Camping at Sol Duc Hot Springs: A Relaxing Olympic Peninsula Escape
What’s life without some adventures?! Our family really enjoys going camping; no schedule, little responsibilities, and the great outdoors.
We’ve done tent camping, rv camping, cabin camping and even just laying on the ground under the stars. Check out one of our camper van trips last year to Mt Rainier.
We also took a weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula, and had such a great time camping at Sol Duc!
A little about our van; it’s a Mercedes Sprinter van with 3 seats, a queen size adjustable bed that fits 3 of us comfortably, solar panels, power, heat, portable toilet, portable electric cooler, cupboards and counter space.
olympic peninsula
We live in such a beautiful place! We are fortunate enough to have the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula within driving distance to us, and we can get to it in an hour.
The Olympic Peninsula is one of the most diverse and scenic regions in the Pacific Northwest. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound, it is home to the vast wilderness of Olympic National Park. Visitors can explore rugged coastlines, moss-covered rainforests like the famous Hoh Rain Forest, glacier-capped mountains, and natural hot springs such as Sol Duc Hot Springs. With its unique ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and miles of hiking trails, the Olympic Peninsula offers an unforgettable outdoor experience for campers, hikers, and nature lovers alike.
It’s also home to the town of Forks & Twilight – for all your book/movie fans.
Camping at sol duc campground
This past Fall we had a weekend to take the van out and explore a little chunk of the Olympic Peninsula. We stayed at Sol Duc Campground, just past Lake Crescent and before you get to Forks!
Despite it being a little on the chillier side, it was October after all, we had a great time. They have two tent camping loops, and 17 RV sites. We stayed at one of the tent camping loops, it was quiet and peaceful. There is flushable toilets and potable water available.
It is covered in trees, so not much sun for the solar panels and we saw a ton of mosquitos. Also if you’re staying at the rv site, be prepared for no privacy.
I love how quiet and peaceful camping is! Just relaxing; you can read a book, draw/color, playing games, or just sit there. We usually do “easier” type foods, but it’s always so special cooking and eating outside.
We bring all kinds of snacks and our favorite drinks. OUR FAVORITE COFFEE HERE! RAVEN’S BREW! For lunches we typically will do sandwiches and/or cup of noodles. Breakfast we’ll do either cereals, muffins, fruit, pancakes and pre-cooked bacon. Dinners are simple, like one meal we had “taco salads” with meat I cooked prior, a salad kit bag and chips.
what to do at sol duc
Like I’ve mentioned I almost always choose a campground where there is other activities to enjoy.
The Sol Duc area has a few things to do, and that we enjoyed other than the campground.
Our first thing we did was hiked to view Sol Duc Falls. It was beautiful! However, we did make the mistake of hiking from our campground, with a child, and not really prepared. Thankfully she hikes really well, and we did have a few snacks. We thought the hike was 3 miles round trip from the campground, turned out to be 3 miles each way. 6 miles round trip! We should have driven up to the trailhead entrance and parked.
1 mile hike, or 2 minute drive from the campground is the Sol Duc Hot Springs. It was my first time ever going to a hot spring. Despite the smell, it felt so amazing sitting in them. I’d make a trip just to sit in them again.
5 Items to bring to a hot spring
Bringing the right things makes a hot springs trip much more comfortable and relaxing. Here are 5 essentials to take with you:
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Swimsuit
Most hot springs require one. Choose something comfortable that handles heat and minerals well. I’m loving this swimsuit this year! -
Towel
Useful for drying off between soaks or when you leave. A quick-dry towel is especially convenient. -
Water Bottle
Hot springs can dehydrate you quickly. Staying hydrated is important when soaking in hot water. This one is a best seller, and for good reason. -
Flip-Flops or Sandals
Paths around hot springs can be slippery or hot. Easy slip-on footwear protects your feet. -
Bag
We LOVE this beach and pool tote; it’s cute, functional and reasonably priced!
If you ever get the opportunity to camp at Sol Duc, do it! It’s a beautiful and relaxing area. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear about it. This is also your reminder to hurry and get those campsites reserved for the upcoming year. Happy Camping!!
