Rv Camping Near Olympic National Park

The Best Free Campsites On The Olympic Peninsula

Lets get right to the point theres a ton of free camping on the Olympic Peninsula.

Although many campers stay at an Olympic National Park campground, there are countless free campgrounds, dispersed campsites, and even free casino boondocking just outside the parks boundaries.

Today, Im going to tell you all about these free campsites .

Dispersed Camping Near Olympic National Park

Dispersed camping is another option for camping near Olympic National Park.

Also known as wild camping, dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground.

This means you wont have any normal campground amenities such as running water or bathrooms. Remember to always follow the leave no trace principles .

Dont forget that camping is only allowed in certain areas. On the Olympic Peninsula, its generally restricted to the Olympic National Forest.

The best thing about dispersed camping? Its free!

Another option for free camping on the Olympic Peninsula is to stay at a DNR campground.

There are 12 DNR campgrounds on the Olympic Peninsula. Each requires a Discover Pass which costs just $30 per year. Other than that, they are free to use.

Check out our in-depth camping guides to learn more about dispersed camping and free camping.

Abundance Of Small Rv Camping Inside Olympic National Park

Most of the camping inside the park is limited to 21-foot-length campers and tents. There are a few sites for rigs up to 35 feet long in some of the campgrounds. There are hundreds of RV sites in 11 different campgrounds. Three campgrounds take reservations, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Most of the campgrounds have no hookups. Water and dump station availability varies. The campgrounds are available on all sides of the park. There are beachfront, lakefront, and riverfront campgrounds as well as a campground in the rainforest and one in an old-growth forest. If you have a small enough RV, the options are dizzying. There is even a resort with hot springs that accommodates RVs up to 50 feet in length. Prices range from $20 to $28/night with most being $24/night.

If your RV is too big or you cant snag one of the larger sites, there are a few state parks, commercial parks, and Olympic National Forest sites that can accommodate RVs.

Fairholme is on the west side of Crescent Lake, one of the most scenic ground level places in the park. Unfortunately, this is a 21 foot-and-under park, but there are 88 sites. There are hiking trails of all levels around the lake.

Sol Duc campground has hot springs, and you can hike to Sol Duc Falls. Sol Duc has a few sites that accommodate over 21-foot RVs, but its first-come, first-served access to 82 sites.

Robyne Stevenson

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North Side + Straight Of Juan De Fuca

Fairholme Campground on Lake Crescent. Photo by Tyson Gillard.

Favorite:

Fairholme Campground. Located on the western shore of Lake Crescent, this campground offers large sites with direct beachfront access. Enough said.

In the Park, From West to East:

Overflow Camping:

Why Youll Love Skokomish Park At Lake Cushman

Why Youll Love Skokomish Park At Lake Cushman Whether you want to go boating, fishing or swimming, nearby Lake Cushman will satisfy your needs with its three boat ramps. When youre not in the water, you can enjoy hiking on one of the trails in the area or play one of the many games found throughout camp. At the end of the day, many campers just sit back and relax by the fire.

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Olympic National Park Is The Pride Of The Olympic Peninsula And There Are 16 Official National Park Campgrounds With A Total Of 910 Camping Sites Olympic National Park Is Not The Only Park On The Peninsula There Are Also Campgrounds At Nearby Olympic National Forest Bogachiel State Park Dosewallips State Park And Sequim Bay State Park

Where can I find great campsites near Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park Campgrounds Olympic National Park features 876,669 acres of pristine, forests, meadows, beaches, and rainforest. There are 16 campgrounds through the park.

• Seasons: Altair: Closed Deer Park: mid June â mid October Dosewallips: open year round Graves Creek: open year round Heart Othe Hills: open year round Hoh: open year round North Fork: open year round, may close in winter Ozette: open year round, may close in winter Queets: open year round Staircase: open year round
• Cost: Between Free â $43.00
• Services: Most campgrounds have flush toilets and running water in summer, but convert to pit toilets and no water in the winter. There are no showers nor places to do laundry in the park. Most Campgrounds are near major trailheads.
• Reservations: The only site that requires reservations is Kalaloch, which requires reservations in oder to aquire a site in the summer. Reservations can be made via: or 1-877-444-6777.

