Redwood Camping in San Juan Islands, WA: 12 Best Redwood Campgrounds in San Juan Islands

Sandwiched between the state of Washington and Vancouver Island in Canada in the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands comprise four main islands and hundreds of smaller islands and rock formations. The San Juans are popular for getaways, particularly in the summer months, and offer all sorts of things to do, from biking and hiking trails to kayaking expeditions and whale-watching trips. The Washington State Ferry system offers service to the islands from Anacortes, Washington or from British Columbia. There’s also a passenger ferry—the Puget Sound Express—that links Friday Harbor on San Juan Island with the city of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.

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Top-rated campgrounds near San Juan Islands

1. The Purple Cottage

98%

(27)

1 site · Lodging · Langley, WA

The *Purple Cottage* -- was found & salvaged (recycled!)-- moved onto the back of my property in 2012. This 16 X 12' place has been my studio in the past, but has offered overflow for friends & ; family. Nestled in the woods and ever-so-private, the cottage has a pull-out double futon, plus a small sleeping loft and can accommodate 1 -2 nicely (we will consider 3 if you have a small child, but it would be a tight fit!... There is a very small sleeping loft in the cottage.). There is a “en suite kitchen in the cottage that has a small fridge, microwave, and two burner stovetop cooking unit. The cottage offers privacy in a wooded garden setting. The bathhouse, with hot shower, vanity and; toilet --are all steps away (and covered) from the main cabin. The Purple Cottage sits on a shy wooded acre, with greenbelt buffers all around, maximizing the sense of privacy. our vintage Shasta Trailer across the driveway of the Purple Cottage is currently used as a music studio (and rarely as family/guest overflow), and I have my own small Artist Studio located also on the back of the property. Even with all the little enclave of buildings, The Purple Cottage retains a private feel all to itself, with reliable Wi-Fi available at the cottage. . It is located in a quiet little neighborhood, about 6 miles from Langley & 6 miles from Freeland.. Private beach access is across the road and a 15 minute walk up the street, where you can beach comb & explore the shoreline out at our little point. The private deck off the side of the Purple Cottage offers views of the gardens & flora, and has a little gas barbecue. There is also a delightful hot tub on the deck, which is a wonderful feature. An outdoor kitchen on the edge of the woods allows a roomier “camp cooking” experience with Colman stove & cold running water (season permitting). We are located 6 miles from the picturesque town of Langley and equal distance from Freeland, on the south end of Whidbey. Our area is very *bike-able* and either direction will get you to town! The Purple Cottage offers a rustic retreat in a place that feels far away, but is an hour & a half from the bustling city of Seattle!

2. Olympic National Park

96%

(472)

910 sites · Port Angeles, Washington

Explore glaciers, hot springs, and rainforest in the jewel of Western Washington.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Sandwiched between the state of Washington and Vancouver Island in Canada in the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands comprise four main islands and hundreds of smaller islands and rock formations. The San Juans are popular for getaways, particularly in the summer months, and offer all sorts of things to do, from biking and hiking trails to kayaking expeditions and whale-watching trips. The Washington State Ferry system offers service to the islands from Anacortes, Washington or from British Columbia. There’s also a passenger ferry—the Puget Sound Express—that links Friday Harbor on San Juan Island with the city of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.

100% (22)

Top-rated campgrounds near San Juan Islands

1. The Purple Cottage

98%

(27)

1 site · Lodging · Langley, WA

The *Purple Cottage* -- was found & salvaged (recycled!)-- moved onto the back of my property in 2012. This 16 X 12' place has been my studio in the past, but has offered overflow for friends & ; family. Nestled in the woods and ever-so-private, the cottage has a pull-out double futon, plus a small sleeping loft and can accommodate 1 -2 nicely (we will consider 3 if you have a small child, but it would be a tight fit!... There is a very small sleeping loft in the cottage.). There is a “en suite kitchen in the cottage that has a small fridge, microwave, and two burner stovetop cooking unit. The cottage offers privacy in a wooded garden setting. The bathhouse, with hot shower, vanity and; toilet --are all steps away (and covered) from the main cabin. The Purple Cottage sits on a shy wooded acre, with greenbelt buffers all around, maximizing the sense of privacy. our vintage Shasta Trailer across the driveway of the Purple Cottage is currently used as a music studio (and rarely as family/guest overflow), and I have my own small Artist Studio located also on the back of the property. Even with all the little enclave of buildings, The Purple Cottage retains a private feel all to itself, with reliable Wi-Fi available at the cottage. . It is located in a quiet little neighborhood, about 6 miles from Langley & 6 miles from Freeland.. Private beach access is across the road and a 15 minute walk up the street, where you can beach comb & explore the shoreline out at our little point. The private deck off the side of the Purple Cottage offers views of the gardens & flora, and has a little gas barbecue. There is also a delightful hot tub on the deck, which is a wonderful feature. An outdoor kitchen on the edge of the woods allows a roomier “camp cooking” experience with Colman stove & cold running water (season permitting). We are located 6 miles from the picturesque town of Langley and equal distance from Freeland, on the south end of Whidbey. Our area is very *bike-able* and either direction will get you to town! The Purple Cottage offers a rustic retreat in a place that feels far away, but is an hour & a half from the bustling city of Seattle!

