The Ultimate 2-3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary (Map + Tips)
Are you planning a trip to Washington and looking for the best Olympic National Park itinerary? You’re in the right place!
The incredibly diverse Olympic National Park has so much to see, from rainforests to mountains and ocean coastline, all within one giant peninsula! No matter what time of year you visit Olympic National Park, two words will summarize your trip: epically enchanting.
This Washington National Park is so stunning that you could easily spend 7 days exploring and still not see it all. But in this travel guide, we’re going to share the best way to spend your time if you only have 2 or 3 days to visit Olympic National Park.
This 2 to 3-day itinerary will cover the highlights and must-see sights of the peninsula. While it’s impossible to see everything Olympic National Park has to offer in 2 to 3 days, this itinerary will give you a great head start!
2 – 3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary
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How to Get to Olympic National Park
There are a few ways to get to Olympic National Park, but for most people, it typically starts with a flight into Seattle.
Seattle has the closest international airport to the Olympic National Park, SEA, the Seattle Tacoma International Airport.
From there, you’ll need to get a rental car and make the drive to the park.
It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle to Port Angeles, which is the gateway town to Olympic National Park.
Another option, if you’re coming from Seattle, is to take the ferry, which takes you and your car across Puget Sound from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
From Bainbridge Island, you can then drive to Port Angeles, which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The ferry can be a good option, but sometimes it takes longer than driving, and if you’re coming from the airport, we advise just driving directly to Port Angeles and skipping the ferry.
TIP: If you wish to take the ferry, you’ll need to pre-reserve a ticket to ensure there’s space for you!
Understanding Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park, found on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in the entire National Park Service.
It’s typically looked at in three different sections:
- Beaches and Coastlines
- Forests and Rainforests
- Mountains
You can visit all three of these ecological wonders during your visit, and honestly, it feels like you’ve driven to an entirely different park with every turn!
Because the Olympic Peninsula has all these incredibly diverse landscapes in one park, we’re sure you can imagine the sheer size of this park. It’s massive! And we’ll repeat that again: Olympic National Park is utterly massive!
The entire park covers almost 1 million acres, which is about 200,000 acres larger than the state of Rhode Island. Crazy, huh?!
To put this into perspective and give to you a general idea of what you expect in terms of drive times, below is how long it takes to get from Port Angeles, one of the park’s towns, to a few popular attractions.
- Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge: 40 minutes (one way)
- Port Angeles to Rialto Beach: 1 hour 20 minutes (one way)
- Port Angeles to Hoh Rainforest: 2 hours (one way)
Most of the best things to see in Olympic National Park can be found off Highway 101, which circumnavigates the Olympic Peninsula. So, although Olympic National Park is huge, it is pretty easy to get around. It can just take a while 🙂
One thing to remember while visiting is that you won’t always be within the National Park itself when you’re driving around the Peninsula on Highway 101.
The park is scattered throughout the peninsula. Sometimes, you’ll be driving through the National Park, and at other times, you’ll be in small towns and within the Olympic National Forest.
Best Way to Get Around Olympic National Park
Now that you know how big Olympic National Park is, you’re probably well aware that a rental car is the best way to get around.
There’s no public transportation within the park, and if you want to see the best of the Olympic Peninsula, you must either have your own car or rent one.
TIP: Gas stations are limited and mostly found in Forks and Port Angeles. So, while taking your Olympic National Park road trip, don’t forget to check how much fuel you have before continuing to your next stop!
Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park
One of the best parts about Olympic National Park is that it’s a year-round park. There are tons of things to do within the park that can be done no matter the season.
But if you’re really looking for the best time, then, of course, summer to early fall is when we would recommend visiting.
You’ll find the weather the best between June and mid-September, with July, August, and September being the driest months on the Olympic Peninsula.
We visited at the beginning of September, and the weather was perfect! Little rainfall, and temperatures were warm during the day and cool at night.
However, the summer months are the park’s high season, so there will be crowds.
