San Juan County Park
San Juan County Park
5
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This park offers some of the best whale watching.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
14 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
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Keatsforever
San Francisco, CA10 contributions
Sept 2015
OMG. The hiker/biker/kayaker campsite at this campground has THE best views and the site is nearly totally flat - good for your tents. I LOVED this campsite and the campground. I went in late September and for some very bizarre reason (which I'll keep to myself), I didn't bring a sleeping bad. It was very very very cold. Please bring your sleeping bag, unless stupid me. I saw a lot of whale blows and fins but didn't see full bodies of whales this time. The campground is only about 10 miles from Friday Harbor. Hope you see it one day!
Written September 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaishrie
Redmond, WA265 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
We had the best experience camping here during the weekend. Excellent restrooms, fire woods and ice was available in the office. Great view from most sites. We were lucky to even watch orcas pods in the evening.
We will be surely planning a trip again to this place but unfortunately, it is booked for the season Anyway, will recommend this place once.
We realised that after reaching Friday Harbor, one should install the tent and settle yourself and then go for site seeing in a relaxed more.
We will be surely planning a trip again to this place but unfortunately, it is booked for the season Anyway, will recommend this place once.
We realised that after reaching Friday Harbor, one should install the tent and settle yourself and then go for site seeing in a relaxed more.
Written June 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elli G
Friday Harbor, WA5 contributions
I've visited this park many times. The last time we went, we had a picnic with a beautiful panoramic view of the water and Vancouver Island in the distance from the day-use picnic area. Then we launched our kayaks and had a great afternoon paddling the westside of San Juan Islands. We didn't see orca whales that day, but we did see dolphins and bald eagles. There is a video you have to watch in order to launch kayaks here (free), but if you attend the kayak training at The Whale Museum in town (Friday Harbor), then you don't have to watch the video. San Juan County Park is a beautiful place to visit! The park is also a short drive from Limekiln Point, a popular whale watching location.
Written April 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jennfred
Portland, OR26 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
The San Juan County Park Campground is afordable with a picturesque setting overlooking the Haro Straight. We saw Orchas a fews hundred yards off the shore feeding on salmon. I'd definitely stay again if I visit San Juan. A few things I'd wished I'd known in advance: 1. No showers. The bathrooms have great flush toilets and sinks but no showers. 2. Quiet time at 10pm and camp fires out at 10:30pm. I absolutely understand quiet time but a camp fire late at night is a highlight of camping. It is strictly enforced and we were threatened with a $500 fine when our fire was still smoldering at 11pm. 3. There are boat launching for kayaks in the park but it requires a launching pass so it's an additional fee to use this feature of the park.
Written August 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoanruthB
Friday Harbor, WA51 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
Each summer my husband and I camp at San Juan County Park on the west shore of San Juan Island (100 mi. north of Seattle and 2 miles east of Canada). Here we enjoy the vistas across the water to Vancouver Island, the park's serenity, the Orca whales passing below the bluffs and the seals and birds that hug the shore.
On land the rangers are friendly, helpful and keep the camp quiet and neat. You can camp for about $32/night...some sites more, some less...only $10 if you come hiking or on a bicycle. The island itself is fun to explore - praires and beaches of American Camp, history and beauty at English Camp, rich tourists at Roche Harbor and the down home town of Friday Harbor.
The negative about the campsite is that there are no showers or laundry and its hard to find a place to recharge a phone. But those can be found elsewhere and the simple quiet, the deer, the foxes and the whale visits make a great place to be.
On land the rangers are friendly, helpful and keep the camp quiet and neat. You can camp for about $32/night...some sites more, some less...only $10 if you come hiking or on a bicycle. The island itself is fun to explore - praires and beaches of American Camp, history and beauty at English Camp, rich tourists at Roche Harbor and the down home town of Friday Harbor.
The negative about the campsite is that there are no showers or laundry and its hard to find a place to recharge a phone. But those can be found elsewhere and the simple quiet, the deer, the foxes and the whale visits make a great place to be.
Written August 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy G
Oregon169 contributions
Aug 2017
We have stayed here twice. You need to book well in advance right when the window opens but it is worth it. I don't think there is a bad site at this small park. Wonderful wildlife viewing and no crowds. Love it!
Written July 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reeshot
Seattle, WA192 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
There's minimal camping on San Juan Island, and there are not a lot of camp spaces, so book in advance to avoid disappointment. Forget bringing your big jacked up RV to this island. The islanders discourage that here. We were bike-camping, so no reservations were accepted for our spot. When we got there, (luckily) the place was empty, so we got probably got the best camping spot in the entire park - right in front of the water. There's one bathroom with flush toilets, but no showers. Fire rings and picnic tables. It's nice to have a campground that gives the best spots to folks who power in by their own efforts, and not by a gasoline engine. The park has a nice big field that overlooks Haro Strait and Vancouver Island and the shipping lanes. This is a good place to have a sunset picnic and watch whales.
Written September 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iren- P
Blaine, WA36 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
I love lighthouses and was very excited to see that we had one near by! This place it super calm and good for a picnic with friends and family or for good book read after you hikes or kayaked (if you are into any of this activities). This place is super beautiful!
Written July 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bellredmond
redmond1 contribution
Aug 2012 • Family
Visited this place twice and both times saw whales in the wild, right from our picnic table having lunch, it was so relaxing watching them out in the open. worth spending the day there, go between July and Sept, take a picnic basket, a thermos of hot coffee as there are no eating places in the park, dress warm, and dont forget your camera,
Written September 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua F
Seattle, Washington, United States15 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
No showers, but totally worth it. I love camping and have camped all around the world. The hiker/biker camping location is a jewel. We'll be camping here in the future many times.
Written July 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What are the rules regarding tent camping with dogs?
Written August 28, 2016
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