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United States Washington State
Road trip in the Pacific Northwest

Campervan hire in Washington State

From the Olympic Peninsula to the North Cascades, departing from Seattle and Bellingham

departure cities
3
rental partners
9
branches
10
national parks in the state
3
as the crow flies between Seattle and Bellingham
128 km
  • Pick-ups in Seattle and Bellingham
  • Olympic, Mount Rainier and North Cascades
  • State ferries to the islands and the peninsula
  • Canada possible with the rental company's consent
  • Campervans, motorhomes and 4x4 truck campers
  • July in Seattle: 14 mm of rain, 13 hours of sun

Campervan hire in Washington State opens up the wildest corner of the American Northwest: the Hoh Rain Forest and the driftwood beaches of the Olympic Peninsula, the glaciers of Mount Rainier, the turquoise lakes of the North Cascades and the San Juan archipelago. Our rental partners await you around Seattle and Bellingham, from campervans to family motorhomes, not forgetting 4x4 truck campers.

Seattle is the base for the volcanoes and the peninsula, Bellingham for the islands and the nearby Canadian border. Here, state ferries are part of the road and the climate changes from one side of the mountains to the other: rain and forests west of the Cascades, sunshine, orchards and vineyards to the east.

Our partners

Our 9 rental partners in Washington State

Washington State

Where to pick up your motorhome in Washington State?

Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.

Return to another city
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Road trip ideas

The best itineraries in Washington State

1 Around the Olympic Peninsula 6 to 8 days about 750 km
  1. Seattle
  2. Kingston
  3. Port Townsend
  4. Port Angeles
  5. Lake Crescent
  6. Hoh
  7. Kalaloch
  8. Lake Quinault
  9. Olympia
  10. Seattle

A loop on Highway 101 around Olympic National Park, bringing together three worlds: the ridges of Hurricane Ridge above Port Angeles, the Hoh Rain Forest with its moss-draped maples, then the wild coast from Rialto Beach to Kalaloch, bristling with drift logs and sea stacks. Lake Crescent and Lake Quinault punctuate the route.

From Seattle, a ferry crosses Puget Sound to Kingston or Bainbridge Island. No road crosses the park: you drive around it, with dead-end spurs leading into each valley.

Distance
about 750 km
Recommended vehicle
Van or compact motorhome
2 Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River Gorge 6 to 8 days about 650 km
  1. Seattle
  2. Mount Rainier
  3. Mount St. Helens
  4. Columbia River Gorge
  5. Portland

Head south through the volcanoes of the Cascade Range: the wildflower meadows of Paradise and the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier, then the blown-out crater of Mount St. Helens, whose eruption flattened the forests for miles around. The route then reaches the Columbia River, with its basalt cliffs and waterfalls, on the Oregon border.

The Sunrise road only opens in summer and some approaches to Mount St. Helens have been cut by landslides: check them before you set off. The trip can end in Portland, another departure city for our rental companies, if one-way hire is offered.

Distance
about 650 km
Recommended vehicle
All types of motorhome
3 The Cascade Loop via the North Cascades Highway 7 to 9 days about 750 km
  1. Seattle
  2. Whidbey Island
  3. Deception Pass
  4. Diablo Lake
  5. Winthrop
  6. Lake Chelan
  7. Leavenworth
  8. Stevens Pass
  9. Seattle

Route 20 crosses the North Cascades between hanging glaciers and milky green lakes, Diablo and Ross, before dropping onto the dry side: Winthrop with its Wild West facades, long Lake Chelan, then Leavenworth, a village with Bavarian-style decor. The return to Seattle runs over Stevens Pass on Highway 2.

The North Cascades Highway closes every winter, usually from November until spring depending on snowfall: plan this loop between June and October. At the start, a detour via Whidbey Island and the Deception Pass bridge is well worth it.

Distance
about 750 km
Recommended vehicle
Van or compact motorhome
4 San Juan Islands, Vancouver and Point Roberts 5 to 7 days about 450 km
  1. Bellingham
  2. Chuckanut Drive
  3. Anacortes
  4. San Juan Island
  5. Bellingham
  6. Vancouver
  7. Point Roberts
  8. Bellingham

From Bellingham, Chuckanut Drive follows the bay to Anacortes, where ferries leave for the San Juan Islands: Friday Harbor, its lighthouses and the orcas watched for from the west coast of San Juan Island. Back on the mainland, the road heads for the border, Vancouver and British Columbia, then the American enclave of Point Roberts.

