I’ll then ride directly to the ferry after work, saving valuable time and daylight! Bonus to being on a bike is you never have to wait in line, so even on the busiest days of the year, you get onboard! Bikes are the best!

Living in Seattle I am incredibly lucky, as the Washington State ferry system that leaves out downtown opens up a world of camping to people on bikes. Within an hour (or two)bike ride, there are at least 5 campgrounds. Expand your riding to 2.5 hours, and you’ve got at least 4 more campgrounds. I’ve been to all of these except one (I’m leading a trip there in June), and here’s my personal experience, recommendations, and tips for each.

As the title mentions, this is totally unofficial and non-definitive, so it’s a good idea to do some of your own research in advance. RidewithGPS, Google Maps (bike layer), and the Washington State Gazateer are all super handy when planning. In all honesty though, none of these campsites are very far off the beaten path, so you can just plug it into your phone and go.

And now, tips, tricks, and recommendations for each:

Illahee State Park : The ultimate in urban pleasure spots. This hidden gem is only 3.8 miles from the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, albeit mainly uphill. However, with an elevation gain of only 358 ft, it’s basically like climbing Capitol Hill, just on a more rural road. The ride to this park takes you past a few bakeries, one grocery store, a sports bar, and a brewery, so if you’re feeling adventurous, you could leave your stove and food at home and just eat the local food.

Pro-tip for this park: The hiker-biker sites are a little sparse, without even a picnic table or fire ring. From May 15-September, I’d recommend reserving a site if you know you’re coming here. The rest of the year, you can’t make reservations, but it’s not too busy. Once you set up camp and unload your bicycle, make your way down the big hill to the beach. Take a beer and snacks, as there’s a long pier with picnic tables that has a perfect view of Mount Rainier to watch the sunset from.