Best Dispersed Camping near Port Angeles, WA
A few miles outside Olympic National Park, Port Angeles serves as a jumping-off point for backcountry and dispersed camping in the surrounding national forest lands. Roads leading to dispersed sites around Port Angeles can get rough quickly, with many requiring decent clearance and 4WD after rain. Most sites sit at least 100 feet from streams and 200 feet from main forest roads, following standard Forest Service guidelines. You'll need to bring everything with you – water, toilet supplies, and all necessities – as these areas have zero facilities. The closest grocery stores are in Port Angeles itself, so stock up before heading out. Summer brings drier conditions when fire bans are common, while spring camping means dealing with mud and potentially impassable roads. Stays are limited to 14 days within a 30-day period in most areas. Cell service disappears quickly once you leave main roads, so download offline maps before your trip. The trade-off for these challenges is finding spots with incredible mountain views and much more privacy than you'd get at developed campgrounds.
