Best Tent Camping near Ocean Shores, WA
Tent campsites near Ocean Shores, Washington range from established campgrounds to dispersed options along the coast and in nearby Olympic National Forest. Willaby Campground offers tent sites with direct lake access on Lake Quinault, while Western Horizon Ocean Shores provides screened sites with privacy among pine trees just a 10-minute walk from the beach. Beach Bums Camp N Ranch provides a small collection of tent-specific sites closer to Ocean Shores proper, with only 10 sites available.
Most tent campgrounds in the Ocean Shores region feature basic amenities that vary significantly between established and dispersed options. Willaby Campground provides flush toilets, drinking water, and trash service, while dispersed areas like Road to Snag Lake require campers to pack out all waste and bring their own water. Sites at Willaby are set on compacted gravel or small pebbles that can be uncomfortable without proper padding. Walk-in tent sites at Gatton Creek Campground are particularly challenging, with one visitor noting that "the campsites have no grass or dirt and they are solid rock just like the beach - I'm talking large pebbles." Fire regulations vary seasonally, with some areas prohibiting fires during dry periods.
Areas farther inland from Ocean Shores offer deeper seclusion and access to rainforest hiking trails. The Lake Quinault region provides tent campers with several small campgrounds featuring waterfront access and proximity to rainforest trails. At Willaby, tent sites are tucked along a hillside with some overlooking the lake, providing a secluded experience despite being close together. As one camper described, "The spots are heavily forested, so they feel private even though they are close together." Gatton Creek offers just five walk-in tent sites directly on the beach with personal lake access. Many tent campers use these areas as bases for exploring the temperate rainforest, with several trails accessible directly from the campgrounds.
