Campgrounds and RV parks near Vaughn, WA

Saltwater shoreline drives most trip planning. At Belfair State Park, visitors typically combine clamming, crabbing, fishing, swimming, beachcombing, biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing, and the warm, shallow tide flats on Hood Canal suit families with young kids. Penrose Point offers saltwater and freshwater fishing, with crabbing and clamming allowed during designated seasons, plus more than two miles of park trails through forested terrain. Inland, the Tahuya State Forest is the regional draw for trail users. More than 200 miles of multi-use trails accommodate hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding through forested landscapes, and the same network supports licensed ORV and 4x4 use. Paddlers can reach Cascadia Marine Trail sites at both Penrose Point and Belfair by kayak or canoe.

Camping in the Vaughn area splits cleanly between a full-service summer season and a quieter, partially open shoulder period. At Penrose Point State Park, reservations for camping are available May 15 through September 15 and can be made up to 9 months in advance, with camping available on a first-come, first-serve basis September 14 through May 14. Belfair runs differently: the main loop is open year round for reservations, and the beach loop is open year around for reservations, while the tree loop is open May 15 through Sept. 15 for reservations and has a vehicle size restriction that cannot accommodate RVs over 18 feet, including trailers and motor homes. DNR sites operate on a tighter window. Kammenga Canyon is open for drive-in access on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day, then shifts to non-motorized day-use access the rest of the year. The camping stay limit is 5 consecutive days, 15 total days per calendar year. Summer is dry and busy with peak demand on holiday weekends, while fall and winter bring heavy rain, soft ground, and limited services.

Most sites in the area are wooded and shaded rather than open. At Penrose Point the campground is in the woods, all sites are shady or partly shady, and none of the campsites are on the water, but the beach is a short walk away. Rig size is a real constraint on the peninsula. Typical campsites accommodate a vehicle or combination of up to 35 feet, and while a few sites handle longer vehicles or combinations, the campground roadways are narrow and winding. Belfair is split into a beach loop with waterfront sites and full hookups suited to larger RVs and a more forested tree loop limited to vehicles 18 feet and under. Kammenga Canyon has 6 primitive sites that are first-come, first-serve and free, with tables, fire rings, grills, and vault toilets; water is not available, so bring your own. Cell service is spotty across the peninsula.