Bellingham tree farm among best campgrounds in the US, according to Hipcamp

If you’re planning a summer camping trip in Washington, the first places that come to mind might be in the Cascade Mountains, Olympic Peninsula or along the Pacific Coast. But according to a new list published by camping reservation website Hipcamp, Bellingham residents barely have to leave town for some of the best camping in the country.

Bellingham campground named among best in the country

Earlier this month, Hipcamp released its list of its staff’s 50 favorite campsites in the country. Five Washington spots made the list, including one in Bellingham: Rusty Ranch Tree Farm and Forest.

The privately-owned campground, which Hipcamp describes as “part working farm, part outdoor classroom, and part low-key getaway,” is located in the foothills of Stewart Mountain, just northeast of Lake Whatcom. The site is east of city limits, just off of Mount Baker Highway.

According to its online reservations page, the campground spans 110 acres and offers one cabin and five campsites for RVs and tents. The campground also advertises on-site trails, guided tours of the grounds, berry picking and a class on how to make maple syrup. It currently boasts a 100% rating out of 325 reviews on Hipcamp.

Reservations for the smallest campsite start at $45 a night, while the cabin rents for $76 a night and the largest campground starts at $160.

Other top WA campsites

Four other Washington campsites made the list as well, ranging from the Cascade Mountains to the state’s Pacific Coast. Here are the campsites that made the list:

• Snow Peak Campfield, Long Beach, WA

• The Landing, Index, WA

• Unique Bay Front Camping, Aberdeen, WA

• Whispering Pines RV Campground, Cle Elum, WA

How the list was created

Hipcamp came up with the list using a combination of user reviews for the 500,000 campgrounds on its website and the opinions of its editorial staff.

This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Bellingham tree farm among best campgrounds in the US, according to Hipcamp."