I’ve had multiple people ask me for my Olympic National Park itinerary, and I’m happy to share. The best way to explore a new area is through its national parks. Not to mention it’s the perfect excuse to be outdoors and make memories with family and friends.
Every national park is unique, but Olympic National Park has always had a special hold on me. It’s the largest NP in Washington state, encompassing almost one million acres of rainforest, coastline, and mountainscapes.
Since the Olympic NP is so vast, knowing where to go can save you tons of time and driving. So, I’ve devised the ultimate itinerary to help you make the most out of your time traveling through the Olympic National Park.
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Olympic National Park Itinerary
Let’s dive into all there is to know about Olympic National Park. I’ll go over where it’s located, what it’s known for, and the perfect itinerary that ticks all the boxes!
Where is Olympic National Park?
Olympic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington state. Its boundaries extend from the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, and the Hood Canal to the east. The park can be accessed from numerous points since there’s no single park entrance.
The park is very remote, so I recommend finding someplace to stay in Forks if you want to explore the whole area, or Port Angeles if you’re only going to explore the north area. You can check out my list of stunning Washington coast cabins for ideas of where to stay.
How far is Seattle from Olympic National Park?
The two most common ways of getting from Seattle to Olympic NP are driving south to Tacoma, then skirting up along the Hood Canal. This route takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes from Seattle. Or, take a 35-minute ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island for a total trip time of ~3 hours.
I prefer the ferry because it’s quicker and it’s a great excuse to eat Bainbridge Island restaurants and explore things to do in Port Townsend on the way. But if time allows, the drive around the Puget Sound is pretty once you get past I-5 south. This direction is the perfect time to check out Tacoma’s food scene and fun things to do. Plus from Tacoma onwards, the drive is scenic and there are many places to stop along the way, like Hama Hama for fresh oysters or Potlach Brewing for a crisp microbrew.
What is Olympic National Park known for?
Olympic National Park is known for its diverse landscape…I’d argue more than almost any other NP in the country. With nearly one million acres, the park’s boundaries include 75 miles of Washington’s coastline, several of the state’s tallest peaks, and the only rainforest in the northern hemisphere, the Hoh Rainforest.
The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s visited by over 2.9 million people annually. Those are just some of the reasons why I think this park is worth visiting.
Pro tip: Olympic National Park is one of the most dog-friendly vacations in the PNW. Most national parks don’t allow dogs, but this park allows them on many beaches and some trails (though not all, so plan ahead!).
How many days in Olympic National Park is enough?
Considering how vast the park is, I recommend at least three days to explore the park and all the Washington coast attractions. That way, you can spend a few days in the north exploring the Port Angeles and Forks areas, then head to the coast for some ocean views before driving back.
Ideally you’d have an extra day to account for travel, but if you play your cards right, you can see much of the park over a long weekend. If you only have one day to spare, I suggest booking this Olympic National Park Day Tour from Seattle so you’re guaranteed to hit all the key stops.
How much does it cost to get into Olympic NP?
An Olympic National Park entrance pass costs $30 per day for a standard vehicle and its passengers. It’s less or motorcycles ($25) and walk-in passengers are $15 per person. If you plan to go a lot throughout the year, it’s $55 for an annual pass to Olympic NP.
You can also get an America the Beautiful pass for $80 per vehicle/4 passengers annually. There are also steep discounts for seniors, and this pass is always free for volunteers, veterans, the disabled, and 4th graders.
Some stops just outside the park don’t require a national park pass. There are also some stops on reservations noted below that require separate fees and reservations.
What to do in Olympic National Park
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more things to do in the Olympic NP as I discover them!
Hike Hurricane Ridge
website | get directions | best for: scenic mountainscape
Hurricane Ridge is arguably one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park. It’s also family friendly because you can drive up and partake in flat, manageable hikes from around the visitors center.
The ~3.4 mile Hurricane Hill trail is the most popular hike that promises epic views of the surrounding mountains and jagged cliffs. But you can get much the same view from the comfort of the parking lot.
