Best Dispersed Camping near Joyce, WA

Dispersed camping near Joyce, Washington primarily concentrates along Forest Service Road 2918, with multiple free primitive sites situated within Olympic National Forest. Several dispersed areas exist near the Sol Duc River, providing campers with backcountry access at the edge of Olympic National Park. These sites require no reservations and offer basic primitive camping opportunities without developed facilities. Forest Road 29 also contains a dispersed camping loop for those seeking alternative locations in the surrounding forest land.

Accessing many of these sites requires careful navigation of unpaved forest roads. The terrain varies significantly, with some areas demanding high-clearance vehicles or 4WD capability, particularly for reaching riverfront spots. Several reviews mention steep grades exceeding 12% and rough conditions with rocks, roots, and deep potholes. Most sites feature established fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. No drinking water, toilets, or trash service exists at any of these locations. Cell service varies by carrier, with Verizon generally providing better coverage than other networks.

These primitive camping areas offer proximity to Olympic National Park attractions while providing natural settings along rivers and within forest environments. Many sites provide seclusion with river views and access. Campers should be aware of land jurisdiction boundaries, as camping is prohibited within Olympic National Park unless at designated sites with proper permits. A visitor noted, "The first couple miles of FS 2918 are in the National Park and no camping is allowed. After a small logged area, you get into the National Forest and there are several areas, some great, some ok." Another camper cautioned about site access, writing "Perfect cozy little spot far enough from the road with views of the river! I would not recommend attempting to get down here if your vehicle doesn't have 4 wheel drive and high clearance."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Joyce, Washington (38)

    1. Dispersed Camping NF 2918 — Olympic National Park

    17 Reviews
    Joyce, WA
    13 miles

    "We arrived very late at night and found a quiet spot up the mountain but moved in the morning in search of shade. We came upon a little dirt road off of 2918 near the river."

    "Couldn’t get a spot at Fairholme so I opted for this location. I only saw 2 small areas you could back in with fire pits. One closer to the 101, and one further back before you cross the bridge."

    2. FS-2918 Dispersed Site

    9 Reviews
    Joyce, WA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 374-6522

    "We didn’t feel comfortable driving our class C into any of the nicer, more private spots off of this road due to large potholes, ruts, etc."

    "I usually only stay at the places identified as "Big Rig Friendly" but I gave this location a shot since a review said there were buses that found a spot..."

    3. Forest Road 2918 Dispersed Site

    7 Reviews
    Joyce, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 765-2200

    "I would not recommend attempting to get down here if your vehicle doesn’t have 4 wheel drive and high clearance."

    "Spot is great, it’s a little tight for a truck but tent camping would be easy. Reception was pretty good as long as you stay near the asphalt road"

    4. Forest Service Road 2918 Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Sol Duc Hot Springs, WA
    12 miles

    "There’s multiple camping spots, multiple camp fire spots, and there’s a bench someone made from a fallen tree. it’s incredible. if you have a solar shower, this is the place to shower at!"

    "Lots of pull offs available on a Friday night around 6:30-7ish. Wasn’t super close to the river but could still hear from my site which made for the perfect background noise."

    5. Dispersed, just off 101

    3 Reviews
    Joyce, WA
    14 miles

    "Right near the major road. A short walk down the pull off, and over the ditch lands you on a great little secluded paved path. If you take the left side it stays paved."

    6. sol duc river

    2 Reviews
    Sol Duc Hot Springs, WA
    13 miles

    "This spot was really nice with a couple fire rings and excellent river access down the path. There was a man made river rock pool that was perfect for relaxing in the water."

    7. Forest Service Road 29 Dispersed Camping Loop

    6 Reviews
    Beaver, WA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 956-2402

    "4 bars LTE with Verizon

    • several gravel roads with large open spots for decent solar/Starlink access
    • quiet, secluded
    • not super busy (2 other vans at the road I went down, but plenty of space for"

    "All of the other campgrounds near Olympic NP were full, so we checked this spot out that we found on Campendium. Just a simple loop that you can park along, no privacy from neighbors but very quiet."

    8. Forest Service 2918

    3 Reviews
    Joyce, WA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (360) 956-2402

    9. Lake Angeles — Olympic National Park

    1 Review
    Port Angeles, WA
    16 miles
    Website

    "Super cool, isolated campground right next to Lake Ángeles. Only way to access is by hiking to it. Lots of bugs so make sure to bring bug repellant."

    10. Camp Creek Olympic Discovery Trailhead

    3 Reviews
    Beaver, WA
    20 miles
    Website

    "This is near another campsite listed on The Dyrt, but we couldn't find how to get to that one."

    "A must see, trailhead winds through moss enchanted forest of the Washington Olympic forest. Seems to be ever changing with something new always to see."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Joyce, WA

83 Reviews of 38 Joyce Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2024

    Dispersed South Shore Road

    Quilaut River-South Shore Road

    Several campsites along the gravel road, we found the perfect secluded spot next to the Quinault River. Drove right into the hidden alcove in our stealth camper van.

