Camping in the Northwest has always been one of my favorite things to do. If you’re looking for the perfect place to take the kids, a romantic getaway, or parks with dazzling views and miles of trails, there are plenty of occasions to pitch a tent in the Northwest.
Outdoor enthusiasts that are looking for more luxurious accommodations and facilities will be happy with the increasing offer of Glamping sites. Glamping – a fusion of glamor and camping- offers an upgrade on rest and recreation. Whether in a yurt, teepee or canvas safari tent, Glamping is a way to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing luxury.
Here are some of our favorite camping and glamping spots in the Northwest.
Desert Yurts at Cave B Estate Winery & Resort
Wine lovers that are liking the Glamping idea will for sure adore the canvas “Desert Yurts” at Cave B Estate Winery & Resort situated in the Columbia River Gorge. Cave B Estate Winery & Resort is a working farm and one-of-a-kind destination embedded by its winery and surrounding vineyards. The rugged Desert Yurts are anything but rustic, equipped with all comforts such as an air conditioning, a private bathroom, a mini fridge and a skylight for to gaze at the stars at night. In the vineyard—and nearby the winery, Spa, and pool— you’ll find even a restaurant that serves three meals a day. This romantic getaway offers one of the best authentic vineyard experience of the Northwest.
Open: April–October
Prices: from $179/night.
Kid-Friendly Camping at Cape Perpetua State Park, Oregon
The best strategy when camping with kids is to pick a spot with a lot of entertainment. So trade in computers and television for the wonderlands of Cape Perpetua State Park with tide pools, beaches, and old-growth forests.
The campground of Cape Perpetua, located about three miles south of Yachats, is nestled near Cape Creek just before it comes out into the ocean, so many of the 40 campsites are waterside. Pitch your tent among old-growth evergreens, let the kids put their toes in the creek, and then set off on the well-marked Giant Spruce Trail, named for the large spruce that measures 40 feet around, that stands on the trail. Kids will love to crawl through the tunnel formed by the roots of this tree aboveground.
Open: Seasonally, May – September.
Prices: from $24 per night
Authentic Western Camping at Bull Hill Guest Ranch
Nestled high in the mountains in the northeastern corner of Washington state, sits Bull Hill Guest Ranch. Its extensive panoramic views of the neighboring Idaho and Canada are one of the most picturesque in the Pacific Northwest. Bull Hill belongs to a working cattle ranch comprising more than 50,000 acres of lush mountain landscapes. The ranch, rich in history and tradition, has today become a favored destination for families, outdoor adventurers or those seeking privacy within authentic western living.
On the ranch you can stay in two canvas tents, fully furnished and wired for electricity. The expansive, covered front porches provide beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, river, mountains and valley below. The two queen beds – that allow up to four people to sleep is very luxurious as a single or double!
This destination combines all the wild and untouched beauty of the mountain meadows and forests with the warm and comfortable amenities of home. Go horseback riding or hiking and explore this beautiful territory.
Prices: from $225/night per person, including meals and beverages, and all resort attractions.
Pacific Beach State Park, Pacific Beach, Washington
The Pacific Beach State Park, set on 10 acres within the town of Pacific Beach, is the only park campground in Washington where you can see the ocean from your tent. The park’s sandy beach and breezy climate are perfect for kite flying, long beach walks, and building sand castles. Visitors also explore the beach and watch various wildlife.
Pacific Beach Campground also has yurts that are positioned within walking distance of the beach. Each yurt, with a diameter of 16 feet, is equipped with bunk beds, and a full-size futon that can accommodate up to five guests.
Open: All year round
Prices: from 12$/night (reservations accepted), yurts from $49/night
Glamping in the remote Moran State Park (Orcas Island)
Moran State Park is the fourth largest State Park in Washington State. With more than 30 miles of trails accommodating hikers and bikers, five freshwater lakes and many campsites including beautiful lakeside spots on Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands’ great treasures.
The Glamping wall tents – with real beds and tasteful furnishings – are built on cedar platforms in the middle of Moran State Park, surrounded by 5,000 acres of wilderness and more. Here you unplug, as there’s no water (don’t worry, it’s nearby) and electric and barely any cell service.
You can reach Moran State Park by taking the Washington State Ferry to the San Juan Islands.
Prices: from $160/night (2 persons)
Fields Spring State Park, in Washington’s Blue Mountains
In the southeast part of Washington, at just a stone’s throw from Oregon and Idaho, you find Fields Spring State Park. Fields Spring Park is densely forested including a diverse variety of native trees, wildflowers, and wildlife. A portion of the park sits at the height of 4,500 feet at the top of the Puffer Butte and offers a spectacular view of the three states and the Grande Ronde River in the surrounding. Here you can tire yourself out on miles of hiking, biking, and running trails. An annual Puffer Butte Huff – a 5-mile trail race in Fields Spring State Park – takes place each September.
Visitors can stay for the night in real wood-and-canvas teepees (18 feet in diameter), that feature wooden, raised floors and can accommodate up to six people. The park also has 20 standard tent sites and bathrooms with showers and a picnic shelter for all to share.
Open: June 15 through Labor Day (Teepees)
Prices from $20/night; the rate for each teepee is $30/night.
Farm stays at Willow-Witt Ranch
Willow-Witt Ranch is located on 445 acres off-the-grid farm in the mountains in Southern Oregon. In this magical hidden valley, the emphasis is on wild beauty and sustainable agriculture.
Apart from being a working farm and ranch, Willow-Witt Ranch provides also farm stay in four wall tents with comfortable beds, wood stove and fine linens tucked in the trees amid the changing foliage.
At the Willow-Witt Ranch, you can also bring your tent to set up in a secluded, wooded walk-in campsite (12 sites).
The wall tents and tent sites come with the use of a fully equipped kitchen. A genuinely local meal can be prepared with the meat, milk, and eggs from the Farm Store and self-picked vegetables from the garden. After your farm-fresh meal, you will love the fresh mountain air as you walk back to your campsite.
Prices: from $125/night (wall tents)
Free camping at Maiden Rock, Cocolalla
Just south of the city of Cocolalla, a short trail descends to Lake Pend Oreille —Idaho’s largest and deepest lake. At this point, you will see a granite formation that stands nearly 300 feet above the water, known as Maiden Rock. At the southern side of the rock, there is a secluded sand-and-pebble beach and a peaceful camping area that is only accessible by foot or boat.
Be sure you to be early and obtain one of the first come, first served campsites – equipped with picnic tables and fire rings – all shaded under a row of trees. Here it is difficult to find a campsite that doesn’t have pristine views of the water, so cruise on in for a weekend and sleep (for free) under the stars.
Prices: free