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Trying out the camping trailer
To camp in the woods is to experience the great outdoors in every way … the cold rain that drips on your nose as it squeezes through your tent’s seams, or feeling your way to the outhouse at midnight and hoping that shrub you stumbled into wasn’t poison oak. After all, “roughing it” is what makes camping so fun! Isn’t it?
Well, not necessarily, as I learned when my family borrowed an Airstream Basecamp travel trailer for a two-night camping trip to Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island, a natural playground of deep forests, driftwood beaches and the possibility of spotting a whale. In other words, plenty to engage our only child, Isaac, who sometimes shunned the great outdoors in favor of his video games. My husband and I love to camp, so we’d batted around the idea of purchasing our own small travel trailer to ease the “roughing it” part for our reluctant kiddo. The first step was to try one on for size.
When we pulled our silver toaster-on-wheels into the RV campground loop dotted with sleek teardrops, kitschy vintage trailers and mammoth motor homes, our hearts sunk a little. Would this feel like real camping? Upon finding our reserved campsite, we found ourselves unable to back in the trailer without the aid of a camper next door named Jack who quickly stepped in to share his expertise. Pro tip: If you want the trailer to go left, turn your steering wheel to the right.
Camping in style
The Basecamp is Airstream’s entry-level camper, compact and lightweight enough to be towed by many mid-sized SUVs. But it retains all the throwback charm and modern features that make Airstreams so beloved. Two banquette couches with storage convert to a comfy king-sized bed that fit all three of us. There’s a tiny bathroom with a shower, plus a kitchen with a sink, microwave, fridge and two-burner stove. Hot water, heat and air conditioning, modern LED lighting, USB ports and Bluetooth speakers complete the package — all efficiently packed into the space of a walk-in closet on wheels. The Basecamp screams retro-cool, but the price tag hurts: A new one will set you back $37,000.
Our new friend Jack would return a few more times as we fumbled our way through leveling our camper and hooking up the water and electricity cables. Once those setup tasks were out of the way, though, the fire was soon crackling and marshmallows were toasting. After a few games of ring toss, we cooked up some quesadillas and snacked on s’mores. There was no tent in sight, but we were camping!
The biggest draw to trailer camping? Hitch up and hit the road anytime, with minimal prep. If you’ll want a campsite with electrical and water hookups, not to mention a nearby RV dump station, reservations are a must in summer. For “dry camping” (sans hookups), spontaneity is more within reach.
Ready to give it a try?
Got a trailer or camper van, or want to rent one and give it a crack? We’ve laid out three trailer-friendly camping road trips from Seattle to jump-start your RV adventures. Plus, where to find Seattle outlets that rent camping trailers, .
Camping itineraries from Seattle
Around the Olympic Peninsula
Your camper will keep you warm and dry even on this verdant forested peninsula that gets 140 inches of rain per year. Follow Highway 101 as it loops around Olympic National Park, starting on shellfish-rich Hood Canal and ending on the wild Pacific Coast.
Day 1
Dosewallips State Park near Brinnon on Hood Canal is a favorite park for families due to its variety: forested trails, a pristine river with wide gravel bars that attract herds of elk, and saltwater beaches that are loaded with oysters and clams. Note: You’ll need a shellfish license to harvest them; licenses are available at area gas stations. The campground has 48 full-hookup campsites that accommodate RVs to 60 feet. Reserve online or by calling 1-888-226-7688.
Day 2
Salt Creek Recreation Area, west of Port Angeles, is great for families with children of all ages — there’s playground equipment for young kids, historical military installations for older kids (this land was previously Camp Hayden, a World War II camp) and rocky tide pools full of marine life for everyone! Most of the campsites have views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca across to Vancouver Island. Half of the 92 campsites are reservable, and most of them have full hookups. Reserve online.
Day 3
Bogachiel State Park, located south of Forks, is one of the few campgrounds on public lands in this coastal region of the Olympics that offers utility hookups, and there are only six campsites with them. Make this your basecamp while hiking the Bogachiel River Valley, the Hoh Valley or the coastal trails of La Push and Rialto Beach. Reserve online or by calling 1-888-226-7688.
Next:
Down the Oregon Coast
From the wide mouth of the Columbia River to Cape Lookout, the northern Oregon Coast is a shoreline of incredible natural beauty. Much of the coastal land is in public hands as well in the form of state parks, county parks and national forest sites, interspersed with charming seaside towns lined with kite shops and ice cream stands.
Day 1
Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria is the spot where the mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Where else can you swim in a freshwater lake in the morning, then while away your afternoon beachcombing near an old shipwreck? It’s an RV paradise here, with more than 300 campsites that have electric and water hookups. Reserve online or by calling 1-800-452-5687.
Day 2
Nehalem Bay State Park south of Manzanita sits on the 3-mile-long sandspit that separates the ocean from Nehalem Bay and provides lots of space for building castles, flying kites and watching majestic sunsets. Crabbing in the bay itself is some of the best on the coast, and Kelly’s Brighton Marina will rent you a boat and gear. Campsites are sheltered from the ocean by gently rolling sand dunes. There are a whopping 265 campsites with electrical and water hookups. Reserve online or by calling 1-800-452-5687.