  • Andi F.
    Aug. 1, 2022

    Dispersed Camping NF 2918 — Olympic National Park

    Stunning rain forest with a river

    I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and spent a lot of my childhood out here in the Olympic National Park. Coming back to this scenic area was a real treat! We arrived very late at night and found a quiet spot up the mountain but moved in the morning in search of shade. We came upon a little dirt road off of 2918 near the river. We have a Jeep and I will say, it was needed for the area we found but if you have a high clearance whip, I recommend it highly. There are plenty of spots to stop on the paved areas too, but they are less ideal for my kind of camping. The spot we chose had three firepits: two up above and one down on the bank of the river. It's about 1/4 mile off the paved road and the river noise is enough to drown out the occasional passerby. We parked our Jeep along the road to let others know the area was occupied. I recommend doing so because you cannot see the dispersed area until you're right on top of it. We had a few people pull in looking to see if the area was taken. It can accommodate a group or a single party. Absolutely stunning, quiet area in the rainforest with trails and fresh water.

    PLEASE remove your trash when you leave. The previous occupants left a full large black trash bag. THIS IS A RAIN FOREST IN A NATIONAL PARK. Have some decency people.

    T-Mobile has 5G service in this area. Verizon is 1-2 bars of 4G.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2025

    FS-2918 Dispersed Site

    Lots of options

    We didn’t feel comfortable driving our class C into any of the nicer, more private spots off of this road due to large potholes, ruts, etc. Since we just needed a place for the night, we decided to just stay at one of the large pullouts, which was fine. We didn’t even need levels. 

    Obviously no amenities here, but we were pleasantly surprised that there wasn’t much trash to be found. 

    Cell service was good here. Be sure to find a spot in the National Forest, and not the National Park that’s adjacent, because you will definitely get a knock on the door if you try to stay overnight within park boundaries.

  • Ashley A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Forest Road 2918 Dispersed Site

    Great spot if you can get there!

    Perfect cozy little spot far enough from the road with views of the river! I would not recommend attempting to get down here if your vehicle doesn’t have 4 wheel drive and high clearance. We did it in an f150 and struggled with rocks and slipping on roots and the grade to get to the bottom is well over 12%. It was definitely worth the effort though!!

  • bThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    DNR Dispersed Campsite

    Big pull off

    Big pull off with access to the beach. Big enough for a few rigs.

    No signs posted day use or no camping. perfect for the night!

    Dry camping.

    Some road noise but stops around 10pm.

    Beautiful sunset and sunrise 🥰

  • Chris
    Jun. 12, 2021

    Cardlin Run — Olympic National Park

    A night in the rainforest

    Going East on Upper Hoh Rd, a site is on the Left side, before the pay booth for Olympic NP. The have 2 signs posted, Discover Pass required and no campfires. This location has 1 designed campsite, which is completely out of view from the road. Quiet location, rains often...ie rainforest.

  • Lauren M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2022

    Dispersed South Shore Road

    Rainforest heaven!

    There are about 5 sites hidden on the road. Please be careful the road is a mix of private land, national forest, national park. The sites can be easily found by their stone fire rings. The site that is directly on the river was very popular. I ended up staying 2 nights at one of the last sites before it turns to private land. It was tucked away, walk in site, had a nice fire ring, nice tent pad area. It has a large rope so you can access the river. The scenery is breath taking. Down the road there are at least 2 waterfalls on the right. In the town of quinault there is a laundry mat/shower facility!

  • B
    May. 1, 2023

    Upper Hoh Rd Dispersed Camping

    Great spot by the river

    This is a killer camp site, we parked a 25 foot travel trailer here with a lot of room to spare. The bluff it very steep into the river so watch how close you get to the edge. As a note, it is NOT on the national forest. It’s on the nature conservancy land. The best googling I can do says it’s legal to camp here. Just FYI.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2024

    FS-2918 Dispersed Site

    Looks nice but NOT for big RVs

    I usually only stay at the places identified as "Big Rig Friendly" but I gave this location a shot since a review said there were buses that found a spot... we tried it in our 40ft Class A and got pretty jammed up down a narrow road, trying to follow the directions in the comment. Disconnected the toad and ran around trying to find anything that would work but there was nothing for our size. I do not recommend trying if you're in a large Class A.


Guide to Joyce

Dispersed camping opportunities around Joyce, Washington concentrate in the Olympic National Forest with accessible sites at elevations between 1,200-1,600 feet. The area experiences significant rainfall between October and April, often exceeding 70 inches annually. Most primitive sites become available by May when seasonal road closures lift, though muddy conditions can persist into early summer.

What to do

Riverside relaxation: At Forest Road 2918 Dispersed Site, campers can access the water via established trails. As one camper noted, "This was an perfect spot for a quick overnight! Clean, spacious & has an access trail to the river." Some sites feature handmade amenities like "a bench someone made from a fallen tree."

Explore nearby Olympic National Park: The dispersed sites provide convenient access for day trips. One visitor camping at FS-2918 Dispersed Site mentioned, "Close to Olympic NP. Many other campers here as well... I recommend to anyone debating on where to camp outside the park." Campsites are typically 5-25 minutes from park entrances.

