Where to Stay in Olympic: Lodges, Towns, and Campgrounds

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Olympic

The short answer: Base yourself in Port Angeles for the northern area (Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent), and plan on at least one night on the Pacific coast, in Kalaloch or Forks. Olympic covers about 1,400 square miles in an arc around the Olympic Peninsula, so one base isn't enough. Plan on 3 to 5 nights to cover the main areas. To figure out how many nights you need, Olympic's detailed itinerary offers plans based on the length of your stay.

Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (12)

All Gateway townsLodgesCampgrounds

• Campground Queets Campground first come, first served · 20 sites Directions ↗
• Campground South Beach Campground first come, first served · 55 sites Directions ↗
• Campground North Fork Campground first come, first served · 9 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Ozette Campground first come, first served · 15 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Kalaloch Campround recreation.gov · 170 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Graves Creek Campground first come, first served · 30 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Heart O' the Hills Campground first come, first served · 97 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Staircase Campground first come, first served · 49 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Fairholme Campground see NPS · 88 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Mora Campground recreation.gov · 94 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Hoh Campground first come, first served · 78 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Deer Park Campground first come, first served · 14 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

⚠ Gateway town & Lodge data is undergoing editorial review.

Stay in the Park or Outside It?

This is the central decision, and the answer depends as much on your itinerary as on your budget.

Stay in the park if you want to be first on the trails in the morning, listen to the Pacific from the Kalaloch terrace at sunset, or slip into Sol Duc's hot pools after dark. Lodging inside the park is limited and often expensive, but the experience is unlike anything else.

Choose a town outside the park if you're visiting several areas in a few days, traveling with family, or looking for more flexibility with your budget. Port Angeles and Forks offer a good balance of services and proximity.

Olympic is a special case. Unlike a compact park such as Zion, Olympic stretches in an arc around the Olympic Peninsula. The Hoh Rain Forest is a two-hour drive from Port Angeles. Kalaloch is two and a half hours away. Using one base for your entire stay means spending a good part of your time behind the wheel. We recommend splitting your stay between two geographic areas, or driving the Highway 101 loop and moving camp as you go.

Staying in Olympic: Park Lodges and Accommodations

Olympic has four accommodations operated by park concessioners. They all open seasonally, except Kalaloch. They often fill up months in advance during peak season, so open the reservation calendar as soon as it becomes available. Opening dates and reservation links for each Olympic lodge are available in the hotels section.

Lake Crescent Lodge

Built in 1916, this historic lodge sits along the shores of Lake Crescent, whose waters have an almost unreal blue color. You can choose from rooms in the main building, which are the most affordable and don't have private bathrooms, the Roosevelt Cottages at the edge of the forest, and the Storm King Cottages overlooking the lake. The view of the mountains reflected in the water is worth the reservation alone. Open from about late April through late October.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort

The park's only lodging with direct access to hot springs. The deliberately rustic cabins, with no TVs or Wi-Fi, surround mineral pools fed by geothermal springs. If you're passing through Sol Duc Valley to see the waterfalls, this is the night to stay. Open from about late March through late October.

Kalaloch Lodge

Perched on the cliffs of the Pacific coast, Kalaloch is the only lodging inside the park that's open year-round. The lodge and its cabins look directly out over the ocean. The cliffside cabins are the most sought-after and sell out within minutes of reservations opening. It's a smart choice in the off-season: winter is mild here, and the beaches are empty.

Log Cabin Resort

Less well known, this resort sits on the northeast arm of Lake Crescent. It offers log cabins, sites with electrical hookups, and a few motel-style rooms. It's the most affordable way to enjoy Lake Crescent without paying Roosevelt Cottage rates. Open from about May through September.

Camping in Olympic: Park Campgrounds

Olympic has roughly 15 campgrounds spread across its different areas. Here are the essentials.

Campgrounds reservable through Recreation.gov: Heart O' the Hills, with access to Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc, Fairholme at Lake Crescent, and Hoh. July and August dates disappear within minutes of the calendar opening, generally six months before the date. Log on to Recreation.gov at the exact opening time. That's no exaggeration.

First-come, first-served campgrounds: Mora at Rialto Beach, part of Kalaloch, and several smaller forest campgrounds. During peak season, arrive before 11 a.m. to give yourself the best chance of getting a site.

