If you are planning to visit Olympic National Park then missing these 10 camping locations In Olympic National Park will be a sin.
Olympic National Park Camping is one of Washington State’s most adventurous things. The National park is home to a diverse range of habitats.
The mysterious settings are a craggy coastline, glaciated mountains, and green jungles overflowing with color.
Every habitat of Olympic National Park contains a campground. Park Service operates over a dozen authorized campsites, ranging from walk-in only to tent and RV sites.
The US Forest Service operates even more campsites in the nearby Olympic National Forest.
Summary
| Guide | Olympic National Park Camping |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Tents, torch, etc. |
| Campgrounds | Hoh Campground, and more |
| Best places | Hoh Rain Forest, and more |
| Situated | U.S. |
1. Hoh Campground
The Hoh Campground is an excellent starting point for exploring the Hoh Rain Forest.
This is one of the Park’s most visited locations, as well as a world-famous Washington marvel.
All 78 sites at Hoh Campground will be available for reservation during the peak season, mainly between June and September.
Address: Forks, Washington 98331
2. Kalaloch Campground
The Kalaloch Campground on the South Coast with close coastline access is one of Olympic National Park’s larger campgrounds.
It contains 170 campsites, several of which have views of the ocean.
You can rent the majority of the campsites in Kalaloch in advance, leaving only a handful for walk-ins. It’s about 30 minutes south of Forks to get to the campsite.
Address: Forks, Washington 98331
3. Heart O’ the Hills Campground
The Heart O’ the Hills Campground, 12 miles from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, provides the quickest access to Hurricane Ridge.
Because of its closeness, a campsite is a popular place for observing sunsets and sunrises.
Address: 2823 S Oak St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Read: Camping In Tennessee
Read: Camping In Sedona
4. Sol Duc Campground
Between the Sol Duc Falls trailhead and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort sits the Sol Duc Campground.
It has two loops and about 100 large campsites. You can reserve most of the sites at Sol Duc ahead of time, which is a good idea throughout the summer.
The locations closest to the Sol Duc River are the greatest to compete for.
Address: 12076 Sol Duc-Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363
5. Mora Campground
Mora Campground on the northern Wilderness Coast’s southern limit gives access to Rialto Beach and the surrounding ocean.
The city of Forks is about a 13-mile drive from this beachfront campsite. Mora Campground’s 94 sites are in lush coastal woodland and are first-come, first-served.
Address: Forks, Washington 98331
6. Staircase Campground
In the southeast corner of the Park, Staircase Campground is one of the closest campgrounds to Olympia.
The North Fork of the Skokomish River is next to many of the campsites, and it welcomes overnight stays beneath the canopies of the Douglas firs that dominate the Park.
Address: NF-24, Hoodsport, WA 98548
7. Ozette Campground
This modest campsite on the northwest extremity of the Olympic Peninsula and the northern tip of Lake Ozette caters to visitors who make the long trip out to this isolated part of the Park.
At Ozette Campground, each of the 15 sites has a partial or direct view of Lake Ozette, as well as access to pit toilets and potable water.
Address: 21083 Hoko Ozette Rd, Clallam Bay, WA 98326
8. Willaby Campground
The Willaby Campground is near Olympic National Park and overlooks the southwest side of Lake Quinault.
This Forest Service campsite gives visitors access to the rainforest and other water-based activities.
The campground is also close to the Quinault Rainforest Ranger Station and the Quinault Mercantile, which sells a variety of camping supplies.
Address: S Shore Rd, Quinault, WA 98575
9. Hamma Hamma Campground
Hamma Hamma is a first-come, first-served campground is a lovely, forested environs on the extreme east side of the peninsula, about a 20-mile drive from the Staircase Ranger Station.
A former guard station that is now a six-person, furnished cabin is also available for reservation among the old-growth Douglas firs and 15 tent sites at Hamma Hamma Campground.
Address: NF-25, Hoodsport, WA 98548
10. Graves Creek Campground
The Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station is 14 miles away from Graves Creek Campground, which you can reach through a dirt road.
This undeveloped forest road travels deep into the Quinault Rainforest.
The background noise for this more remote campground is a babbling brook that you can hear from all 30 first-come, first-served campsites.
Address: Quinault, Washington 98575
Where To Stay & What To Expect From Olympic National Park?
Best Places To Visit Near Olympic National Park
Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is a lush, green wonderland with mosses and ferns covering every tree and surface, with annual rainfall ranging from 140 to 170 inches.
According to the National Park Service, it is one of the Park’s most popular visitor destinations.
It is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States.
Walking through the woodland gave one tourist a “Hansel and Gretel-like atmosphere,” while another compared it to a fairy tale magical forest.
The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, which has a lot of rangers who can provide advice on what to see and do, is where most visitors begin their journey.
Exhibits and a bookstore are also available in the tourist center.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is the Park’s most easily accessible mountain section, 17 miles south of Port Angeles.
It provides breathtaking vistas in clear weather. Many tourists can’t seem to come up with enough adjectives to describe the beauty, but some favorites include “amazing,” “spectacular,” and “awesome.”
Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding are all great ways to take in the surroundings.
The hiking routes on Hurricane Ridge range from ridgetop treks to precipitous descents to subalpine lakes and valleys.
The Big Meadow route, which is paved and spans broad meadows with views of the Olympics, is a half-mile round-trip easy trail.
Checklist Before Camping In Olympic National Park
The itinerary below is for a self-guided backpacking trip across Olympic National Park.
The list offers some environmentally specialized alternatives for the Park’s three distinct areas—seacoast, rainforest, and alpine backcountry.
- Backpack large enough to hold a bear canister
- Pack rain cover
- Tent with a repair sleeve
- Tent footprint
- Lightweight tarp
- Sleeping bag
- Wicking, quick-drying clothing
- Fleece pants
- Winter hat (for winter)
- Gaiters
- Socks
FAQ
When is the best time of year for Olympic National Park camping?
In contrast to many locations, Olympic National Park has something to offer in both seasons. But many campgrounds work only in the summer.
Do we need to make a reservation for Olympic National Park Camping?
You do not have to, but if you want to have a spot for sure, it is better to do it because places fill in quickly during summer.
Are pets allowed in Olympic National Park camping?
They are allowed in the Park, but you would have to inquire individually about campgrounds.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
