Grayland Beach State Park is a beautiful place along a shoreline that stretches 7,449 feet which features sand dunes, an assortment of activities, and 106 campsites for tents, campervans, and RVs. Located one and a half miles south of Grayland, Washington, Grayland Beach State Park is situated on 581 acres along the Pacific Ocean coastline and is open year-round for RVers. The park was first conceived in 1969 and opened in 1972 after acquiring additional land.
Grayland Beach State Park was originally the traditional lands of the Shoalwater Bay and Chehalis Indian Tribes. The tribes hunted, fished, and worked the land in the area for centuries until 1866 when a Presidential Executive Order signed by Andrew Johnson moved the two tribes to their present-day reservations. Today, each tribe offers something different in the tourism industry like casinos, a waterslide park, and resorts for travelers to enjoy.
There are many intriguing activities you can try when at Grayland Beach State Park which include surfing, fishing, whale watching, and storm watching, as well as beachcombing along the expansive 7,449-feet shoreline. The campground offers both tree-covered spots as well as campsites within the sand dunes which offer a short two-minute walk to the beach.
Weather at Grayland Beach State Park is excellent in the summer months between May and September with temperatures in the mid to high 60s and minimal rainfall of less than one inch of rain. Winter months from October through April offer temperatures in the mid-40s accompanied by upwards of ten inches of rain each month.
You can access Grayland Beach State Park from Cranberry Beach Road off of Washington Route 105 South. Traveling along Cranberry Beach Road is straight, and you can navigate this part of the road from Route 105 easily. When traveling along Washington Route 105 South, you will find driving difficult along the coastline. Maneuvering Route 105 south of the park is tedious and slow going at times.
You will encounter tough driving south of North Cove as well as Dexter by the Sea. Remember to use turn-outs when possible to keep the flow of traffic going at the right pace. Driving north of the park along Route 105, you will encounter easier conditions as the highway backs away from the coastline. Driving here includes coastal prairie areas that are easily navigated.
Once you enter the park, you will find only one road which winds at first with one big curve before the road straightens out. Along the road, you encounter turn-offs for the first six loops. These loops are circular, and you can navigate bigger rigs with minimal problems. You will continue on this road until you reach the five loops along the beachfront. The road that connects these five loops has many turns with numerous sand dunes on each side of the road.
There are no day-use parking areas within the park which helps minimize congestion in specific areas. You should drive cautiously while driving in the park. You can expect numerous pedestrians, bicyclists, and children in the campground areas. Please adhere to all posted speed limits within the park.
The Grayland Beach State Park Campground is situated along 11 loops that are connected by one road. Within the 11 loops, there are 106 campsites including 60 with full hookups, as well as 38 that offer water and electricity hookups. The first six loops contain 60 back-in campsites located away from the beachfront within a well-shaded area. The remaining five loops are spread out along the beachfront with 58 campsites which include five pull-through campsites. Campsites are well spaced and offer privacy in all eleven loops.
Each campsite is furnished with a fire ring, picnic table and a paved pad that may require leveling. RVs and trailers are limited to 60 feet in length. There is a dump station located near the entrance of the park. Do not dump a full holding tank into a sewer hookup. Other campground amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, fresh drinking water stations, and an amphitheater. There is limited parking for second cars or pulled vehicles. Generators may be used from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Pets must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all times.
Surfing is a popular thing to do in Grayland Beach State Park. Lots of RVers bring their surf boards and a heavy wet suit for the colder water conditions. Paddling out is always challenging, and once you stand up, you can expect to carve waves that range in size from five to ten feet. Winter time brings bigger waves, but surfing here is best during the warmer summer months. Go around the northern and southern edge of the beach for the best options of catching the perfect wave to hang ten on.
Surf fishing is a great thing to do in Grayland Beach State Park and most RVers have a rod and reel packed in their rig. Along the 7,449-feet stretch of beachfront you can find a secluded area to throw your luck into the Pacific Ocean. Take some bait to catch a variety of fish including black rockfish, lingcod, salmon and steelhead. There are also opportunities for sea-run cutthroat trout. Check the Washington state rules and regulations for licensing as well as bag and size limits.
Beachcombing is spectacular along the 7,449-feet shoreline at Grayland Beach State Park. As you stroll along the sand you can spot numerous clam and oyster shells as well as uniquely shaped driftwood. Low tide offers the best walking conditions along the hard packed sand. Walking the beach area during high tide can be dangerous with rip currents. Walking through the higher sand dunes is the best during high tides. Here you will find a variety of items that will certainly please the sea shell hunter.
You need to bring your binoculars in your campervan because whale watching is a superb thing to do in Grayland Beach State Park. From November through February you can watch migrating gray whales from the cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean swim south along the coastline to Baja California. If you show up between March and April you are in luck too because the gray whales swim north along the coastline back to their summer waters of the North Pacific Ocean.
Storm watching is perfect in the winter months. Stroll down one of the five trails that lead you to the beach and watch the clouds roll-in off the Pacific Ocean. The wave action is great as you see swells of up to 20 feet crash onto the beach area. Sit on one of the higher dune areas to avoid problems with high tide. Low tide offers the best sitting conditions but high tide brings in the bigger waves. Be cautious of rip tides and currents during high as well as low tide.
Take your shovel and head to the beach for some great digging for razor clams. Razor clam season is ideal in the spring and fall where you will have no problem digging up your limit of 15 razor clams. An hour before low tide is the best time to dig up these tasty little treats. Many other species are off-limits from digging. Check the Washington state rules and regulations for digging season as well as bag limits.
