Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Olympic National Forest

HOH Rainforest & Campground in Olympic National Forest Washington, super lush, green, misty. Lots to explore and see, very easy hike with water sources and falls. Nice family destination road trip!!

This RV Park is located in Sequim Washington. It's not too far from Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest (ONF). We stayed here specifically to access Hurricane Ridge and begin our touring of Olympic National Forest. Sequim is a small town in the rain shadow of the ONF. These folks are expert operators of an RV park. They hit all the important points. They are priced very reasonably, easy to communicate with, very organized, the park is kept in pristine condition. They have  WIFI that actually works very well (even for streaming)!!! No dirt or mud here everything paved and clean. Yes the sites are close together but everything was clean and campers were respectful during our stay. The value for the dollar here is great. The facilities including a full kitchen and dining area available to campers, laundry, etc were all great.

This state Park is in a great location for people wanting to explore the Olympic National Forest.

I wouldn't say there is anything spectacular about this RV park other than the fact that it is located on the edge of the Olympic National Forest next to the Hood Canal. They do have a nice little store as well.

the rv sites are set up on a big gravel parking lot with trees on either side. the drive through sites are in the center and just gravel. back in sites are along the edge with grass and trees backing them.

this is a very large park with much nicer spaces down the hill towards the river. (despite the name, there is no river view.) these spaces have no hook ups but lots of trees and grass as well as picnic table shelters at many. they are very nice for tent camping and will suit smaller rvs and trailers.

the olympic national forest and several beaches are just down the road.

This is our all time favorite stop in the Olympic national forest. Lake crescent is gorgeous and crystal clear through and through. On a hot day enjoy a day on the lake. Jump in from the boat dock or swim in the swimming area. Rent a canoe or kayak from the general store just up the steps from the lake and have a fun few hours around the lake. The store sells firewood and drinks and some interesting literature about the lake. Drive the road past the campground to a trailhead for the railroad bridge trail. It's a few miles from this side of the lake so make sure you pack a lunch and lots of water. Spend the day jumping in from the bridge at the end of the trail.

The Quinault Lake campground in Olympic National Forest is one of those rare quiet and scenic car-camping sites where you can fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the place without having to backpack or drive up rugged remote roads. We camped in early October and there were many beautiful sites to choose from. And I mean beautiful. We chose a site right on the lake with a tent platform under a Western red cedar and a separate section with a full table. There was a bathroom just a short 2 minute walk away. It rained - as it tends to do in the Olympics - all night but with the shade of the cedar and our waterproof tent we remained dry. The campground is just down the road from the Lake Quinault Lodge - a beautiful, rustic resort where we showered in the morning, sat by a roaring fire, and got a delicious (and decently priced) breakfast.

I’ve stayed at Rainbow’s End twice. Both times were in their overflow camping area, which are two spots with water and electric only, under some trees which made for comfortable shade. The staff at the park are nice and professional, the facilities are always clean, and there is a large dog park (it has a somewhat short fence, perfect for my small dogs but be careful with bigger animals). Lots of people live at Rainbow’s end full time. It’s very clean and well maintained. You do get some road noise from the US 101, but it’s not too noticeable. If you aren’t taking advantage of water and electric hookups, it could be a little expensive.

Sadie Creek Campground west of Joyce on Highway 112 is perfect for a certain group of people, and not so amazing for another group of people.

If you enjoy Off-Roading or motorized anything this is the spot for you! With six spaces and plenty of parking for your trailer or RV, Sadie Creek has everything you could ask for. Also an extensive system of trails both on the northern and southern end of the highway will give days of riding through heavily wooded (and probably difficult) terrain. Also a great place for equestrians although if your horse spooks easily perhaps not.

If you are a tent camper or enjoy solitude as apposed to the social aspects to the great outdoors I would heavily advise against this campground. It's ok for a quick night's stay if a spot is open but the sites are practically right next to each other and expect to share the space with others that may not be so quiet. I would suggest Lyre River campground 6 miles to the east if that's what you're after.

Although there's no hook-ups there is a pit toilet on site. With a yearly Discovery Pass ($30) the campground is free. You have Murdock Beach down the road which gives great views of the Salish Sea. Closest town would be Joyce 10 miles to the east, with a great general store and through street to Lake Crescent. Multi-use trails run out from the north or south of the campground so great jump-off point for hiking or trail running in the Olympic National Forest.

We have stayed here many times. This campground has everything you need for a nice getaway. The sites are somewhat private, the bathrooms are sufficient, and there are trails to explore close by. The campground IS in the National Park, so make sure you have your Access Park Pass or you must pay the entrance fee to the park. Also keep in mind that National Park rules apply to dogs. So you will want to keep your pet leashed at all times, or risk a hefty fine.

Campground Review

This campground is a great spot for families wanting to be near the Olympic National Forest. The grounds are on Sequim Bay, with a few sites butting up against the river edge. The Olympic Discovery Trail runs through the campgrounds and is well maintained. For those with boats, there is a lot of moorage space and even space for overnight moorage. This campground has tennis courts, a basketball hoop, and lots of wide open fields. The sites are relatively open, and this is a favorite of families, so if you are looking for a peaceful time you may want to skip this one. There are full hookups and decent showers and bathrooms. You must have a discover pass to get into this park in addition to camp fees. Down the 101 to Dabob bay, there are great spots to go clamming and oyster hunting. On Sequim Bay, the access for boating and kayaking is unbeatable!

