twin harbors state Park

Know Before You Go

Location: Westport, WA
Drive time from Seattle: ~2 hours 45 minutes (2hrs 15 min no traffic )
Miles from Seattle: 128 miles one way
Visited: Fourth of July weekend (very busy)
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Showers: Yes
Restrooms: Individual restrooms and shower/restroom buildings
Cell Service: Good
Nearest Town for Supplies: Aberdeen (~25 minutes away)
Reservations: Recommended, especially in summer
Bugs: Bring serious bug protection

⭐ Does It Live Up to the Reviews?

Google Rating: ⭐ 4.5/5
My Rating: ⭐ 2.5/5

The beach is the clear highlight wide, scenic, and easy to access directly from camp. However, overall, the experience didn’t match the high Google rating.

While I enjoyed being near the ocean, the combination of limited campsite privacy, heavy mosquito activity, lukewarm showers, and fewer nearby activities made this feel more like an average rather than standout camping experience.

🐕 Notes for Reactive Dog Owners

Roads & Trails

Campground roads and surrounding trails are fairly narrow, with limited space to step aside when passing other dogs or people.

Campsite Privacy

Campsites are laid out similarly to an RV park, with very little separation between sites. Dogs can easily see and hear neighboring campers.

Foot Traffic

There was frequent foot traffic through and around campsites, especially from people heading toward the beach. Kids on bikes were also common throughout the day.

Campground Activity

The campground was busy due to the holiday weekend, with steady movement during the day.

Leash Use

All dogs observed in the campground were on leash. Dogs are allowed off leash on parts of the beach, which is something to be aware of.

Noise

Despite the crowd level, the campground itself stayed relatively quiet with minimal barking or generator noise.

Wildlife

Mostly birds were present, with very little wildlife that would likely trigger most dogs.

🚗 Was It Worth the Drive?

Best for: beach camping, and relaxing weekends
Skip if: you want privacy, hiking variety, or quiet, secluded sites

Maybe.

When I arrived at the campsite, it was lightly raining, which actually helped keep crowds down. The site also had some shade, which ended up being really important once the sun came out later.

The highlight of the trip was definitely being so close to the ocean seeing and walking along the beach made the drive feel worth it in the moment. That said, there wasn’t a lot else to do in the immediate area.

Westport itself is very small, with essentially one main road of shops and restaurants. There aren’t many amenities, although I was pleasantly surprised by one of the local stores, which had a better selection than expected including some pre-mixed drinks that just needed to be frozen.

There were no pet stores nearby, so I ended up driving to Aberdeen to get a mosquito-repellent collar for my dog, Mr. P. The mosquitoes were intense far worse than expected. Even with bug spray and a Thermacell, we were still getting bitten constantly. I suspect the light breeze may have made the Thermacell less effective.

At one point, I even found a slug in my shoe, and another slimed its way onto my tent, which was definitely one of the less pleasant surprises of the trip.

As expected for a Fourth of July weekend, the campground was very busy.

There were also a couple of situations that required extra awareness with my dog one child approached him without asking, and he also stepped on a plant with sharp seed pods that caused him to limp until I removed them. Because of that, I had to stay fairly alert to make sure he stayed safe around the campsite.

In terms of activities, there didn’t seem to be much access to moderate or challenging hiking nearby. The only boat launch I felt comfortable using (given I was alone and unfamiliar with the tides) was about 12 minutes away. In hindsight, I would have planned better to take advantage of it, especially since it connects to a river and nearby bike trails.

We did walk through Westport Light State Park, which was a nice surprise the trails there were wide and easy to navigate, and it was simple to pass other dogs without issues.

Overall, the ocean access was incredible, but between the bugs, limited activities, and some practical inconveniences, this felt like a mixed experience rather than an easy return trip.

⛺ Campground Details

Where would I stay if I did again?

I would try to shoot for spring when the bugs aren’t out in full force and try to hit one of the following campsites 281, 230 ,229 and 236 as they are more secluded.

Bathrooms

Clean and well-maintained during my stay.

Showers

Available, but water was only lukewarm even during midday use.

Special Features

Cabins
Yurts

☕ Nearby

Westport

A small coastal town with a few restaurants and beach access, but limited overall amenities.

Aberdeen

A better stop for groceries, pet supplies, and anything needed before or during your stay.

💡 Things I’d Tell a Friend

Bring far more bug spray than you think you’ll need
Stop in Aberdeen before arriving for supplies
Expect limited campsite privacy
This is a beach-focused trip, not a hiking destination
Plan activities like paddle boarding or biking ahead of time if you want variety
Bring something for the shade as it can get quite warm

🌅 Final Thoughts

Twin Harbors is a great option if your goal is simple beach access and lounging around the beach coastal camping experience.

If you’re looking for privacy, varied hiking, or a quieter campground setting, it may feel underwhelming compared to its strong online rating.