Washington State Park Cabins: Everything you need to know

I discovered Washington State Park cabins 2 years ago and was blown away. As a budget traveler, we mainly took camping trips for weekend getaways, with occasional hotel stays when needed (like for weddings). However, the Washington State Park cabins opened up a whole new world of budget travel for us! Read on for more information on why you should check out the Washington State Park cabins, how to reserve them, what to expect, and how to plan a weekend trip around a cabin stay.

We’ve been to the following Washington State Park cabins:

• Deception Pass
• Ike Kinswa
• Dosewallips
• Camano Island
• Wallace Falls (x2)
• Twin Harbors

My dad has also been to Rasar, which has some of the nicest cabins, from the pictures he sent!

Why you should visit the Washington State Park Cabins

Washington state park cabins (and yurts, and other roofed accommodations) exist at about 40 sites throughout Washington. This means there are many areas close to nature that have roofed lodgings available to book.

The cabins are a fantastic alternative to camping. Some state parks don’t allow camping all year, but the cabins are generally bookable year round. And some of us aren’t bold enough to face camping in the cold, so a cabin allows you to enjoy nature even in the colder months of the year.

The cabins are generally in the range of $60-$90 per night, with some exceptions (the Deception Pass deluxe cabins are quite a bit more, and a lot nicer with actual kitchens!). They are much more affordable than basically any AirBnB cabin, and generally more affordable than hotels as well. As they are in state parks, you can expect to find some natural beauty wherever you go, whether in the form of a lake, waterfalls, a forest, the beach…you name it!

What to expect at the cabins

First things first: these cabins are not luxury accommodations, they are very much basic shelters. If you go in expecting a very comfortable weekend, you’ll likely be disappointed (no hot tubs in sight!). However, if you think of these cabins as an upgraded camping trip, you’ll be a happy camper (or cabin-er!).

 

• Cabins usually have heat, electricity, and a few beds. So at minimum you won’t be cold at night or when it rains. They generally have a table and chairs, and often they have outdoor furniture too like a picnic table or campfire pit.
• You can’t cook in the cabins, so you’ll need to bring a camp stove and use it outdoors, or use a fire pit if it’s available. One of my favorite hacks is to prepare meals at home in advance so that we can simply heat them up for cabin weekends. Trust me, this makes cooking way nicer!
• There are usually water spigots in the campground area that you can use for drinking water or to do dishes.
• Bathrooms are often in the campground as well and are shared, although some of the more deluxe cabins do have bathrooms inside (Deception Pass and Rasar). Bathrooms at state parks often have showers which I am a big fan of!
• Some cabins are single rooms, and some have a living room and a bedroom. Capacity is usually 4-5 people. You’ll want to check all this information prior to booking your cabin, of course.
• Bedding isn’t included, so you will also need to pack your sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels.
• Some cabins are pet friendly, and some are not, but you can filter to check while you’re booking.
• Check in processes may vary, but for each place we’ve stayed, there has been an envelope with a code on the porch or a lockbox and emailed instructions–we’ve never had to check in with a state park employee directly
• You’re expected to clean up after yourself when you leave the cabins. Read the instructions and be sure to follow them: sweep, take out the trash, etc.

Most of the cabins are not at high altitude. Many are clustered along the coastlines, or in lower elevation lake or plains areas. So that’s another reason these are great in the off season – they will still often be accessible.

How to reserve a Washington state park cabin or yurt

You can reserve a Washington state park cabin on the website Washington Going to Camp. Select “roofed” accommodations in the tab, the park or region you are interested in, and then you can filter from there based on preferences.

 

Reservations open 9 months in advance, so you will have to be really on top of it if you’re planning a trip during peak season times, like summer or holiday weekends. They will book up very fast. However, if you are traveling in low season, you can probably book a lot closer to your desired dates. I’ve gotten reservations 2-3 months out for winter time!

How to plan a trip around a Washington state park cabin stay

Before booking a cabin stay, I like to have a solid idea of what attractions are in a given area. To be honest, there are many parks that I would not really have interest in staying in, based on personal preferences!

For example, I’m not going to plan a trip to Dash Point state park cabins. I live 15 minutes away from the park and there’s very limited hiking/not much to do except chill. So be sure to do your research before you book.

 

Consider the seasons. While you may be ABLE to book a cabin during off peak times, will the area still be fun to visit? When we went to Camano Island in December, it was absolutely frigid, with freezing wet rain and a soggy beach. We basically just hung out inside. I wouldn’t do that again! Alternatively, Wallace Falls makes for a fabulous winter getaway because the waterfall hike is amazing all year, and proximity to Index hikes (~20 minute drive) is prime. There is also an awesome bakery 15 minutes away, and the town of Index has some cute spots too.

I like to use apps like AllTrails or even Google Maps to see what hikes are in the general area. I also like to see what else is around – are there fun bakeries to visit? Beaches to relax on? What is the purpose of your trip, and does that state park have the environment you’re looking for?

Packing list for your visit

Because of how limited the facilities tend to be at state park cabins, you will usually want to bring essentially your full camping gear set up (minus the tent).

 

• Linens: bedding, pillow, towels if you want to shower
• Camp stove: love our Coleman which has been a workhorse for many years
• Camp pots and pans/cookware and plates
• Cooler and food
• Electric tea kettle: this is clutch for easy morning coffee or tea
• Flashlight
• Daypack for exploring
• Picnic blanket
• A hammock is always a nice touch, we like this double nest for two people!
• String lights: they may not be necessary but they add such a warm and cozy vibe, I always try to bring them!
• Clothing and shoes depending on your planned activities, season, and location
• Toiletries

Do you have any questions about staying in the Washington State Park cabins? Drop them in the comments! Feel free to check out my detailed posts about Deception Pass State Park, or any of our weekends at Dosewallips cabin or Ike Kinswa cabin.