Located on a peninsula west of Seattle, Olympic National Park boasts a variety of natural geology, including the Pacific coastline and the Olympic Mountains, and is close to Mount Rainier National Park. If you have enough time, you can combine Olympic with Mount Rainier on a broader Washington national parks trip.
Classic Olympic National Park itineraries usually combine coastal stops with inland rainforest and mountain areas. The coastal route is dominated by beaches and cliffs, while the inland route is dominated by forests and canyons.
Entry to the park is $30 per vehicle for private vehicles, $25 per motorcycle for one passenger only, and $15 per person for walking or bicycling. You can also purchase a U.S. National Parks Annual Pass or an Olympic National Park Annual Pass for direct access.
One of the best places to explore nature is in Olympic National Park, where you can see three unique landscapes: the beautiful Pacific coast, mysterious temperate rainforest, and ancient alpine forests covered by glaciers.
Olympic National Park attracts a large number of visitors from around the world each summer, and organizing a well-timed visit will allow you to not miss the popular attractions without spending time on a circuitous route. How do I get to the Olympic National Park? How do you organize your visit?
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Table of Contents
Points of Interest in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is rich in natural beauty.
From the beach, you can watch beautiful sunsets or visit the magical Hole-in-the-Wall at low tide.
Or hike along trails in the mysterious rainforest and observe the surrounding vegetation landscape and wildlife.
Or climb up the trail and enjoy the waterfalls, mountain views, and variety of wildlife along the way.
You can also experience boating in one of the park’s several glacial lakes and enjoy views of the surrounding glacier-covered mountains from the water.
A different kind of camping is highly recommended in Olympic National Park, which offers a variety of camping environments along the coast, along the cliffs, in rainforests and old-growth forests, as well as in wilderness areas, where you can experience a wide range of pleasures, such as sea-viewing, stargazing, or the company of the forests, from your campsite.
The Best time to visit Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is open year-round, but May through October is the best time to visit.
Between May and October, July and August are the best times to visit the park, as all the services are open and the climate is warm, making it the most comfortable time to visit the park, whether by the sea or in the mountains.
During the period from October through May each year, the weather in Olympic National Park is unstable, with flooding and strong storms that can lead to road closures, road washouts, and other conditions.
Temperature variations over the year in Olympic National Park are shown below:
Direct Flight to Olympic National Park
The most important airports around Olympic National Park are:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, airport code: SEA
It takes about 3 hours to rent a car from SEA Airport to Olympic National Park.
Seattle International Airport is a large international airport, 93 domestic city airports in the United States offer direct flights to SEA, the airlines that offer direct flights are: American, Alaska, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Hawaiian, etc. You can find out if any airports near you offer direct flights to SEA. SEA.
Information on arrivals at SEA airports from several major U.S. cities is summarized below:
| Direct Flight City (Airport code) | flight time | direct airline |
|---|---|---|
Dallas, Texas (DFW) | 4 hours and 09 minutes | American Alaska |
Houston, Texas (IAH) | 4 hours and 40 minutes | Alaska United |
| 2 hours and 50 minutes | American Alaska Delta JetBlue United |
San Francisco, CA (SFO) | 2 hours and 10 minutes. | Alaska Delta United |
Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 2 hours and 56 minutes | Alaska Delta |
New York, NY (EWR) | 6 hours 07 minutes | Alaska United |
| 6 hours and 15 minutes | Alaska Delta JetBlue |
| 6 hours and 23 minutes | Alaska Delta J |
| 6 hours and 20 minutes | American Alaska |
| 6 hours and 45 minutes | American Alaska |
| 5 hours and 20 minutes | Alaska Delta |
| 2 hours and 42 minutes |
|
| 3 hours, 11 minutes. |
|
| 3 hours and 52 minutes | Alaska |
Chicago, IL (ORD) | 4 hours. | American Alaska Delta United |
St. Lous, MO (STL) | 4 hours and 28 minutes | Alaska Southwest |
| 1 hour | Alaska Delta |
| 2 hours 55 minutes | Alaska Delta Frontier Southwest United |
Salt Lake City,UT (SLC) | 2 hours and 12 minutes. | Alaska Delta |
Meanwhile, SEA International Airport offers direct flights from countries and regions around the world. For example, you can fly directly to Seattle from Shanghai, Taipei, Singapore, South Korea, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vancouver.
