Dog-Friendly Camping near Union, WA

Hood Canal camping areas near Union, Washington provide year-round options with significant seasonal variations in crowds and conditions. Temperatures typically range from lows around 35°F in winter months to summer highs in the mid-70s. The region's elevation varies from sea level to approximately 1,500 feet in the surrounding foothills, creating diverse microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year.

What to do

Oyster harvesting seasons: The Hood Canal shoreline at Twanoh State Park Campground offers seasonal shellfish gathering. "We loved this spot! 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," notes Blaine B.

River exploration: Many campsites back directly onto rivers or streams. "Campgrounds are just a short walk from a calm cove of Puget Sound and our family had a great time playing in the water each day," shares Sarah H. about her experience at Penrose Point State Park Campground.

Winter hiking: Off-season trails offer solitude and wildlife viewing. "Located right off highway 106, the campsites are really private due to the vegetation. There isn't a lot of traffic during off-season so all I heard was the sound of the canal and the creek even closer," reports Saraj B. who visited Twanoh during cooler months.

What campers like

Waterfront proximity: Many sites place campers right at the water's edge. At Belfair State Park Campground, "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," according to Leah H.

Secluded sites: Some campgrounds offer more privacy than others. "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!)," explains Rachel about Penrose Point.

Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds feature regular wildlife sightings. "Every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river and see lots of elk and bald eagles," Amy & Stu B. share about their stay at Dosewallips State Park Campground.

What you should know

Site selection matters: Choose carefully as quality varies significantly within each campground. "Do not choose a site by the cabins or field, you will be disappointed. Choose a large site by the river!" advises Michele K. about Dosewallips State Park.

Reservation timing: For pet friendly camping near Union, Washington, spring and fall visits offer significantly less crowded conditions. "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," explains Tyler S.

Limited privacy: Many Hood Canal campgrounds feature open layouts. At Staircase Campground, "The campsites were clean and quiet, despite the lack of privacy between most of them. The grounds were well-kept and there were plenty of things for children and families to do in the immediate vicinity," reports Amber H.

Tips for camping with families

Small stream play areas: Some sites feature safe water play options for children. "The campground felt woodsy and quiet, solid concrete pads at RV spots, with clean hot showers. The beach was great, water is rather warm for the sound, it's also pretty shallow which is great for the kids to play in," shares Leah H. about her experience at Belfair.

Junior ranger programs: Several parks offer educational activities. "The grounds, including bathrooms, were well maintained and the kids enjoyed taking part in the junior ranger program. Our family camps often, and Penrose stands out as one of our top experiences," says Sarah H. about Penrose Point State Park.

Waterfront safety: Beach areas vary considerably in swimming conditions. "Campground has elk that walk through it and is right on the river. There are several hiking trails that start from the campground. Make sure and go to near by Hama Hama for their oysters," advises Dean about Dosewallips, highlighting family-friendly activities beyond just camping.

Tips from RVers

Hookup variations: Electric and water options differ significantly between campgrounds. At Big Creek Campground, "We stayed in site #53 for two nights and nearly had the campground to ourselves. This is dry camping at it's best. With almost no other campers here, the silence was amazing. Most all sites that were large enough for RVs seemed quite level," explains Lori T.

Site leveling: Check campground reviews for level site information. "RV sites were very popular, but we had the walk-in tent sites to ourselves. The camp store is very convenient too!" notes Amelia A. about Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman, highlighting the importance of advance planning for RV sites during peak seasons.

Winter accessibility: Several campgrounds remain open year-round with varied services. "Fantastic campground! We will definitely come back!" Jon P. enthuses about winter camping at Potlatch State Park, pointing to its year-round accessibility for RV campers seeking pet friendly camping options in the Union area.