Bay View State Park RV & Campground Guide
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The Bay View State Park is located in Mount Vernon, Washington, with a great view of Padilla Bay. Visitors and residents enjoy comfortable but short summers from July to late August. Winters tend to be cold and wet, with the area getting about 5 inches of snow each winter. In addition to Mount Vernon, some of the nearby communities include Burlington and Bay View, with Bay View being located closest to the state park. While you’re visiting Bay View State Park, you can also take the time to check out the nearby Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve or head over to nearby Fidalgo Island. The area has plenty of beaches thanks to the proximity of Padilla Bay, and you can enjoy a wide range of water-related activities during your stay.
Spring 41-58 F
Summer 51-72 F
Fall 47-60 F
Winter 35-47 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Bay View State Park
RVing is a simple and convenient way of enjoying travel and visiting state parks. If you don’t own your own RV, that’s not a problem; you can check out RVshare's available RV rentals near Bay View State Park.
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
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.
Outside Bay View State Park
After you’ve finished the day at Bay View State Park, you and your family might be hungry. You may also want to go shopping and check out some other nearby attractions. There's a good amount of opportunities for each in the nearby area.
Restaurants
Breadfarm
Located just over 5 miles from Bay View State Park, Breadfarm can be found in the city of Bow. In addition to their fresh-baked bread, they offer a wide range of desserts, such as pastries, cookies and other local favorites.
Type: Bakery
Location: 5766 Cains Ct, Bow, WA 98232
Gere-a-Deli
This family-owned restaurant has been serving the Anacortes community since 1981. It's located just 6.4 miles from the park, and you can get a quick bite to eat for breakfast or lunch at Gere-a-Deli. They have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. Their menu specializes in a wide range of soups, salads and deli-style sandwiches, with daily specials available as well.
Type: Deli
Location: 502 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, WA 98221
Dad’s Diner
Another local restaurant in Anacortes, Dad’s Diner provides breakfast, lunch and brunch options for visitors. Some of the popular menu items include their tacos, sandwiches and burgers along with their breakfast menu.
Type: Diner
Location: 906 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, WA 98221
13moons Restaurant
Just 2.7 miles from Bay View State Park, 13moons Restaurant is located at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge. Fresh seafood, such as salmon, crab, and other locally caught fares, are popular options, and the restaurant uses in-season produce from the local area. They have an extensive wine list along with locally brewed beers as well.
Type: Seafood
Location: 12885 Casino Dr, Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, WA 98221
Train Wreck
Located 7 miles from Bay View State Park, Train Wreck serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can start with their selection of appetizers and move on to their soups, sandwiches and burgers and entrees.
Type: American
Location: 427 E Fairhaven Ave, Burlington, WA 98233
Shopping
Forte Artisan Chocolates
For those looking for handcrafted chocolate gifts, Forte Artisan Chocolates offers locally made chocolate bars, caramels, truffles and other gifts. They have a production kitchen that's also located in Mount Vernon, where you can watch the chocolates get made.
Location: 700 S 1st St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Red Door Antique Mall
This antique mall offers a wide range of items, and most visitors tend to leave the store with at least one find. They rotate the inventory throughout the year with seasonal and other new options.
Location: 111 Freeway Dr, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Located in downtown Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market hosts events from mid-May to the early part of October. You can find a wide range of produce and other locally harvested products, such as honey and flowers. You'll also find various artisans selling locally crafted goods as well.
Location: 501 Main St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Sightseeing
Deception Pass State Park
Listed as one of the state’s most-visited parks, Deception Pass State Park is located on Puget Sound. Visitors can explore the various coves and cliffs, and many patrons enjoy traveling across the high bridge.
Location: 41229 State Route 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Tulip Town
The locally owned Tulip Town hosts various events throughout the year, such as U-Pick Strawberries, their harvest event, and the annual tulip festival. You can also purchase your own tulip bulbs in order to grow your own next spring.
Location: 15002 Bradshaw Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Located right next to Bay View State Park, the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has its Breazeale Interpretive Center that features an aquarium and other exhibits free of charge. Throughout the year, they also host different classes and programs to learn about the various sea life and coastline.
Location: 10441 Bayview Edison Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Island Adventures
Island Adventures is a boat tour company offering whale-watching trips that allow you to see animals such as orcas, gray whales and humpbacks, among others. Tours typically take about four hours and operate from May to October.
Location: 1801 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221
How to Get to
Bay View State Park
If you’re coming south from locations like Seattle, head north on I-5 N. You'll want to take exit 231 for Burlington. Once you exit, merge onto WA-11 N and then head west on Josh Wilson Road. The park will be on the right after approximately 6.5 miles.
Entering Bay View State Park
Bay View State Park is open year-round from 8:00 a.m. until dusk. Portions of the park may be closed during the wintertime due to weather, and some of the campsites are closed during the winter as well.
Bay View State Park Per person (daily) : $10.0
Bay View State Park Per person (annual Discovery Pass) : $30.0
The team at RVshare is excited about the memories that you'll make with your friends and family at Bay View State Park. To find out more information about renting an RV, visit the RVshare website. When you’re on your trip, remember to tag RVshare on social media or send your trip photos and memories to [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions About Bay View State Park
Bay View State Park is a great park to visit during any season. It's open year-round, except some camping sites might close during the winter. If you want to stay dry, consider visiting in the summer when there's less rainfall.
The climate in Bay View State Park is a typical Washington state coastal climate. Short summers last from July to August, and winter brings a bit of snow and lots of rain.
A coastal state park, visitors will enjoy their fair share of marine wildlife viewing, including sea turtles and whale watching. The area is home to numerous bird species if you enjoy bird watching.
Bay View State Park has two campsites with designated RV sites for trailers and campers between 40-60 feet. All sites include water and electrical hook-ups, but there aren't sewer hook-ups.
Reservations are highly encouraged at Bay View State Park fills up quickly, especially during the warmer, drier months of July and August. The cost for a camping spot ranges from $40-$45.