What are the traffic and road conditions in Olympic National Park?
A. Entrance to the Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park has multiple entrances, and you can drive along and enter the park from many places.
The main entrances to Olympic National Park are:
- Hurricane Ridge: from the visitor center here, you can get plenty of park information, buy gifts, and more.
- Mora: close to Rialto Beach and Mora Campground.
- Kalaloch: Close to Kalaloch Beach, the visitor center here also offers ranger programs during the summer months to guide visitors through Olympic National Park.
- Hoh Rain Forest: from here you can access the park’s most famous rainforest, and at the visitor center you can purchase books, maps, etc., as well as obtain wilderness permits and bear-proof canisters.
- Quinault Rain Forest: A typical rainforest area can be accessed from here, while ample information about the park is available at the visitor center, as well as books, gifts for purchase, and more.
- Ozette: from here you have direct access to Ozette Lake, and at the Ozette Ranger Station you can learn not only the latest information about the park but also about its history, which preserves a large number of ancient artifacts.
Olympic National Park is surrounded by the US-101 freeway, with multiple entrances or direct connections to attractions along the way, so you can get there by car. The park offers a detailed freeway map that you can view and download to determine your route.
From SEA Airport, take I-5 south through Tacoma and Olympia to WA-8 and US-101 to follow the road into the Olympic National Park area.
Another option is to drive from Seattle to Bainbridge Island by ferry, then work your way north through Poilsbo, traveling over the Hood Canal Floating Bridge and onto US-101 via WA-104.
Of course, you can schedule both on the way there and the way back to fully enjoy Seattle and the scenery along the Peninsula.
B. Road conditions in the Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park has two sections, one immediately adjacent to the beach and the other large part inland.
Areas of Olympic National Park along the coast usually have paved roads that you can drive your vehicle along.
While in the interior of the park, there are some areas where the roads are less suitable for RVs, there are also some areas that are closed to all vehicles. There will also be some roads that are temporarily closed due to weather conditions.
Therefore, it is recommended that you download the National Park Service app from the APP Store or Google Play to get an idea of the feasible route conditions by viewing a live map.
Also, before booking your trip, check the Olympic National Park’s latest time information page to better organize your trip and enjoy a more relaxing and smoother trip to Olympic National Park.
Where is the best place to stay in Olympic National Park?
Olympic National Park offers four hotels, all of which have better accommodations but are difficult to book, while the park has several campgrounds and wilderness camping areas with walks along the beach, in forests and rainforests, which are more suitable for travelers who want to experience a sleepover in a natural setting, such as experiencing an overnight stay at the beach or a night in the rainforest.
Accommodation in the park
The Olympic National Park offers several lodges or hotels.
Among them, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is the most recommended as it not only offers a full range of food and beverage services but also experiences such as hot springs.
#1. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort ⭐⭐⭐ 3.9 / 5.0 (1,135 条评价)
#2. Kalaloch Lodge ⭐⭐ 4.5 / 5.0 (1,331 reviews)
#3. Lake Crescent Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (1,617 条评价)
#4. Log Cabin Resort ⭐⭐⭐ 4.2 / 5.0 (417 条评价)
B. Off-park accommodation
Olympic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula, and in the middle of the peninsula, the non-park jurisdiction has a small town of Forks, which provides several lodging accommodations, while on the peninsula, on the outskirts of the park jurisdiction, a large number of tourist lodging accommodations have been constructed in conjunction with the park.
