Olympic National Park, a wonderland of nearly a million acres, boasts diverse landscapes from lush rainforests and rugged coastlines to majestic alpine terrain. Planning a camping trip here can be daunting, so this guide provides everything you need to know for a memorable experience, whether you prefer car camping, backcountry adventures, or RVing.
Developed Campgrounds in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park features 15 developed campgrounds offering around 900 campsites. Each site includes a fire pit and picnic table. Note that RV hookups and showers are unavailable at these campgrounds. The recommended RV length is 21 feet unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Reservations: Reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak season. Several campgrounds, including Kalaloch, Mora, Fairholme, Hoh Rain Forest, Log Cabin, Sol Duc Hot Springs, and Staircase, require reservations from late May through late September. These reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov. Log Cabin RV & Campground accepts reservations by phone at 888-896-3818. All other campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Deer Park Campground
For breathtaking panoramic views, venture to Deer Park Campground, Olympic’s only high-alpine campground. Open from June through mid-October, weather permitting, Deer Park sits at 5,400 feet. The campground is accessed via a steep, winding gravel road, revealing stunning vistas of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Located on the drier eastern side of the park, Deer Park receives significantly less rainfall than the Hoh Rain Forest. This rustic campground features 14 sites with pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits with grates. Remember to bring your own firewood and water, as gathering firewood is prohibited and there is no potable water available. Deer Park is not suitable for RVs.
The area boasts excellent day hikes, including the 0.5-mile Rain Shadow loop, the 7.4-mile hike to Obstruction Point, and the 4.3-mile hike to the Gray Wolf River junction.
Fairholme Campground
Immerse yourself in a classic lakeside camping experience at Fairholme Campground, located near the clear, blue waters of Lake Crescent. Open from late April through late September, Fairholme provides a family-friendly environment.
Fairholme offers 88 sites equipped with fire pits, picnic tables, flush toilets, animal-proof food storage, potable water, and an RV dump station ($10 per use). The campground can accommodate RVs up to 21 feet.
Enjoy convenient access to a boat launch and various trails for all skill levels, ranging from the easy 0.6-mile Moments in Time loop to the challenging 7.5-mile Barnes Creek trail. Reservations are available during the summer months via recreation.gov.
Graves Creek Campground
Nestled in the rainforest along Graves Creek, near the Quinault River and the trailhead to Enchanted Valley, is the primitive Graves Creek Campground. This campground offers 30 first-come, first-served sites for tent campers year-round. There is no running water, but pit toilets are available. RVs and trailers are not permitted due to road conditions.
2025 Note: As of March 2025, Graves Creek, including the campground, is closed due to a road washout. Check current conditions at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Heart O’ the Hills Campground
Heart O’ the Hills Campground, located near the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, features 105 sites in an evergreen forest. This campground is open year-round and offers ranger programs during the summer. All sites are first-come, first-served, with a few capable of accommodating 35-foot RVs.
Hoh Campground
Experience the heart of a temperate rainforest at Hoh Campground. With over 140 inches of annual rainfall, the Hoh Rain Forest offers a uniquely immersive experience.
The campground’s 78 sites are surrounded by ancient trees and moss. Reservations are required during the summer months (June 13 to September 8) and available on a first-come, first-served basis the rest of the year. Hoh Campground is open year-round and provides flush toilets and potable water. Ranger programs are offered during the summer, and several excellent hikes, such as the Hoh River Trail and the Spruce Nature Trail, begin in the area.
RVs up to 21 feet are welcome, with a limited number of sites that can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.
2025 Note: As of March 2025, the Hoh Rain Forest area, including the campground, is closed due to a major road washout. Check current conditions at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Kalaloch Campground
Enjoy incredible beachside camping at Kalaloch Campground, situated along the Pacific Ocean. Reservations are accepted via recreation.gov during the summer months, while the 170-site campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis during the off-season.
This year-round campground sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean, near Kalaloch Lodge and a small mercantile. Drinking water and flush toilets are available, but showers are located nine miles away. RV sites can accommodate rigs up to 35 feet, but most sites are suitable for RVs 21 feet or shorter. A dump station is available for $10 per use. You can book your site at recreation.gov.
Log Cabin Resort RV & Campground
Located next to Lake Crescent, the Log Cabin Resort privately manages this campground and RV park. Open from late May through September, this is the only campground in the park with full hookups. The resort offers boat rentals, a restaurant, a deli, and a general store.
Restrooms with flush toilets and showers are available, as well as coin-operated laundry facilities. All sites must be booked by calling 888-896-3818.
