Best Tent Camping near Hoodsport, WA

The Olympic Peninsula near Hoodsport, Washington offers tent campers diverse options from established sites to free dispersed camping. NF-2419 provides primitive tent setups along a forest service road with multiple spots including some near streams, while Lena Lake Campground requires a 3.5-mile hike to access tent campsites with lake views. Olympic National Forest dispersed camping areas provide numerous free options for those seeking more remote experiences.

Most tent campgrounds near Hoodsport have basic amenities at best. Dispersed sites typically lack drinking water, toilets, and trash service, requiring campers to pack in all necessities and pack out waste. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with complete bans common during summer months. According to reviews, dispersed sites on NF-2419 are mostly positioned along the road in turnouts, with limited privacy unless campers venture further into the woods. FS-2292 offers more secluded tent camping options with ridge-line views but can experience high winds due to the elevated location.

Tent campsites in the area provide excellent access to hiking trails and water features. Lena Lake Campground offers tent-only sites surrounding the lake after a moderate uphill hike through forested terrain. Campers at Camp Pleasant can pitch tents on a small island in the North Fork Skokomish River, though reaching this backcountry site requires a 6.5-mile hike from the Staircase Ranger Station. Areas farther from main roads offer significantly more solitude, with some campers reporting hearing "maybe 1 car the whole day/night" at secluded forest service roads like FS-2292. Many primitive tent campgrounds experience higher traffic on weekends, so weekday visits provide better opportunities for quiet experiences.

Best Tent Sites Near Hoodsport, Washington (97)

    1. NF-2419 Dispersed Site

    5 Reviews
    Lilliwaup, WA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 956-2402

    "Had a blast coming up the mountain with the family , found a few great spots that we pinned for later that are unmarked with fire rings. Not many other campers' sites are well dispersed ."

    "Not a bad find that doesn't require any permit of any kind which was great! Would stay here again I pitched a tent which was nice and found a spot right by the river."

    2. Lena Lake Campground

    10 Reviews
    Lilliwaup, WA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 956-2402

    $5 / night

    "The campsites offers fire rings and has plenty of amazing views of the lake. Don’t forget to pack everything out and leave no trace."

    "This is a hike-in campground down a 3.5 mile trail. It sees heavy use from locals on the weekend. There was plenty of room during the week when I was there."

    3. Olympic National Forest Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Matlock, WA
    9 miles

    "We camped near Vance Creek trailhead to do the Olympic Bridges bike ride the next morning. Since this is a national forest, dispersed camping is allowed."

    4. FS-2292 Dispersed

    4 Reviews
    Matlock, WA
    16 miles

    "Very far off the beaten path, every time I camp here I don’t run into anyone. You’re camping on the Ridgeline so it can be a bit windy."

    "Pretty quiet and only saw 6 vehicles drive by. Lots of bugs."

    5. Graves Creek Campground — Olympic National Park

    15 Reviews
    Quinault, WA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 565-3130

    "First, the creek is clear and provides a peaceful white noise for falling asleep. I was in campsite #1 which is next to the creek, with easy-ish access."

    "This campground is one our favorites close by spots."

    6. Malaney Creek Farm

    1 Review
    Shelton, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 463-7783

    $29 - $185 / night

    "gated entry and showed us our spot. they gave us a quick run down of the place and let us be. our spot was the Trillium site which has a few hundred foot hike from where you park your car and the portable toilet"

    7. Upper Lena Lake — Olympic National Park

    3 Reviews
    Lilliwaup, WA
    16 miles
    Website

    "This was my first backpacking trip. It was brootal but way beyond worth the exhaustion. Watch out for bees! Be prepared to climb! Provides bear wire to hang your food at night."

    "We went in mid June and hit snow about 1 mike past Lena Lake. We continued another mile crossing several downed trees and snow patches before deciding to turn back."

    8. Camp Pleasant — Olympic National Park

    2 Reviews
    Olympic National Forest, WA
    16 miles
    Website

    "Nice backcountry campsite along the beautiful North Fork Skokomish River Trail, ~6.5 miles from the trailhead and located right next to the river."

