The latest guidebook in the bestselling Where Should We Camp Next? series is hitting bookstores on April 2nd, 2024. Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping has over 350 campground recommendations and it covers Budget Camping in all 50 states. This handy guidebook is chock full of great state park, country park, national park, Army Corps of Engineers, national forest, and budget-friendly mom and pop campground recommendations from across America!

Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi’s latest book on budget camping is also packed with recommendations for free and low-cost outdoor activities, along with budget camping hacks, and budget camping gear. If you want to save money camping in 2024 and beyond then there is no better book for you than Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping!

To hear Jeremy and Stephanie share a sneak peek into the pages of Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping click on the media player above–or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts. To check out a sample chapter from the new budget camping book read on just below!

Budget Camping in Washington State 

Washington State is a majestic state for budget camping in every single way. Olympic National Park is packed with great camping options both inside the park, and in nearby national forest campgrounds. You could spend several months exploring the entire Olympic Peninsula and not come close to seeing all of its magical places–and that’s just one part of this beautiful state.  There are also excellent state park campgrounds along both Washington’s rugged and windswept coastline–and in its wild and mountainous interior. There is also a lifetime of camping to be had in and around Washington’s Cascade Range–and another great national park to explore there. We also recommend putting Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier somewhere very close to the top of your bucket lists–both locations are epic and breathtaking and affordable to visit if you are camping on a budget.

Best in State

Deception Pass State Park (Oak Harbor, Washington) https://parks.wa.gov

RV and Tent Sites $

Deception State Park is located on Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands about 80 miles north of Seattle. Its proximity to that great city helps make it Washington’s most visited state park–and so do its cliffs, beaches, tide pools and sunsets. This park, which recently turned 100 years old, is packed with coastal hiking trails and there are numerous places to launch a boat or kayak along its shores. There are three camping locations within Deception Pass. Cherry Lake is the largest and most popular. There are about 230 sites there and about one third of them have hookups. Quarry Pond is a medium sized campground and Bowman Bay is very small and intimate. There are some really awesome concessions here that are worth checking out. Blue Otter Kayaks is located at Cranberry Lake and does a nice job with a variety of rentals and Campstuff Coffee operates out of a vintage camp trailer right by the camp loop entrance to Cranberry Lake. Fidalgo and Whidbey Island islands are connected by the iconic and immensely photographable Deception Pass bridge–so bring your camera when you go.

Cape Disappointment State Park (IIwaco, Washington) https://parks.wa.gov

(RV and Tent Sites, Cabins, Yurts, Vacation Houses $)

For another epic coastal camping option look no further than Cape Disappointment State Park on the Long Beach Peninsula. Here you will find secluded sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs near the edge of the sea, and lighthouses that are as pretty as a picture. Bring your hiking boots and a rain jacket because there are many trails to explore that wander through old growth forest or lead to views of the park’s lighthouses. There are over 200 sites here and fifty of them have full hook-ups. The best sites here are closest to the windswept beach. These sites do have some shade and protection from the rugged stretch of sand and sea just beyond the trees–but plan on windy conditions and don’t leave the RV awning out when unattended. You may want to leave your tent or RV at home anyway and rent one of Cape Dissapointment’s 14 family-friendly yurts. They are cozy, comfortable, and heated–and just steps away from the beach.

Salt Creek Recreation Area (Port Angeles, Washington) www.clallamcountywa.gov

RV and Tent Sites $. (Most bang for your buck badge) 

The campground is situated on a bluff above the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the vast majority of the sites (half of which have hookups) have views of the sparkling water. Our friendly neighbors in Canada are located directly across the Strait. The location of this campground is stunning and dramatic in every way. The tide pools located just steps below the campsites will keep your kids occupied for hours as will the basketball and volleyball courts. Outdoor activities abound for thrill seekers and nature lovers. Whether you love hiking, biking, kayaking, bird-watching, or even surfing there is something for you on-property or nearby. Downtown Port Angeles is also close and filled with hip food, coffee, and shopping. Check the sidebar in this chapter for a few of our favorite picks in that super cool gateway town. If summertime on the Olympic Peninsula isn’t near wild heaven it’s pretty damn close. 

