South Beach Campground Olympic National Park Washington
South Beach Overview
South Beach campground has 50 campsites on a bluff that overlook the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park. The campground is first-come first-serve and has 50 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs (20-35 feet, but just a few sites are at 35 feet). The campsites have little shade or privacy.
Per site limit is 8 people, wheels must be on pavement where available. Camping limit is 14 consecutive days.
The campground does not have potable water, but flush toilets are available. Each campsite also has a table, fire ring and grill. The beach and ocean are just a short walk from the campground.
South Beach campground is generally open mid May to Late September. Visit the Olympic National Park webpage for current status.
South Beach – Area Recreation
Outdoor activities include surf fishing, whale and wildlife watching, beach combing, swimming, surfing, kayaking, hiking, biking and picnicking.
Kalaloch campground is nearby (about 3 miles north) and offers 170 campsites.
Reservations:
First Come, First Served
Amenities
- BBQ Grills
- Campsite Tables
- Comfort Station
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Restrooms (Flush Toilets)
Activities
- Beach
- Beach Access
- Beach Combing
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Boating (non motorized)
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Ocean
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Stargazing
- Surf Fish
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Walking Trails
- Whale Watching
- Wildlife Viewing
Best Campsites
29, 30, 31, 33, 36, 37, 41, 45, 51, 55
Regions
Campsite Types
- ADA
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
50
Season:
Late May – Lake September
Elevation:
40
South Beach Photos & Video
South Beach Comments & Reviews
Visited South Beach Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to South Beach?
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South Beach link leads to Kalaloch. Are they the same?
Hi Asheley,
Thanks for pointing out the issue with the link. South Beach campground in Olympic National Park is first-come, first-serve (no reservations). Kalaloch campground does take reservations and is about 3 miles north of South Beach campground.
What’s my chance in gets campsite these days? I plan to do solo hiking & camping, need a stable sleeping arrangement
Hi Lise,
Weekends at South Beach are starting to get busy and the campground will be full most weekends starting mid June. You’ll have a pretty good chance at getting a campsite midweek (through June), after that the campground will be mostly full through the summer. If trying for a weekend, I recommend arriving Thursday. Best of luck!
hi there, I visited SB Campground on summer of 2016, when I was cycling the pacific. I don’t remember if you have showers available. could you be kind to remember me that. I will come back on 2022 summer riding now with my son.
cheers
Hi Emilio,
South Beach campground does not have showers. It also does not have potable (drinking) water, but it does have flush toilets. Have a great bike ride next summer!
Hello,
How early do you need to be there to be able to find a good camp ground?
Hi Nelson, South Beach campground at Olympic National Park is popular, so I’d recommend getting in line (for a first-come, first-served) campsites about 7-8AM. You’ll need to wait till noon to see if a site becomes available. Good luck!
Thank you!
How long can you stay in rv at south beach
Hi Roger,
For South Beach campground (WA) you can stay up to 14 consecutive days. Also, the per site limit is 8 people.
Is the 15.00 a night at South Beach Campground per person or per site? Example: If one spot was self reserved with 7 people. Does each person pay the 15.00 for each night or 15.00 total per night per site ?
Hi Kimberly,
The rate for South Beach campsites is per site (not per person).
For the last weekend of the season, 21st-22nd of September, are you guys usually still extremely busy?
Hi Kassy,
Generally South Beach campground will be busy the last weekend of the season (Sep 21-22), so plan on arriving early on Friday to try and get one of the first come, first served campsites. You can also call the campground directly to get their input: 360 452-4501
Is there a better chance of getting a spot if we’re there early on a Monday morning as opposed to the weekend? We’ll be at Kalaloch Sat/Sunday but would like to move here if possible. Just checking, thank you!
Hi Sue,
Yes – you’ll have an excellent chance of getting a campsite at South Beach if you arrive Monday, or even Sunday afternoon.
What would you say chances are of getting a spot if arriving Thursday afternoon at this campground? Or ones in the area?
Hi Sara,
South Beach campground is first-come, first-serve and a Thursday afternoon arrival may be a bit iffy on the 4th of July weekend. Chances would be better with a Thursday morning/noon arrival, but still may have only a few campsites available.
Are these sites open now? Or closed due to covid?
Hi Vanessa, South Beach Campground is open (first-come, first-serve).
Hi, do you think possible to get a spot next Saturday at 10 am?
Hi Esteban,
All South Beach campsites are first-come, first-serve and probably all of them will be taken on Saturday (and most weekends through the summer.
Thanks!
How busy is it to get a spot on this upcoming tue or wed
Hi Leo,
South Beach is a popular campground in the summer months (mid-week too), but a Tue or Wed arrival should get you a site. Best of luck!
Hi, how late on Thursday night would we be able to arrive? (e.g., there would be a park ranger there to take payment/how do you pay and direct us to a site that is still free). Alternatively we could arrive Friday morning if there has to be someone there to take payment and write down which spot we took, but will we be likely to get a spot?
Hi Peter,
South Beach campground is first-come, first-serve and does fill up on the weekends (often by Thursday night). That said, you can show up anytime during the night and you can take a campsite if it is available/unoccupied. Keep in mind, it may appear unoccupied, so double check to make sure there is not a tag on the campsite post and/or equipment in the campsite. The camp ranger/host will visit your site in the morning and collect your fees.
How are spots filling up for this weekend? Plan on getting there around 6 tonight.
Hi Justin,
We have not heard how the campsite availability is at South Beach campground. All sites are first-come, first-serve. You may want to try calling the campground to double check: 360 452-4501
There phone seems too be busy been trying to call for the past hour now. Any word on Kalaloch Campground?
