Staircase Campground
Important information about booking windows: To better serve visitors, Staircase Campground will be releasing campsites in a series of three staggered block releases by loop. These block releases will be 6 months in advance, two weeks in advance, and 4 days in advance. Enormous trunks reach for the sky, lacy limbs stretch to the sun, grooved bark is sanctuary to tiny creatures in the vast cathedral of Douglas-firs that dominate the forests on this side of the Olympic Peninsula. Staircase is located in the southeastern corner of Olympic National Park, about a one-hour drive from Olympia, and two hours south of Port Angeles.
More like this: reservable in Washington · pets allowed in Washington
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 47 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
47 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 24 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 2 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 3 | Back-in | 36 | Partial | No / – | – / 1 | Yes |
| 4 | Back-in | 36 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 5 | Back-in | 36 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 6 | Back-in | 36 | Partial | No / – | 8 / – | Yes |
| 7 | Back-in | Partial | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 8 | Back-in | Partial | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 9 | Back-in | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 36 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Staircase Campground is accessed off Highway 101 at the city of Hoodsport, WA. You take North Lake Cushman Road for a number of twisting and turning miles. North Lake Cushman Road will end with the blacktop and become Forest Service Road, NP - 24. You will simply follow this road to the end.
| Coordinates | 47.5154° N, 123.3297° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you modify your reservation or change your stay dates. Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10 cancellation fee. Camping reservations cancelled the day before and day of arrival incur a $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee If you need to cancel or modify your reservation after 12:00 am Eastern Time on the day of arrival you must contact campground staff.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedQuinault Pile Rx
33 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Pickering Marine ↗ | 26.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 31.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Staircase Campground Review - Olympic National Park
Worth a stop
- 0.7 miCopper Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 4.6 miMt. Ellinor Lower Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miCopper Creek2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miDry Creek ↗7.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miMt. Rose3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.3 miMildred Lakes4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.5 miMonarch Tree Grove0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miMt. Ellinor Access0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.7 miCopper Creek Trailhead ↗Olympic National Forest
- 1.1 miDry Creek East Trailhead ↗Olympic National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Mount Skokomish Wilderness begins about 1.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.2 miMount Skokomish Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,278 acres
- 3.4 miWonder Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 2,201 acres
- 3.6 miDaniel J. Evans Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 876,447 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- High Steel BridgeStructure · Shelton · 10.5 mi
- Enchanted Valley ChaletBuilding · Port Angeles · 11.4 mi
- Vance Creek BridgeStructure · Shelton · 12.5 mi
Recreation
A variety of hiking trails navigate through the Staircase area along the Skokomish River and the nearby forests. There are several short day-hikes that explore the area. Shady Lane trail is flat, and less than a mile to Lake Cushman. The hike to Flapjack Lakes is for the stronger hikers, gaining over 3,000 feet in elevation. Longer hikes, like the North Fork Skokomish River trail, can be done in a couple of days.
Guidebooks for Olympic National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Olympic National Park Backpacking Adventure Guide NotesDoug Emory and Nate Trappe, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Staircase Campground?
Sites at Staircase Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Staircase Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Staircase Campground?
Cancelling your reservation prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time two nights before your stay will incur a $10 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Staircase Campground have?
49 sites, including 47 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Staircase Campground?
The longest site here provides 36 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Staircase Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Staircase Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Staircase Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Staircase Campground?
A variety of hiking trails navigate through the Staircase area along the Skokomish River and the nearby forests. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Staircase Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Creek Campground (5.8 mi, first-come), Lebar Horse Camp (6.1 mi, first-come), and Brown Creek Campground (7.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Staircase Campground in?
Staircase Campground is a Olympic National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Olympic National Park