Olympic National Forest Campgrounds The Olympic National Forest is more than 2,132,300 acres and features 17 individual campgrounds. The National Forest predominately runs east and south of Olympic National Park, with the exception of the Klahowya Campgrounds, which lie just northwest of Olympic National Park, between Port Angeles and Forks. You will find more info HERE

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The Perfect Rv Road Trip To Olympic National Park

Hike through a rain forest, soak in hot springs, and tackle a Sasquatch Burger in the northwest corner of Washington state

• 10

Located on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington state, Olympic National Park is nothing less than breathtaking. Yellowstone and Yosemite may be more famous, but Olympics geographic diversity is simply unrivaled in the U.S. Where else in the country can you find snow-capped mountains, temperate rainforest, and rugged coastline all within a few hours of each other?

Olympic is also particularly well-suited for RV adventures. There are a variety of private campgrounds around the park that offer amenities and full hookups, and 10 rustic NPS campgrounds within the park accept RVs up to 35 feet. For the most part, the roads are also easy to navigate and traverse. Make sure to pack layers. Temperatures in the park can vary widely, and depending on the season, rain is often a possibility.

Here are some of the best spots to eat, sleep, drink, and recreate in Olympic National Park. You will find dozens of other hidden gems too, but these 10 should not be missed.

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All About Camping In Olympic National Park

Is there anything better than wandering through a rainforest, swimming in a pristine alpine lake, or breathing in the crisp mountain air? When you go camping in Olympic National Park, youre only a few steps away from all of these amazing adventures!

Camping in Olympic is an enchanting experience. This guide is all about the frontcountry camping possibilities within the national park. I am excited to help you decide which campground is perfect for your needs!

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Olympic National Park Camping Tips

Olympic National Park camping trips are one of the best ways to stay in the park and explore. You can base yourself in one campground for the duration of your stay or try out a couple to gain access to different parts of the national park. So whether you enjoy outdoor recreation, are an avid bird watcher, or are looking for a quiet getaway, there are plenty of options in the national park.

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What To Know About Free Camping

When looking for a free camping spot, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Above all else, youll want to verify that the area is legal for public camping. Often ranger stations will have Bureau of Land Management maps indicating allowed access areas.

Then scout out your desired location to ensure you and your equipment can safely navigate the terrain. Finally, if you choose to stay, obey all posted rules and follow leave no trace principles.

Point Hudson Marina & Rv Park

Image Source:https://www.goodsam.com/campg…

This park sits right on the water, and the marina next-door offers plenty of boat rentals. There are decent sized campsites with full hookups that can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet long. Lots of amenities and great service make this one of the top Olympic Peninsula campsites.

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Washington’s Parks: The best state and national parks of Washington attract millions of tourists to the state every year. Alongside a great selection of campgrounds, the best hiking trails of Olympic National Park provide plenty of adventures to explore by day. A crown jewel of the state, Mount Rainier National Park also has a great selection of top-rated hiking trails and amazing campgrounds. For more elevated adventures in Washington, the best hiking trails and top-rated campgrounds of North Cascades National Park enables exploration of this rugged environment.

Other Adventures in Washington: If you are new to the outdoors, you may want to begin by having a read through our articles on camping for beginners and hiking for beginners. The top-rated hiking trails in Washington can lead you down an adventurous path, and the state’s best campgrounds provide some pretty awesome places to pitch a tent. For even more natural attractions, Washington is also stacked with spectacular waterfalls and inviting hot springs.

Other Campground On The Olympic Peninsula

Just because you want to visit Olympic National Park, doesnt mean you have to camp in the national park itself.

There are several amazing campgrounds near Olympic National Park. Many are just minutes outside of its boundaries. Some of these are small and remote to help you avoid crowds while others are full-blown RV parks.

Here are a few more of our favorite campgrounds on the Olympic Peninsula!

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Free Dispersed Camping In Olympic National Forest

Olympic National Forest is broken up into several non-contiguous districts surrounding Olympic National Park.

The two main districts are the Hood Canal Ranger District and the Pacific Ranger District .

Dispersed camping is available throughout Olympic National Forest. This is one of the best ways to camp for free on the Olympic Peninsula, especially if you prefer primitive camping outside of a developed campground.

Unfortunately, Olympic National Forests boundaries are a little more difficult to ascertain than other national forests. And, remember, you must be within the forests boundaries to legally dispersed camp dispersed camping is not allowed in the national park.

Pick up an Olympic National Forest map at a ranger station. Or, use a map app that shows national forest boundaries. In my opinion, the FreeRoam app and Gaia GPS show USFS boundaries most clearly.

Personally, Ive had a lot of luck dispersed camping on Quinault Ridge Road near Lake Quinault, Forest Road 29 just outside of Forks, Forest Road 2419 near Lake Cushman, and along Forest Road 2312 on the east side of Wynoochee Lake.

