Covering 922,641 acres, the Olympic National Park is so large and diverse! The park has seven distinct ecosystems, including glaciated mountains, rainforest, and the coast. There is something for everyone to enjoy here, and there is so much to see.

We recommend staying between two and seven days near the park.

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Getting to the Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park 1 – 7 day itineraries

Disclosure: We’ve included affiliate links with recommended hiking gear in this post. If you click through and buy something, we’ll receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more, and we haven’t been paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all our genuine preferences.

Getting to the Olympic National Park

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the nearest major airport, located two and a half hours away from Port Angeles, the heart of the Olympics.

To reach Port Angeles, we recommend ferrying from Seattle to Bremerton. This route gives you a great view of the Seattle skyline from the boat, is a fun way to travel, and helps you skip traffic along I-5. If you’ll be coming from the Portland area, drive along Highway 101 for the best views. Exploring the park with your own vehicle is the best way to experience the Olympic Peninsula.

National park pass

You’ll also need to purchase a parking pass. The America the Beautiful Pass covers all national parks for a year, or you can opt to purchase a seven-day pass to the Olympic National Park.

You can buy passes at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, park entrances at Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rainforest, Sol Duc, and Staircase, online, or at REI in Seattle.

Best time to visit

Our favorite thing about the Olympics is that most of it is accessible year-round. When to visit is up to personal preference!

Summer (best for weather and hiking)

July — September

Always a moderate climate, you can expect summer temperatures to get up to the low 70s throughout the summer. By July, you’ll have your choice of high-elevation hikes to choose from, and all roads will be clear of snow. This is the best time to visit the park if you’re hoping to avoid rain during your visit or hike in the mountains.

Ruby Beach on a sunny weekend in September

Fall (best for waterfalls)

October — November

With a bit more rain — averaging 10 days of rain each month — fall is a beautiful time to visit the Olympics. There are fewer tourists, albeit some seasonal roads have closures beginning mid-November.

Winter (best for crowds)

December — March

The fear of rain keeps most tourists away throughout the winter in the Olympics. However, the amount of rain you’ll see varies greatly by region. The town of Forks, near the Hoh Rainforest, is the wettest place in North America. They receive up to ten feet of rain per year (about 20 days of rain each month throughout winter), while places like Port Angeles average 12 days of rain in the winter months.

Temperatures at lower elevations are generally in the 40s throughout the region and the overcast skies create those moody landscapes the Pacific Northwest is famous for.

Here in Washington, we say there is no such thing as bad weather, just poor wardrobe choices, so pack a raincoat (check out our packing list below) and bring waterproof shoes like hiking boots or rain boots. Don’t be afraid to visit during winter!

Spring (best for greenery and waterfalls)

February — June

With the start of the snow melt, the forests look particularly lush, and waterfalls begin to rage in spring. There’s still a chance you could have a few rainy days during your visit, but you can also expect temperatures to be in the 50s to 60s.

Where to stay

Port Angeles

Port Angeles is the heart of the Olympic National Park. Its central location puts a good number of bucket list destinations an hour drive away or less. It also borders Washington’s rain shadow, so it receives significantly less rain than the Western side of the Olympic National Park. Plus, it’s the area’s largest town, so you’ll have the most restaurants and lodging to choose from here.

Olympic Railway Inn: Pet-friendly train cars — sleeps 2-4
Starlight Camp: Glamping tents — sleeps 2-4
Juan De Fuca Cottages: Waterfront cabins — sleeps 5-8
Eagles Landing: Gorgeous vintage cabin vibes with hot tub — sleeps 10
Lavender Castle: Pet-friendly castle, with hot tub — sleeps 12

Lake Crescent/Lake Sutherland

These lakes are a half hour west of Port Angeles. The area has minimal amenities, but makes up for it in beauty.

