Manchester State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Manchester State Park is a 111-acre park on the east side of the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state, overlooking the Puget Sound. The 3,800 feet of shoreline offers easy access to a variety of water activities while the park’s military background provides unique charm. Park goers will find hiking, fishing, boating, and bird watching as well as fun activities such as volleyball and horseshoes. Sightseers can take in the park’s unique history by visiting an old torpedo warehouse, mining casement, and gun battery.
Nearby Cities
Manchester, WA
Port Orchard, WA
Silverdale, WA
Tacoma, WA
Spring 38 - 65 F
Summer 51 - 76 F
Fall 38 - 71 F
Winter 35 - 49 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Manchester State Park
Camping Accommodations
Upper Loop
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 60 feet
Other amenities: Fire pits, picnic tables, restroom with showers, water tap
Lower Loop
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 60 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire pits, restrooms with showers, water tap
Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA
Mendocino Coast KOA is located less than a mile from Manchester State Park, and all roads and access trails from the KOA lead to the beautiful and picturesque Pacific Ocean. Here, you can enjoy abalone diving, tide pooling, and walking along the beach as the Mendocino Coast view soothes your thoughts. At camp, you can enjoy the family activities, hayrides, ice cream socials, wine tasting, and other holiday events.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Cable TV, pool, hot tub/sauna, laundry room, and horseshoe pit
Gualala River Redwood Park
Gualala River Redwood Park is located in Gualala around 23 miles from Manchester State Park. The park has 120 sites, and 20 of them are with river views. Here, you can relax among the redwoods, float lazily down the One Mile River or explore the miles of beaches.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: N/A
• Wi-Fi: N/A
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Restrooms, fire ring, fish-cleaning station and dump station
Anchor Bay Campground
Anchor Bay Campground is located in Mendocino County off scenic Highway 1, right along the Pacific Ocean. It is around 18 miles from Manchester State Park and lies in a narrow ravine filled with coastal flora, ferns, and native redwood trees. There are many things to do at Anchor Bay, including sport diving, fishing, sea kayaking, and whale watching.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Picnic table, fire pit, septic dump station and recreation area
What to Do at
Manchester State Park
While Manchester State Park is open year round and offers traditional outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and picnicking, the park is best known for its saltwater access on the Puget Sound. The 3,800 feet of rocky shoreline provides ample opportunities to go kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, and scuba diving. Metal detecting is another popular activity park goers enjoy but it is only permitted in certain areas.
Inside Manchester State Park
Fishing: Here, fishing is superb, especially when steelheads and other freshwater fish make their way to Brush Creek in the south and Alder Creek in the north. Both of these creeks can only be accessed by foot. Surf fishing is also popular among the northern beaches, which perch, salmon, and steelhead call home.
Scuba diving and snorkeling: Other things that visitors love to do at Manchester State Park are scuba diving and snorkeling. The calm, uncrowded waters are where marine life thrives. There are approximately six recorded shipwreck sites near Arena Rock just off the southwestern shoreline. Scuba divers are free to explore any shipwreck sites but must enter the water by boat.
Windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing: The coastal areas of Manchester State Park have prime surfing waters. These waters are ideal for more advanced surfers who can anticipate a tough paddle out to the rip currents to uncover 10-foot swells. A relatively new popular activity in the park is kiteboarding. The 4-mile beachfront provides kiteboarders plenty of liftoff space for gliding the waters along the coastline.
Going to the beach: The several miles of mild, sandy beach extends southward toward the Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino County. At the beach, you may get a glimpse of the sea creatures lurking in the waters, including the gray whale from December to April.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed along the shoreline and is a terrific activity to enjoy in the park. Anglers can find salmon, flatfish, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout. If you are looking to bring your own boat to access deeper waters in the Puget Sound, the closest boat launch is located in the town of Manchester, WA, two miles from the park. In the deeper waters, you can expect to catch lingcod, Pacific halibut, and green sturgeon.
Nature Watching
There is plenty of nature to take in when visiting the park. While it is possible to see a seal or sea lion, aquatic birds are much more common. Some of the typical species you can expect to see during your stay are the pelagic cormorant, song sparrow, glaucous-winged gull, double-crested cormorant, and American robin.
Stargazing
Stargazing is another popular activity that park goers can enjoy. The spacious, open waters of the Puget Sound make it easy to view the sky. However, as the park is located within a short distance of major cities, light pollution can make it difficult to see as many stars and constellations as you would in a more remote location.
Hiking
The park boasts two miles of wooded hiking trails. The Interpretive Trail is a shorter trail located behind the campground and can be accessed from the park’s main parking lot. Middle Point Trail is a longer loop that takes hikers close to the water’s edge, offering stunning views of the rocky point.
Boating
Boating is allowed, however, there is no boat launch within the park itself. Boaters will need to drive two miles south of the park to access the boat launch in the town of Manchester, WA. This is also another good spot to launch your kayak or canoe if you do not want to worry about dealing with the rocks along the shoreline.
Swimming
A designated swimming area can be found at the north side of the park just past the torpedo warehouse.
How to Get to
Manchester State Park
Manchester State Park is located at 7767 E Hilldale Port Orchard, Washington 98366. If you are traveling to the park from Tacoma, you will want to follow WA-16 to the Mullenix Rd exit and then go right. Once you are on Mullenix Rd, you will then take a left-hand turn onto Phillips Rd SE until you reach WA-160 E where you will then turn right. From WA-160 E, you will want to turn left onto Long Lake Rd SE and then right onto Woods Rd SE and then finally turn right onto E Hilldale Rd where you will drive straight into the park.
By Car
Entering Manchester State Park
A Discover Pass is required if you are just visiting the park and not camping. An annual pass can be purchased online for $35 or a daily pass can be obtained for $11.50. If you are camping in the park, you do not need to have a Discover Pass. However, you can only park in your assigned campsite.
If you are looking for a secluded getaway that offers saltwater access, Manchester State Park is a great option. Located on the Puget Sound, this Washington state park offers interesting outdoor adventures such as snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming, and kayaking. However, the shoreline is rocky and does not feature a beach, which is something to keep in mind when bringing your own kayak or paddleboard to get in the water. Hikers can enjoy the wooded trails while treasure hunters can bring their metal detecting equipment to use in designated areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manchester State Park
If you are looking to take advantage of the Puget Sound water access, the summer months are going to be the best time to visit the park. The warmer temperatures will make it easier for you to want to get in the water on your kayak or paddleboard.
A wide variety of wildlife can be found in the park including deer, foxes, black bears, and ospreys. Birds are also extremely common such as eagles, hawks, sea gulls, and robins.
Yes, there are dedicated RV camping spots in both the Upper Loop and Lower Loop campgrounds. However, the spots in the Upper Loop have electrical and water hookups while the spots in the Lower Loop do not have any hookups.
Yes, you must reserve a camping spot at Manchester State Park. This can be done online. The cost for a spot in the Upper Loop is $30 per night while the Lower Loop is $20 per night.
Yes, pets are allowed in the park and must be kept on an eight-foot leash while remaining under control at all times.