Paddle and wander Lake Crescent
website | get directions | best for: deep blue lake
Lake Crescent is one of the most explored lakes in the park because it’s easy to get to, and the low nitrogen waters keep the algae at bay, making for crystal blue waters. It’s a kid-friendly spot with tons of room to spread out, and you can rent kayaks or paddle boards from the Lake Crescent Lodge.
There are multiple hiking spots that depart from the lake. The most well-known is the Devil’s Punchbowl, which departs from the Spruce Nature Trail and offers picturesque views of the still blue waters.
Gawk at the Hall of Mosses Trail & Hoh Rainforest
website | get directions | best for: rainforest
No trip to Olympic NP would be complete without experiencing the rainforest. The Hoh Rainforest is the only one of its kind in the northern hemisphere, and the views are eerily otherworldly. The Hall of Mosses is the most well-known hike, delivering you to ancient trees dressed in thick layers of vibrant moss.
Hunt for waterfalls
If there’s one thing many of best Pacific Northwest national parks are known for, it’s waterfalls. There is no shortage of falls in Olympic National Park. Here are my favorite waterfall hikes that promise pristine views for minimal effort.
Merriman Falls
website | get directions | best for: quick access waterfall
Located in the Hoh Rainforest, Merriman is one of the most accessible falls in the Lake Quinault area. It’s feet from the road and makes for a fantastic photo. If possible, visit the falls near the golden hour since the photo opps are…chef’s kiss.
Sol Duc Falls
website | get directions | best for: rushing waters
Sol Duc Falls is another easy waterfall hike that starts from the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort. Depending on the snow melt, the falls can break into four channels before cascading nearly 50 feet down to a rocky canyon.
Up for a longer backpacking trip? This 4-Day Olympic Backpacking Tour includes visits to Sol Duc and the Seven Lakes Basin.
Marymere Falls
website | get directions | best for: flat, easy trail
The hike to Marymere Falls is well-maintained and mostly flat. It’s great for kids and promises babbling creeks leading to a 90-foot waterfall, all with minimal exertion.
Visit beaches
Olympic NP encompasses nearly 75 miles of coastline, so many of Washington state’s best beaches are in the park. Here are a few of my favorites.
Interested in a guided tour? Here are some that include my favorite beaches:
- Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach Guided Tour in Olympic National Park
- Olympic Full Day Private Tour and Hike
Rialto Beach
website | get directions | best for: sea stacks
Rialto Beach is an easily accessible beach with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. There are sea stacks and old driftwood dotting the shore, though the beach is best known for the Hole in the Wall, a rock arch carved into a sea stack just ~1.2 miles from the parking lot.
Pro tip: This is a rocky beach, so wear sturdy shoes! Also, check the tide table to make sure you don’t get stuck out by Hole in the Wall with no way back.
Kalaloch Beach
website | get directions | best for: tide pools
Kalaloch Beach (pronounced “clay-lock”) is another quick access beach that’s kid and dog-friendly. Visit during low tide to peek into the tide pools and watch the sea critters swimming about. Then, take a picture by the Tree of Life, a massive, Lion King-esque tree precariously growing over an eroded riverbed. Do it quick though, as it’s sinking more and more each day and will get washed away eventually.
Ruby Beach
website | get directions | best for: jagged sea stacks
Ruby Beach is my favorite beach in Olympic National Park. It’s dotted with huge sea stacks surrounded by turquoise waters. Kids and dogs alike love the vast sandy beach. Plus there are tide pools great for spotting sea anemones and starfish.
La Push beaches
get directions | best for: quiet beaches
There are three side-by-side beaches in La Push, each creatively named First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach. It’s best to park at each parking lot as they’re not connected via the shore.
First Beach is the easiest to access, though I’m partial to Second Beach because the hike is relatively easy and less crowded. Third Beach is the quietest of the three and has sandier shores.
