07.28.18 – 08.12.18
Olympic National Forest, Lake Crescent, WA
Verizon 3LTE, good for solar, quiet (with the exception of a few log trucks a day), paved road in
Coordinates: 48.0489318,-124.1113274
DISCLAIMER: We are sharing this site because so many have shared gems like this in the past and we appreciate being able to give back. But please DO NOT take advantage of this site.
3 bars Verizon LTE and very fast internet (not common for this area). Mainly quiet except for logging trucks throughout weekdays, but still not bad. This area has 3 campfire pits; at one point, it comfortably fit a 36’ motorhome, a 35’ fifth wheel and a 25’ TT all at the same time
Access is from Cooper Ranch Rd, almost directly across from the Klahowya Campground access road, from the 101. Go past Olympic Discovery Trailhead and turn left on NF-29. The road is one lane with some wider sections around curves, but it is paved all the way to the site. Logging trucks use this road on weekdays, as do RVs, cars, bikers, and hikers, but it isn’t terribly busy. We didn’t run into anyone the many times we left and came back, but log trucks do operate M-F, 4am – 5:30pm.
The area is a large gravel turnaround with grassy areas to park around the perimeter. There are two access points from NF-29, about 30 yards apart, so if you miss the first one, you can make the second. Watch for low hanging branches.
To the east is Port Angeles, which has a Walmart and many restaurants. It is a bustling town!
Casino gas station just west of Port Angeles has cheapest fuel and propane prices around. $1.69 gal for propane (07/2018).
There is a small camp store just west of Lake Crescent, and a dump/fill station ¼ mile west of the store on Camp David Jr Rd at Fairholme campground boat launch ($10 pay box- and bring a water bandit if you have a hose fill).
Hungry Bear Café is a few miles west of the campsite on 101- was closed when we tried to visit due to lack of help, but open again before we left. A few more miles down is an RV park with public laundry (4 machines) and a small gas station (not on Google) with diesel and some supplies.
Another 12 miles west is Forks. There is a slightly larger laundry mat in town, but it will cost you at least $4.50 to wash and $1 to dry. Medium-sized grocery store that passes through to a hardware store and a clothing store. A few restaurants in town, expensive fuel, and access to two coastal beaches.
Beautiful free camping site that we almost didn’t want to share. Please, take care of it.