2. Olympic National Park

96%

(472)

910 sites · Port Angeles, Washington

Explore glaciers, hot springs, and rainforest in the jewel of Western Washington.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds in and near San Juan Islands

98%

(20)

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

C

Claire

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

Cute, very homey cottage. Close to a perfect beach for the pups to play!

J

Jeremie

September 2025

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

Great place to unwind and detach. The moment you get there you just feel like you can rest and relax without guilt. Do at least 4 or 5 days to really enjoy it.

D

Daniel

August 2025

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

The place is EPIC. Comfy, welcoming, brimming with awesome art, and memories all over. It felt like we were walking into such a thoughtful space, which was only exemplified by the kindness of appliances, access, and bits and bobs which made our stay even more wonderful. Sarah was kind, responded promptly, and was very conscious about our space and time whilst we were at the property. The hot tub was clean, warm, and ready to use. The bathroom which is right next door to where we slept was well stocked and the shower was great! Myself and my partner loved every minute and we will likely be back at some point! Thank you for creating such a unique spot on the island! I cant recommend this place enough!

A

Anya

June 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

The cottage itself was as expected: cute and intimate. The land around it was spectacular! Amazing birdsong and many types of berries: Very restorative. And Sarah was a wonderful host--informative, attentive, and friendly, but gave us all the space and privacy we needed. Highly recommend. Get your dreams of rest off the back burner. Do it now!

A

Autumn

May 2025

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

The purple cottage is a wonderful little spot for a get away!

C

Chris

March 2025

Weekend Trip to The Purple Cottage

The host was welcoming and helpful. Cozy and cute cabin, warm and comfortable, quiet, peaceful stay with my adult daughter and dogs, perfect place to stay in the Langley area near beach access.

Nearby public parks

Browse national and state parks near San Juan Islands

Breakfast at Heart Lake, in the Seven Lakes Basin

96%

(472)

Olympic National Park

Port Angeles, Washington

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Redwood camping in San Juan Islands guide

Where to go

Orcas Island

Orcas Island is the biggest island in the San Juans, and has plenty of amenities, including restaurants, museums, shops, and camping options. It’s also home to the largest of Washington’s state parks—Moran State Park—a fantastic place for hiking, and boating. Tent and RV camping is available in the park, but campers need to secure reservations ahead of time. If you have your own boat, you can also visit nearby Sucia Island Marine State Park, an uninhabited, pristine spot directly north of Orcas Island.

San Juan Island

San Juan Island is popular among adventurers and history lovers, and the San Juan Island National Historical Park is a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn about the Pig War, a boundary dispute between Britain and the U.S. that all started because of a trespassing pig. The park is for day use only, but you'll find tent and RV sites at San Juan County Park on the west side of San Juan Island, overlooking Haro Straight, and at the San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Lopez Island

The third-most populated island in the chain, Lopez Island offers 63 miles of shoreline and a mix of forests, farmlands, galleries, and boutiques. The island is popular among cyclists, with quiet, mostly flat roads, and has a few great places to camp, including Spencer Spit State Park, which has reservable and hiker/biker sites, a dump station, flush toilets, but no hookups or showers, and Odlin County Park has seven RV sites for vehicles less than 30-feet-long, but no hookups.

Shaw Island

Shaw Island is the smallest of the four main San Juan Islands that are accessible by ferry, with a year-round population of only around 200 people. You can camp at Shaw County Park, which offers 11 tent camping sites, a boat launch, picnic tables, and fire pits. Island facilities are limited, but there is a general store by the ferry landing where you can buy food and supplies.