Do you like a little glam with your camping experience? Then you have come to the right place. If escaping the bustling city and retreating to a quiet campground in the wilderness sounds fun, but you still want amenities like a roof and mattress, we have recommendations. We scoured Washington State for the best glamping locations and found oceanside cabins and yurts perched among old-growth trees. Your little ones will love the adventure, and you will enjoy not pitching a tent.
Washington State Parks has an abundance of cabins, yurts, and vacation homes that are great for families. If you visit the Washington State Parks website, you can filter for places to rent. Most of the cabins available in the parks sleep five people and offer a bunk bed, single bed, and full-sized futon. You can find cabins that sleep six, and a few vacation houses sleep between 8 and 12 people.
Blue Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)
Insider tips: Cabins and yurts in Washington State Parks book out nine months in advance, so plan ahead. Summer weekends fill up quickly. Although you might not be thinking about camping in October, that’s when bookings open for prime summer rentals. Bookings open at 7 a.m. Knowing the dates you’ll be traveling is good so you can search and book accordingly.
You’ll also need to bring linens, towels, hygiene products and other necessities. Glamping may be a step up from camping, but it’s still a bit rugged. You won’t find room service, spa treatments or down pillows on this family adventure.
During the summer season, be sure to check the burn bans for each park before your camp trip so you can plan accordingly.
Out to Sea (photo by Kathryn Mueller)
Washington State glamping: Coastal getaways
Location: 925 Cranberry Beach Road, Grayland, WA 98547
Cost: $69-$89 per night; pet fee is an additional $15.
Grayland Beach yurts are in a lush coastal forest with trails that give easy access to the sandy Pacific coastline. Pack your beach toys, sunscreen, and towels. The welcome center is open daily. The park store offers a limited selection of snacks, ice cream bars, and beverages.
Cape Disappointment (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)
Location: 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, WA
Cost: Cabins & yurts are $79 per night during peak season. Lightkeepers’ residence is $339 per night and $447 on weekends.
Closures: Camping (including loops A,B,C, and D, Waikiki Beach, and North Jetty will close on September 16, 2024, through March 2025, while they complete renovations and repairs to improve the park. see more details here.
Cape Disappointment is wildly popular, and it’s no surprise why. The vast 2,023-acre camping park is located on Long Beach Peninsula and provides access to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, steep cliffs, and lighthouses. The park offers yurts, cabins, and historic vacation homes to meet your glamping needs. You can even book the lightkeepers’ residences – which are open year-round!
Location: 475 State Route 101, Chinook, WA
Cost: Scarborough House is $290 per night on weekdays and $321 on weekends. Steward’s House is $182 per night on weekdays and $201 on weekends.
Check out nearby Fort Columbia State Park. It’s considered one of the most intact historic coastal defense sites in the U.S. The park offers vast hiking trails and secluded beaches. Another thing that makes these locations unique is the solitude. At night, the park is closed to the public, so individuals staying in the vacation homes have the whole area to themselves.
Dash Point (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)
Washington State glamping: Puget Sound retreat
Location: 5700 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA
Cost: $80 per night for a cabin
Booking a cabin at Dash Point is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a getaway close to home. This is a great option if you want to try out glamping before investing in a trek over the mountain passes or to the coast. Located in Federal Way, Dash Point is an urban oasis that feels far removed from city life. Be sure to take in views of Puget Sound, explore the hiking trails, and enjoy the beach.
Outside of Rasar’s cabins (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)
Washington State glamping: Wild cabin adventures
Location: 38730 Cape Horn Road, Concrete, WA 98237
Cost: $103 per night for a cabin
Rasar State Park is located just off the North Cascades Highway and has only three cabins available for booking. Tucked away in the woods, the cabins are just a 10-minute walk to the Skagit River, where you can enjoy eagle watching. Rasar State Park is a short trip from Rockport State Park’s old-growth forest, Sauk Mountain (if you’re looking for wildflower hikes), and North Cascades National Park. It’s perfect for families, offering a playground, fishing, and easy hiking options.
Location: 3030 Spirit Lake Highway, Castle Rock, WA
Cost: $79 per night for a yurt
Closures: Construction start date on September 15, 2024, through the middle of October 2024 – Campground and day use areas will be closed. Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center will be temporarily closed from September 30, 2024, to mid-May 2025. Learn more here.
Seaquest yurts are located in a thick forest with more than 12-miles of hiking trails at your fingertips (or, in this case, footsteps). The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is within walking distance, and you can enjoy panoramic mountain views and boardwalk trails over wetlands. The yurts are 16 feet in diameter and 10 feet high. They have electric heat, lights, and locking doors. The yurts are furnished with a bunk bed that sleeps three, a futon couch that sleeps two, and a small end table. Bathrooms and showers are nearby.
There will be closures from mid-September through October 2024. Ike Kinswa State Park is a great alternative option that is near this location.
Location: 873 State Route 122, Silver Creek, WA
Cost: $79 per night for a cabin
Ike Kinswa State Park is about 45-minutes northeast of Seaquest and sits on the shores of Mayfield Lake. Although it’s a little further away from Mount St. Helen’s, it’s great for swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, and kayaking.
Pearrygin Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)
Lake Getaway
Location: 625 Bear Creek Rd, Winthrop, WA
Cost: Cabins are $89 per night; cottages are $163 per night
Pearrygin Lake State Park offers cabins and a vacation home for rent. The park is a great place for a family getaway. It offers hiking, swimming, and fishing. Pack sunscreen if you’re planning a summer adventure. The lake is situated in the shadow of beautiful foothills, and when the sun shines, you’ll be glad you have a lake to jump into. This place is the perfect lake retreat with 11,000 feet of waterfront and a boat launch with a dock.
Photo by Kathryn Mueller
Glamping options outside of Washington State Parks
Location: 1276 Engle Rd, Coupeville, WA
Cost: Check the Fort Casey Inn website for pricing information
This historic inn offers a getaway with a military past. Located on Whidbey Island, Fort Casey Inn was built for U.S. Army officers just before World War I. The adorable row of cottages are all available to book, each a short walk from beaches, trails and more.
Enjoy a nearby hike at Fort Casey State Park to explore the historic military batteries and lighthouse, or head to Ebey’s Landing for a stroll along the bluff with sweeping water views.
For dinner, take a trip to Coupeville and dine in the heart of the quaint downtown strip.
The cottages have full kitchens and include cooking wares. The cost per night varies based on the cottage but typically ranges between $150 and $200. No pets are allowed.
Campground in Winthrop (Courtesy of KOA Winthrop)
Location: 1114 State Route 20, Winthrop, WA 98862
Cost: Check the Wintrop KOA website for pricing details
For around $200 per night, you can immerse yourself in the western theme of Winthrop, a small town at the base of the North Cascades National Park. The KOA campground has deluxe cabins available for rent, but if you want a truly unique experience, you can rent one of their covered wagons. There are two wagon sizes available. The largest can sleep six people and is equipped with two sets of bunks and a king bed.
Cutthroat Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)
Insider tip: Some of my family’s favorite hikes in the North Cascades are only a little more than a 30-minute drive away from Winthrop. If you’re looking for great family-friendly hikes, check out Blue Lake Trail and Cutthroat Lake.
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