10. Fort Flagler State Park
Location: near Port Townsend, Olympic Peninsula
SItes: 116 (2 campgrounds)
Description: Fort Flagler is a former United States Army fort at the northern end of Marrowstone Island. Overlooks the Puget Sound with views of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains. Offers boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and biking trails, military museum, and guided tours.
9. Potlatch State Park
Location: Potlatch (12 miles from Shelton)
Sites: 38
Description: Camp along the saltwater shoreline of the Hood Canal (fjord). Activities including boating, fishing, scuba diving, shellfish harvesting, bike riding, and kayaking.
8. Sun Lakes- Dry Falls
Location: Coulee City
SItes: 152
Description: 4,027-acre park includes a visitor center, hiking trails, boating, fishing, biking, golf, and more. Close to Grand Coulee Dam which is open for public tours.
7. Colonial Creek Campground
Location: North Cascades National Park
Sites: 142
Description: Just a short walk from Diablo Lake, Colonial Creek is the gateway to everything the North Cascades has to offer. Hiking and biking trails, boating, fishing, evening ranger programs, and more, Also an interpretive staff is available to learn about nature, glaciers, and the abundant wildlife.
6. Salt Beach Recreation Area, Crescent Bay
Location: Near Port Angeles; Olympic Peninsula
Sites: 90
Description: Fantastic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, explore tide pools at low tide, hiking, biking, and swimming, too.
5. Cougar Rock Campground
Location: Mount Rainier National Park
SItes: 173
Description: The campground is adjacent to the Nisqually River and just down the road from one of my favorite places in the world. . . Paradise. Activities include hiking, stargazing, sightseeing, and rock climbing.
4. Fairholme Campground, Crescent Lake
Location: Olympic National Park
Sites: 87
Description: Pristine glacial-carved lake offers boating, kayaking (rental), and fishing. Tons of hiking trails from towering trees, waterfalls, and surrounding mountains. Also close to Sol Duc Hot Springs and Hurricane Ridge. Campground is first come-first served.
3. Cape Disappointment
Location: Near Long Beach; Washington coast (mouth of the Columbia River)
Sites: 250 (2 campgrounds)
Description: Miles of beaches, clamming, boat launch, fishing, and two lighthouses. In addition, there is a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to explore. Reservations available and highly suggested for the main campground, while a secondary campground along Lake O'Neil is first come-first serve. Cabins and yurts also available to rent. Cape Disappointment does not disappoint.
2. Kalaloch
Location: Olympic National Park (coast)
Sites: 170
Description: Open year-round, close to both the Hoh Rain Forest and Forks (for those Twilight fans). On a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with staircases descending to the beach below.
1. Ohanapecosh Campground
Location: Mount Rainier National Park
Sites: 188
Description: A river runs through it! Fantastic campground in the middle of an old growth forest. Offers a visitor center (limited operating hours), ranger lead hikes, lots of hiking trails including a fairly easy 3 mile round trip hike to Silver Falls. Also just down the road from the famous Grove the the Patriarchs trail (even I was able to do both hikes on the same day with relative ease), and all Mt. Rainier has to offer.