If you’re looking to skip the crowds, visiting during the winter, spring, and late fall months is for you. Just know that all park facilities may not be open, so be sure to check the status of each before visiting Olympic National Park.
How Many Days Do You Need at Olympic National Park?
As we mentioned above, Olympic National Park is HUGE! So you’ll need at least a few days to really feel like you’ve done it justice. It’s almost impossible to see it all in just one day!
Some people like squeezing in a day trip from Seattle to Olympic National Park, but we don’t recommend it. Being that Seattle is a 3-4 hour drive away from some of the best sites in the park, realistically, you won’t be able to fit in seeing the park’s highlights in one day.
Instead, we recommend having 3 days to explore. This will allow you to really see all of the best places, from the rainforests to the ocean coastline, at a relaxed and enjoyable pace.
If you’re lucky and have 4 or more days, you can plan to fit in longer day hikes or even spend the night camping on Shi-Shi Beach or one of the beaches in La Push!
What is the Best Town to Stay in Olympic National Park?
Since this park is so large, it’s really important to be strategic about where you stay each night to avoid spending a fortune on gas and wasting time driving.
We normally are fans of one home base, but when exploring Olmypic, you really need to stay in multiple places. Again, it’s all about optimizing your time and limiting your driving where you can!
Here’s a general breakdown of where to plan your stays based on what you’ll be doing.
- Port Angeles
- The closest city to Olympic National Park from Seattle
- Within close proximity of Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Falls, and Lake Crescent
- Plan to stay here the night before day 1 and the night of day 1 (2 nights total)
- Forks
- Closest city to the coastline and rainforests
- A great base camp for exploring beaches, the Hoh Rainforest, and, of course, for you Twilight fans, this is the town featured in the books and movies.
- Plan to stay here for the night of day 2 and day 3 (2 nights if you’re doing 3 days in the park or 1 night if you’re only doing 2 days in the park)
Where to Stay In Olympic National Park
Port Angeles Accommodations (2 Nights)
Port Angeles is the biggest city near the park. It has loads of shops, restaurants, and amenities like grocery stores, camping/gear rental shops, and gas stations.
If you choose to stay within the town or Port Angeles, hotels like Olympic Lodge are clean and comfortable places to stay. If you need a little more space, this 3-bedroom house and 4-bedroom house are great options for those traveling with family or friends!
Alternatively, you can choose to stay outside of the town of Port Angeles and get even closer to Olympic National Park. Homes located near Lake Crescent are stunning locations to call home for a few nights.
Places like Emerald Haven, Lake Sutherland Retreat, and Blue Haven are incredible, multiple-bedroom homes located on scenic Lake Sutherland. Or, if you’d rather bunk up at this cozy lakefront bungalow, Poulsen Point is the perfect place for you.
Forks Accommodations (1 – 2 Nights)
Located a little over an hour away from Port Angles, you’ll find the town made famous by the Twilight series, Forks. Forks is a small town that is home to a grocery store (and a great little adjoining coffee shop!), restaurants, and souvenir shops. It’s also the closest town to the Hoh Rainforest and famous Olympic beaches and coastlines.
For those wanting to stay in the town of Forks, Pacific Inn Motel, The Bogi Bear Inn, and Woodland Inns are top-rated, comfortable accommodations in the town of Forks.
For those looking to stay close to the Olympic Coastline, Quillayute River Resort and Peaceful Retreat are great options to consider! Alternatively, if you’d rather stay close to the Hoh Rainforest, Hoh Valley Cabins is something you should definitely check out!
Camping In Olympic National Park
For the campers out there, there are several in-park campgrounds where you can make reservations! Campgrounds are a great, affordable option if you want to save some money!
Fair warning. Book your campsite well in advance because they do book up quickly!
TIP: You can reserve a campsite through Recreation.gov. However, not all campsites accept reservations. Some operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, ALWAYS check the status of the campgrounds to ensure they are open and operating when you plan to visit.