    "This is a backcountry camping location that you will have to hike into. If you start your journey at Staircase Ranger Station, it will take you about 7 miles to get to Camp Pleasant."

    10. Enchanted Valley — Olympic National Park

    6 Reviews
    Olympic National Forest, WA
    22 miles
    Website

    "It's impossible to say too many good things about the Enchanted Valley trail. Amazingly beautiful river, massive old growth, elk, bears, an abundance of huckleberries and blueberries, waterfalls..."

    "Located 15 miles from Graves Creek Campground on a backcountry trail, this is a campsite that any true backpacker must experience."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Hoodsport, WA

1009 Reviews of 97 Hoodsport Campgrounds


  • Jason H.
    Mar. 24, 2021

    Lena Lake Campground

    Great spot

    A nice 3.5 miles ish hike from the parking area to campground. The campsites offers fire rings and has plenty of amazing views of the lake. Don’t forget to pack everything out and leave no trace.

  • Tj J.
    Sep. 21, 2017

    Malaney Creek Farm

    Great Private Camping Getaway

    arrived at the farm and were greeted by the owners. they got on their quads and led us down a private road through a super nice cedar gated entry and showed us our spot. they gave us a quick run down of the place and let us be. our spot was the Trillium site which has a few hundred foot hike from where you park your car and the portable toilet. the site was pretty cool and very secluded. it had a fire ring with some sawn cedar benches, a pile of firewood and a giant old spool for a table. we threw our marmot up and took a closer look. there is a camp box with info, instant coffee, guides to area sight seeing and food along with a log book to write about your stay. there were also some cool led lighting which was great at night. fire ban was on but they put a big candle on the grate of the fire pit so we had something. we kicked around on the trails which look like they are used by horses and motorcycles but not heavily. some interesting plants in the area. they were working on a new trail that is supposed to eventually lead out to the lake but it wasnt complete yet. however it was covered with wood chips and had a hand cut cedar bridge built on it. you gotta see it. sounds like they are constantly evolving the farm looked like a lot of things in the works. definitely will come back for more time here. night time got spooky with coyotes howling in the distance but the morning there were so many birds chirping and singing you couldnt hear yourself think! oh we found a corn hole game in an open area that they have several picnic tables staged at.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2016

    Lena Lake Campground

    Lena Lake campground

    This is a hike-in campground down a 3.5 mile trail. It sees heavy use from locals on the weekend. There was plenty of room during the week when I was there. Lena Lake is quiet and serene and the perfect place to sit on a log and journal. Other people walked around the edge of the lake but care must be taken as it's a bit rugged. Follow the leave no trace principles and this place will be one to return to again for yourself and others.

  • April C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2022

    Millersylvania State Park Campground

    Choose your Adventure

    This place had it all; open RV camping, secluded van camping, tree canopy car/tent camping, walk-in camping, and themed safari tent camping, and one cute mini airstream. 

    Lake down the road. Water and electrical hookups, dump station with dump water and fresh water. 

    Restrooms and showers are scattered around. Showers are coin based and there is a machine to turn your dollars into coins.

  • Ariel & John  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Heart O' the Hills Campground — Olympic National Park

    Beautiful clean primitive campgrounds

    In the Olympic NP, close to Hurricane Ridge to the south, 15 min to town of Port Ángeles to the north. Camped in loop C. Had a beautiful private site. Old growth forest and hiking trails all around. No hookups, no dump station. Each site has fire ring, picnic table. Each loop has a clean, powered, plumbed bathroom, no showers. Would camp again.

  • Amanda
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Dragon's Gate Gardens

    A reservable paradise- expansive solitude, out of a picture book

    I just completed my third stay at Dragon's Gate, and I've now stayed in each of the different sections (Moon Meadow, Giant Crystal, Jessie's Camp). Each gives a completely different but wonderous experience, either with open views of flower pastures and woods, or a more insular green surrounded by trees. Each reservable space is massive.... 4-5 times the size of most campsites. While you may reasonably run into other campers within each section if you go for a walk, you won't even know anyone is in the other sections, its so private. Sing at the top of your lungs or let your dog roam, they won't run into anyone. 

