Camping spots near Union, Washington provide access to both Olympic National Park's interior forest regions and Hood Canal shorelines. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-80°F during peak camping season, with cooler nights in spring and fall. The region's mix of saltwater and freshwater environments creates diverse camping experiences, with tide-dependent activities at waterfront sites.
What to do
Shellfish harvesting: At Belfair State Park, visitors can collect oysters and clams during appropriate seasons. "Nestled among the trees, a great place to pitch a tent, dig clams and have a nice dinner," notes one camper at Belfair State Park Campground.
Hiking forest trails: Brown Creek Campground offers multiple trail options, including an educational route. "In the morning, I took a walk along the beaver pond trail and it was really nice with informational signs along the trail," a visitor at Brown Creek Campground reported.
Paddling opportunities: Lake Cushman provides warm-water paddling with mountain views. A camper observed that Skokomish Park offers "pristine lake. Rope swing, volleyball courts, hiking trail circles the lake. Waking up to fantastic lake/mountain views every day was beyond words."
Mountain exploration: Olympic National Park's southern access points allow day trips into alpine terrain. "Great sites! Amazing trails. This is a beautiful park right on the outskirts of Olympic National Park. The hiking here is fantastic!" shares a visitor about Staircase Campground.
What campers like
Waterfront access: Twanoh State Park features direct Hood Canal beach areas for swimming and oyster collecting. "A quick walk from camp and your picking oysters from Hood Canal. Amazing! The swimming was great too. We also hiked the trail out of camp which was a pretty, wooded trail," according to a review at Twanoh State Park Campground.
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round, offering off-season solitude. "Fantastic campground! We will definitely come back!" writes a January visitor about Potlatch State Park Campground.
Seasonal variations: Campground experiences change dramatically between peak and off-seasons. A visitor noted, "Depending on the time of year you come here. Will determine what kind of time you'll have. In the summer it's hard to get a spot and it's very crowded. But if you come in the spring and fall is a very lovely place to be."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe forest and marine wildlife. "Several deer came up throughout the day to eat the apples off the ground and trees in those spots, that was fun," writes a camper about Jarrell Cove State Park.
What you should know
Off-season access challenges: Some interior forest campgrounds become difficult to reach in winter. "The last 6 or so miles before the campground are pretty snowy and there is a lot of tree fall... We hiked to Brown creek Campground on Saturday. Lots of scrambling over and around tree falls but it was a really nice walk," reports a winter visitor.
Site privacy variations: Privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds and specific sites. At Penrose Point State Park Campground, "Sites and restrooms were clean. We had a great time exploring the beaches. Sites were reasonably private and quiet at night (except for a brief invasion of 6 raccoons at our site one night!)"
Reservation timing: Summer waterfront sites fill extremely quickly. "The beach loop fills up quickly - get your reservations in as early as possible if you want to camp there," advises a camper about Lake Cushman.
Terrain considerations: Many tent sites feature different ground surfaces. "The tent spaces are all in fine gravel beds, so not the softest," notes a Big Creek visitor, while another campground review mentions, "The ground is extremely hard dirt. We have thick Kodiak steel stakes and managed to bend a few getting them in the ground."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming-friendly sites: Some locations offer warmer, more kid-friendly swimming. A visitor to Big Creek Campground reports, "What more could you ask for in a campground? This one is located just off of lake Cushman, follows along the creek which is super fun to walk along, has a great rainforest feel."
Educational opportunities: Junior ranger programs enhance family camping experiences. One parent notes, "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program" at Penrose Point.
Site selection for families: Loop locations impact family camping experiences. "There's a beach loop for RVs and a woods loop for tents & smaller RVs. Overall pretty quiet, close to town, close to ATV trails & dog friendly. The kids loved the park! The beach was great, water is rather warm for in the sound, it's also pretty shallow which is great for the kids to play in."
Ranger programs: Some parks offer kid-specific activities during summer months. A Jarrell Cove visitor mentioned, "They had more amenities than I would expect: they had free wifi, loaner life jackets, little library, and kids packets from the park (coloring pencils, bookmark, coloring page)."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at most campgrounds. At Glen Ayr Resort, "Great location on Hood Canal. Access to so much great scenery, hiking, and nature. We loved visiting Hama Hama oyster farm just up the road. This is a nice resort with everything you need."
Site leveling challenges: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. "Most all sites that were large enough for RVs seemed quite level. There is a great deal of privacy between sites and ample potable water spigots," notes a camper at Big Creek.
Water and power limitations: Several campgrounds offer only partial hookups. "There are two sites here with hookups. No dump station on the grounds. Site 8 is a pull through and is very large, but not so private as everyone walking to the main dock walks right past your site."
Seasonal availability: Some campgrounds close entirely during winter months. A camper mentions, "They aren't open all year (typically May to October) but it is well worth it in the summer!" regarding their favorite campground in the area.