Lake Crescent Lodge: An Olympic National Park Lodge on the lake — sleeps 2-4
Log Cabin Resort: Olympic National Park cabins at Lake Crescent — sleeps 2-4
Lake Sutherland Waterfront: Comes with kayaks and a hot tub — sleeps 4
Rustic Lakefront Cabin: On Lake Sutherland, complete with your own dock — sleeps 6
Lake Sutherland Home: Waterfront with hot tub and views — sleeps 12

Sol Duc

Home to the Olympic Peninsula’s only commercial hot springs. The lodge and hot springs are open seasonally between late March and October.

Sol Duc Hot Springs: — An Olympic National Park Lodge in the forest — sleeps 2-10

Forks

Forks makes a great home base if you’re hoping to explore the coast and Hoh rainforest. The town is small with minimal amenities, but the nearby forests and beaches are beautiful. The town is still clinging onto its Twilight fame, even after all these years, so you’ll find themed things throughout town.

Dew Drop Inn Motel: Central location in town — sleeps 2-4
Misty Valley Inn B&B: Serene spot with breakfast included — sleeps 2-4
Peaceful Retreat: 10 acres with a traditional log cabin — sleeps 8
Private home: Spacious home on acreage — sleeps 11

Neah Bay

Visiting Neah Bay is worthwhile, but out of the way. If you have the time, stay nearby and enjoy how remote this section of Washington is.

Chito Beach Resort: Private waterfront cottages, 20 minutes from Neah Bay — sleeps 1-2
Hobuck Beach Resort: Beachfront cabins near Neah Bay — sleeps 2-6

Kalaloch

Located between Forks and Lake Quinault is an Olympic National Park Lodge. It’s popular, so you’ll have to be lucky to get a reservation, but it is the perfect beach getaway.

Kalaloch Lodge: Cute cabins, a lodge, and campsites — sleeps 2-4

Lake Quinault

Home to yet another national park lodge, quaint private cabins, and one of our favorite campgrounds (more on that below) along the lake.

Lake Quinault Lodge: An Olympic National Park Lodge on the lake — sleeps 2-4
Locharie Cabins: Waterfront cabins — sleeps 2-6
Secluded Lakefront Retreat: Beautiful home and views — sleeps 6

Lake Cushman/Hoodsport

Hoodsport is an adorable town on the Puget Sound. Stay there for quick access to restaurants or at Lake Cushman to kayak from your doorstep.

Hoodsport Home: Bright and cozy waterfront home — sleeps 3
Waterfront at Hoodsport: Octagonal home with water views and dock — sleeps 4
Lake Cushman Home: Spacious, with patio, dock, and kayaks — sleeps 6
Lake Hideaway: Forest paradise near Lake Cushman with game room — sleeps 10

Port Townsend

A Victorian seaport, Port Townsend is a historic gem. The town is fun to explore, very walkable, with a historic World War II Fort and it has great food and easy access to ferries.

The Adams Pragge House Bed & Breakfast: Very Victorian, in a historic neighborhood — sleeps 2
Tides Inn & Suites: Modern waterfront hotel in historic downtown, — sleeps 2-4
Port Townsend Cottage — Retreat outside of town — sleeps 4
Bishop Hotel: Modern, yet still Victorian hotel in historic downtown — sleeps 2-6

Camping

Camping is a great way to experience the Olympics! Many of the sites allow RV’s and accommodate vans, or tents. Campgrounds do tend to book up quickly, so we recommend booking your site as soon as it goes on sale. We find it’s easiest to get a campsite between fall and spring.

Check here for campgrounds within the Olympic National Park, here for sites in the nearby Olympic National Forest, here for state parks on the Olympic Peninsula, and here for private campgrounds (use code D3B06D to get $10 off your stay at a private campground).

So far, our favorite campgrounds are the Willaby Campground, Kalaloch, Staircase, Salt Creek Recreation Area, the Wild WA Coast Lookout, Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, and Robert Woods.

Camping rentals

If you’re coming from out of state, or don’t have camping gear, consider renting gear from Backcountry 40 Outfitters, a local company in Seattle, or REI. If exploring in a van is more your style look into Indie Campers and Escape Campervans.

