No Reservations, No Problem: A Panic-Free Guide to Camping on the Fly

Find it: The South Beach Campground is located along the Pacific coast, between Kalaloch and Queets, in Olympic National Park.

Details: Here you'll find 55 sites with flush toilets but no potable water. Nearby Kalaloch Campground takes reservations and books out months in advance, but South Beach is more off the radar. The campsites are set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean — there is little shade or privacy, but oh, the views! Pack windbreakers for warmth, binoculars for possible whale sightings and sturdy shoes for exploring tide pools.

Plan B: Queets Campground, also in Olympic National Park, has 20 primitive sites set among old-growth giants and alongside one of the most pristine coastal rivers in the Northwest. Check for access as there have been past mudslides over the road.

Next up: Rock Island

^{Image credit: Doug Kerr/Flickr CC}