Mora Campground
Mora Campground is a large, 94-site campground located two miles from Rialto Beach along the Quillayute River. Open year-round, some sites accommodate 35-foot RVs, while most fit rigs up to 21 feet. Although there are no electric hookups, an RV dump station is available for an additional fee. Mora offers potable water and flush toilets.
Reservations can be made six months in advance for individual sites and twelve months in advance for group sites through recreation.gov during peak season. The rest of the year operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
North Fork Campground
The park’s smallest campground, North Fork Campground, is a primitive area with nine sites situated on the North Fork Quinault River. RVs and trailers are not recommended. Pit toilets are provided, but no running water. Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ozette Campground
Located on Ozette Lake, this primitive campground features 15 sites convenient to the Cape Alava and Sand Point Trails. Potable water and pit toilets are available. It is open year-round; however, some sites are prone to flooding during the winter months. The largest site can only accommodate vehicles 21 feet or shorter. All sites are first-come, first-served.
Queets Campground
Queets Campground is a secluded, primitive campground with 20 sites located along the Queets River. RVs and trailers are not recommended on the access road. No water is available, but pit toilets are provided. Open year-round, first-come, first-served.
Sol Duc Hot Springs RV Park & Campground
The Sol Duc Campground and the Sol Duc RV Park are operated by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. The campground has spots for RVs up to 35 feet, with most sites accommodating rigs 21 feet or shorter. Flush toilets and running water are available, but there are no hookups. The RV park offers water and electrical hookups, and a dump station is available for $10 per use.
Usually open from late March through October, campers have close proximity to the resort’s three hot-spring pools and freshwater pool (fees apply), the main lodge, gift shop, and restaurant. Both campground and RV park sites can be reserved through recreation.gov.
South Beach Campground
South Beach Campground is a 55-site, first-come, first-served campground located in an open field a short walk from the Pacific Ocean. Open from late May through late September, some sites fit 35-foot RVs. Flush toilets are available, but there is no potable water.
Staircase Campground
Located in the old-growth forest along the Skokomish River, Staircase Campground offers 49 sites. It is typically closed from November to early spring. Flush toilets and water are available during the summer only, with pit toilets available the rest of the year. It is near Lake Cushman and trails to Flapjack Lakes and First Divide. Five sites are walk-in only.
Some sites accommodate RVs up to 35 feet, but most sites are suitable for rigs 21 feet or shorter. Reservations are required from late May through late September and can be secured six months in advance on recreation.gov.
Backcountry Camping in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park offers endless opportunities for backcountry camping. A wilderness permit is required for all overnight stays in the wilderness. Reservations can be made starting on April 15 at 7 a.m. PST on recreation.gov. Walk-up permits are not available. Popular areas operate on a quota system, so early reservations are recommended.
Dosewallips Campground
Dosewallips Campground is the only developed hike-in campground in the park and does not require a wilderness permit. It’s a 6.5-mile hike along the washed-out Dosewallips Road to reach this primitive campground on the Dosewallips River. Pit toilets are available, but there is no potable water, and camping is free.
Backpack Through a Rainforest to Enchanted Valley
Backpacking to Enchanted Valley is a 26-mile round trip adventure that includes waterfalls, wildlife, and old-growth rainforest. From the Graves Creek trailhead, follow the Quinault River through the rainforest to Enchanted Valley. There are four backcountry sites along the way: Pony Bridge, O’Neil Creek, Pyrites Creek, and Enchanted Valley. Pit toilets are available at O’Neil Creek and Enchanted Valley campsites.
This valley is also home to active bears, so bear canisters are required. Borrow bear canisters at the Wilderness Information Center or South Shore Quinault Ranger Station.
Hike from Shi Shi Beach to Point of Arches
This 8-mile round trip backpacking adventure from Shi Shi Beach to Point of Arches offers tidal pools, sea stacks, and driftwood. The first two miles are on a boardwalk and trail that can be muddy. A steep descent with ropes leads to incredible views. Camp above the high-tide mark.
You will need a Makah Recreation Pass and an Olympic National Park wilderness permit. Get a tide table and speak to a ranger about your plan. Bear canisters can be rented for a suggested donation from the visitor center in Port Angeles. Overnight parking is available near the Makah Shi Shi Trailhead.
Can I Camp Anywhere in Olympic National Park?
Camping is restricted to designated campgrounds or specific backcountry camping areas with a wilderness permit. Sleeping in your vehicle is prohibited anywhere in the park except at designated campsites.
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