ATV trails: Several areas cater to off-road enthusiasts. One camper at Dispersed Camping NF 2918 described, "We took the first road off the fork, and it looked to be an ATV/Dirt Bike playground, but we tucked ourselves into the back, and only saw one other person the whole three days we were there."

What campers like

River views and sounds: The proximity to waterways ranks highly with visitors. A camper at Forest Service Road 29 Dispersed Camping Loop appreciated the "gorgeous view of the mountain from the loop," while another at FS-2918 Dispersed Site mentioned staying "right by the river with a fire pit already included."

Cellular coverage: Unlike many remote camping areas, most sites offer workable connectivity. At Forest Service Road 29, a camper reported "4 bars LTE with Verizon" and noted the area was good for "decent solar/Starlink access." Another visitor confirmed that "Service is also good which is a plus."

Seclusion with convenience: Many campers value the balance of isolation and accessibility. A camper at Dispersed Camping NF 2918 described finding "a spot a bit further up, that looks to be a logging road that is no longer in use. It's closer to the road than I typically would like, but with the truck and trailer backed in, it was actually quite private."

What you should know

Park boundary awareness: Camping is restricted within Olympic National Park boundaries. A camper at sol duc river mentioned, "The road to get to the site was a FS road so it was lightly trafficked; the busier road was sol duc which was also visible from the site." Be vigilant about staying in National Forest land.

Early arrival recommended: Sites fill quickly, especially during peak season. A visitor noted, "Very cool spots but we could not find one suitable for a tent (3 suitable spaces total) that wasn't occupied by 6pm on a Saturday." Another camper advised, "Come early as we arrived at 2-3:00 on a Thursday and people were scoping for camping within the hour we arrived."

Inconsistent site markers: Some areas have ambiguous boundaries or restrictions. A camper reported, "The pull offs on either side of the road have cement barriers with 'no camping' and 'private' spray painted onto them. Fire pits are just beyond the barriers." When in doubt, look for established fire rings in clearly public areas.

Tips for camping with families

Accommodations for different setups: The diverse terrain suits various camping styles. One camper at Dispersed Camping NF 2918 explained, "I saw several vehicles with overland tents, and even just people sleeping in their cars. It really does have something for everyone."

River safety precautions: Water features add enjoyment but require supervision. A visitor at sol duc river described, "There was a man made river rock pool that was perfect for relaxing in the water," but reminded that seasonal water levels and currents vary dramatically.

Bug preparation: Insect activity intensifies in summer months. A camper warned about "Lots of bugs in August, be prepared!" Long sleeves, pants, and repellent are necessities for comfortable evenings, especially near water sources.

Tips from RVers

Vehicle clearance requirements: Camp Creek Olympic Discovery Trailhead has limitations that affect site selection. One RVer noted, "There are pull offs on the side of the 2 lane road further down, but no good for tents (other than one spot that looks like a 2 track and you need good clearance for that one."

Larger rig accessibility: Many forest roads present challenges for bigger vehicles. An RVer cautioned, "I usually only stay at places identified as 'Big Rig Friendly' but I gave this location a shot since a review said there were buses that found a spot... we tried it in our 40ft Class A and got pretty jammed up down a narrow road."

Level parking considerations: Finding flat spots requires planning. A camper at Forest Service Road 29 Dispersed Camping Loop noted the area has "several gravel roads with large open spots" and mentioned it was "easy to find level spots." The most suitable RV locations are typically within the first mile of forest roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dispersed camping near Joyce accessible year-round?

Accessibility varies seasonally for dispersed camping near Joyce. Upper Hoh Rd Dispersed Camping sites can accommodate larger vehicles during drier months, but may become challenging during the rainy season. The Olympic Peninsula receives significant rainfall, especially in winter months, making many forest roads impassable due to mud, washouts, or snow. DNR Dispersed Campsite offers more reliable year-round access as it's located off main roads with beach access. For winter camping, stick to lower elevation sites and always check road conditions with Olympic National Forest or Washington DNR before your trip. Some areas may close seasonally for wildlife protection or hazardous conditions.

Do I need a permit for dispersed camping near Joyce, Washington?

Yes, most dispersed camping areas near Joyce require a Discover Pass for parking on Washington state recreation lands. At Cardlin Run — Olympic National Park, signs clearly indicate a Discover Pass is required. For camping on HOH RIVER dispersed sites, you may need to pay a small access fee ($5) to cross private property. Olympic National Forest dispersed camping generally doesn't require specific camping permits beyond the Discover Pass, but always check current regulations with the Forest Service before your trip. Some areas may have additional restrictions or seasonal fire bans, especially during high fire danger periods.

Where are the best dispersed camping spots near Joyce, WA?

The Olympic Peninsula offers excellent dispersed camping options near Joyce. Forest Road 2918 Dispersed Site provides river views, though you'll need 4WD and high clearance to access the best spots. For easier access, Dispersed South Shore Road offers several hidden sites along a gravel road with secluded spots adjacent to the Quinault River. Look for established fire rings to identify legitimate sites. Most locations require a Discover Pass, and it's important to respect private property boundaries as the area includes a mix of national forest, national park, and private land.