Hiking

The Olympic National Park is not lacking iconic hikes! There are over 135 miles of trails, and each region of the park is completely different from the next. We especially love that the hikes in the lowlands are accessible year-round. We’ll make specific hiking recommendations in the itinerary below.

Pro tip: Always look at recent trip reports on Washington Trails Association for any of the hikes you’re interested in. They’ll give you up-to-date information on the trail, snow conditions, mosquitoes, and more.

Best activities

Photos

Of course, we’re going to recommend hiring Meghann to take professional photos and help preserve your memories of your time here! She’ll recommend where to take your photos, help you figure out what to wear, and more.

Ranger-led programs

Check the park calendar for guided walks throughout the park, art exhibits, and a telescope program from Hurricane Ridge.

Tide pooling

You’ll need to check the tide chart before seeking tide pools. You’ll want to go at low tide — the lower the better. We love using tides.net because they have tide charts and a graph. Aim to start tide pooling an hour before the tide turns. Once the tide starts coming in, the waves stir up the pools making it harder to see animals.

Do wear a good pair of waterproof hiking boots or rainboots to tide pool in (product links below in our packing list). Areas around the tide pools can be rocky and you’re likely to get you’re likely to get your shoes wet. Going barefoot isn’t a great option for this activity.

Beware that there can be more than one low tide in a day. If this is the case, the second low tide is usually not very low and won’t be conducive to good tide pooling.

Important: keep in mind when the tide will begin rising — it’s easy to get preoccupied spotting animals, and you don’t want to get stranded on a high section of beach. Pay attention to the time and know when the tide will begin rising. Keep an eye out for sneaker waves as well!

Paddling

It’s possible to kayak and paddle board on most lakes in the Olympic National Park. You’ll find seasonal rentals available at Lake Cushman at the Skokomish Park, Lake Quinault at the Lake Quinault Lodge, Lake Crescent at the Lake Crescent Lodge, and in Hoodsport from Hoodsport Wellness and Kayak Rentals.

Lavender Farms

Sequim (near Port Angeles) is full of Lavender Farms. They’re generally open between May and October, offering things like you-pick lavender, lavender products, and even lavender-flavored ice cream. Check out this list to find the perfect farm to visit during your trip.

Crab Fest

Crab Fest takes place over one weekend in October in Port Angeles every year. Buy tickets for a Dungeness crab dinner or enjoy the free festival.

Farmer’s Market

Port Angeles has a year-round farmers market full of great food and all kinds of crafts. Find it at the Gateway Transit Center Pavillion downtown. Stop by Welly’s Real Fruit Ice Cream (New Zealand style) while you’re nearby!

Hurricane Ridge

Summer

Located an hour from Port Angeles, this is where you’ll see iconic mountain views. With panoramic views from the parking lot, it’s a great spot to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Although you don’t need to hike to appreciate the views here, hiking will give you extra time to soak in the sights. Check out Sunrise Point for a quick hike or Hurricane Hill and Klahhane Ridge for longer ventures or Mount Angeles if you’re up for a class 3 scramble.

Sadly, a fire destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in the spring of 2023. The park has reopened Hurricane Ridge to a limited number of visitors per day. We advise visiting before 10:00 am before they hit the maximum capacity and shut down for the day. Check here for updates.

Winter

In the winter months, Hurricane Ridge is only open Friday through Sunday between late November and late March (depending on snow levels). The road opens on these days when plows have cleared the roads, which can be as early as 8 am or as late as noon depending on conditions. Check here for road conditions and weather forecasts.

Having chains in or on your vehicle is required throughout these months. We recommend purchasing chains at Les Schwab Tire Centers because they’ll allow you to return them if they go unused.

Since parking is limited at the top, the lot fills up early. Once that happens, cars are let in one by one as others leave. Arrive at 7 am to get an early spot in line, otherwise you may have a one-to-three-hour wait.

