Olympic National Park — Visitor Info

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Olympic protects three distinct ecosystems in one park — glaciated mountains, old-growth rainforest, and wild Pacific coastline — and getting between them means real driving distance. No vehicle reservation is needed to enter, but wilderness camping requires a permit year-round, and the Hurricane Ridge area is still recovering from a 2023 fire. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center burned down in a May 2023 fire and has not been rebuilt — road access, parking, and any seasonal access programs at Hurricane Ridge change frequently. Road closures, campground status, and trail conditions shift quickly too — always check the official Olympic Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Port Angeles, Washington
Entrance Fee
$30 / vehicle, 7 days
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Payment
Cash and card accepted
Permit Needed For
Wilderness/backcountry camping (year-round)
Park Layout
Mountains, rainforest & coast — no through-road connects all areas

Visitor Centers

Tap a visitor center for its official NPS hours & facility info.

Olympic National Park Visitor Center
In Port Angeles — the park's main hub, open year-round, and home to the Port Angeles Wilderness Information Center.
Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station
On North Shore Road near Amanda Park — seasonal (Memorial Day weekend through late September), doubles as a wilderness information center.
Hoh Rain Forest & Kalaloch Areas
Seasonal ranger stations serve the Hoh Rain Forest and Kalaloch coastal areas — hours vary and change year to year; check current conditions before you go.

Hurricane Ridge's visitor center burned down in 2023 and has not been rebuilt as of 2026 — confirm current facilities and road status on the official conditions page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Every vehicle entering Olympic needs a park pass — both cash and card are accepted.

  • Private vehicle: $30, valid 7 days (covers all passengers)
  • Motorcycle: $25, valid 7 days
  • Per person (on foot/bike, age 16+): $15, valid 7 days
  • Olympic Annual Pass: $55 (Olympic only)
  • America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 — covers Olympic and every other federal fee site

Note: additional fees apply for camping, wilderness overnight use, and commercial/organized tours.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Every U.S. 4th grader (and their family, in the same vehicle) can get a free annual pass covering entrance to Olympic and every other federal fee site. Get it at everykidoutdoors.gov or at any entrance station.

Getting Around the Park

Olympic has no single road connecting its mountain, rainforest, and coastal sections — each is reached via its own separate drive around the Olympic Peninsula, often 1–2+ hours apart. Plan your route (and gas stops) accordingly; there's no park-wide shuttle system.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit to enter the park or day-hike. You do need one for:

Wilderness (Backcountry) Camping

A wilderness permit is required year-round for every overnight backcountry stay in the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Bear canisters are also required for any overnight wilderness stay — bring your own or borrow one free from a Wilderness Information Center (subject to availability).

Campgrounds & RV Options

Olympic has 14 developed campgrounds spread across the mountains, rainforest, and coast — a mix of first-come-first-served and reservation-based sites. Many are not RV-suitable due to narrow access roads. Fees and reservation windows change year to year — use the links below for current pricing.

Heart O' the Hills Campground
Near Port Angeles, on the road to Hurricane Ridge. 97 sites, open year-round. Most sites fit RVs up to 21 ft, a few up to 35 ft. First-come, first-served.
Deer Park Campground
At 5,400 ft elevation, reached via a steep, winding gravel road — not RV accessible. 14 tent sites. Open June–mid-October. First-come, first-served.
Fairholme Campground
On Lake Crescent, with a nearby boat launch. 88 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft). Open late April–late September; reservation required mid-May–late September via recreation.gov.
Log Cabin Resort RV & Campground
Privately operated, on Lake Crescent. Full-hookup RV sites up to 35 ft, plus tent and bike-in sites. Open May–October. Reserve by phone with the resort.
Hoh Rain Forest Campground
In the Hoh Rain Forest, some riverside sites. 78 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft), no dump station. Open year-round; reservation required June–early September via recreation.gov.
Sol Duc Hot Springs RV Park & Campground
Riverside, old-growth forest, near Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Campground fits RVs to 21–35 ft; separate RV Park (17 sites, water/electric hookups) fits 26–36 ft rigs, back-in only. Reservation required March–November via recreation.gov.
Mora Campground
Coastal forest, 2 miles from Rialto Beach. 94 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft), dump station on-site. Open year-round; reservation required mid-May–late September via recreation.gov.
Kalaloch Campground
Oceanside, some bluff sites overlooking the Pacific. 170 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft), dump station on-site. Open year-round; reservation required mid-May–late September via recreation.gov.
South Beach Campground
Bluff-top, ocean views, near Kalaloch. 55 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft), no potable water. Open mid-May–mid-October. First-come, first-served.
Ozette Campground
Lakeside on Lake Ozette, popular for the Ozette Triangle coastal hike. 15 sites, RVs up to 21 ft. Open year-round (some sites flood in winter). First-come, first-served.
Queets Campground
Secluded, near the Queets River, reached only via Upper Queets Road. 20 sites, RVs and trailers not recommended. Open year-round. First-come, first-served.
Graves Creek Campground
In the Quinault Rain Forest. 30 sites; RVs and trailers not allowed due to road conditions. Open year-round. First-come, first-served.
North Fork Campground
Small and remote, in the Quinault Rain Forest. 9 sites; not recommended for RVs and trailers. Open year-round. First-come, first-served.
Staircase Campground
On the Skokomish River, southeast side of the park. 49 sites, RVs up to 21 ft (some to 35 ft). Seasonal; check current status before visiting, as it has closed in recent years due to fire activity nearby.

Camping limit is 14 consecutive days per year park-wide (7 days at Kalaloch, Mora, and Hoh during their reservation windows). Group campsites are available at Kalaloch and Sol Duc by separate reservation — see the NPS camping page for details.

Good to Know

  • No park-wide shuttle: you'll need to drive between the mountain, rainforest, and coastal sections — they aren't connected by an in-park road.
  • Weather varies wildly: the coast, rainforest, and mountains can have completely different conditions on the same day — pack layers.
  • Pets: allowed leashed in campgrounds and a handful of specific trails/beaches, but prohibited in wilderness and on most trails.
  • Tide safety: coastal hikes can be cut off by incoming tides — always check a tide table before a beach hike.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, campground reservation windows, and Hurricane Ridge access/facility status change from year to year — and Hurricane Ridge in particular is still recovering from 2023 fire damage. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Olympic National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Basic Information · NPS – Wilderness Information Centers · NPS – Wilderness Trip Planner · NPS – Camping · NPS – Current Conditions & Alerts