- Home
- Find a Park
- Parks A to C
- Camano Island
Camano Island State Park
Close to Seattle but a world away, Camano Island State Park offers a mellow, less bustling, but equally friendly alternative to its busier neighbor, Cama Beach State Park.
Forest loop trails provide cool, tranquil hiking, while shoreline strolls offer birding, shell and rock exploration and sweeping views of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.
Are you happiest in or on the water? Go boating, crabbing, saltwater fishing and sailboarding in Saratoga Passage. Curious about the restored 1930's fishing resort at Cama Beach? Hike the 1-mile trail to check out this neighboring state park.
After a fun day exploring the trails or cavorting in the water, you will probably want to kick back in your forested cabin, pitch your tent or get cozy in your RV. There, you can cook up the delicious crab you have caught, or your dinner of choice, and enjoy a bit of sublime R and R before heading back to the world.
Park features
Camano Island State Park is a 244-acre camping park with 6,700 feet of rocky shoreline and beach located an hour from Seattle on beautiful Camano Island.
Automated pay stations: This park is equipped with automated pay stations for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass and boat launch permit.
Boating features
Located in Island County on Puget Sound, Camano Island State Park has one boat ramp. Launching a boat at a state park requires one of the following:
- An annual launch permit (Natural Investment Permit; or
- An annual Discover Pass and a daily launch permit; or
- A one-day Discover Pass and a daily launch permit. Annual permits may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online and at parks when staff is available. Additional information can be found in the Boating Program.
Boat launch
Latitude: 48º 7' 39.37" N (48.1276)
Longitude: 122º 29' 57.12" W (-122.4992)
Campsite information
The park has 77 standard sites, two hiker / biker sites, one marine trail site, five cabins, one dump station, two restrooms and two showers. Utility campsites are not available at the park. The upper camping loop has pull-through sites (sites 38-77) and are better suited for RVs of up to 40 feet.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.
Group accommodations
The park offers one kitchen shelter and a group camp that accommodates a maximum of 100 people. The group camping area has restrooms and showers. Fees vary with size of the group.
Overnight accommodations
The five cabins at Camano Island are in a diverse mature forest with a peak-a-boo view of Saratoga Passage. Each cabin is 12-by-20-feet in size and can sleep up to five people. Furnishings include one double bed, a bunk bed with a twin on top and a full bed on the bottom, and a table with five chairs. Cabin amenities include heat, electricity, a refrigerator/freezer, and a microwave. Each cabin provides a fire ring, an upright pedestal grill, picnic table, and an 8-foot covered porch. A shared bathhouse with showers and restrooms is nearby. For more information, visit our cabins and yurts page. Email for reservation requests.
Reservations & Fees
Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.
Services & supplies
Most services are available within a few miles of the park.
In park
- Firewood
Surrounding area
- Auto repair
- Diesel
- Gasoline
- Gifts
- Golf
- Groceries
- Hardware
- Marine supplies
- Pay phone
- Postal service
- Propane
- Swimming
- White gas
- Wood
Historical information
Earliest inhabitants of Camano Island were the Kikalos and Snohomish Indians, who used the island for a summer dwelling while gathering seafood and berries. They named it Kal-lut-chin, meaning land jutting into a bay. The island was renamed for Jacinto Caamaño, a Spanish explorer.
The first European settlers came to the island in 1855 and began extensive logging operations. Farmers came later and developed the area agriculturally.
After the land was designated for use as a park in 1949, the initial development was accomplished in a single day by nearly 900 volunteers from Stanwood and Camano Island. The park celebrated its 50th birthday in July 1999.
ADA amenities/facilities
- Campground
- Restroom
Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities.
Picnic & day-use facilities
The Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter accommodates groups of up to 44 people within the shelter and up to 80 including the outdoor area. It is wired for electricity and contains picnic tables, a potable cold-water sink (available seasonally), and a wood stove within the shelter. Two large charcoal braziers are located outside. For additional information and tips on renting the Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter, please review this information sheet.
The North Beach picnic shelter is first come, first served and can accommodate up to 12 people.
Activities
Trails
- 1 mile of biking trails
- 3 miles of hiking trails
Water activities & features
- Boating
- Boat ramp
- Crabbing
- Diving
- Personal watercraft use
- Saltwater fishing
- Swimming
- Waterskiing
Other activities & features
- Amphitheater
- Bird watching
- Fire circle
- Sailboarding
- Wildlife viewing
Interpretive opportunities
At this park, interpretive programs are held on Saturdays during the summer months. Programs will be held at different times; hours will be posted on the interpretive display board located at the entrance to the campground.
Additional information
- The park has a large field for ball games in the day-use area. An 18-hole golf course is located near the park on Camano Island.
- Check Fish and Game regulation booklet and local papers for season dates of clamming, crabbing and fishing. A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- Printable park brochure (PDF).
- Frequently asked questions about the park (PDF)