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We are planning to be in Seattle around the middle of June. Wondering if anyone has spent any time in a RV park in that area that they would recommend. We will be staying a couple of weeks. Thanks, Pat K
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CK PK 2011 Ford F 350 Dually 2011 Carriage Cameo 37CKSLS Retired early 2011
Really hard to give you info without first know where you want to be. Best park, and one of the most expensive, is Lake Pleasant in Bothell. Very nice park, but it is $44/night, no weekly or monthly rates in the summer. We have also stayed at Lakeside RV Park in Everett. At little hard to maneuver a rig into the spot (and out again) but easy access from I-5 and considerably cheaper (~$13/night) than Lake Pleasant. Once in, it is reasonably quiet at night even though it is off of a major road (Highway 99) in the Everett area. Both of these are FHU.
If you want on the east side, in Fall City is Snoqualmie River RV Park - w/e right on the river at around $33/night during the summer and Issaquah Village at $44/night FHU. We like Fall City, but stay at Tall Chief which is an Encore park, under Coast-to-Coast.
There are some on the south side of Seattle (a KOA near the airport) but in good conscience I can't recommend any of them.
Barb
-- Edited by Barbaraok on Thursday 26th of March 2015 09:38:42 PM
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
We stayed at Lake Pleasant in February. Very nice park indeed. Sites are a little tight. Very quiet at night. Safeway supermarket and gas station just across the street. However, if you want to stay in June for a couple of weeks, you need to make a reservation asap. Even in February there were only a few sites available and considering the reviews (rvparkreviews.com) it is the same all year round.
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2009 Alpenlite 31CK Limited
2016 Northern Lite 10.2 CD SE
both hauled by 2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD Dually (one at a time ...)
And now for the rest of the story... Sorry, should have filled in the blanks a bit more.
We are going on the Alaska Sawyer Glacier cruise, with family members who will be flying out there. We thought it would be a good idea to go work our way up to Seattle, stay a few days in an RV park, go on the cruise and return to the 5th wheel for a few more days. Then start our trek across the northern tier of the US (which we've never seen) and back to Texas. Another option would be to put the 5th wheel in some type of storage facility out there for the duration. But that would probably have to include a hotel stay coming and going. Thanks for your input/advise. (Bill, we are not members of the Elk Club so can't take advantage of that venue)
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CK PK 2011 Ford F 350 Dually 2011 Carriage Cameo 37CKSLS Retired early 2011
If you're willing to stay in a southern suburb of Seattle, the Puyallup Fairgrounds offers FHU for $23/night, cheapest anywhere in the Puget Sound region. You'll be camped in a grassy field next to the Fairgrounds. For us, that's ended up being our best option, we used to live in the South Sound, so we will use this as our base this summer while we're in the area for 3-4 for doctor, dentist, family, friend visits, etc. Plenty of access to shopping, laundry, etc. in the area.
Call ahead of time for the $23/night rate, if you pay at the campground it's $30/night, cash only. Of course, this assumes you won't be there during September when the place is occupied by vendors for the state fair for 3 weeks and not available to the rest of us during that time.
Agree with Barb on the other places, definitely avoid the KOA in Kent, it's really tight, horribly expensive, only redeeming quality is that it's close to the Green River bike trail, but still would not ever consider staying there and we have friends close to that location.
And now for the rest of the story... Sorry, should have filled in the blanks a bit more. We are going on the Alaska Sawyer Glacier cruise, with family members who will be flying out there. We thought it would be a good idea to go work our way up to Seattle, stay a few days in an RV park, go on the cruise and return to the 5th wheel for a few more days. Then start our trek across the northern tier of the US (which we've never seen) and back to Texas. Another option would be to put the 5th wheel in some type of storage facility out there for the duration. But that would probably have to include a hotel stay coming and going. Thanks for your input/advise. (Bill, we are not members of the Elk Club so can't take advantage of that venue)
OK - then you really want to stay at Lake Pleasant. Given them, a call, they have storage area for people going on cruises, some even with power to plug in, they have a relationship with a limo service that can take you down to the pier/pick up and bring you back. Most people stay and night or two, go on the cruise, come back and stay a night or two to get laundry done, etc. and then move on.
Barb
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
I realize this CG is from last year, I came across it when I searched "Seattle".
Bill and I are planning to arrive in the Seattle area on/about April 25 for a week. We want to stay somewhere centrally located to see Seattle and some of the surrounding sites, without breaking the bank.