Gear Review

I was offered the opportunity to test out the Wenzel Shenanigan 8 teepee tent.

Pros: This is a great front county beginner tent for a family. This tent is huge and very tall! My husband is 6'4" and is able to stand with no issues of hitting his head. There are a lot of vents so the tent does not overheat. In each of the corners, there is a small pocket for personal items. There are three windows for venting and the entire door is able to pull back for screen venting as well. This is a perfect tent for kids.

Cons: The center pole tent is the only pole on the tent. The stakes are the only thing holding the base outward. If you are not camping in an area that has softer ground to stake, this tent will not stay open. The upside down T, for the opening, is difficult to get in and out of. The center tent pole, while making the tent very tall, does not allow for queen size mats or air mattresses. The ground cover fabric does not reach up very high so a tarp is necessary for under.

This campground is amazing. Very spacious spots we were in site 17 for 2 nights. Maintenance is spot on, bathrooms are clean, kids loved the club house and there is a dog wash station as well. We are a family of 5 with 2 dogs plus a cat.

Campsite Review: The Coho campground in Olympic National Forest is pretty interesting as it’s just off Lake Wynoochee, formed by the Wynoochee Dam (I don’t think I ever really got the Indian names down quite right). This portion of the National Forest is really cool and feels very secluded as you drive for miles and miles from any real civilization into some wonderful old growth forests. The 46-different pull-through, back-in campsites are all fairly separated and you’re not at all bothered by your neighbors. There are also 10 walk-in tent only sites and a handful of Yurts (which looked interesting). Since you are off quite a way down an old logging road (paved one way, unpaved the the other) you have absolutely no highway noise to deal with and no one is coming and going at all hours of the night. All of the campsites themselves are a decent size with nice flat areas, huge tables, fire ring, etc. We stayed at site 41 in loop B which was open to the road, but we had no one behind us or on either side. When getting your site be careful about the exact size allotment if you’re in a big RV or have a 5th wheel, etc. Felt really bad for the guy trying to back into site 38 beside us. He tried for 30+ minutes pulling around and trying to get a better angle 2-3 times before they found the camp host and to move to site 40 which was empty. While the site might say it’ll fit your vehicle, the roads are narrow and there are random boulders here and there which may impede your maneuvering. The sites which are “on the water” aren’t really on the water, but overlook a pretty steep decline to the lake with the 16-mile lakeshore trail in between. If you’re a boater you’re also not too far from the boat access ramp.

The toilet facilities in Loop B were nice and clean. The facilities right by us seemed to have been properly maintained and no guests had come in and destroyed them. There was hand soap and plenty of paper towels and toilet paper (in case you forget to bring your own).

Amenities: Definitely larger than standard picnic tables, fire rings, plus flush toilets, potable water, & trash cans which were emptied first thing in the morning |Prohibited: pets off-leash

Nearby Hikes: Wynoochee lakeshore trail, which goes by a couple waterfalls & Working Forest Nature trail, which gives you a little insight into the life cycle of the forest

Gear Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt I sometimes get the opportunity to test out products and the highlight of this particular camp site was my testing of the Belmont Blanket #AdventureBlanket The best all-purpose blanket ever!! This is a truly fantastic blanket and completely different from the other “outdoor blankets” which either are supposedly waterproof or keep you warm. This blanket does it all. I felt like this was designed specifically with mastering the outdoors in mind.

• I was really impressed with the size that this rolls up into. Was thinking it wouldn’t be nearly as warm with such a small packed size for a 6’ x 5’ all weather blanket.
• Similarly, this blanket is huge. I’m 6 feet tall and this blanket can cover me from head to toe. So many times with an “outdoor” blanket, I can’t fully stretch out.
• The #AdventureBlanket is really soft on the plush inside, it’s very comfy and has actually become not only our outdoor blanket, but also our couch blanket.
• Can’t attest to the waterproofing in the wild (thankfully haven’t yet had to test out if we’d get ‘wet butt’ or not), but our makeshift water bottle rain test proved the blanket was fully waterproof (not resistant) which is awesome.
• Really like the design with the awesome leather accents. The colors are really sharp and make the blanket pop.
• Probably one of the best features of this blanket is that it’s Handmade in the USA!! How many companies or products can claim that now a day.

I give the Belmont Blanket #AdventureBlanket 5/5 stars and it's my go to "blanket" for any picnic/fest/outdoor activity and I actually got myself a second one!

Showers and flush toilets. Lots of campsites. Also, an area for RVs. Deer wander around the camp like pets. Sunsets are spectacular and the water views to the north you can see Canada. The area is a high bank from the beach. Very clean grounds. Keep your coolers in your car as there are racoons that wander the sites at night!

Set in a former logging camp above the town of Montesano, park life revolves around a large swimming and fishing lake. This site is super family friendly and pet friendly too.

There is a playground on site and TONS of old logging roses turned bike trails.

There are plenty of tent and RV sites and s few primitive sites for campers. There are showers a flushing toilets.

This is another great Grays Harbor County spot just south of Montesano. Like Lake Sylvia it is super family and pet friendly. The campsite is divided into two different areas...one for RVs and the other for tents. The facilities are all well maintained and the bathrooms have showers. It is a pretty quiet campground even though it is near a highway.

There are lots of spots to fish in the campground as well as the surrounding areas.