The town of Forks in the middle of the Olympic Peninsula
#5. Woodland Inns 9.4 / 10.0 (254 reviews)
#6. Pacific Inn Motel ⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 / 10.0 (689 条评价)
#7. The Bogi Bear Inn ⭐⭐⭐ 9.2 / 10.0 (25 条评价)
Northern Peninsula
#8. Olympic Lodge by Ayres ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.7 / 10.0 (571 reviews)
#9. A Hidden Haven Cottages 9.2 / 10.0 (16 reviews)
#10. Sea Cliff Gardens ⭐⭐⭐ 9.5 / 10.0 (56 条评价)
#11. Juan de Fuca Cottages ⭐⭐⭐ 8.8 / 10.0 (111 条评价)
#12. Greenhouse Inn by the Bay ⭐⭐⭐ 9.6 / 10.0 (125 条评价)
#13. Lost Mountain Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 9.7 / 10.0 (63 条评价)
#14. Quality Inn & Suites at Olympic National Park ⭐⭐⭐ 8.5 / 10.0 (293 条评价)
#15. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites North Sequim, an IHG Hotel ⭐⭐ 8.8 / 10.0 (241 reviews)
#16. Angeles Motel ⭐⭐ 8.8 / 10.0 (938 reviews)
Eastern Peninsula
#17. The Waterfront at Potlatch 8.6 / 10.0 (186 reviews)
#18. Old Alcohol Plant ⭐⭐⭐ 8.5 / 10.0 (141 条评价)
#19. Amber Lights Bed and Breakfast ⭐⭐⭐ 9.7 / 10.0 (21条评价)
#20. Bay Cottage 9.1/ 10.0 (42 reviews)
South of the Peninsula
# Canterbury Inn 8.7 / 10.0 (836 reviews)
#22. Leah’s Homestay in Hoquiam 8.8 / 10.0 (21 reviews)
#23. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Chehalis ⭐⭐⭐ 8.5 / 10.0 (157 条评价)
#24. Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel (Washington) ⭐⭐⭐ 8.1 / 10.0 (806 条评价)
# Pitchwood Inn 8.4 / 10.0 (320 reviews)
C. Camping in the park
When visiting Olympic National Park, you can’t miss the campgrounds there. The park has a large number of campgrounds and wilderness campgrounds set up in the park, with the campgrounds generally offering certain services and facilities, and the wilderness campgrounds being more primitive and natural.
Campground camping (Campground)
The campground availability information page provided by the park needs to be checked to see the status of the campsites before booking and checking in.
If you want to stay in a campground, here is information on all the campgrounds offered by the park, so you can decide which camping area to stay in based on your preferences:
| campsite | opening hours (of a theater, stadium, gymnasium etc) | Facilities/Features |
|---|---|---|
Deer Park Map |
First-come-first-served | Located at a high altitude of 5,400 feet Pit latrine No potable water Has an accessible route No RVs allowed |
Fairholme Maps |
| Near Crescent Lake Flush toilet Drinking water Barrier-free access |
Graves Creek Map |
First come, first served |
Peak season bookings are available online Other times of the year on a first-come-first-served basis |
Heart O’ the Hills Maps |
First come, first served | In the middle of an old-growth forest Flush toilet Drinking water Accessible Walk-in only during heavy snowfall |
Hoh Maps |
Peak season bookings are available online Other times of the year on a first-come-first-served basis | In a temperate rainforest Flush toilet Drinking water Accessible |
Kalaloch Maps |
Peak season bookings are available online Other times of the year on a first-come-first-served basis | Oceanfront campground overlooking the Pacific Ocean Flush toilet Drinking water No barrier-free access |
Log Cabin RV & Campground Maps |
Call 8880896-3818 to make an appointment | Located on the shores of Crescent Lake Electricity, sewer system, showers, potable water, laundry available Barrier-free access available |
Mora Maps | In the middle of a coastal forest while being close to the Quillayute River Flush toilet Drinking water Barrier-free access | Located in old forests, near the Skokomish river Drinking water and flush toilets are available only during the summer months Rest of the year pit latrines and no drinking water |
North Fork Map of North Fork |
| In the middle of a remote temperate rainforest Pit latrines No potable water No barrier-free access |
Ozette Maps |
First come, first served | Close to Lake Ozette Pit toilets Drinking water available Barrier-free access available |
Queets Maps |
First come, first served | Close to the banks of the Queets River Pit latrine No drinking water No barrier-free access |
Sol DucHot Springs Resort RV Park & Campground Maps |
| Located on the banks of a river in an old-growth forest Flush toilet Running water Electrical hook-ups in the caravan park With barrier-free access |
South Beach Map of South Beach |
| Located on a cliff Flush toilet No drinking water No barrier-free access |
Staircase Staircase |
First come, first served | Located in old forests, near Skokomish river Drinking water and flush toilets are available only during the summer months Rest of the year pit latrines and no drinking water |
Dosewallips Maps |
First come, first served | More secluded, better privacy Walk-in only Pit toilets No drinking water |
Wild Campground
To camp at the Wilderness Campground, you will need to make a reservation to apply for a Wilderness Camping Permit to enter, and it is necessary to check the road information in advance to determine if the campground is accessible.
