Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park, Washington

Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park is a small quiet campground located near Lake Cushman. This front country campground is shaded with gorgeous big trees offering a great place to relax during the summer.

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Staircase Campground - Olympic National Park

The campground is located across the street from the Staircase Ranger Station. There is a pay station near the entrance to the campground along with a restroom.

There are multiple hiking trails in the area including the Staircase Rapids Loop, Four Streams, Wagon Wheel Lake, Shady Lane, Flapjack Lakes, and the longer North Fork Skokomish River trail.

Staying in the campground offers the perfect opportunity to explore old-growth forests and the Skokomish River.

Season: open Year-round, but primitive in winter. The access road may be closed at the gate depending on the winter weather.

Number of Sites: 49 total sites, 5 walk-ins only

Location in the park: near the Skokomish River

Campsite Cost: Make sure to check with the park for the most updated camping fees

Reservations: No

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude:47.80392754
Longitude:-123.6663848

Accessible Sites: Yes, Loop A

Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet long.

Pets are not allowed inside park buildings or on specific trails.

Pets can be on the following trails: Rialto (to Ellen Creek) and Kalaloch beaches, Peabody Creek, Madison Falls, and Spruce Railroad trails only

Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? No

First Come, First Served? Yes

Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes, during summer only. Pit toilets the rest of the year

Payphone: We did not see a payphone during our visit

Is wifi available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? No, we did not have service with T-Mobile while in the campground

Is camp host available on site? No, We did not see a camp host during our visit.

Is firewood available for purchase? Firewood is not available within the campground.

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire Ring in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box in site/area? Yes, There are food storage boxes spread throughout the campground.

Potable Water? Yes, summer only

RV Camping at Staircase Campground

RV Length: Sites for 21 feet, a few for 35 feet.

Dump Station: No

Generators:

Hookups: There are no hookups

How to get to Campground

The campground can be reached off of Highway 119 N. Lake Cushman Road. Be prepared for road construction and for some areas of the road to be really congested.

This is a popular road for reaching Lake Cushman.

Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: Per site limit is 8 people

The number of cars per campsite:

Checkout time: 11:00 am

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m

Maximum Stay: 7 day maximum stay limit.

Staircase Campground Map

Additional Olympic National Park Information & Resources

Where to stay when visiting Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park Lodging

There are multiple National Park Lodges within the park. Deciding on which lodge to stay in will largely depend on what part of the park you plan to explore because it certainly is one of those National Parks that you'll visit multiple times and still have something new to see (like we do!)

Kalaloch Lodge

🏨Ready to Book the Kalaloch Lodge -> Click Here

Season: Year-round
Location: Along Highway 101 on the Pacific Ocean

The Kalaloch Lodge is a perfect place to stay while exploring the Olympic Peninsula and was indeed one of our favorite National Park Lodges we've ever stayed at. With well-equipped rooms and unbeatable views of Kalaloch Beach, you're sure to fall in love with this lodge.

Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort

🏨Ready to Book Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort -> Click Here

Season: Mid-April to the end of October
Location: Right by the Sol Duc Hot Springs

The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is a rustic, serene property located by the hot springs. With a reservation at this resort, you'll also get access to swim in the hot springs, which was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay there. The property's prime location in the forested region also gives you easy access to the nearby trails, the Sol Duc Falls, River, and Valley.

Lake Crescent Lodge

🏨Ready to Book the Lake Crescent Lodge -> Click Here

Season: May to January
Location: Beside Lake Crescent, approximately 30 minutes from Port Angeles, Washington

The Lake Crescent Lodge boasts phenomenal views of Lake Crescent and offers a variety of accommodating options like cottages, lodge rooms, single tavern cottages, and more for you to choose from. If you end up deciding on a cottage (like we did), you'll get a chance to catch the gorgeous sunsets over the lake from your front porch. You can also rent kayaks from the property to go kayaking on the lake.

Lodging near Olympic NP

Olympic NP borders multiple gateway communities including Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, La Push, Olympia, Forks, and Shelton.

Lake Quinault Lodge

🏨Ready to Book the Lake Quinault Lodge -> Click Here

At Lake Quinault Lodge, you can look forward to golfing on site, a terrace, and shopping on site. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. The onsite family restaurant, Roosevelt Room, features American cuisine. In addition to a firepit and mini golf, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Perch Small - Treehouse - Eagles Perch Over The Water

🏨Ready to Book Perch Small- Treehouse - Eagles Perch Over The Water -> Click Here

Stunning Tree house looking over the Strait of Juan De Fuca is a total North-West Washington experience. It is made of cedar with rustic touches. Once you are inside you will never want to leave as the floor to ceiling window looks onto the straight and with constant moving landscape of cruise ships, wildlife, and bald eagles soaring across your window.

Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor

🏨Ready to Book the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor -> Click Here

Take advantage of dry cleaning/laundry services, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar at Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location. Be sure to enjoy a meal at 48° North, the onsite restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.

Click on the map below to see additional hotel and vacation rental rates in the area.

Olympic National Park Guided Tours

Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach Guided Tour in Olympic National Park
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 9 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability

The ancient forests, mountains, and rugged beaches of the Olympic National Park provide some spectacular hiking opportunities. On this tour, visit two of the most stunning natural spots - Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach - and enjoy short hikes at both destinations. With round-trip transportation, National Park fees included, and an optional packed lunch, everything is taken care of, so you can focus on admiring the views.

Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 12 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability

Have a special chance to explore Olympic National Park with a naturalist guide - and make your sightseeing logistics smooth and hassle-free on this small group tour from Seattle. With round-trip transit from your downtown hotel, getting to the UNESCO-listed park is made simple. From beaches to mountains to forests and beyond, experience the best of this spectacular landscape, seeing and doing more with your guide than you could alone.

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Olympic National Park
⭐️ Rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours to 1 day | 🔊Check Rates and Availability

Download this audio tour and you'll discover more on your Olympic National Park road trip. Hear fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, local tips, and directions play automatically, all based on your location.

You'll be guided to all of the park's famous highlights as well as the lesser-known gems, including the most easily accessed mountain area in the park with superb views and hiking trails, a unique temperate rainforest where you can walk amongst the giant trees, and incredible beaches rich with tidepools.

Olympic National Park Entrance Fee

Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

$75.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats

$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats

$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.