Also Great

Seaquest State Park (Castle Rock, Washington) https://parks.wa.gov

RV and Tent Sites, Yurt $

Seaquest State Park is an excellent basecamp for visiting Mount St. Helens–which is one of the most epic destinations in the Pacific Northwest. There is actually a pedestrian tunnel that connects this deeply wooded state park with the Silver Lake Mount St. Helens visitor center—which is a must stop before heading up to the top. The park has close to 100 sites and about 30 of them have either partial or full hookups. There are also five yurts with bunk beds that would make a really fun option for an adventurous family on a budget.

Eightmile Campground in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Leavenworth, Washington) Recreation.gov

RV and Tent Sites $

Washington State is jam-packed with top notch National Forest campgrounds and choosing any single one of them as the best is dangerous work–if Eightmile Campground on Icicle Creek (near downtown Leavenworth) is not best in state–then it is certainly close. The campsites are private and are lovingly carved into the lush pine, fir, and maple trees around them and the creek is directly accessible from the campground. In the springtime that creek rushes by like a river and the area is filled with adventurous kayakers. There is no cell service here–so why not turn your phone off and slip into the mystic. The natural beauty of your surroundings at Eightmile will transform you if you let them.

Budget Camping Gear: Bodum Outdoor French Press

Coffee is important. Especially when you are camping in cool or wet weather in the Pacific Northwest. We love the Bodum Outdoor French Press for camping trips because it is made of plastic and it is completely shatterproof. That’s good news for RV owners and tent campers who haul their  gear from campground to campground. It also makes a delicious cup of Java at an extremely budget-friendly price. It’s available at target.com for less than the price of two pounds of Starbucks coffee. 

Six Great Campgrounds Inside Olympic National Park

• Kalaloch Campground is inside the park and right on the beach. Only a handful of the sites have ocean views–but you can hear the ocean roaring from each and every campsite.
• South Beach Campground is just three miles away from Kalaloch and makes for a great backup plan if that campground is full.
• Log Cabin RV and Campground has magnificent views of Lake Crescent. Full hookups are available and the sites can accommodate larger RV’s up to 35 feet.
• Fairholme Campground is near Lake Crescent and is a perennially popular option for tent campers and those with small RVs.
• Sol Duc Hot Springs RV & Campground is basically a parking lot with hookups in a terrific location right next to the trailhead that leads to Sol Duc Falls–which is one of the best waterfalls in the park.
• Hoh Rainforest Campground is located in one of the most unique places in any national park. The Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center is nearby and so are some incredible and very easy hikes.

Cheap Eats and Affordable Fun in Port Angeles, Washington

Camping at the stunningly beautiful Salt Creek Recreation Area near Olympic National Park? Then make sure you head into the hip gateway town of Port Angeles for cheap eats, affordable shopping, and family fun. 

Start your day by getting coffee and a breakfast sandwich at the Great Northern Coffee Bar.  Patrons love the unpretentious outdoorsy vibe and the coffee is served with love. Their Bennigan breakfast sandwich is pretty epic–it comes with two scrambled eggs, swiss cheese, sliced ham and mustard sauce on a toasted pretzel bun.

Head to the Port Angeles City Pier and visit the Feiro Marine LIfe Center. Admission is only a couple of bucks per person and you get to meet the local marine life (think hermit crabs, sea stars, and much more) from the Strait of Juan de Fuca in a very up close and personal setting. This is a terrific place for younger kids.

If you need any supplies or just want to pick up a budget-friendly souvenir then head over to Swain’s General Store–it’s been a downtown institution since 1957. This is a terrific place to grab a raincoat or sweatshirt if someone forgot one–and they also have a pretty epic selection of outdoor goods for camping, hiking, and fishing. So if you are heading into Olympic National Park but need some new gear first–this is the place to go.

The Burritos, Tacos, and Sandwiches at the Little Devil’s Lunchbox are legendary among the locals and the price is very good for such fresh and delicious food. The Beer Can Chicken Burrito and the Devil’s Park Sandwich were our favorites.

Catch a West Coast League ballgame right in downtown Port Angeles at Civic Field. This stadium has a beer garden and a kids play area–so everyone will leave happy after the last pitch is delivered. Port Angeles Lefties tickets are budget priced and we love their team merchandise. Grab a t-shirt or a hat and wrap up your PNW souvenir shopping right there are the ballpark.