Dispersed camping near Oak Harbor, Washington includes primitive island sites accessible only by boat and several drive-in forest service locations. Most dispersed camping options require either a Washington Discover Pass for DNR and state lands or a Northwest Forest Pass for national forest areas. Sites typically lack facilities and operate on a first-come basis, with campers needing to pack in water and pack out trash.
What to do
Paddle to island campsites: Hope Island Marine State Park offers a unique kayaking adventure. "This campground is on a tiny island in the Puget Sound. Rent kayaks (or bring your own) at Boston Harbor in Olympia. It's a short trip to the island, which is only accessible by boat," notes Raphaela H.
Explore shoreline wildlife: Marine mammals and birds are common sights at Point Doughty. One visitor reported an exceptional experience: "Actually the beach was quite pleasant as 2 orca whales cavorted just 100' off and a stellar sea lion, harbor seals and many sea bird varieties provided fantastic entertainment."
Hike mountain trails: Lake Angeles in Olympic National Park provides backcountry camping opportunities. "Hike is about 4 miles from the trailhead with ~2,500ft of elevation gain. Trailhead is right by the toll booths for the park," explains Luis N.
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Top of the Hill camping offers privacy with scenic rewards. As Sarah S. describes, "This is actually a really secluded, private location with a beautiful view! The road is fairly easy to get up to this spot but really just room for one vehicle."
Riverside locations: Campers appreciate the natural settings along waterways. "Easy enough to access right off the mountain loop highway. Meandering sites along the river with good logs for benches and fire rings made from forest rocks. Heavily forested and beautiful," reports Jennifer H. about the Mountain Loop Highway camping areas.
Group-friendly clearings: Many Forest Service roads offer larger sites for multiple vehicles. "Great large flat spot for camping. Could easily fit about 5 cars here. About 4 fire rings set up and the road is pretty easy getting here," notes Sarah S. about FR27 Landing.
What you should know
Access challenges: Island camping requires careful planning and weather monitoring. Some island campsites have difficult terrain between beach and campsite. At Point Doughty, "During low tide it is very rocky and tough on fiberglass kayaks, but there's a small path that can launch one or two kayaks at a time."
Forest road conditions: Many dispersed areas require driving on unpaved roads. As one camper notes about NF-27 Tunnel Creek, "The drive up to this road is half paved and unpaved, not too bumpy. Big area for camp - dry camping."
Location accuracy issues: GPS coordinates can sometimes be misleading. One visitor to Mountain Loop Highway found that "Once the highway turned into a gravel road is when I started seeing nice dispersed campsites," indicating better sites were further than expected.
Tips for camping with families
Bring insect protection: Forest camping areas can have significant bug activity, especially in warmer months. "Lots of mosquitoes around," reports Brendan about the NF-27 site, making repellent essential for comfortable family camping.
Consider noise factors: Some roadside sites experience traffic noise. One camper on Mountain Loop Highway reported, "It was loud and it felt like the traffic was coming through my tent at times," suggesting families should seek sites further from main roads.
Island adventure planning: Pine Lake Campground provides family-accessible sites but comes with considerations. "Cute sites, but you will be interrupted 500 times a day with walkers who use the trail and want to go straight through your site," notes Duane and Janey D.
Tips from RVers
Evaluate circle pull-through options: NF-27 Tunnel Creek provides convenient vehicle access. "It's like, a big circle that you pull in and out of. Plenty of space if you have a decent sized group. Easily accommodating 3 cars. We have plenty of space with our rig," shares Sarah S.
Connectivity considerations: Some remote sites maintain decent satellite coverage. "Star link works great here!" reports a camper about NF-27 Tunnel Creek, making it suitable for remote workers or those needing emergency communications.
Road quality assessment: Forest roads vary significantly in quality. The Mountain Loop Highway transitions from paved to gravel, with Jamie E. noting sites along it are "Easy to find and peaceful next to the river. No noise from the road" for those willing to navigate the unpaved sections.
