Olympic peninsula family trip planning

[Kallorne]

We're planning on doing our annual week long family camping trip that includes our two kids and two dogs with the Olympic peninsula has our destination. We camp out of a 12ft trailer (and hammocks, bought hennessys for the kids on their clearance sale) and neither my wife more I have much experience in this part of the state. I was hoping for some suggestions of places to camp. We're wanting a day or of beach time and some short hikes to do with the kids and I'll try to sneak away for a solo overnighter as well. So hoping to find a centralish campground or bit of forest service land that we can use as a base camp. Any places that spring to mind or places to skip with young children?

Ps this will be early to mid July

[TallPaul]

No advice for you but it sounds wonderful. I have fond memories of the Olympics.

[Montexan]

Get permits and reservations now--if you can still find any available. Kalaloch is one of the, unarguably, best established campgrounds in the state that will easily fit your RV, many hammocking spots overlooking the ocean, a big beach that's safe-ish for kids (beware sneaker waves) and one of the very FEW NPS sites to allow dogs. But it fills extremely quickly.

You'll probably run into more problems having the dogs than children, as much of the land is NPS. But there's a USFS campground near Lake Quinault that's nice and dog friendly. Then just a short drive for a beach-day at Kalaloch from there. Maybe try South Beach too.

Port Angeles is meh. The best thing is has going for it is a ferry to BC.

And Forks is a dump, as is much of the OP, which is economically depressed. So buy local if ya can [steps off box]

[Kallorne]

The lake Quinault campgrounds look promising, we generally prefer USFS campgrounds. Looks like they have some fantastic trail access and are reasonably close to the coast. looks like a decent enough lake to bring the canoe along as well. We're really thinking forest moon of Endor with a side of Naboo for a day or so. Also planning a night on the southern edge of Mt Rainer NP on the way over.

[Kallorne]

Get permits and reservations now--if you can still find any available. Kalaloch is one of the, unarguably, best established campgrounds in the state that will easily fit your RV, many hammocking spots overlooking the ocean, a big beach that's safe-ish for kids (beware sneaker waves) and one of the very FEW NPS sites to allow dogs. But it fills extremely quickly.

You'll probably run into more problems having the dogs than children, as much of the land is NPS. But there's a USFS campground near Lake Quinault that's nice and dog friendly. Then just a short drive for a beach-day at Kalaloch from there. Maybe try South Beach too.

Port Angeles is meh. The best thing is has going for it is a ferry to BC.

And Forks is a dump, as is much of the OP, which is economically depressed. So buy local if ya can [steps off box]

Ended up with a nice mix for our itinerary. Nights 1 and 2 will be at La Wis Wis campground just south of Mt Rainer, nights 3-5 will be Kalaloch (snagged a nice spot), and then moving to Willaby Campground for nights 6 & 7. That will leave 2 days to make a leisurely return to this side of the state. Thinking of returning via the North Cascades highway or highway 2 through Leavenworth on the way back, I haven't been that way in a while.

[Montexan]

You snagged a Kalaloch spot in July! That will be phenomenal. I only go there for first come, first serve, outside Memorial to Labor Day during small weather windows.

If you bring your canoe, remember to get it certified as clean from invasive species by the Quinault Nation first--the lake is under Tribal Law.

Sounds like a rad trip!