    Its just SO pretty. Each campsite is really well maintained- the roads and campsites are mowed, carving into the meadows. There are porta potties and access to drinking water and a great deal on both wood and eggs. Wooden picnic tables are in each site, and a well appointed fire ring. The hosts are really lovely as well, and overly accommodating. The entire site is organic, so they do ask that you participate in their policies of no charcoal usage and leave no trace.

    Tenino itself is a cute little historic town, with a surprisingly well appointed supermarket and hardware store, and on Saturdays there's a farmers market. 

    Mostly, I love how my dog can safely roam, and how, even when I am completely by myself camping, I still feel safe.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Hoh Campground — Olympic National Park

    Wet but worth it.

    This is a very wet campground(you are in the Hoh Rainforest afterall), so bring some extra tarps to stay dry. There are 3 loops, with a few riverside sites in Loops A and C. There were a lot of downed trees that were in various states of being cleared when I was there, which did close some sites to campers. Some sites had some privacy and others did not, but all were level. I was comfortable on my site, but preferred more privacy. None of the sites that I looked at had dedicated tent pads, but all had the usual picnic table and fire pit. It's a short walk to the visitors center and lots of hiking trails are nearby, including one that cuts through the campground. It was very quiet at night, and even though I was not on a site on the river, you could hear the river at night.

  • Amy & Stu B.
    Oct. 3, 2022

    Dosewallips State Park Campground

    Gorgeous location

    This campground is right next to a state park. It’s also very close to a river and lots of woods. We stayed here to see Olympic national park, (I wouldn’t recommend this location to travel to Olympic every day, it was very far.)

    The amenities were nice, bathrooms with warm water (one shower per bathroom.)

    No laundry, no Wi-Fi and both Verizon and AT&T worked with about one bar.

    The sites were level spacious and had a fire ring and picnic table at each. We chose the full hookup option. Firewood could be purchased through the camp host.

    The best part about this day was the surrounding area. Every night, my husband and I would walk to the wildlife viewing platform to see lots of birds, or walk down by the river and see lots of elk and bald eagles.

  • Jess G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2017

    Middle Waddell Campground

    LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp at Middle Waddell Campground

    Campground

    Fairly large campground, free as long as you have a discover pass! Close to town yet still secluded in the woods. Tons of trails for hiking, horses and dirt bikes! Plenty of sites for trailers and tents. Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and water hook ups. The camp host even had free bottled water for guest if needed. There was a creek near by with people panning for gold which was interesting!

    Product Review

    Being a ranger I get to test some products from time to time! Today's product is the LEDlenser MH2 Headlamp!

    This headlamp is very impressive! Certainly the brightest light I have ever explored with. It comes in a very nice package with a charging cord, two different colored lens attachments, a carrying pouch and a battery. My only complaint is that the headlamp itself doesn't fit very well in the carrying pouch but I made it work! It was also a little heavy and I had to adjust the strap to fit my head more often then I would have preferred. The brightness of the light made up for the flaws completely!


Guide to Hoodsport

Tent campsites near Hoodsport, Washington offer varying degrees of elevation gain, from roadside pull-offs to backcountry spots requiring substantial hiking. The Olympic Peninsula's typical summer temperatures range from 65-75°F during day and 45-55°F at night, with rainfall averaging less than 2 inches monthly between July and September. Winter camping remains available at lower elevations, though roads to higher-elevation sites often close from November through May.

What to do

Hike to mountain views: Upper Lena Lake provides panoramic views after a challenging climb. According to one camper at Upper Lena Lake, "This was my first backpacking trip. It was brootal but way beyond worth the exhaustion. Watch out for bees! Be prepared to climb!" The trail often has snow through mid-June, with another reviewer noting, "We went in mid June and hit snow about 1 mike past Lena Lake."