I found 2 state parks, Kitsap Memorial and Fort Flagler that have availability and can fit our size rig (40' 5th Wheel); does anyone know anything about these parks, including if there is ferry service near them to get into Seattle?
I noticed in a previous post on this thread about the fairgrounds CG, but I don't want to spend 3 hours a day traveling back and forth in the days we visit Seattle.
Kitsap Memorial is closer to the ferry, however you will need to drive to the ferry, wait for the next available one which could be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. You might want to map these , I think Kitsap is closest to the Kingston / Edmonds ferry which still leaves you an hour drive to Seattle, depending on traffic, or you could drive to the Bainbridge Island or Bremerton ferry, but I think you would spend more time getting across the Puget Sound using ferries than you would driving from Puyallup. Kitsap Memorial would be the least desirable state park of the 2 choices, sites are close together and you get noise from the state HWY. Fort Flager is a nice state park with lots of beach access, but a long slow drive from anywhere, we used to go there to get away. Kitsap does not have beach access.
Another option is TalL Chief RV park in Sammammish, distance wise it's probably closer than Puyallup, but you have to cross a toll bridge into Seattle and traffic generally backs up getting across the bridges.
If you don't want to drive, check the Seattle transit schedule, there is a train option from Puyallup that's not too far from the Puyallup fairgrounds, which might be a much cheaper option vs, Seattle city parking.
Actually, you can also take I-90 across Lake Washington and it is closer tha WA 520 going across. We love Tall Chief, and spend a few weeks there each summer.
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
We camp in Poulsbo alot due to family, but at Eagle Tree, which is closer to both ferries than Kitsap Memorial and way closer than Fort Flagler. Both the Edmonds/Kingston and Bainbridge Island/Seattle ferries are about a 20-25 minute drive from Eagle Tree and then there is a ferry wait. We end up taking the ferries over to the Seattle side from there, and agree that it is not a fast way over and we give ourselves at least 2 hours to get to Seattle side appointments from leaving the campground. A one ferry backup, when it fills up and you have to wait for the next one, and you could have driven around through Tacoma and SR16 in the same amount of time. You will be much better off staying on the east side of Puget Sound at the other alternatives, including Tall Chief, than relying on the ferry system.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
Ok - thanks for all the info! Just found out my cousin lives on the north side of Seattle, closer to Marysville (I think?). He suggested Flowing Lakes County Park or Kayak Point County Park (guess he knows weekenders that go there). He said he thinks it is an easier ride than from the south or waiting for ferries. Thoughts? Does anyone know anything about these parks/areas?
(My cousin doesn't camp and while suggesting these b/c of locale - might not "see" or understand all things someone with a 40' long, 13'5" high 5th Wheel has to consider)
If you want free dry camping near Marysville try the Tulalip Casino, great RV parking, free for 7 days.
The parks you mention are part of the Snohomish county parks system.
We stayed ay Flowing Lake many years ago, i just remember it being heavily treed, at that time we owned an Aliner, so we didn't worry about it too much. Have been to the beach at Kayak Point, but not the camp area. I would suggest you check RV Park reviews and even call the park. Western WA has an abundance of trees that can make maneuvering around difficult.
I don't think the drive into Seattle would be much different than coming in from the south, might want to map it.
I think in an earlier post Barb mentioned Lake Pleasant, that is the closest nice park to Seattle, if you're going to be there in April see if they offer a weekly rate, their summer rates start in May and we're $44/night last summer.
Kelly, one more thing to consider, if you are there the last week of April it's going to be wet, April starts to see sun breaks but if you are camping in trees you are also likely to have some mud. Not sure what it's like now but I don't recall any paved site or paved road at Flowing Lake, I think we were last there in 2006 so it might be better. We were ther in July when it was warm but the park was still dark. I personally don't like camping in chilly, heavily treed parks when it's raining, it always seems dark and that is what you are likely to get in April, Lake Pleasant would be a better choice that time of year and while the camping might be more expensive you will probably spend less in fuel getting into Seattle.
I can see you are really trying for "It factor", but it is not going to be easy around Seattle. Even Howard and Linda stay places with no "It factor" when location matters more. I agree, the Tulalip Casino would be a good option and would be free. If you use up the 7 nights, then further north is the Angel of the Winds Casino, which has (20) $15 hookups and might also have free dry camping.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
Thank you guys so much! Great tips, ideas and suggestions! Definitely going to check out the casino! If not - will call to find out more about Flowing Lake. We usually like the County Parks.