Shi Shi Beach
website | get directions | best for: camping
Shi Shi Beach is harder to access than most beaches in the park, but the reward is worth it. It’s ~4 miles one way, which is why many choose to camp overnight. This also means you’ll get a semi-secluded view and plenty of time to take photos at golden hour. If you decide to do this, just make sure to get a backpacking permit.
Check out Cape Flattery
website | get directions | price: ~$20 day pass | best for: rocky landscape
Cape Flattery is located in the northwestern-most point of the continuous United States on Makah Tribe Land, not Olympic National Park. This means you’ll need to purchase a Makah Recreation Pass for $20, but the view is worth the money. The trail is easily accessible, and the vast ocean view mixed with jagged sea stacks is unbeatable.
Hike Cape Alava/Ozette Triangle
website | get directions | best for: long, flat hike
I may have had a bear encounter at Cape Alava the last time I went (it wasn’t bad!), but it remains one of my favorite hikes in the park. The hike is long, about 9.4 miles roundtrip, but it’s relatively flat and offers exceptional views of the water, greenery, and rough shoreline. You’ll start for ~3 miles on a boardwalk through the forest to get to the beach. Then you’ll do ~3 miles along the rocky and driftwood-filled beach before going ~3 miles back into the woods back to the trailhead. So it’s a nice mix of scenery!
Explore Lake Quinault
website | get directions | price: free | best for: clear blue lake
Lake Quinault is located outside Olympic National Park on the Quinault Indian Reservation and offers hundreds of acres of lush forest, with hiking trails to boot. There’s a 31-mile loop road that takes you around a scenic lake, and there are numerous viewpoints for waterfalls along the drive.
If you’re looking for a spot to stay, the Lake Quinault Lodge is family-friendly and offers pristine lake views.
Visit Forks and Port Angeles
Forks directions | Port Angeles directions | best for: “city life” (or the most you’ll get on the peninsula!)
Most people know Forks for one thing: Twilight. But there’s so much more to this rainy town than a movie series. Forks is the jumping off point for many hikes, like Marymere Falls, Hurricane Hill, and Rialto Beach, to name a few.
There’s also Port Angeles, home to Hurricane Ridge, Mount Storm King, and Lake Crescent. Beyond the park, the town boasts cute restaurants and hotels close to the coast. Plus you can take the ferry from Port Angeles to Vancouver Island, home to Victoria BC and the Cowichan Valley.
Now, if you are obsessed with Twilight, I won’t judge! I literally watched the first movie on repeat in college. This Twilight Forks Tour includes a roundtrip ferry from Seattle to Forks, plus a guided tour.
Best itinerary for Olympic National Park
Here’s how I would map out all there is to do into a 3-day Olympic National Park itinerary!
Day one: Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge
- Take the early morning Seattle to Bainbridge ferry
- Drive to Hurricane Ridge
- Optional: Hike to Hurricane Hill
- Explore Lake Crescent and rent a kayak from the lodge
- Optional: Hike Devil’s Punchbowl
- Visit Marymere Falls and Sol Duc Falls
- Spend the night in Port Angeles or Forks
Driving directions
Day two: Hoh Rainforest and beaches
- Go on an early morning hike to Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rainforest
- Visit Rialto Beach and Hole in the Wall
- Stop at La Push Beaches (First, Second, and/or Third Beach)
- Go tide pooling at Ruby Beach
- Snap a pic at Kalaloch Beach
- Optional: If time, explore Lake Quinault and nearby waterfalls
- Pro tip: Or add a 4th day for this and stay in the quaint beach town, Seabrook
- Spend the night in Forks
Driving directions
Day three: Cape Flattery and Lake Quinault
- Drive north and hike Cape Flattery
- Hike Shi Shi Beach
- Optional: Also hike to Cape Alava
- Drive back to Seattle via the Hood Canal
Driving directions
More national parks to explore
After you cross this Olympic National Park itinerary off your bucket list, check out the other national parks and recreational areas in the Pacific Northwest.
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