in October to get a spot)," advises Trisha R. about Mountain Lake, reflecting the competitive reservation process for pet-friendly sites throughout the area.
Ferry logistics: Accessing Orcas Island requires advance planning. "The ferry ride over and back is gonna run you $80 per car," notes Matthew G. During summer months, ferry reservations are essential for vehicles traveling with pets, as standby waits can exceed 3-4 hours.
Campsite privacy levels: Some areas offer more seclusion than others. "While there are only 12 spots, everybody is on top of each other and you can hear and see everything everybody is doing," cautions Trisha R. about Mountain Lake. For more privacy with dogs, Spencer Spit State Park Campground on Lopez Island offers more separated sites.
Playground and swimming options: Cascade Lake area provides family-friendly facilities. "With young children we loved that Larrabee had a playground area and easy access to the beach. We also took advantage of the hiking trails nearby," shares Carlyn N. about Larrabee State Park Campground.
Child-friendly hiking routes: The 3-mile loop around Cascade Lake suits families with small children. "Jump off the bridge, midnight skinny dipping, star gazing galore, deer spotting or beach combing. This spot has everything you need!" Jessica M. reports about Midway Campground.
Family gathering spaces: Group sites and communal areas accommodate multi-family trips. "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," reports Briggetta B. at Deception Pass State Park.
Site selection for level parking: RV campers should research site terrain before booking. "Crazy road to the park from the south. We had site T6 which is full hook up pull through. The site was extremely unlevel front to back so much so my rear stabilizers barely touched the ground," warns Jason W. about his experience at Larrabee State Park Campground.
Water and electrical hookups: Options for RVs vary across the dog-friendly campgrounds near Olga. "We stayed in our site 65. It was just fine, since we didn't book early enough to get a Southend site. We would stay in the site again if we had our choice at midway," notes Beth E. who stayed at Midway Campground.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal needs. "When I went to leave and dump our trailer at our site I had to pull the trailer forward so the waste would flow because the site is so unlevel," adds Jason W. about Larrabee State Park, emphasizing the importance of understanding site slope for RV leveling and waste management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Olga, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Olga, WA is Deception Pass State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 173 dog-friendly camping locations near Olga, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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