Once you’ve arrived, enjoy a small sledding hill (bring your own sleds), ranger-led snowshoes, or snowshoe the Hurricane Hill trail on your own. Beware, this trail does have avalanche dangers. On days with low avalanche dangers, you can snowshoe along the ridge to Hurricane Hill. Stay away from the edge of the ridge — it often has cornices that you can fall through. On days with moderate to high avalanche danger, wander through the lower meadows.

Check here for avalanche forecasts and ask the rangers present for up-to-date conditions and recommendations.

Olympic National Park 1 – 7 Day Itineraries

This itinerary is very active — full of long drives, hiking suggestions, and beautiful sights. Follow it in the suggested order to see as much of the park as possible or extend your stay in one of the towns to explore more in one area.

If you’ll have less than seven days to explore, you’ll have to choose where it makes sense for you to cut this itinerary short based on the activities you’d like to prioritize and the amount of drive time back to Seattle you’re comfortable with.

Day 1 itinerary

We’re starting this itinerary from Seattle because the journey to the Olympic Peninsula is half the fun. You’ll end your day with a scenic sunset!

Mileage: 80 miles

Drive time: 2.5 hours

Start: Seattle

End: Port Angeles

Ferry

Take a ferry from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island. You’ll want to get to the ferry dock about 20 minutes early to get in line. You’ll drive on, and once you’ve boarded, hop out of your car, and explore the boat! You’ll have great views of the Seattle skyline at the beginning of the ride. Don’t stress about time — the captain will let you know when it’s time to head back to your vehicle and begin deboarding.

Port Gamble

Stop in, or just drive through this is a historic logging town. Over the years, it’s kept its charm and the town’s main street is so charming. If you’re hungry, stop at the Café in the general store.

Hurricane Ridge

Once you reach Port Angeles, if the forecast is clear, head to Hurricane Ridge. If the mountains are hiding in clouds, save visiting here for another day, or take a chance on it and see if the clouds will clear by the time you arrive. Conditions vary greatly by season, so read the section on Hurricane Ridge before visiting.

From Port Angeles, reaching the top of Hurricane Ridge takes an hour. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset, and you’ll have views of the Bailey mountain range to the south and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada to the north.

Tongue Point

If the weather at Hurricane Ridge isn’t in your favor, check out Tongue Point at Salt Creek Recreation Area. From the parking area, follow the path to the water and you’ll find a steep set of stairs leading down to the rocky beach. At low tide, you can go down the stairs onto a rocky beach full of tide pools. At high tide, you’ll be able to watch the water swirling around the stairs. It’s one of our favorite spots to watch the sunset.

Day 2 itinerary

We recommend heading to Forks for your second day in the Olympics since there is so much to see on the way there. If you’ll be in the area for a shorter amount of time, consider making Port Angeles your home base and making longer day trips to Forks and Neah Bay from there.

Mileage: 80 miles

Drive time: 2 hours

Start: Port Angeles

End: Forks

Madison Falls

Your first stop should be at Madison Falls. It’s just a slight detour from the main road, and the 0.2 mile trail is paved, flat and the waterfall flows year-round.

Lake Crescent

Next you’ll stop at Lake Crescent. The lake is a bright blue and surrounded by mountains. It looks gorgeous no matter the weather.

If you’re interested in hiking here, stop at the Storm King Ranger Station. Hike to Marymere Falls or Mount Storm King if you’re up for a workout. There’s more to know about this hike, so read about it here if you’re interested in it.

View of Lake Crescent from Mount Storm King at sunset

If you’d rather have a leisurely view of the lake, go the Lake Crescent Lodge. There you’ll find one of the national park’s lodges, an idyllic dock, and quieter trails to wander through the forest.

If you have extra time to explore in this area, we recommend visiting the Devil’s Punchbowl via the Spruce Railroad Trail. The trail is paved, and you’ll find the Devil’s Punchbowl, an especially scenic swimming hole, a mile into the trail.