Best Tent Camping near Sequim, WA
Olympic National Park and surrounding forests near Sequim, Washington offer several tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to backcountry sites. Dungeness Forks Campground, located along the river, provides 8-15 tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables, operating from May 15 to Labor Day. Deer Park Campground in Olympic National Park sits at higher elevation on a 7-mile gravel road, offering level tent sites with 360-degree views and vault toilets but no water. Slab Camp/Deer Ridge Trailhead provides free primitive tent camping with permits required, while Lillian Campground offers hike-in tent-only sites along the Elwha River, accessible via a 4-mile trail from Whiskey Bend Road.
Tent campsites in this region vary significantly in amenities and accessibility. Most primitive tent camping areas lack potable water, requiring campers to filter from streams or pack in their own supply. Walk-in tent sites at Deer Park and Lillian feature vault toilets but minimal other facilities. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly at higher elevations. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with November through April bringing significant rainfall to tent campgrounds. Bear activity necessitates proper food storage at backcountry tent sites, with some locations providing bear wires for food hanging. Seasonal access limitations affect many tent-only campgrounds, with higher elevation sites like Deer Park typically accessible only from June through mid-October.
According to reviews, Dungeness Forks Campground offers excellent hiking access but enforces a strict no-alcohol policy. One camper noted that "the beach and hiking around here are wonderful," though November visits can bring "frigid rain." At Deer Park, a visitor reported that the campground "has level tent sites that offer a fantastic 360-degree view," making it "wonderful for a night or two" despite the lack of water. Lillian Campground provides more seclusion, with one camper describing it as an "incredible riverside primitive camp" with "prestrung bear wires" and sites that are "directly next to the river." Weekday visits generally offer more solitude at these tent campgrounds than weekend trips during peak summer months.
