Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground

Hot springs in old-growth rainforest — Olympic Peninsula's most magical camp

Location: Olympic National Park, WA, WA

Price: From $40 per night

Price range: $40–$65 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (891 reviews)

Elevation: 2297 feet

Season: Late March–Late October

One of the most unique campgrounds in America. Sol Duc sits in the Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park surrounded by 500-year-old Douglas fir and Sitka spruce. The campground shares grounds with the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, giving campers access to the natural thermal mineral pools — rare for a national park campground. The Sol Duc River, teal-green from glacial silt, runs alongside the sites. Salmon runs are visible in fall. Old growth trees 8–10 feet in diameter tower over every site.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Hot Springs Access (fee), Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fire Rings, Bear Boxes, Picnic Tables, Ranger Programs, Restaurant Nearby, RV Dump Station, Accessible Sites

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/sol-duc-olympic to be notified when sites open up.

The only campground in America where you can soak in natural hot springs from your campsite. Sol Duc is inside Olympic National Park's Hoh Rainforest — the most biologically diverse temperate rainforest in North America. The trees are 500+ years old, draped in moss and ferns, and so large that multiple people can't link arms around them. The Sol Duc River is teal-green from glacial silt. The combination of old-growth forest, a wild salmon river, and accessible hot springs is completely unique in the NPS system.

October brings the salmon spawning run to the Sol Duc River. Chinook and coho salmon fight their way upstream past the campground — you can watch from camp. Black bears feed on dead salmon in the shallows. This simultaneous bear-and-salmon-and-old-growth experience in the rain happens every October and is almost completely unknown outside the Pacific Northwest camping community.

What is new at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: Olympic National Park removed the wilderness permit requirement for most day hikes in 2025. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort refreshed facilities for 2026. Recreation.gov now handles all Olympic NP campground reservations.

Wildlife alert: Black bears are present and active — especially near the river during salmon season. Food storage rules strictly enforced. Roosevelt elk (very large) common in the campground. Spotted owls possible at night.

Fire rules: Campfires permitted in rings. Olympic NP fire restrictions apply in dry summers. Rain forest is wet but fire rules still apply — check nps.gov/olym.

Things to do near Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: Sol Duc Falls (1.6 mi round trip) — three-branched waterfall through mossy canyon, best short hike in Olympic NP. Hot springs at 9pm — after day visitors leave, pools quiet, stars visible. Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center (50 mi) — Hall of Mosses trail, most primeval forest in the lower 48. Hurricane Ridge (65 mi) — subalpine meadows, Olympic Mountains panorama, deer and marmots. October salmon run — watch bears feed on salmon in the river from camp.

Insider tips for Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: Buy a multi-day hot springs pass at check-in — better value than daily entry Soak at 9pm after day visitors leave — pools quiet, often just a few campers October salmon run: watch from the bridge near camp at dawn

Skip Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground if: You cannot accept paying extra for hot springs on top of camping fee. You need cell service for work. You have a rig over 35ft (narrow forest access roads).

Best time to visit Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: Jul–Aug — Driest months. Hot springs comfortable. All facilities open. Best weather.. Oct — Salmon run + bears + fall color + almost no other campers. The best-kept secret on the peninsula..

Common issues at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: Hot springs access costs extra (~$20–25/day) on top of camping fees. Buy a 3-day hot springs pass at check-in for better value. Soak at 9pm when day visitors leave and pools are quiet. No cell signal anywhere on the Sol Duc Road — 40+ miles of dead zone. This is non-negotiable. Download AllTrails, weather forecasts, and emergency contacts before turning onto Sol Duc Road from Highway 101. Only 82 sites — fills extremely quickly in summer. Book exactly 6 months ahead on Recreation.gov at 7am PST. Weekday availability is marginally better. Annual rainfall is 140+ inches — rain is not occasional, it's the climate. Bring a quality tarp for your cooking area and a quality rain fly. The old-growth forest makes rain atmospheric and beautiful rather than miserable — embrace it.

What campers say about Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort & Campground: "Hot springs soak at 9pm under the stars after hiking through 500-year-old trees. Nothing else like this in America." — Hipcamp 2025 "Sol Duc Falls trail through the old-growth is the best 3-mile hike I've ever done. Trees so big you can't believe they're real." — Reddit 2025 "October: salmon spawning in the river right from camp. Bears feeding on salmon in the river. Complete wild experience." — The Dyrt 2024 "Rain is the Olympic Peninsula. Bring a tarp and good rain gear and the forest becomes magical, not miserable." — Campendium 2024

What are the best sites at Sol Duc Campground Olympic? Sites 1–18 are closest to the Sol Duc River and offer the best soundtrack (river sound all night). Sites 33–46 are in old-growth Douglas fir and are the most private. Avoid sites 80–90 — closest to the parking area and busiest. The campground is a 1-mile walk from Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where day-use hot spring access is available (fee required).

How do I book Sol Duc Campground? Sol Duc opens for reservations 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov. It fills quickly for July and August but is significantly easier to get in June and September. Walk-in sites (about 10) are available on a first-come basis — arrive by 10 AM. Sol Duc Road can close due to downed trees in storms — check NPS Olympic road conditions before your trip.

Can I use the Sol Duc Hot Springs from the campground? Yes — Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is 1 mile from the campground. Day-use access to the hot spring pools costs approximately $16–20/adult (varies by season, check current rates at olympicnationalparks.com). There are three hot spring pools of varying temperatures. The resort also has a restaurant and small store. Campground guests do not get discounted access — buy a day pass on arrival.

Does Sol Duc Campground have bears? Olympic Peninsula has a healthy black bear population and Sol Duc is no exception. All food must be stored in the provided bear boxes at every site — this is a federal requirement. Bears in Olympic tend to be less bold than Sierra Nevada bears but incidents do occur when campers leave food out. Never leave a cooler in your car overnight here — bears have learned to pop car windows.

Nearby campgrounds: Fairholme Campground (Port Angeles, WA), Hoh Rainforest Campground (Forks, WA), Littleton Horse Camp (WA), Dungeness Forks Campground (WA).