Best Camping in the San Juan Islands

Washington’s San Juan Islands have so many campgrounds, it can be hard to choose where to camp.

All styles of camping are available ranging from primitive boat-in campsites to glamping. It can be challenging to figure out what options are where given that there are several islands to choose from and different websites to navigate for different park systems.

I remember being completely overwhelmed planning my first camping trip to the San Juans. But after doing the research, I’ve narrowed down the best places to camp in the San Juan Islands.

Here is a list of the best places for camping in the San Juan Islands, plus tips to help you confidently plan and pick the best campground for you.

Sunset at the Odlin County Park campground

Overview of the San Juan Islands

Before picking the best place for you to camp in the San Juan Islands, it’s helpful to understand the layout and differences between the islands.

There are actually over 100 named islands in the San Juans, but the 3 main islands are San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island. Shaw Island sits in the center of these 3 islands.

San Juan Island is the most populated island. It has the most to offer in terms of stores, businesses, and other amenities.

Orcas Island is the biggest and most hilly of the islands. This makes it ideal for hiking, but not so much if you’re interested in bike camping.

Lopez Island is the most rural and least hilly of the main islands.

Shaw Island is smaller than the main islands. There aren’t many services available on the island but it still provides readily accessible car camping via ferry service.

Tips for Camping in the San Juan Islands

Mark your calendar with the dates that reservations begin. The best campgrounds in the San Juan Islands book up quickly! County campground reservations open each year on the first Wednesday in March and state parks allow reservations up to nine months in advance.
There is no dispersed camping in the San Juan Islands. There are some first come first sites but I recommend booking a reservable site.
You’ll need to take the Washington state ferry system to the San Juans. It’s strongly recommended you make a vehicle reservation. Check out my guide to car camping on Lopez Island for detailed information about taking the ferry to and between the San Juan Islands.
The number and operating hours of grocery stores on each island may be limited. Stock up before coming to the islands or plan ahead to arrive when stores are open.
The San Juans are not an ideal place for RV camping since you’d have to take it on a ferry and there are limited amenities like dump stations. Therefore, this guide primarily focuses on tent camping, but information for RVs is noted throughout.

Moran State Park

Moran State Park offers the best camping in the San Juan Islands for car campers.

Located on the east side of Orcas Island, Moran State Park provides some of the best outdoor recreation in the San Juans. The park covers over 5,000 acres and includes 38 miles of trails, old growth forest, and 5 freshwater lakes for swimming and non-motorized boating. It also is home to the highest point in the San Juans – Mount Constitution – which is a must-see viewpoint even if you aren’t camping in Moran State Park.

This park also has the most capacity for car camping with 124 standard campsites and 6 hiker/biker sites. The standard campsites are split across four different campgrounds with a separate area for the hiker/biker sites.

Three of Moran State Park’s four campgrounds are on the shore of Cascade Lake. Named for their locations around the lake, Northend and Midway are the largest campgrounds. Southend is the smallest but most popular campground on Cascade Lake because all of the campsites are along the lake’s shore.

The last campground with car camping sites is Mountain Lake. It’s the smallest camping area in Moran State Park but almost all of the campsites are on the shore of Mountain Lake, the biggest lake in the park.

Between the four campgrounds, there are bathrooms (including one ADA restroom at Southend), 10 showers (2 ADA), and one dump station. There is no electric hook up at any campsite. The camping areas along Cascade Lake also have quick access to boat and SUP rentals through Orcas Adventures.

I would absolutely recommend trying to reserve a campground here first if you want to be close to some of the best outdoor activities in the San Juan Islands. Click here to reserve a campsite at Moran State Park.

San Juan County Park

San Juan County Park is a popular campground located on the west coast of San Juan Island.

The campsites at San Juan County Park offer amazing views over the Haro Strait to the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. The campground is about a 5-minute drive away from Lime Kiln Point State Park, which is considered one of the best places for whale-watching in the world. This park’s prime location make it one of the best options for camping in the San Juan Islands.

San Juan County Park has 20 campsites as well as a group camping site. Most of these sites have views of the water. Some sites can accommodate RVs up to 25 feet long and 12 feet high.

The campground has potable water, flushing toilets, a beach and a boat launch. Campsites have picnic tables but no electrical or water hookups.

Campsite reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at San Juan County Park.

Spencer Spit State Park

Spencer Spit is another great place for car camping as it is one of the few state parks in the islands that can be accessed by car. However, the park also has primitive sites for hikers, bikers and kayakers.

Located on the eastern shore of Lopez Island, Spencer Spit State Park has beautiful views of Decatur and Blakely Islands. It is also a great place for crabbing and clamming or just exploring the park’s 200 acres.

The park has 37 drive-up campsites and 7 hiker/biker sites. Some of these campsites are quite spacious, so it’s one of the best places to camp in the San Juan Islands if you’re looking for privacy.

The campground at Spencer Spit State Park has restrooms, a dump station, and rentals for sea kayaks and bikes. There are no showers or hookups at any campsite.

Click here to reserve a campsite at Spencer Spit State Park.

Obstruction Pass State Park

Obstruction Pass is another state park on Orcas Island, but is much smaller and less accessible than Moran State Park. However, if you’re looking for more privacy and spectacular coastal views, this state park is one of the best places to camp in the San Juan Islands.

Obstruction Pass State Park is found in the southeast of the island and is one of the few public beaches on Orcas Island. It is a 10-minute drive away from Moran State Park.

The campground has 10 primitive campsites, including 9 hike-in sites and 1 boat-in site for kayaks/canoes. The hike-in sites are a half a mile away from the parking lot.

Amenities at the Obstruction Pass State Park campground include fire pits, picnic tables, and a composting toilet. Note that potable water is not available at this park, so you will need to bring everything you need for your entire camping trip.

All campsites at Obstruction Pass State Park are first come first serve. They cannot be reserved in advance.

Odlin County Park

Odlin County Park is located on the northern shore of Lopez Island.

The park 1 mile from the island’s ferry terminal. This close proximity to the ferry makes it relatively easy to access for those arriving to the island without a car, but keep in mind that it’s a big hill between the ferry and the park.

Odlin County Park has 31 campsites with a mix of sites on the waterfront or under trees. Certain campsites can accommodate small RVs (sizes vary by site).

The park has a sandy beach, boat launch, and hiking paths. For amenities, the campground has potable water and vault toilets. Each campsite has picnic tables and fire rings, and firewood is available for sale.

Campsite reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Odlin County Park.

Shaw County Park

Shaw County Park is a good place to camp if you want a smaller campground with a more remote feeling but still have access to your car and basic campground amenities.

This campground has 10 tent sites. All of the campsites are within a close distance to cliffside views overlooking the water. There is also a path to access the beach.

The campground’s amenities include water, restrooms, and a boat launch.

The only grocery store on Shaw Island is the Shaw General Store at the ferry terminal. No other stores, restaurants, gas stations, or other services are available on this island. Make sure to pack everything you need before arriving on the island.

Campsite reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at Shaw County Park.

San Juan County Fairgrounds

This park is the best option for camping in the San Juan Islands if you’re looking to camp in a large RV.

The County Fairgrounds are located under a mile away from downtown Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

There are 8 RV sites that are for large RVs. Each site has water and power hookups (20/30 AMP) and the campground has bathrooms with showers.

The only tent camping at the San Juan County Fairgrounds is at the group camping site, so if you’re an individual or small group you should select a different campground.

Campsite reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance. Click here to reserve a campsite at San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Interested in more places to camp in Washington? Here are more camping articles to check out:

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.