Feed local wildlife: Forest areas near Hoodsport offer opportunities to interact with birds. At NF-2419 Dispersed Site, one camper shared, "Got to feed 3 Bluejays by hand with my oldest one of our new favorite memories." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area's forests.

Explore abandoned mines: Historical sites add interest to wilderness hikes. One camper at Camp Pleasant mentioned, "In this area, there is actually a hidden entrance to an abandoned mine, which is hidden with only a small handful of locals knowing the exact location. There is some local history here."

What campers like

Stream access: Multiple camping areas feature water access. At Camp Pleasant, a camper described, "The neatest feature is that there are several sites located on a little island in the river itself." Another noted they "spent several hours alternating between reading and staring at the river from my tent that evening and morning."

Berry picking: Seasonal wild berries enhance camping trips. A Camp Pleasant reviewer mentioned, "There were ripe blueberries right beside my campsite," while campers at Enchanted Valley enjoy "an abundance of huckleberries and blueberries" along with "massive old growth, elk, bears...waterfalls."

Low traffic on weekdays: Campsites offer significantly more solitude midweek. At FS-2292 Dispersed, a camper noted, "Very far off the beaten path, every time I camp here I don't run into anyone." Weekdays provide better opportunities for quiet experiences, with some campers mentioning minimal vehicle traffic.

What you should know

Potable water limitations: Most dispersed sites require bringing your own water. At Graves Creek Campground, a reviewer observed, "Don't understand why the restrooms are closed or even the water source by the bathroom?" Another noted, "There is no potable water, so make sure to bring what you need or filter from the Quinault River."

Tent setup challenges: Some established campgrounds have surfaces that complicate pitching tents. One Graves Creek camper mentioned, "The site was large and had a couple of cool amenities. It was nice to have tables at each site, but the paving made staking a tent impossible."

Bear safety requirements: Multiple campgrounds require proper food storage. At Enchanted Valley, "Bear canisters are a must here as it is in prime bear country," while Camp Pleasant has a "NPS provided bear wire" though it may sometimes be "out of service" requiring campers to find suitable trees for hanging food.

Tips for camping with families

Gradual introduction to backpacking: Start with shorter trails. At Lena Lake Campground, a camper suggested, "The hike to lower Lena Lake is good for a day trip but rather short for an overnight backpacking trip in my opinion." Another noted it's "good for beginner and intermediate hikers as a potential introduction to the Olympic peninsula."

Cell coverage verification: Coverage varies significantly by carrier and location. A NF-2419 camper reported, "I had 4g on my Tmobile," which can be important for families needing to stay connected.

Wildlife education opportunities: Multiple locations offer wildlife viewing. Enchanted Valley "is home to a herd of Elk as well as deer, bears and other wildlife," providing chances to teach children about wilderness safety and animal habitats from a distance.

Tips from RVers

Road condition awareness: Many forest service roads have limitations. One camper at NF-2419 advised, "We saw people driving various types of vehicles so most will make it up. My 2011 Ford Flex made it up no problem." However, roads to Graves Creek require caution as it's "about 6 miles of unpaved road before you reach the campground."

Vehicle size restrictions: Not all camping areas accommodate larger vehicles. At Graves Creek, "no trailers and RVs are allowed out here due to the narrow gravel roads and small spaces," while many forest service roads like FS-2292 are better suited for SUVs or trucks with higher clearance.

Alternative parking arrangements: Some areas require planning for larger vehicles. A camper at Olympic National Forest Dispersed Camping mentioned, "We camped near Vance Creek trailhead to do the Olympic Bridges bike ride the next morning," demonstrating how RV campers often use trailhead parking for overnight stays while exploring by other means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hoodsport, WA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hoodsport, WA is NF-2419 Dispersed Site with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Hoodsport, WA?

TheDyrt.com has all 97 tent camping locations near Hoodsport, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.