The Lamp Camp Campground on the Washington Coast

The legendary Washington Coast… Miles of drivable sandy beaches, moody weather and epic sunsets. We recently stayed on the Long Beach Peninsula at the most amazing private campground. The Lamp Camp has changed everything we thought we knew about private campgrounds.

Bald eagle keeping watch on the beach access at the Lamp Camp

Sunset on the Washington Coast Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Roofnest

Barebones Living hatchet on the Washington Coast beach campfire at sunset

We left the city as quickly as we could Friday afternoon and headed straight for the Long Beach Peninsula on the Washington Coast. It was dark by the time we arrived but we felt the warm welcoming light of the Lamp Camp from the moment we arrived.

Well lit signage and gracious camp hosts are at the entrance of the campground. We received a warm greeting as well as instructions on where to park, cook, shower and hangout. For a very reasonable fee we purchased a cart full of firewood and set off to find our designated campsite.

The Lamp Camp has spaces for RV’s, trailers, vans, rooftop tents and ground tents. Campsites are spacious and include a picnic table and firepit. We had plenty of space to stretch out and relax in our spot. Can you believe we could even see the stars?

After setting up we couldn’t resist the pull of the ocean. We grabbed our lanterns and headed down the marked sandy pathway, just a short distance from our campsite, and walked out to the open ocean. Waves crashing, stars overhead and fishing boats in the distance. Does it get any better?

The next day we explored our surroundings. The Long Beach Peninsula boasts 28 miles of continuous beach front. There are seven official vehicle access points along the beach, which allow capable vehicles (4 wheel drive is recommended) to drive along the sandy beach.

We drove to an access point nearby camp and parked on the beach near the access point to the Lamp Camp. Our visit was in January so as the temperatures began to lower we built a campfire directly on the beach. If you’re planning to build your own campfire here are the rules:

Campfires must be smaller than 4 feet on each side and 3 feet in height.
Campfires must be 100 feet (or 150 depending who you talk to) west of the dune line. Fires and barbecues are not allowed in the flammable dune grass area.
Do not build a fire if it is windy.
Do not throw explosive material, including glass, into the fire.
Supervise children closely.
Report illegal fires.
Pack out your garbage.
Drench and bury your fire to extinguish it before you go.

Long Beach Peninsula has several wonderfully small towns for tourists. We visited Oysterville and had Willapa oysters on an outdoor deck. Ilwaco is also a great stop as well as the town of Long Beach which is full of sweet tourist shops and restaurants.

If you’re not up for exploring the Lamp Camp has plenty of activities on site. Several lawn games dot the property as well as a community fire pit. Board games are also available in the community room. Barbecues and group dining areas make it easy to cook just about anything. We also loved being able to take a shower and the newly built bathroom was very charming.

An added benefit to being located so close to the beach is the sound of the waves. We slept very well each night and the sound helps drown out any late night neighbors.

We feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful place in one of favorite places to visit! https://thelampcamp.com