Travel on the cheap

[+Hoddevik]

I'm looking for tips or heads ups for places to camp out or alternative places to stay .... We live in Blaine, my wife has been battling cancer for 10 years now and we don't have much extra money but would like to try to knock out some of western Wa. We plan on staying at some state parks but I'm wondering if there are other alternatives. I would welcome any thoughts and thank you all.

[+Sol seaker]

I found a map with a lot of WA campgrounds

Map link

 

You can try that.

 

There's also a great book on WA state camping.

 

Link to great camping book

 

That book lists campgrounds, and a lot more.

 

There are a whole lot of campgrounds a whole lot cheaper than state parks.

 

If your wife is disabled with a blue parking placard, she can get a lot of camping passes and get camping half price. If she does not have one, talk to her doctor about getting one.

 

There is a federal disabled pass, available with a blue parking pass,at any ranger station, that will give you half price camping in a lot of places, including federal parks. A lot of private campgrounds take that pass also. Just call the campground first and ask.

WA state park campgrounds used to have a disabled rate, but I don't know if they do anymore. I know they do accept that blue parking pass for entrance for day use, so they probably will give some discount for camping, but check first.

 

Of course the cheapest way to go is to go midweek. This is because all the cheap campgrounds are full on the weekends. They fill the quickest. Go midweek and get your pick of cheap campgrounds.

 

I'd call a local ranger station too. They have a whole lot of great info. If you don't like the info you get, try later and get another ranger or try another ranger station. There are some who are full of great info. Sometimes they are busy and can't be on the phone so long, so try perhaps earlier in the day. If they can't talk long, call back at another time. Ask when they are not busy. They should know of the cheaper campgrounds.

 

This ranger station is the closest to Seattle that I know of:

Snoqualmie Ranger District - North Bend Office

(425) 888-1421

 

I'll keep thinking and see if I can come up with some more for you.

Have a great trip.

If you would like someone to show you to some local caches let me know.

[+uxorious]

You may need some facilities, but if you just want a place to park and camp for the night, you might try boondocking. In the National forests if there are no signs restricting it, you can find a spot on the side of the road or at the end of a FSR, and camp free.