Kalaloch: Open year-round, set between rainforest and ocean, and easy to access in an RV. It's the park's most versatile campground if you had to choose just one.

Hoh: Camping here means falling asleep beneath a canopy of giant, moss-covered spruce trees in almost tangible silence. The experience is worth the two-hour drive from Port Angeles.

Facilities, rules, and tips for every Olympic campground are covered in the camping guide. Van and RV travelers will find the vehicle-specific restrictions on the peninsula in the dedicated section.

Where to Stay Around Olympic: Gateway Towns

Port Angeles: The Versatile, Well-Equipped Northern Base

Port Angeles, with about 20,000 residents, is the largest city on the peninsula, 30 minutes from the Hurricane Ridge entrance and Lake Crescent. The ferry to Victoria, British Columbia, leaves from here several times a day. This is where you'll find the hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and outdoor-gear stores.

Best for: First-time visitors, families, and anyone who wants simple logistics. Expect to pay $100 to $200 per night for a decent hotel, depending on the season.

Sequim: The Sunny Microclimate to the East

About 12 miles east of Port Angeles, Sequim, pronounced "Skwim," enjoys a remarkably dry microclimate, sheltered from precipitation in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Lavender fields, a quiet atmosphere, and a well-developed hotel selection. If you're arriving from Seattle via the Kingston ferry, Sequim is the first town you'll pass through.

Best for: Couples, travelers coming from Seattle, and anyone who values peace and quiet. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to reach Port Angeles and the heart of the park.

Forks: The Gateway to the Coast and Rainforest

A small town of about 4,000 residents on the west side of the peninsula, Forks is 20 minutes from the Hoh Rain Forest and 30 minutes from the wild beaches of Rialto Beach and La Push. Twilight fans, whose saga is set here, will appreciate the connection. For everyone else, it's mainly the ideal base if your plans focus on the Pacific coast and rainforest.

Best for: Travelers focused on forest and coast. Lodging consists mostly of motels, and prices are lower than in Port Angeles.

Lake Quinault: The Southern Gateway

At the southernmost end of the park, Lake Quinault Lodge, a private property outside the park, sits on the shores of Lake Quinault at the edge of the Quinault Rain Forest. If you're driving the Highway 101 loop from the south, or arriving from Portland, this makes a memorable stop. Lodging in the area remains limited, so book early.

Best for: Road-trippers circling the peninsula and travelers arriving from the south.

When to Book Your Olympic Lodging

July and August account for most visits. Park lodges, including Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, and Kalaloch, may fill up six months in advance. Watch for reservation calendars to open, often in January or February.

For campgrounds reservable through Recreation.gov, summer dates go within the first few minutes after booking opens. Outside peak season, from September through May, demand drops significantly. Still, check for seasonal closures. Hurricane Ridge Road frequently closes from November through April depending on snowfall, and several campgrounds are out of service in winter.

The best times to visit Olympic are covered season by season in the dedicated guide.

Lodging Budget: How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Olympic?

Add the entrance fee to these rates: $30 per vehicle, valid for seven days. The $55 annual pass pays for itself after two visits in a year.

Our Recommendation Based on Your Travel Style

First visit, 3 to 5 nights: Spend two nights in Port Angeles for Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent, one night at Kalaloch Lodge or Kalaloch Campground on the Pacific coast, and one or two nights in Forks or at Hoh Campground in the rainforest. This plan covers the park's three distinct sides without excessive driving.

Traveling with family: Use Port Angeles as your main base, with day trips to Hurricane Ridge, where kids love watching marmots roam free, and Lake Crescent, with its kayaking and calm water. Add a bonus night in Kalaloch if you want wild beaches. Family-friendly activities for every age in Olympic are covered in the family guide.

Tight budget: Camp at Heart O' the Hills for the mountains and Hoh Campground for the rainforest. You'll pay around $20 to $25 per night per site, which is hard to beat in this area.

Full immersion: Spend one night at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, ending the day in the hot pools, then one night at Kalaloch Lodge facing the ocean. This combination really makes you feel as if you've experienced the park, not just driven through it.

To build your itinerary around these bases, see Olympic hikes by area and difficulty to choose trails from each base.

Frequently Asked Questions