San Juan Islands campgrounds fill quickly
- San Juan County opened 2026 campground reservations to residents on February 24 and to the general public on March 3, weeks before peak season at its busiest island parks. - The county now lets campers book through October 31 instead of a rolling 90-day window, while warning that summer reservations are “strongly recommended” at popular San Juan Island sites. - The squeeze extends beyond county parks: Washington State Parks recommends reservations, while some San Juan marine sites still rely on limited first-come camping. (parks.wa.gov)
Camping in Washington’s San Juan Islands now starts with booking months ahead, not just showing up with a tent. (sanjuancountywa.gov) San Juan County opened its 2026 resident reservation window on February 24 at 9 a.m. and opened the same campsites to the general public on March 3 at 9 a.m. (sanjuancountywa.gov) Those reservations cover county campgrounds on San Juan, Lopez and Shaw islands, plus the San Juan County Fairgrounds in Friday Harbor. The county says summer reservations are “strongly recommended” at any of those parks. (sanjuancountywa.gov) The county also changed how far ahead people can book. In a March 7, 2025 announcement, it said campers would be able to reserve stays through October 31 instead of the previous 90-day window. (sanjuancountywa.gov) That longer booking horizon shifts the scramble earlier in the year. It means July and August inventory can be claimed in late winter and early spring, rather than opening up closer to arrival. (sanjuancountywa.gov 1) (sanjuancountywa.gov 2) San Juan County Park, one of the island system’s best-known campgrounds, says reservations for May through September are strongly recommended. From November 1 through March 31, some sites switch to first come, first served and some facilities close for winter. (sanjuancountywa.gov) The county’s rules make changes costly in a tight market. Reservations can be made only at least three days before arrival, partial changes are not allowed, and cancellations inside 30 days lose at least 50% of camping fees. (sanjuancountywa.gov) Washington State Parks uses a separate reservation system for island parks and says reservations are recommended wherever campsites are reservable. First-come visitors are accepted only when space is available. (parks.wa.gov) Not every San Juan Islands campground works the same way. At boat-in-only Jones Island Marine State Park, primitive campsites are first come, first served, while group camps and Adirondacks can be reserved. (parks.wa.gov) The practical result is simple: island campers now have to plan around two bottlenecks at once — campsite inventory that opens early and ferry-served summer weekends that fill fast. (sanjuancountywa.gov) (parks.wa.gov)
