Best Campgrounds near Union, WA
Camping options around Union, Washington center on Hood Canal and Olympic Peninsula access, with mixed-use campgrounds like Potlatch, Twanoh, and Belfair State Parks providing developed facilities along the waterfront. These established campgrounds accommodate tent campers, RVs, and in some locations, cabins or glamping opportunities. The region's state parks feature varying levels of hookups, with some offering full utilities for RVs while others maintain more primitive settings with vault toilets and minimal amenities. Campgrounds like Staircase and Big Creek provide entry points to Olympic National Park's southern reaches, offering different camping experiences than the canal-side options.
Road access varies throughout the area, with most developed campgrounds accessible via paved roads, though some forest service locations require higher clearance vehicles. "The campground is located on the northern side of Hood Canal and offers some great views of the water," noted one camper about Belfair State Park. Weather conditions remain relatively mild near sea level, with camping available year-round at many state parks including Potlatch and Twanoh, though Olympic mountain campgrounds like Staircase have more seasonal limitations. Cell service can be spotty in more remote locations, particularly those deeper into Olympic National Forest. Advance reservations are highly recommended for summer weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the Hood Canal corridor, with several campgrounds providing direct beach or shoreline access. Many campsites at parks like Belfair and Twanoh offer views across Hood Canal, though sites vary in privacy levels. A visitor observed that "about half the sites are in the woods, although they are all pretty close together. Some of the larger sites, including the RV sites, are right next to the beach." Highway noise affects some campgrounds like Potlatch, where sites border busy roads. For those seeking more seclusion, forest campgrounds like Brown Creek and Big Creek provide alternatives to the busier waterfront locations, though with fewer amenities. The region's mixed-use campgrounds balance accessibility with natural settings, making the Union area popular for weekend getaways from nearby urban centers.