Allow one or two nights on the islands, where campgrounds are few and fill up fast. In Vancouver, Stanley Park and the coastal road to Whistler extend the trip for those with a few more days.

Distance
about 450 km
Recommended vehicle
Van or small motorhome
Weather and seasons

When to go in Washington State?

Best time

May, June and September

May to June, September
highs 16 to 21 °C, lows 9 to 13 °C west of the Cascades

The best months for a full tour: mountain roads reopen as spring advances, Olympic's rivers swell with snowmelt and September brings quieter campgrounds under still dry skies. In Seattle, June has up to 12 hours of sunshine a day.

High season

July and August

July to August
highs 22 to 25 °C, lows 14 to 15 °C west of the Cascades

High summer is dry and mild in the west: just 14 mm of rain in July in Seattle and a sea at 17 °C around Point Roberts. It is also peak season: busy San Juan Islands ferries, full park campgrounds and crowded meadows on Mount Rainier. East of the Cascades, temperatures climb markedly.

March, April and October

March to April, October
highs 9 to 15 °C, lows 3 to 9 °C west of the Cascades

Cool, changeable shoulder seasons: the Skagit Valley tulips bloom in April and the larches of the North Cascades turn gold in October. Showers return in autumn, with 124 mm in October in Seattle, and not every high road is open: favour the coast, the peninsula and the drier eastern side.

Winter

November to February

November to February
highs 6 to 11 °C, lows 1 to 6 °C west of the Cascades

The rainy season in the west: up to 239 mm in November at Point Roberts and barely 4 hours of sunshine a day in Seattle in December and January. The peaks vanish under snow, but Olympic's rainforests are at their greenest and the coast puts on spectacular storms, to be watched from almost empty campgrounds.

Step by step

Renting in Washington State, step by step

  1. 1

    Choose between Seattle and Bellingham

    Seattle has most of the depots and suits trips to Olympic and Mount Rainier. Bellingham, further north, puts you closer to the San Juan Islands, the North Cascades and the border crossing to Vancouver.

  2. 2

    Declare Canada or a one-way trip

    Before booking, mention any trip into British Columbia or a drop-off in Portland: not all rental companies accept them, and the conditions vary with the model and the depot.

  3. 3

    Line up ferries and campgrounds together

    First book the island crossings and your nights in the national parks, which fill up first, then fill the gaps with state parks and RV parks in the towns along the way.

  4. 4

    Plan the pick-up

    Depots are scattered around Seattle-Tacoma airport, from Kent to Everett: arrange a taxi or shuttle and check the pick-up time given by the rental company before fixing your flight.

Practical tips

Everything to know before hitting the road

Ferries: arrive early or book

Washington State Ferries carry motorhomes, with fares based on vehicle length. In summer, the wait at the terminal can run into hours: on the San Juan Islands routes and between Port Townsend and Coupeville, book your vehicle crossing as soon as your dates are set.

Mountain passes and snow chains

From autumn to spring, snow can close or restrict the Cascade passes. Before crossing Snoqualmie or Stevens, check the state road reports (WSDOT), which flag chain requirements, and ask your rental company whether chains may be used on your vehicle.

Barrier-free tolls around Seattle

The Highway 520 floating bridge over Lake Washington, the Highway 99 tunnel under downtown Seattle and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge are tolled, mostly by licence plate recognition with the Good To Go! system. Ask your rental company how these crossings are recharged and what handling fees are added.

Wildfires and smoke in late summer

In August and September, wildfires mainly hit the eastern side of the Cascades and can close roads, campgrounds or trails, including the North Cascades Highway in some summers. Campfires are then often banned. Keep a fallback plan to the west, where smoke sometimes drifts too.

What travellers ask

Your questions about a road trip in Washington State

Where can I hire a campervan in Washington State?

Most depots are in the Seattle area: Britz, El Monte RV, Mighty and Road Bear RV in Seattle itself, Avanti Campervans near the airport, Escape Campervans in Des Moines, Indie Campers in Kent, Cruise America in Everett, Star RV in Parkland and GoNorth in Algona. Further north, El Monte RV has a depot in Ferndale, near Bellingham.

