Olympic Peninsula campsites around Forks, Washington provide access to diverse ecosystems including temperate rainforest, coastal beaches, and alpine ridges. Seasonal variations can be significant with summer highs averaging 70°F while winter brings frequent rain and temperatures in the 40s. Most campgrounds near Forks maintain some availability during winter months when visitor traffic decreases substantially.
What to do
Explore local beaches and tide pools: At Mora Campground, visitors can access nearby coastal attractions. "If you are looking for a nice quiet campground close to Rialto beach and great beach hikes, this is a great place to check out. Limited amenities, just a bathroom but very serviceable. Also a great choice is you have pups since dogs are not allowed at the Rialto beach area," shares Natalie B. about Mora Campground.
Hike rainforest trails: The Hoh Rainforest offers iconic Pacific Northwest experiences with several campgrounds providing convenient bases. "We actually ended up here because they closed the NP Mora site due to forecasted heavy winds. Plenty of sites available but online system wasn't clear. Had to call to confirm if there was availability but even then it was complicated to figure out if we could claim a site," notes Carol & Ed V. about their stay at Bogachiel State Park Campground.
Visit local hot springs: Sol Duc Hot Springs provides a relaxing experience after hiking. "The pools are well maintained ($15 to get in), there's locker rooms with showers and there's also a diner. Down the road there's a short 1 mile hike to the falls!" explains Lucy about Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground.
What campers like
River access sites: The Hoh Oxbow Campground offers waterfront camping opportunities. "If you're a fisherman this is it! We drove thru scouting. It's beautiful 😍 the sites are nothing fancy but that is not what this is about," writes Julie H. about Hoh Oxbow Campground.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate natural separation between camping spots. "The spots were relatively private and had good shade. There was some road noise but overall it was a great campground," shares Kayla R. about Mora Campground's spacious setup.
Off-grid experiences: Yurt camping near Forks, Washington provides a balance of comfort and nature immersion. "We came in around 1 pm and someone must have just left. Large spots, access to the river. Buggy, but more gnats and flys than mosquitoes!" Hannah notes about her Hoh Oxbow experience, which offers primitive camping close to more developed glamping and yurt options.
What you should know
Reservation challenges: Many Olympic Peninsula campgrounds fill quickly in summer. "Very popular campground and a lot of people come and go to see the river. Not bad but you're better off going to the Cottonwood campground up the road if you plan to stay for multiple days out here," advises Nik B. about Hoh Oxbow.
Weather preparedness: The Olympic coast sees significant rainfall year-round. "Beautiful! Awesome view! Prepare for rain as it will likely still rain in the summer with cooler evenings," Rachel T. cautions about conditions at Kalaloch.
Local issues: Some campsites face specific challenges. "I've stayed at this spot before and it was quite lovely, local people and logging trucks drive up and down the road, but this last stay here my boyfriend and I were forced to leave due to someone setting off 3 explosives and firing a pistol 6 times," reports Payton N. about South Fork Calawah River.
Tips for camping with families
Beach-friendly accommodations: When looking for yurt camping in Forks, Washington with children, consider locations with beach access. "Large campground. First come first serve and very popular, so get there early if you want a spot. In the beautiful temperate rainforest, nice and shaded and mossy and green. Near Rialto Beach, which is a must see," recommends Brant T. about Mora.
Campgrounds with kid-friendly spaces: Some campgrounds provide better family setups. "Our family had a lot of fun at Bogachiel! Some of the campsites lead right up to the river and were tucked away by the forest. Super small but so close to Forks and La Push," shares Kara C.
Seasonal timing for families: School schedules affect campground availability. "We drove in on a super busy weekend at the end of August (right before school starts and during this pandemic where everyone just needed to get out) but were able to get lucky and find 1 site that wasn't reserved for a night," explains JeffT about Willaby Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Not all campgrounds accommodate bigger RVs. "This is a beautiful campground in the olympic national forest. Very quiet with large trees and vegetation between each site. There are no hook ups but water is available with a dump station open only in the summer. Sites are accessible for rvs but the loops wind through large trees and many sites will not accommodate rvs due to an inability to pull far enough forward to back in to the space," warns smittie about Mora Campground.
Hookup availability: Electric and water service varies widely between campgrounds. "Has three sections among the big trees. We had the joy of moving from campsite to campsite while we spent 3 nights. Sites vary in size. Some are tiny and cramped up to your neighbor and some are large and private. Some back ins and some have pull throughs," reports marcus K. about Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground.
Off-season RV access: Some areas offer better winter camping for RVs and yurts. "I prefer winter camping here because its less crowded, and the storms coming in from the Pacific are nothing less than awe inspiring," suggests Toby R. regarding winter camping at Kalaloch.
