Photo: NPS PhotoStaircase Campground
★4.4(66 reviews)
High DemandOlympic National Park · Mason County, Washington🏞️Lake AccessRiver Access
Photo: NPS PhotoBest For
Hikers and river campers who want access to the southeastern Olympic mountains without the coastal crowds. Best for tent campers and smaller setups — no RV max length is listed in available data, suggesting limited or no large vehicle access.
47
Sites
No
Hookups
Staircase occupies a cathedral of old-growth Douglas-firs along the North Fork Skokomish River in the park's southeastern corner — about an hour from Olympia and two hours south of Port Angeles, making it the most accessible campground from the south. Its 47 sites are modest in number, and the booking data reveals an interesting pattern: 0.0% of reservations in May and June were planned 6+ months out, meaning it doesn't face the same months-ahead arms race that coastal campgrounds do. By August, that figure rises to 9.0%, and last-minute rates hold strong at 39.4% — making Staircase one of the more forgiving campgrounds in the park for planners working on a shorter timeline.
Content from Olympic National Park park guide
July and August are peak months at Olympic, with 10,876 and 10,842 reservations respectively — and 18.7% to 19.5% of those locked in 6+ months before arrival. September drops to 8,356 reservations with 27.8% booked last-minute, making it the best balance of reliable weather, manageable crowds, and realistic last-minute availability. March and April see only 307 and 694 total reservations with 0.0% booked 6+ months out, offering genuine walk-up access at campgrounds like Sol Duc and the park's first-come sites.
Olympic's fragmented geography — three separate ecosystems with no interior roads connecting them — means your campground choice determines which part of the park you can reasonably explore. Reaching Kalaloch or South Beach from Heart O' the Hills requires a 90-minute drive around the peninsula's perimeter, so plan your itinerary around one region per trip or be prepared for significant daily driving. Dosewallips is currently inaccessible by vehicle due to a washed-out road 6.5 miles from camp, and Queets is accessible only from the Upper Queets River Road after a mudslide closed the primary route — verify current conditions before any visit to the park's more remote campgrounds.
Total reservations in May 2024: 231
Address
Mason County, Washington
Coordinates
47.5154, -123.3297
Very high demand - sites typically fill up immediately when the booking window opens. Plan to book the moment reservations open.
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Forest
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Olympic National Park
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The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle and covers access for seven days. Nightly camping rates vary by campground but are not individually broken out in available data — expect rates consistent with National Park Service standards for non-hookup sites. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers the entrance fee for all national parks and federal lands, making it a straightforward value for anyone visiting more than two fee-area parks in a year; it does not waive campsite reservation fees.
Maximum stays range from 7 nights at the reservation campgrounds (Kalaloch, Mora, Hoh, Staircase, Fairholme) to 14 nights at first-come campgrounds and Sol Duc. Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent throughout most of the park — download offline maps and campground information before leaving Port Angeles, Forks, or Aberdeen, the closest supply towns for different park sections. Pets are generally allowed in campgrounds but not on most trails; generator hours and quiet hours vary by campground, so check specific regulations before arrival.