Oregon/Washington Spring or Fall

[DougE]

I'm a solo traveler, retired, and have no time of year restrictions. Since my departure point is in south central Texas, planning enough to make reservations on the Oregon/Washington coast is problematic. I want to avoid cold weather too. When would be the best time to roam on an unscripted basis? I have done the California coast this way changing campgrounds every other day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Us_out_West]

Well....Fall is great but we like May-June time.

Why? Fresh Dungeness crab!! Season shuts down in mid-August and doesn't open up again until mid-December.

The beaches and gorgeous scenery will always be there...but not the fresh crab. If that doesn't matter then it doesn't matter. 😉

May in Coos Bay

June in Coos Bay

[DougE]

It sounds like the consensus is Mid-September to Mid-October. Thanks for the input.

[rhagfo]

Tom/Barb wrote:
Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Any time is OK with us, but keep Washington green, bring money 🙂

Things to see:
Boeing tour, (Everett) Seattle city light dam tour, (Newhalem), North cross Cascade highway, (Route 20) Grand Coolie Dam, Mt. St.Hellens, the list could go on for ever.
Very seldom is there a camp ground shortage summer or not.
Leave your swim gear at home bring hiking boots and gear. thousands of miles of the best hiking trails in the lower 48. Trout and salmon fishing in season, Silvers are running now.

Second thought, naw go to Oregon. 🙂

bikendan wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Oregon has much better beaches.

Well having grown up in Washington, we did camp in both. Once we got a camper, we spent more time on the Oregon Coast!

Something to think about, we have done this staying at hotels, before getting back into an RV, was a Dam Wine tour of the Columbia River. Bonneville to Grand Coulee, spending time at the different dams and winery's. 🙂

[jamesu]

The beauty of being retired is that you can go camping when the kids are in school and most everyone else is not on vacation. That being said, in my opinion both spring and fall are great on the Washington coast ( where we are currently). As stated earlier, fall tends to be dryer than does spring up here. I find that on the Washington coast, unless a big front is moving through, showers come and go as the clouds pass through, and then I go outside/down to the beach again. I love this place.

I love camping in eastern Washington, east of the Cascades, in spring and fall. The temps are down as is the threat of wild fires/forest fires. We avoid east of the mountains in the summer for those reasons, but spring and fall can be wonderful. Western Washington, west of the Cascades, can be a ****-shoot in spring/fall because the clouds and rain can back up to the mountains for weeks at a time and bring rain. You can never tell.

[Tom_Barb]

ksg5000 wrote:

bikendan wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Oregon has much better beaches.

Yep - and most parks spray for mosquitoes so camping is often more enjoyable.

If you are looking for beaches, go to Florida, to Texas, or California.

You won't find Mosquitoes on Wa. beaches, it's too windy. so we don't need to spray.

[ksg5000]

bikendan wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Oregon has much better beaches.

Yep - and most parks spray for mosquitoes so camping is often more enjoyable.

[cpaulsen]

Fall is better and spring will work if before Memorial Day at a lot of state parks. Here in Lincoln City......it was very quiet about 2-3 weeks before Memorial Day then it filled every night. After Labor Day it slows down a lot.....and winter is really slow.

[bikendan]

Tom/Barb wrote:
Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Oregon has much better beaches.

[Tom_Barb]

Every one is all about Oregon, Washington is prettier, and less crowded, and the weather is better. 🙂

Any time is OK with us, but keep Washington green, bring money 🙂

Things to see:
Boeing tour, (Everett) Seattle city light dam tour, (Newhalem), North cross Cascade highway, (Route 20) Grand Coolie Dam, Mt. St.Hellens, the list could go on for ever.
Very seldom is there a camp ground shortage summer or not.
Leave your swim gear at home bring hiking boots and gear. thousands of miles of the best hiking trails in the lower 48. Trout and salmon fishing in season, Silvers are running now.

Second thought, naw go to Oregon. 🙂

[bikendan]

goducks10 wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
Fall is notoriously the best time to visit Oregon, without a doubt.

Exactly. No families and the weather is great.

Totally Agree!

[goducks10]

Ed_Gee wrote:
Fall is notoriously the best time to visit Oregon, without a doubt.

Exactly. No families and the weather is great.

[Ed_Gee]

Fall is notoriously the best time to visit Oregon, without a doubt.

[dennis1]

Fall and spring are great. Usually before school end and after school starts again. USFS CGs don't open until Memorial Day and close Mid September to early October. State Parks are open all year. Some part of Mt Rainier National Parks are open until late October. Some of Olympic National Park on the coast are open all year long. Also parks on Lake CUSHMAN are open all year. Early June could be cold and October could be rainy. July thru August may need a reservation unless you get in on Sunday morning for Walk up site. Mid week also may be lucky at state parks. Don't plan on getting a site on Friday or Saturday without a reservation, July-August. Washington has some really good weather in September if you hit it right. Check the reservation system RECREATION.GOV to get a feel on if the park is full.

[ksg5000]

I prefer the fall - wait until the kids go back to school then you don't have to focus on reservations.