Bay View State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Named after the nearby community of Bay View, this 66-acre camping park was once home to a baseball field and racetrack and began as a donation in 1925 from the Skagit County Agricultural Association. Expansions through 1968 added to that initial portion of the park to create the facility sitting today on Padilla Bay in northwest Washington, nestled between Seattle in the south and Vancouver, British Columbia, to its north. The location is ideal for all kinds of water-based activities in the bay and exploration along the shore within the park's boundaries. You can enjoy your time on the water during high tide and then relax at your campsite during low tide when the water retreats and leaves behind an exposed muddy shoreline. It never gets too warm during the summer, but it does stay relatively dry compared to the heavy precipitation you will experience if you come here during the winter months. With several campsite options here, your entire family can enjoy an outdoor experience that only the Pacific Northwest offers. Nearby Cities: • Burlington, WA • Seattle, WA • Everett, WA • Victoria, BC
Spring 41-58 F
Summer 51-72 F
Fall 47-60 F
Winter 35-47 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Bay View State Park
Bay View State Park Campgrounds • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: No • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 50 feet • Other amenities: Two restrooms, six showers, firepits, picnic tables, and a dump station
Bay View State Park Campground
Located right within the state park, two of the three campsites at Bay View State Park are equipped to handle RVs with sites between 40 to 60 feet in length. Nine of the sites provide a view of Padilla Bay while the remaining 21 sites are situated on a 1.5-acre grassy area. Prices range between $40-$45 depending on size.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: 15-50 amps, depending on the site
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Firepit, coin-operated shower room, restroom located on-site, dump station near the entrance
Skagit Valley RV Park
Skagit Valley RV Park is located right off I-5 and is near both Mount Vernon and Burlington. With its location right next to the Skagit River, there's a wide range of water activities and trails to enjoy. Daily rates are $40 and require a deposit equivalent to one day’s rate. There are also weekly and monthly rates available.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms and showers, coin laundry available on-site
Swinomish RV Park
Swinomish RV Park is located on Fidalgo Island and offers up to 35 full-service sites. Owned and operated by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, it’s just a short drive from the state park and nearby cities. Rates vary between $32 to $45 depending on the season and type of spot.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Cable TV, on-site casino
What to Do at
Bay View State Park
Padilla Bay is just one of the region's coves and straights that connect it to the Pacific Ocean, making Bay View State Park a saltwater paradise for boaters, anglers, and swimmers alike. The beach draws visitors' interest with a wide-open surface perfect for firepits and beachcombing by sight or with a metal detector. You and your family can enjoy flying kites, tossing a ball, or other games at the playing field on the park's north end. The facilities here offer beach and picnic fun for day use if you do not plan to spend the night, making it worth stopping at even if your RV adventures will take you elsewhere. Washington State Parks has also provided ADA accessibility at the cabins, two campsites, kitchen shelters, picnic sites, and restrooms so everyone can enjoy this state park.
Inside Bay View State Park
Situated on Padilla Bay, Bay View State Park has a great view of the San Juan Islands and provides a picturesque view at sunset. There's a public launch at the park where visitors can enjoy boating and kayaking. You can also relax at the beach for a swim, and some visitors will try sailboarding when the wind allows. Others enjoy walking the Padilla Bay Shore Trail. You can see a wide range of marine life along the bay; it's a great deal of fun trying to identify the various animals.
Fishing
Padilla Bay offers saltwater angling opportunities for species like Atlantic salmon, chum salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific sanddab, and surf smelt. These species are suitable to consume. Conversely, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from the beach are unsafe to eat and have closed harvesting here year-round.
Geocaching
If you are up for it, Washington State Parks permits geocaching at locations it manages, including at Bay View State Park. Participating organizations like Geocaching.com list hunts that include Bay View State Park, like the WaStatePks100 Geo Tour.
Nature Watching
In the bay, you will see saltwater fish, crabs, and marine mammals like gray whales, harbor seals, orcas, and river otters. Birders love glimpses of full-time area residents like bald eagles, red-tail hawks, great blue herons, mallards, killdeer, rock pigeons, and numerous other species that travel through the area.
Hiking
Due to limited space, the only real hiking option is the Padilla Bay Trail south of the park. It is a 4.4-mile out-and-back multiuse pathway with an easy rating. Controlled pets on a leash are welcome.
Boating
Boating, kayaking, sailboarding, and waterskiing are popular in Padilla Bay. A launch sits three blocks north of the park for your personal watercraft, but keep the tide cycle in mind as you play in the bay.
Swimming
You can swim in Padilla Bay along the shoreline of the park area. For your safety, remember there are no on-duty lifeguards here. Also, low tides will turn the beach into a mud pit.
Biking
The nearby multiuse Padilla Bay Trail to the south is your best bet to stretch your legs on your mountain bike. It rates as easy with a 36-foot elevation gain and provides a scenic view along the 2.2-mile pathway.
How to Get to
Bay View State Park
The easiest way to reach Bay View State Park is to drive I-5 to the WA State Highway 11 exit on the north side of Burlington. Once you are on the west side of the interstate, take Josh Wilson Road west off WA-11. Head west until the road terminates at Bayview Edison Road. Take a right and drive into the park at 10901 Bay View-Edison Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Entering Bay View State Park
There is a long parking section along the beach, two spots near the cabins, one near the playing field, and two parking areas within the camping loop.
Bay View State Park Per person (daily) : $10.0
Bay View State Park Per person (annual Discovery Pass) : $30.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Bay View State Park
You might consider visiting Bay View State Park between May and September. Temperatures are the warmest, and conditions are the driest. While the park is open year-round, winter is often overcast and rainy, with up to 5 inches of rain during each of these months.
Padilla Bay is home to lots of marine sea life, with guests sometimes spotting gray whales, harbor seals, orcas, and river otters. Birding is popular at the park, with many waterfowl, herons, raptors, and shorebirds. Bald eagles live in the region year-round.
Spaces 1-9 near the beach are utility sites while lots 10-30 are partial hookup spaces. There are no sewer hookups here, but the park does have a dump station and toilets if your RV lacks a black water tank.
Camping sites are open for reservations year-round. Prices range from $20 to $50 per night, depending on the type of site and when you visit the park. Camping sites 39-77 close between November 1 and May 1, but the other spaces stay open year-round. Water turns off in early November until the beginning of March, so you must get water near the restrooms or bring your own.
Your pet is welcome if it is under constant control with a leash no longer than 8 feet. Rules prohibit pets from occupying buildings on-site unless otherwise posted. Remember to pick up after your pet.