The difference between wilderness camping and campgrounds is that campgrounds usually plan a specific area and provide certain supporting facilities within the area, while wilderness camping is where tourists are free to camp within the permitted area and there are no supporting camping facilities, which is more in a primitive and natural state compared to campgrounds.
What are some good restaurants in Olympic National Park?
Dining in Olympic National Park is more limited and mostly located in hotels.
And outside the park, there are tons of different styles of dining to choose from.
A. Restaurants in parks
#1. Kalaloch Lodge map 4.5/5.0 (1,342 reviews)
#2. Creekside Map 4.0/5.0 (83 reviews)
#3. Kalaloch Mercantile map 4.3/5.0 (21 reviews)
#4. Lake Crescent Lodge Dining Room Map 4.3/5.0 (150 reviews)
B. Restaurants outside parks
Outside of Olympic National Park, there are several good restaurants along US-101, and a few good restaurants to choose from near the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal.
#1. Hard Rain Cafe Map 4.3/5.0 (329 reviews)
#2. Blakeslee Bar and Grill Map 4.2/5.0 (974 reviews)
#3. Westend Taproom Tip and Sip Map 4.9/5.0 (145 reviews)
#4. Firehouse Grill Burgers & Fries Take-Out Map 4.6/5.0 (450 reviews)
#5. Sabai Thai Map 4.6/5.0 (582 reviews)
#6. Downriggers on the Water Map 4.3/5.0 (1,205 reviews)
#7. Terrace Restaurant Map 4.5/5.0 (109 reviews)
#8. The Blackbird Coffeehouse Map 4.6/5.0 (400 reviews)
#9. Oak Table Cafe Map 4.8/5.0 (1,830 reviews)
#10. Nourish Sequim Map 4.6/5.0 (560 reviews)
#11. Dockside Grill Map 4.5/5.0 (722 reviews)
#12. The House of Seven Brothers Map 4.5/5.0 (214 reviews)
#13. Gear Head Deli Map 4.8/5.0 (196 reviews)
#14. Quilbilly’s (formerly known as Twana Road House/101 Brewery) map 4.6/5.0 (409 reviews)
#15. Ba Sa Restaurant Map 4.4/5.0 (374 reviews)
#16. Bene Pizza Map 4.4/5.0 (148 reviews)
#17. Sisters Cider House Map 5.0/5.0 (21 reviews)
#18. BIMA Bistro Map 4.6/5.0 (32 reviews)
Itinerary + Don’t Miss Attractions
Two-day trips can usually be arranged in Olympic National Park:
Day 1
Take US-101 south of Olympic National Park to Ruby Beach in kalaloch beach.
Then you can head north to Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, and Lake Ozette.
Afterward, you can head inland to Lake Crescent, then on to the Sol Duc Valley for mountain views and a night at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in the valley, or a campground by the sea.
If you are planning to visit the beach, be sure to check the tide schedule first; some roads are closed during high tide.
Day 2
You can set off for the Hoh Rain Forest and then choose between the Quinault Rain Forest and the Queets River Trail.
If you have time, take a trip to Lake Cushman, then head north to Hurricane Ridge for spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains.
Finally, you can leave the park from the east side.
Kalaloch Beach
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (68 reviews)
Kalaloch Beach is a beach classic with the longest coastline in Olympic National Park, divided into a total of four beach areas from south to north, with multiple trailheads between Beach 2 and Beach 3, such as the Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail, Kalaloch Lodge Rainforest Trail, and others, and it also offers the Kalaloch Campground.
So during the day, you can start an unsynchronized trail hike from here, or observe the many species of birds here, and at night, you can spend the night by the beach, listening to the waves and resting.
Ruby Beach
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (1,004 reviews)
At Ruby Beach, it is possible to swim for a while along the beach. The beach has red crystals in the sand, which gives the beach its name.
If you arrive at low tide, you can also see a lot of marine life such as starfish and anemones. At Ruby Beach, you can also see a variety of birds such as tufted puffins and common puffins.