Day 3
Beverly Beach State Park sits just north of the town of Newport. The campsites are nestled in some lovely woods on the east side of Highway 101, but only a short distance away through a tunnel is a stretch of beach that offers miles of roaming and beachcombing. Head south to search for fossils and north to visit Devils Punchbowl, a spectacular place to watch the tide come in or go out, as the carved rock formations cause the ocean water to swirl violently. More than 100 of the campsites have electric and water hookups. Reserve online or by calling 1-800-452-5687.
Next:
Island-hopping in the San Juans
Camping on the rocky, emerald San Juan Islands is bucket-list material for many Pacific Northwest families. Most campgrounds on the islands don’t provide utility hookups, so this trip is best for trailers and camper vans that can get by with battery power or propane for cooking, lighting and heating needs.
The best order in which to visit all of the three main islands on just the one ferry fare from Anacortes is to sail first to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, then to Orcas Island and then to Lopez Island. It’s a good idea to make ferry reservations for the sailing from Anacortes — and don’t forget to reserve adequate space for your vehicle plus travel trailer.
Day 1
San Juan County Park on the west side of San Juan Island will take your breath away. Perched on a high bluff facing Haro Strait (aka “whale central”), you have a chance of spotting a pod of orcas from your camp chair. (Lime Kiln Point State Park, just a short distance south of Haro Strait, is even more reliable for spotting killer whales.) As for camping, there are specific sites suitable for RVs up to 20 feet in length, all with amazing views of the strait, but no hookups. (If you have a larger RV or need hookups, make a reservation at the county fairgrounds near Friday Harbor, which has eight RV campsites with electrical and water hookups.) Reserve online.
Day 2
Moran State Park on Orcas Island is the crown jewel of the islands, encompassing more than 5,000 acres of forest and lakes; it is also home to the island’s highest point, 2,400-foot Mount Constitution. Our favorite area to camp at the park is at Mountain Lake, where you’ll get a bit more privacy; the trail around the lake makes for an easy, relaxing morning stroll. Of the 151 campsites, most can accommodate travel trailers, though none have hookups, so pack your solar batteries. Reserve online or by calling 1-888-226-7688.
Day 3
Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island is home to a wide beach of sand and pebbles that juts into a salty bay. Kids will love exploring at low tide, spotting sea stars and other critters. The stroll to the tip of the spit is about 1 mile round-trip. There are 37 campsites (most can accommodate RVs up to 20 feet in length), but no utility hookups. Reserve online or by calling 1-888-226-7688.
Next: Where to rent or buy your rig
Hitch your own: Renting or buying a camping rig
Ready to give it a whirl? Here’s the lowdown on renting or buying a travel trailer or camper van in the Puget Sound area.
Rent
- Escape Campervans in Seattle converts boring cargo vans into custom-outfitted campers that are hand-painted in fun, psychedelic colors. Each has a kitchen, a table that converts into a queen bed, most of the camping gear you’ll need and an optional rooftop bunk for more sleeping room. The campers are powered by solar and propane, so no hookups are needed.
- Peace Vans, also in Seattle, repairs, restores and rents classic VW camper vans and modern Metris campers.
- PacWesty on Bainbridge Island rents Volkswagen Vanagon campers outfitted with everything from stoves to beach chairs and sleeping bags.
- RV Share and Outdoorsy are websites where owners post their travel trailers and RVs for rent by the night. You’ll find everything from small Airstreams to huge motorhomes.
Buy
- Airstream Adventures Northwest in Covington boasts a huge inventory of polished aluminum Airstreams. Touring the interior of various models is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
- Modern and compact: If you’re into functional design and mod aesthetic, you’ll be delighted with the plethora of unique options in compact travel trailers for smaller families (most can sleep 2 adults and 1–2 small children). Made in Portland, High Camp Trailers creates steel-frame teardrop campers with a queen bed and back-open galley kitchen. The HC1 fiberglass trailer from Happier Camper has a modular interior that can sleep up to 5 and haul gear such as bikes or small kayaks.
- Vintage: Love the retro vibe and curved corners of vintage “canned ham” campers like those from Shasta, Scotty and Aristocrat? Trailer camping was uber-popular in the mid-century era, and many of the thousands used by road-trippin’ families then are still in good shape today. You can find and restore an original yourself, or purchase an already rehabbed trailer that’s been restored to mint condition. Browse models for sale on Tin Can Tourists, Vintage Camper Trailers or eBay.
- Contemporary: Poulsbo RV (also in Sumner, Kent, Fife, Everett and Mount Vernon) stocks a huge selection of new and used mass-market travel trailers and RVs. The contemporary RV style is less outdoorsy and more “tiny motel room,” with carpeting, traditional cabinetry and mounted television, but they can sleep several people if you have a large family. Poulsbo RV also stocks pop-up tent trailers.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago, and updated most recently in 2023.
