The North Fork Campground is the smallest campground in Olympic National Park. What it lacks in size it makes up for in views. You are literally surrounded by trees!
This primitive campground does not have water or electricity so you will need to plan ahead for your visit. This is a campground you can truly get away from the crowds and enjoy the beauty of Olympic National Park.
There are multiple hiking trails accessible from the campground.
North Fork Campground - Olympic National Park
The campground is only accessible from a dirt road that is not suitable for RV's or Trailers. We did not have any issues on the dirt road in our SUV. There were no huge ruts or issues on the road.
The road into the campground can be damaged during the winter including trees covering the road.
You can call 360-565-3131 for current road conditions.
Number of Sites: 9
Location in the park: Located on the North Fork of the Quinault River near Lake Quinault.
The Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station is just down the road from the campground.
Campsite Cost: $15
$7.50 with an interagency senior pass / Access pass
Payments accepted: U.S. Cash or Check
Reservations: No, first come first served
Campground Address:
Accessible Sites: There are no paved sites in the campground.
Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet long.
Pets are not allowed inside park buildings or on specific trails.
Pets can be on the following trails: Rialto (to Ellen Creek) and Kalaloch beaches, Peabody Creek, Madison Falls, and Spruce Railroad trails only
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? No
First Come, First Served? Yes
Olympic National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$75.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: No, Pit Toilets
Payphone: no
Is wifi Available? no
Is cellular Phone Service Available? No
Is camp host available on site? Depends on when you visit
Is firewood available for purchase?
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area? Yes, communal boxes.
Potable Water? No
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
RV Camping at North Fork Campground
RV Length: Not recommended for RV's or Trailers
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
How to get to North Fork Campground
The North Fork Campground is located off of North Shore Rd. This road runs along Lake Quinault and the Quinault River.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: Per site limit is 8 people
The number of cars per campsite:
Checkout time: 11:00 am
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m
Maximum Stay: 7-day maximum stay limit.
Photos of North Fork Campground
Trails near the North Fork Campground
Maple Glade Trail: This .5 flat loop trail is hard-packed and travels through a mossy big leaf maple grove. The trail begins across the bridge from the Quinault Ranger Station.
Kestner Homestead: You can learn about homestead life on the Kestner Homestead Trail. The 1.3-mile loop starts at the Quinault Ranger Station.
Cascading Terraces Trail: This flat half-mile trail takes you through the forest to Graves Creek.
Irely Lake Trail: This 1.1-mile trail climbs 100 feet to shallow Irely Lake. The trail begins a quarter-mile before the campground entrance.
Where to stay when visiting Olympic National Park
There are multiple National Park Lodges within the park. Deciding on which lodge to stay in will largely depend on what part of the park you plan to explore because it certainly is one of those National Parks that you'll visit multiple times and still have something new to see (like we do!)
Kalaloch Lodge
Season: Year-round
Location: Along Highway 101 on the Pacific Ocean
The Kalaloch Lodge is a perfect place to stay while exploring the Olympic Peninsula and was indeed one of our favorite National Park Lodges we've ever stayed at. With well-equipped rooms and unbeatable views of Kalaloch Beach, you're sure to fall in love with this lodge.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Season: May to January
Location: Beside Lake Crescent, approximately 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Lake Crescent Lodge boasts phenomenal views of Lake Crescent and offers a variety of accommodating options like cottages, lodge rooms, single tavern cottages, and more for you to choose from. If you end up deciding on a cottage (like we did), you'll get a chance to catch the gorgeous sunsets over the lake from your front porch. You can also rent kayaks from the property to go kayaking on the lake.
Log Cabin Resort
Season: May to September
Location: On the shore of Lake Crescent, 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington
The Log Cabin Resort includes chalets, camper cabins, RV/tent-camping sites, and more with stellar views of Lake Crescent. We stayed in a 2 Bedroom Kitchenette Cabin and had a great time at the place, which was spacious, had all the essentials, and a picnic table with a view, right outside the room.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Season: Mid-April to the end of October
Location: Right by the Sol Duc Hot Springs
The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is a rustic, serene property located by the hot springs. With a reservation at this resort, you'll also get access to swim in the hot springs, which was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay there. The property's prime location in the forested region also gives you easy access to the nearby trails, the Sol Duc Falls, River, and Valley.
Lodging near Olympic NP
Olympic NP borders multiple gateway communities including Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, La Push, Olympia, Forks, and Shelton.
Lake Quinault Lodge - At Lake Quinault Lodge, you can look forward to golfing on site, a terrace, and shopping on site. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. The onsite family restaurant, Roosevelt Room, features American cuisine. In addition to a firepit and mini golf, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi. Available to book on Expedia
Tree house at Twilight Beach - Stunning Tree house looking over the Strait of Juan De Fuca is a total North-West Washington experience. It is made of cedar with rustic touches. Once you are inside you will never want to leave as the floor to ceiling window looks onto the straight and with constant moving landscape of cruise ships, wildlife, and bald eagles soaring across your window.
Olympic Inn & Suites - located in Port Angeles. Olympic Inn & Suites provides everything you need. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor - Take advantage of dry cleaning/laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar at Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location. Be sure to enjoy a meal at 48° North, the onsite restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.
Quality Inn & Suites - Located in Sequim. Take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a gym at Quality Inn & Suites at Olympic NP. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a business center, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Olympic Railway Inn - located in Sequim. Stay in converted Caboose Train cars!!! Each caboose has a different theme!
Click on the map below to see additional hotel and vacation rental rates in the area.
Additional Olympic National Park Resources
Check out all of the Olympic National Park Camping options. There are 14 campgrounds within the park
Olympic National Park Lodging - Check out our complete guide of all the places to stay within the park
Things to do in Olympic NP - Find out all of the top things to do in this great park.
Free National Park Days - Check out the 5 days a year the National Park Service waives entrance fees.
Most visited National Parks - Check out all of the top-visited parks in the United States
Moon Olympic Peninsula Guide Book
Olympic National Park trails map
Check out all of the Washington National Parks along with neighboring Oregon National Parks, Idaho National Parks, National Parks in Hawaii, and National Parks in Alaska
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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