Campgrounds and RV parks near Long Beach, WA

The defining activity is the beach itself. Vehicles are allowed on designated approaches, kite flying is reliable thanks to steady coastal wind, and the Discovery Trail runs roughly 8.5 miles between Ilwaco and the north end of Long Beach for walking and biking. The World Kite Museum and the Cranberry Museum sit in town, and Funland Family Fun Center offers an arcade and go-karts for kids. Cape Disappointment State Park anchors the south end with two lighthouses, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and miles of forest and beach trails. Razor clam digging is a major draw when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opens seasons, typically in fall, winter, and early spring on minus-low tides. A shellfish license is required for ages 15 and older. Ilwaco's port offers charter fishing for salmon, tuna, halibut, and Dungeness crab, and Leadbetter Point at the north tip is prime for birding.

Summer is the busiest season. July and August bring the driest, sunniest weather on the Washington coast, and the Washington State International Kite Festival runs the third full week of August on the beach in Long Beach. Independence Day, the SandSations sand sculpture event in July, and the September Rod Run all pull large crowds, and peninsula RV parks and state park sites fill weeks to months in advance. Fall shifts to cranberry harvest in late September and October, the Cranberrian Fair, and the Wild Mushroom Celebration running from October into mid-November. Razor clam openings draw diggers from across the region on approved tides, and weekends with a clam opener can be unexpectedly busy. Winter is the wet season, with frequent storms that draw storm watchers to the North Head Lighthouse area. Gray whale migration is visible from Cape Disappointment in late winter and into spring. Spring is quieter, with the Razor Clam and Shellfish Festival in mid-April, milder temperatures, and the most flexible campground availability outside holiday weekends.

Expect cool, damp, and windy weather even in summer. Marine fog is common in the mornings, afternoons often clear in July and August, and a light jacket is useful year round. The Pacific surf here is dangerous. Washington State Parks advises against swimming in the ocean on the Long Beach Peninsula due to strong currents and sneaker waves. Lake O'Neil at Cape Disappointment is the local swimming option. The peninsula is dog friendly, including the beach, but leashes are required in state parks and most private campgrounds. Cell coverage is reliable in Long Beach and Seaview and weaker on the bay side and inside Cape Disappointment's wooded campground loops. Groceries, propane, fuel, and laundry are all available in Long Beach and Ilwaco. Ocean Beach Hospital is in Ilwaco, and Astoria, Oregon is roughly 25 minutes south across the Columbia River.