To Washington With Toddlers

By Christen and Erik Phillips

“I want to see Mount Rainier In person.” My wife and I started planning this trip six months before we locked up the house and left on a week long road/camping trip to the Pacific coast. Nearly 1000 miles with two kids under the age of 3. This was going to take some serious planning. Especially now that I had a mortgage to pay. I had to find a way to do this for less than a $1000, while still making the experience feel momentous.

We beheld amazing vistas from Coeur d’Alene in Idaho to Rialto beach in Washington. Most days on the way to the campsite involved quite a bit of driving and we packed light, having a place in the middle of our trip we planned to do our laundry.

The first night was our first “in-betweener.” Missoula, MT. We drove that Saturday evening from our home in Idaho Falls north. It was the largest singular leg of the trip (4 hours or 312 miles).  We did our research about what places we could give the kids a break along the way and found a charming little splash pad attached to a city park, partially under construction.

After a dip in Hayden Lake, we looked into what the locals considered the best hamburgers in town. That night was in CDA, and we may have had the best camping views in the whole campsite, overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene, facing west. The Lake was set aflame with the descending sunbeams. We would stick around long enough to get the family washed up in Camp Coeur d’Alene’s complimentary shower house. And get back on the road.

At this point, we were filling up the car each morning in order to make it to our daily destination. Generally, we stuck to getting gas at the cheapest place we could find: Costco. With a couple of picky eaters in the back, it also became a resource for foods that our children could munch on while on the go. It also resupplied us with much-needed water during the hottest days.

Finally, we made it to Randle, WA, which is right near the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. We found a trail that said it was a loop and started walking and noticed that our trail wasn’t looping back. We fell prey to the sunk-cost fallacy and trekked to a national park campsite. The kids were getting too heavy to carry. Resolute that the way back via the main road was the quickest, we stumbled as best we could back to the car before giving up and hitchhiking back. We were lucky. We learned an important lesson: the signs may lie but your map never will.

We made liberal use of the facilities given to us that evening. Our campsite was cozy and the kids decided that clocking out early was their best option. We felt the same. The next day we would be driving to Olympic National Park, the largest of the national parks in Washington.  The sheer amount of driving from one part to another was astounding. I felt that public transportation might have been a better way to experience it, but we decided early on that having an all-or-nothing mentality would lead us to have an unsatisfying experience.

We, therefore made the choice to stay in Sequim, WA for two days, leaving up our tent, to allow it to dry and for us to go and see the Olympic Mountain range, its rainforests, the strange little Twilight-tourists traps, and the sandy beaches awash with the biggest driftwood I’ve ever seen. Take a collapsible wagon and a good camera with you for places like this. 

We once came to the entrance of one of the most popular attractions for the Olympic National Park: Hoh Rainforest. The parking lot was so full that the only way to get in was if someone left first. So, we waited.

The sunk-cost fallacy reared its ugly head, again. The kids got restless. The car turned around, having not entered what many might call “a must-see.” But nothing is really a must-see. We used our time as wisely as we could. If I was in standstill traffic, I got out and stretched. We found several pullouts on the way back and a few service trails that allowed us to have our own version of the Hoh Rainforest experience. We didn’t walk far, but we made a meal of it, knowing thousands of cars this year were passing up on the very view we were enjoying.

The trip back home was still camping, but less eventful. We didn’t need to go into any visitor centers or stop and look around. Instead, we simply needed a break from being inside the car. We stopped to read the historical signs, plaques, and inscriptions. And thankfully, we didn’t lose our minds doing it all with kids. 

On the way back we stopped in Moscow and had lunch with Paul, who supplied us with food enough for more than one meal and with laughter that kept us smiling till we came home.

Backup plans needed to be made, and backup plans for those. We changed our minds and went another way at times. We had a hefty amount of prep time and used it well. We found helpful tools to help keep the car gassed up, our kids fed, and places to camp that were not going to break the bank or send us spiraling into a kind of insanity. So, allow us to give an epilogue on the experience in the form of advice, should you decide to undertake such an adventure.

Epilogue

With the HipCamp app, we found hosts that would allow us to stay on their land for generally less than $30 a night. This included lavender farms, orchards, and also more classic campgrounds. ReserveAmerica.com provided a selection of state and county parks where we could pitch the tent. 

Most days on the way to the campsite involved quite a bit of driving and we packed light, having a place in the middle of our trip we planned to do our laundry. While we camped, we embraced techlessness and tried to make sure that if we were in the car, we would only be in for an hour or two for getting out and having a break. Something I would recommend even without children. As it turns out, many cities and counties put great effort into making enjoyable spaces for their communities. They provided great respite on the way to the Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks.

As mentioned in the article, I used Costco for gas and some groceries. Though we were outfitted to cook at the campsites, most were under a fire ban, and our gear when unused. This is done by the State. Research beforehand, maybe the week before if you are allowed to have fires.

It’s okay to buy food as you go, like at a local market or farmland. If you can bring food, make sure some of it is shelf stable. Some should be salty to help you to retain water while in the car for long stretches. Our son drank like a fish and it was the only way he would sleep unless we ran him to exhaustion. The salt made his requests for breaks less frequent and eased our own needs. Take every opportunity to change your kids.

Bring more than one for items that you may need. We have an extra sleeping bag that was a bit lighter to sleep with. It made for easier sleep during hotter nights. Adaptability is a powerful tool, especially with kids.