When planning a trip to Olympic National Park you have to determine overnight accommodations, regions to visit, and how much driving you want to do. Lodges are available at Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, Quinault, and Kalaloch. Nearby dining, grocery stores, lodging, festivals, and attractions are listed in the What’s Nearby section.
There are 16 campgrounds, with a total of 910 sites to choose from, but campgrounds can fill during summer. You can play it safe by reserving a site at Kalaloch. Reservations can be made by clicking www.recreation.gov or calling (877) 444-6777. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Stop and set up camp before you begin exploring a region (especially on summer weekends).
If you want to see several regions without moving your tent or camper, you may want to set up base camp at Kalaloch or Fairholme on Lake Crescent. Quinault, Queets, and Hoh Rain Forest are relatively close to Kalaloch. Hurricane Ridge, Elwha, and Sol Duc are all within a reasonable drive from Lake Crescent. Fairholme is also a good location to make the trip to Ozette (see driving distances below).
If you’re planning on driving the entire Olympic Peninsula Loop on US-101, make sure you stop at Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rain Forest, Ruby Beach at Kalaloch, and Quinault. Shi Shi Beach at Ozette and the Mora Beaches (Second, Third, and Rialto) are nice, too.