Tide water piles through the slot under Deception Pass until it looks like a river running both ways. From the bridge deck the cliffs on both islands drop into that churn, fir and rock and white water all at once. The campgrounds are in the woods just off that crossing.
The loops at Bowman Bay, Cranberry Lake, and Quarry Pond are how you stay for that water. A Discover Pass is required, and summer is the only stretch with utility hookups. Get the site on the books before you confirm the van. Whidbey Island's nights sit across the same water and belong to Everett.
Washington State Parks lets you reserve a campsite up to nine months ahead of the first night, and those summer weekends go early. As of September 2026, vehicles over 25 feet are barred from the West Beach parking area after storm damage, so a longer rig stays in the campground and skips that lot.
Anacortes and the San Juan ferry
From Anacortes the ferry crosses toward low green islands, and the car deck is the view the whole way. Friday Harbor is the landing on San Juan Island, and Eastsound is the town you roll into on Orcas.
Vehicle reservations are available and recommended on this Anacortes route to Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Shaw Island, and Lopez Island. A van counts as a vehicle.
On Orcas you camp in the forest at Moran and walk up to the summit overlook above the lake basin. The campgrounds have no electric hookups, and the longest sites are 45 feet with limited availability.
On Lopez you overnight at Spencer Spit. Sites are reservable, with a dump station and no showers or hookups. Olympic National Park's north side is a different ferry trip, and Seattle is the city for that run.
Highway 20 into North Cascades National Park
Diablo Lake turns turquoise at the Highway 20 overlook on a sunny summer day. Peaks crowd the roadside, and the lake is the reason you slow down on this highway.
The North Cascades Highway closes every winter and reopens in spring. This stretch is a summer and early-fall drive. Mount Baker is a Bellingham trip.
Newhalem Creek Campground takes RVs and trailers up to 50 feet, with no electric hookups. It runs late May through mid-September. Reservations release 6 months or 7 days ahead, and after early September the leftover nights are first come, first served until the campground closes.
Colonial Creek North has no electric hookups and caps RVs and trailers at 25 feet, and it sends a longer rig to Newhalem. If you need more sleeping space or extra length, look at RVs for rent in Washington.
Skagit Valley tulips
In April the Skagit flats go solid with tulips, field after field in hard color out to the horizon. You walk the rows by day, and La Conner is the town on the edge of those fields.
April is the one month the pass campgrounds fill for the flowers rather than the water. If you want a pad during the festival, book Deception Pass early and treat the flowers as the daytime loop.