Thanks for the reply!
Getting someone to pick up, or even get through to a campground phone isn’t the easiest.
I also checked Kalaloch and right now, the campgrounds is not showing any availability for this weekend. You may score a site at the kiosk. Here’s the message from Recreation.gov:
All campsites for Kalaloch are available online for reservations during the reservation period. There are no designated “walk-up” campsites. Any sites made available due to cancellations or early departures will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the campground kiosk. These sites will only be sold to individuals at the campground kiosk in person. Kalaloch is a very popular campground and cancellations/early departures are rare. If you do not have a reservation, it is recommended you plan on alternative campgrounds in or near Olympic National Park.
Is South beach open still or closed for the winter? I wanted to come in Thursday afternoon Oct 1 through Sunday, Oct 4.
Hi Linda,
South Beach campground closed September 28th for the season and should reopen in June next year. Sorry about that. You can check the status of the campground (and others in the area) here: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/campgroundstatus.htm
How easy is access to beach? Are dogs allowed?
Hi Suzann,
Pets are permitted on a leash (up to 6′) in South Beach Campground, as well as on Kalaloch beaches.
Hi Suzann,
Pets are permitted on a leash (up to 6′) in South Beach Campground, as well as on Kalaloch beaches.
Oh, and there is an easy/short trail to the beach from the campground.
If I plan to show up in the morning and wait for a site, are there other campgrounds nearby that would serve as a back-up in case no sites are available?
HI Debbie,
Kalaloch campground is nearby (about 3 miles north) and offers 170 campsites.
Camp Ranger comment says South Beach “should reopen in June”. (2021) How many sites will be available this year? (wondering if reduced due to covid?).
Hi Kaye,
South Beach campground will open this year on May 21, 2021. It will close on September 27, 2021.
Is the campground very busy even though it is in the weekdays on July? I am coming from California to visit Olympic National Park but I am very worried about first come first serve system.
Thank you.
South Beach is usually a popular campground in the summer, even midweek. However, I think your chances are pretty good if you can arrive by mid morning (mid week).
Do you need to have a pass to camp here in addition to the nightly fee? Or do you only have to pay for the nightly fee? Thank you!
Hi Lydia,
You do not need or have to pay for a Washington Discover Pass to camp at South Beach Campground. All you’ll pay is the nightly camping fee.
Can I camp on the beach at south beach?
Hi Chris,
Tent camping is not allowed on the beach/sand at South Beach campground.
Planning to camp in the South beach campground on July 10 night, how soon should I arrive to get a spot?
Hi Nam,
Arriving on Saturday (July 10) to try and get a first-come, first-serve campsite at South Beach may be tough. The campground has a very good chance of selling out Thursday evening or Friday morning.
Are there any dedicated bike/hike sites here? If not, does the park turn away cyclists if it is full? I know Washington state park’s have a no-turn-away policy for folks doing bike tours, wondering if there is something similar here. Thanks!
Hi Addison,
I’m not aware of any hike/bike campsites at South Beach campground and have not been able to confirm online. You can try calling their info line to double check: 360 452-4501
My daughter and I are planning to do a camping trip at South Beach next Wednesday and Thursday night- July 28 and 29. Do you know if midweek campsites are typically available at South Beach? Also the 360-452-4501 number seems to be disconnected, at least today it isn’t working
Hi Keith,
I’d say your chances are pretty good at getting a South Beach campsite with a Wednesday arrival (try for morning if you can). That’s also the only number we have for the campground, but campground phone numbers are not the most reliable. You may try calling Olympic National Park at (360) 565-3130. Best of luck and have a great time!
I have a truck and trailer I want to camp at South Beach. I also have a friend that’s bringing a car to sleep in our trailer. Will that be an extra charge?
Hi Susan,
Generally you can have two vehicles per campsite (including towed vehicle). Most sites also fit a 3rd vehicle, but there is usually an extra charge. I recommend trying to contact someone at the campground/park to confirm: 360 452-4501 / (360) 565-3130
Hello , planning a trip to South Beach CG next weekend. Is there a ban on fires for the campground? Just confirming since the CG falls within the ONP.
Thank you
Hi Joel,
Campfires are not permitted at this time.
Beginning at midnight Friday, July 23, 2021, Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest will implement a complete ban on all campfires, including charcoal. This includes the coastal areas of Olympic National Park. Gas or propane camp stoves may still be used in the wilderness backcountry and campgrounds, but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.
Hello,
I plan on camping around this area Sept 16-19. We plan to arrive Thursday Morning 7-8 for a first come first serve site. Do we need to wait in line at the visitor center to pay for an available site or do we just go to any open (without tags) site and a ranger will come by to collect fees later on? Every campground is different and it can really mean the difference between getting one or not if we don’t line up or go somewhere we’re not supposed to be. Thank you!
Hi Andrew,
Great question. I was not able to confirm the process of claiming a first-come, first-serve campsite. I recommend calling Olympic National park to check at:(360) 565-3130
For the labor day weekend, what day would be good to get a FCFS site? I am guessing it would be really busy! Thanks
Yes, the campground will probably be sold out or close to full by Friday morning. Most people try to get there (for Labor Day weekend) on Thursday.
I am a long time family camper with a question. Can I use the Discovery Pass for a discount towards the campsites rates?
Hi Maya,
Unfortunately the Discovery Pass does not provide discounts on annual permits, camping reservation fees, extra vehicle fees, roofed shelters, group camps or other services. FYI – you do not need a Discovery Pass at South Beach campground if you have a reservation.