However, do know there are countless Olympic National Forest dispersed campsites beyond my above recommendations. Use a dispersed camping app, give yourself time to explore in the field, or ask a ranger for suggestions and youre sure to find the perfect free campsite of your very own.

Not interested in dispersed camping? You can still camp for free in Olympic National Forest.

Backpacking Permits In Olympic National Park

There are dozens of tiny campsites scattered throughout Olympic National Park for backpacking. But staying overnight at one of these sites requires a wilderness permit. Permits must be booked in advance, there are no walk-up permits that can be obtained. You can reserve a permit up to 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov

Permits cost $8 per person plus a $6 reservation fee.

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Where Can I Camp Within Olympic National Park

Discover The Best Free Camping Across The Usa

To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America .

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Every time you pay federal taxes, youre contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site!

Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA . Access the list by submitting your email below:

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Planning A Camping Trip To Olympic National Park

An Olympic National Park camping trip is the perfect way to explore the park without driving too far to get back to your bed and kitchen. We recommend staying at least three full days to get the most out of your time in the national park. Then, of course, more time will allow you to go more slowly and see more of the park.

Once youve finished setting up at your campsite, spend a day exploring Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and Sol Duc Falls. Theres so much to see and do in these areas that you may even want to return during your visit. Also, be sure to check out Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach. And, we highly recommend hiking in Quinault Rainforest. The rainforests and beaches are outstanding and worth spending as much time soaking them in as possible.

Why Youll Love Kalaloch Campground At Olympic Tiol Park

At Kalaloch, youll have access to running water and a few other amenities. The real draw to camping in Olympic tiol Park isnt the amenities though, it is the wonder and beauty of being out in ture. There are forests, rivers, waterfalls and mountains as far as the eye can see. Its a truly special camping experience for any ture lover.

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Dont Forget Your Passport

Did you know that Olympic National Park is just a quick ferry ride from Victoria, British Columbia? Thats right. If you bring your passport, you can head to Canada for the day from the Olympic Peninsula. The Black Ball Ferry Line has several boats that depart from Port Angeles each day, taking passengers and their vehicles across the sound to Victoria. RVs are allowed on the ferry but taking your vehicle across can get expensive. A one-way standard vehicle ticket costs $70 USD and includes the drivers fare.

For a vehicle more than 18 feet in length, it costs $5.50 USD for each additional foot. If you plan to continue your vacation on Vancouver Island, it may make sense to bring your RV across. Just ensure you make reservations several days in advance to guarantee room for your RV. If youre just heading over for a day trip, consider parking your RV in the Black Balls lot and buying a walk-on ticket instead. Victoria is very foot-traffic friendly, and youll be able to explore much of the city without a car. You can always grab a cab or rent a bike once you are on the other side as well.

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Area Attractions And Activities

The Olympic Peninsula is rich with outdoors pleasures. The Olympic National Forest virtually surrounds the park and offers outstanding outdoors opportunities. Also, there are a number of Washington State Parks on the peninsula. They have great campgrounds and scenic beauties that rival Olympics wonders. For detailed information on the Olympic Peninsulas towns, waters and visitors facilities consult the links listed below.

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Log Cabin Resort Rv & Campground

Log Cabin Resort offers a variety of campsites next to Lake Crescent including full hook-up RV sites, group tent camping , bike-in tent sites, and ADA tent sites.

• 2022 Season: May 20 – September 25
• Please call 888-896-3818 to reserve a tent camping or RV site.
• Sites and Fees: 38 total sites, $25-$44 per night depending on campsite and amenities
• RVs: Sites for up to 35 feet. RV sites offer full hookups with electricity and sewer.
• Facilities: Restrooms with flush toilets and showers potable water laundry.
• More information on amenities and the check-in process is available on the Log Cabin Resort website.

History Of Olympic National Park

Native Americans were the first to enjoy the abundant fish and game of the region, doing so for thousands of years before European settlers brought devastating diseases with them. So, by the time these outsiders arrived, the indigenous peoples were all but gone. These new pioneers established logging operations in the late 1800s, as growing communities in the west required more construction material.

It only took a few years of clear-cutting for locals to realize their natural resources needed protection. Talk of making the Olympic Peninsula a national park started in 1890, and by 1897 the Olympic National Forest had been named, giving the forests some safeguards against overuse. Even President Theodore Roosevelt attempted to protect his namesake Roosevelt elk in the region by designating Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909.

It took more public pressure to convince Franklin Roosevelt to finally sign the Olympic National Park declaration into law in 1938. Today arguments still continue over logging rights outside the park boundaries, but the old growth forests, rocky beaches, and snow-covered mountain peaks are on display for all to enjoy.

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