OR-WA Coat to Olympic Peninsula

[natgild]

We are going to travel up the Oregon Washington coast this coming April. We are looking for nice places to stay and things to do and see. We will be starting at at Heceta Beach RV Park(highly recommended) outside of Florence, OR and heading north. We like outdoor activities like hiking, photography and kayaking. We have a 42' RV with a residential refrigerator so we need hookups. We travel with a 2 year old great dane. Any "must see" or "must do" sites along this route? Any things to avoid? Any suggestions appreciated.

[HPYHILM]

Nehalem State Park in Oregon, nice beach side, bike paths, and good kayaking on the bay side,good crabbing.

[donkeydew]

college and schools all have spring breaks the first 3 weeks in april so plan ahead because the beach is popular even in the wind and rain(and it will)

[RVcrazy]

In LaPush, on the coast out of Forks, there is Quilleute Oceanfront Resort & RV park. They have 10 pull through spaces that are great with full hookups. They also have an additional group of RV spaces that we would not recommend. The pull throughs are right by beach access and walking distance of the nice restaurant.

[Roy_Lynne]

Day visits and not to misses are Ruby Beach; bring a camera and tons of film

The Hoh, ( while there is camping there, I would leave the rig at Forks and just make it a day trip.)

Another day visit out of Port Angeles is take a ferry across the straight to Victoria. You will need an enhanced drivers licence or passport, but if you just go for the day, you won't be sorry.

Port Townsend, don't miss Fort Worden State Park and plan at least a couple days there.

I also recommend Salt Creek County Park but be careful with the phones, you might be changed international rates when you phone picks up Canada. And there is this little road on the map that looks like a short cut. Do not take it.

[Durb]

Grayland Beach State Park in central Washington. Full hook-ups and access road to drive on the beach. Great for razor clams if the dig is on. Try to stay away from the beach sites as the wind can be brutal.

[TyroneandGladys]

Elwha Dam RV Park


Elwha Dam RV Park is a very nice quite park that has a great location to explore that area of Washington. And a big plus for you is they have a pet sitting service so you can go for the day to places the dog is not welcome and it will be taken care of while your gone for the day.

[Sinnettc]

Salt Creek County Park about an hour west of Port Townsend, WA, is pretty nice. Great view across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria.

[2gypsies1]

Finding RV parks on 101 in Oregon is easy. Once you cross the Astoria bridge into Washington it won't be as easy with the big rig and needing hookups.

I'd recommend staying at Fork's RV Park to explore the rain forest of Olympic Nat'l Park on that side. Fort Worden State Park at Port Townsend and getting a beach site would be ideal to explore that direction. You would easily fit.

Port Townsend is a very neat, fun community with lots to do in the area. Kayaking is great. It's a nice day trip to Olympic Nat'l Park for some hiking. There are great restaurants in the area and beautiful scenery for photography.

Any chance of leaving the dog behind? You might be limited on your hiking, especially in the national park. Also you could take the ferries to some great places - Seattle, the San Juan Islands, Victoria/Buchart Gardens. Dogs can't go everywhere and it might hinder you.

[ORbiker]

Sea Perch RV Resort is a very nice park. It will be the closest you will ever camp to the Pacific Ocean without a tent.
Reservations are a must.

[lanerd]

The only 5-star 10-10-10 motor coach resort on the Oregon coast is in Newport.

Pacific Shores

Check the website above for sites and dates available. You won't be disappointed. We spend our summers there and if you decide to stay there, come over to site 18 and say hi.

Newport has Lighthouses you can explore, a working bay front where you can purchase fresh (caught that day) Salmon, Halibut, Tuna, and Dungeness Crab. Or you can do your own fishing crabbing with any of the full day/half day excursions. In addition, the bay front has all kinds of shops of every kind and some of the best sea food restaurants in Oregon. There are also other restaurants and serve just about any cuisine you would like.

On the south side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, is the Rouge Brewery (w/restaurant) that has a great tour. There is also the Newport Aquarium (among the 10 best in the US), and Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center. South Beach State park and Newport Marine rv are rv parks available for you to stay at also.

A beautiful golf course is available for the public along with the Nye and Agate beaches for swimming, surfing or just strolling. On the north side of Newport is Beverly Beach State Park.

Close to Newport is Waldport and Yachats a few miles to the south and Depot Bay and Lincoln City a few miles to the north. All have rv parks available.

Have a great trip.

Ron

[Janss]

Well, that's definitely not my understanding of the Oregon Shellfish regulations. But I'll check on it next time I'm there. Also, I never saw the little store by the public pier selling crab. I'll have to check that out too.

[D_E_Bishop]

Janss wrote:
D.E.Bishop...I've spent a few summers in Waldport and have always bought a non-resident shellfish license for crabbing. Am I missing a free deal?

Crabbing from the CITY pier is free, no license required. I'm too lazy most of the time to catch my own and usually buy them where you rent the rings.

[Marine_By_Choic]

Pacific Beach State Park in SW Washington. You WILL need to make reservations

[Janss]

We really like the Yachats/Waldport/Newport area, especially Cape Perpetua and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.

If you have your own kayaks, you can kayak in the Alsea Bay at Waldport and in Beaver Creek at Brian Booth State Park/Ona Beach.