Campgrounds of the Pacific Coast: Washington

Camping in Washington is a bit of a different experience than it is in California or Oregon. The average campground is more similar to California in terms of facilities, although like in Oregon, food lockers are highly unusual. But the main difference comes out of the fact that there is no single near-universal route through Washington. Virtually everyone who bikes the coasts of California and Oregon sticks to Highway 1 and US 101 outside of short deviations. But in Washington, Adventure Cycling routes you through the I-5 corridor and the Puget Sound, while many people choose to ride around the Olympic Peninsula or cut across it. Hiker/biker campgrounds are fewer and farther between as a result, and those that do exist tend to be much smaller than their equivalents in Oregon or California.

Campgrounds of the Pacific Coast: Oregon

In terms of campground quality, Oregon is generally considered to be the best of the three Pacific states (free showers!). California's are pretty basic and Washington doesn't have a really well-defined route that the majority of cyclists use, so the infrastructure isn't quite as strong. But Oregon has a single route (101), strong state backing for cycle touring, and a state legislature that is apparently able to spend money wisely (looking at you, Sacramento). That being said, you'll need to learn how to hang your food from a tree in Oregon. Food lockers are nonexistent, and raccoons are as aggressive as anywhere else - see the duct tape on my tent for evidence.

Campgrounds of the Pacific Coast: California

This post is mainly intended as a resource for other cycle tourists trying to decide where to camp. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend making routing decisions based entirely on campground quality, there are situations when you have a few to choose from. And while I can't give an opinion on every single one, I can at least share my thoughts on the places where I stayed (plus a few that I didn't but have something to say about anyway).

After the jump: reviews.