Rialto Beach
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (1,458 reviews)
Rialto Beach is located just north of Ruby Beach, where the beach is mostly rocky and the waves are so rough that you can hear them roaring as you drive down the highway.
At low tide, walk north along the beach for about 1.5 miles and you’ll see the magical Hole-in-the-Wall, a natural opening formed by the sea washing over the rock, so be sure to watch out for possible rockfalls overhead if you want to see it up close.
Lake Ozette
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6 / 5.0 (29 reviews)
Lake Ozette is a coastal hu, so you may have both ocean and lake views from the trails here, which offer a total of two three-mile trails with easier pavement walking. During migration season, you may also spot gray whales and seals from here.
Lake Crescent
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (599 reviews)
One of the most famous attractions in Olympic National Park, this body of clear, glacier-fallen water has many trails along the lake, from a gentle walk to Marymere Falls along the Barnes Creek Trail to the Devil’s Punchbowl along the Spruce Railroad Trail, to the Barnes Creek Trail, to the Barnes Creek Trail, to the Barnes Creek Trail, and the Devil’s Punchbowl. Devil’s Punchbowl.)
Also, at Crescent Lake, you can experience recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing.
Sol Duc Valley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 / 5.0 (4 reviews)
A valley close to the coast with old-growth forests, clear lakes, and ice-covered peaks, the Sol Duc River in the valley is the only river on the Peninsula where silver salmon return to the waters in summer, so you can see the magical salmon return jumps from the lookout.
Hoh Rain Forest
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (1,634 reviews)
The Cocoa Rainforest has the most typical temperate rainforest landscape in Olympic National Park and is one of the best remaining rainforests in the U.S. Stroll through the rainforest and you’ll see a rich variety of ferns and mosses on the trees, and immerse yourself in a world of all-encompassing green vegetation.
In the rainforest, there is The Hoh River Trail, which takes you slowly out of the rainforest and into glacial meadows where you can look up at Mt. Olympus, or take the other way at a fork in the road to the Sol Duc Valley.
Quinault Rain Forest
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 / 5.0 (19 reviews)
The Quinault Rainforest is a small but very beautiful rainforest with several trails that are easier to walk, with views of rivers, creeks, and valleys along the way, as well as monuments left by the Kestner people.
Hurricane Ridge
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 / 5.0 (379 reviews)
Hurricane Ridge offers one of the most diverse travel experiences in the park, with the option of hiking up the mountain, driving up the trail to the summit, and in the winter, cross-country skiing.
From the top, you can get a panoramic view of Mount Olympus, one of the popular attractions that most tourists visit.
Queets River Trail
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5.0 (14 reviews)
The Quetzal River Trail is a wading trail that takes you through a shallow river with varying flow rates, where you can enter the Quetzal Rainforest and enjoy typical rainforest scenery, such as towering trees and lots of ferns.
There are relatively few tourists here, so it’s a quiet spot to visit.
Lake Cushman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (239 reviews)
Cushman Lake is located in the southern area of the park, and there are several hiking trails nearby, such as the easier Shady Lane walk, or the rather difficult Flapjack Lakes walk, where there is also Staircase Forest, where you’ll see a variety of mushrooms and mosses, among other things, as well as large expanses of huge, old cedar trees as you enter the forest.
Forks. Small town.
The town of Forks is a small town located on the Olympic Peninsula where the classic movie Twilight was set and filmed, so many fans make a point of traveling here to see where the film was shot.
The town receives a lot of rainfall all year round and has large rainforest areas with views as good as several rainforests in the park.
Safety Tips
Olympic National Park is home to a variety of natural geology as well as an abundance of wildlife, so it is important to be aware of the natural environment as well as to keep a safe distance from wildlife when visiting the park.
1. Attention to tidal changes
Olympic National Park has many beaches, and visitors need to be aware of the changing tides as they walk along the beach; some classics, such as the Hole in the Wall in Rialto Beach, can only be fully seen and viewed up close when the tide is out.
2. Beware of wildlife
The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, large and small, and you should not approach them or even pet or feed them. For large animals, such as deer, you should keep a safe distance of 50 yards or more.
3. Focus on rainfall
The Olympic Peninsula receives a lot of rain, so it’s a good idea to bring a lightweight raincoat with you when you visit Olympic National Park in case of sudden rainfall.
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