Can I drive into Canada with a rental motorhome?

Often, but not always: some rental companies allow it, sometimes with a surcharge or a document to request before departure, while others exclude it. Check this clause before booking. At the border, each traveller must show the entry documents Canada requires for their nationality, then those for the United States again on the way back.

How do I get to Point Roberts?

Point Roberts has no rental depot: you reach it from Bellingham, 50 km away as the crow flies, by crossing British Columbia via Tsawwassen, as this American tip has no land border with the rest of the United States. That means two border crossings, with the same conditions as any stay in Canada.

Van, motorhome or truck camper: which should I choose?

A van slips easily along Olympic's forest roads and into the small island campgrounds. Class C motorhomes, from the two-berth C18 Ultra Compact to the five-berth C25 Standard, suit families. The 4x4 truck camper, a pick-up topped with a three-berth cabin, is made for gravel roads and remoter corners.

How much time should I allow for Washington State?

One week is enough for the Olympic Peninsula or the San Juan Islands. In two weeks, you can combine the peninsula, Mount Rainier and the Cascade Loop. Three weeks let you add British Columbia or head down the Oregon coast, while keeping time for long days of hiking.

Verified customer reviews

They travelled in Washington State with CoolDrive Nomad

4.3
818 reviews

This is the second time we have called on Cooldrive for our camper van reservation in the USA. The first time we were very satisfied, everything went very well. I think it will be the same for this new booking, to be confirmed in 15 days. Fast response, competitive offer, I recommend this site without any problems.

A.
United States · May 2024
Trustpilot

Lack of availability in person or by phone. Minimum and aggressive email responses. The website is a bit complicated for renting. Otherwise, it meets the offer.

(anonymous)
United States · Feb 2019
Avis Vérifiés

Complete and straightforward website.

(anonymous)
United States · Feb 2019
Avis Vérifiés
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Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Campervan hire in Washington State

What licence do I need to hire a motorhome in Washington State?

A valid car driving licence is enough for the motorhomes offered for hire. If your licence was issued outside the United States, also bring an International Driving Permit, recommended and sometimes required by the rental company. The driver's minimum age and the number of years holding a licence vary between offers: they are listed in their conditions.

Where can I sleep in a motorhome in Washington State?

National and state park campgrounds, often in the forest or by the water, are the most sought after; the national forests add more rustic ones. Private RV parks offer hook-ups and dump stations. Free camping is only allowed on certain public lands and overnight parking is often banned in towns: check locally.

Do I need a pass for parks and natural sites?

Several passes coexist: national park entry, charged per vehicle or covered by the America the Beautiful annual pass, the Discover Pass for parking in state parks and on some state lands, and the Northwest Forest Pass for certain trailheads in national forests. Check on the official websites which ones apply to your route.

Is mileage unlimited when departing from Seattle?

Not in the offers we surveyed from Seattle in October 2026: none included unlimited mileage. Miles are charged as you go or through packages added to the booking. A tour of the peninsula followed by the Cascade Loop quickly exceeds 1,500 km: estimate your distance to choose the right package.

Which driving rules apply in the state?

On multi-lane roads, the left lane is for overtaking, and HOV lanes are reserved for vehicles carrying several people. Holding a phone while driving is prohibited. In ferry queues, you stay in your lane until boarding, without cutting in. Speeds and distances are shown in miles.

When should I book a campervan in Washington State?

For July and August, several months ahead, as the choice of vehicles from Seattle shrinks quickly and park campgrounds fill up at the same time. For May, June or September, a few weeks may be enough. In winter, plenty of offers remain, provided you accept the rain and a route limited to the lowlands.

About us

Why explore Washington State by campervan

Few American states let you move so quickly from rainforest to glacier, then to dry hills: a few hours' drive separates the mosses of the Hoh, the snows of Mount Rainier and the east of the state, covered in orchards and vineyards. A campervan lets you follow this terrain without ever unpacking your bags and sleep beside a Cascade lake or facing the Pacific.

Seattle and Bellingham open up two complementary journeys: the volcanoes and the Olympic Peninsula to the south and west, the San Juan Islands, the North Cascades and British Columbia to the north. The ferries add crossings through the heart of Puget Sound, and neighbouring Oregon extends the road towards the Columbia River Gorge and its windswept Pacific coast.

Other destinations

Fancy exploring other regions?