Olympic National Park Campgrounds That Accept Reservations
- Fairholme
- Hoh Rain Forest
- Kalaloch
- Mora
- Sol Duc
- Staircase
Olympic National Park Campgrounds First-Come, First-Serve Only
- Deer Park
- Graves Creek
- Heart O’ the Hills
- North Fork Quinault
- Ozette
- Queets
- South Beach
TIP: None of the campgrounds in Olympic National Park have showers. If you are needing a shower, you’ll need to head to Bogachiel State Park or the Forks Athletic & Aquatic Club. Both places have showers for the public to use.
Wilderness Camping In Olympic National Park
For those wanting to hike to their campsite and get away from the traditional campgrounds, there is backcountry camping (also called wilderness camping) located throughout Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula.
For instance, if you want to camp on one of the beaches (like we did!), you’ll need to purchase a wilderness permit in order to do ANY backcountry camping in Olympic National Park.
TIP: Be sure to read the requirements of each backcountry camping site. Bearproof canisters (like this one!) are often always required. Be sure you are prepared for the camping location you wish to get a wilderness permit for.
Alternative Accommodations For Olympic National Park
Another AMAZING option to consider is renting a campervan!
This will not only serve as your rental car but also your accommodation during your time in Olympic National Park!
RVs and Vans are great choices to consider as you’ll have everything you need with you – a kitchen, bed, your personal belongings, etc – giving you the most bang for your buck with accommodations and a rental car in one!
About This Olympic National Park Itinerary (+ Map)
We’ve created this itinerary assuming that you’ll have a full two or three days within the Olympic National Park.
This means that you’ll arrive the night before day 1 and leave the morning after day 2 or 3, depending on which itinerary you’re following.
In other words, you’ll be staying for a full 3 nights if you plan to do 2 days in Olympic National Park or 4 full nights if you plan to do 3 days in Olympic National Park.
Here is a quick overview of our 2 to 3 day Olympic National Park Itinerary:
- Day 1: Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and Sol Duc Falls
- Day 2: The Hoh Rainforest and La Push Beaches + Ruby Beach
- Day 3: Shi-Shi Beach and Cape Flattery (cut this day for 2 day itinerary goers)
Click on the pins and use the + and – signs to navigate this interactive map to get a sense of where each point of interest is within Olympic National Park. Purple pins are day 1 stops. Blue pins are day 2 stops. Green pins are day 3 stops.
Day 1 Olympic National Park Itinerary
Stop 1: Hurricane Ridge for Sunrise
One of our favorite ways to start the day in a national park is with the sunrise, and Hurricane Ridge makes for the perfect place to catch it!
The trailhead to get to Hurricane Ridge (Hurricane Hill) is a 1-mile drive from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, which sadly recently burned down due to a wildfire.
PRO TIP: If you want to visit an Olympic National Park Visitor Center, there are two you can visit in lieu of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center burning down. The closest Visitor Center is back in Port Angeles (which is the official Visitor Center) and one in Hoh Rainforest, which you’ll be visiting tomorrow.
Once at the Hurricane Hill Trailhead, it’s about a 3.4-mile roundtrip hike to the top of Hurricane Hill on a mostly paved path.
The best part? You’ll have stunning views for the entire hike, but the real winner is at the top, where you can watch the sunrise over the Olympic Mountains.
You can also see British Columbia, Mount Baker, and Mount Olympus from the top on a clear day! It really has one of the best views in the park, and it’s a wonderful way to kickstart your Olympic National Park itinerary!
PRO TIP: The parking lot for the Hurricane Hill Trailhead parking lot fills up fast! Getting here for sunrise is best to secure a spot closest to the trial. If not, you could look at adding an additional 1-2 miles on your hike, depending on how far away you have to park!
Stop 2: Sol Duc Falls
As you move along with your day, your next stop will be at Sol Duc Falls. This is the furthest spot that you’ll go for the day, so after this, you’ll work your way back towards Port Angeles for the night.
Washington certainly has no shortage of waterfalls, and one of the best in Olympic National Park is Sol Duc Falls. It’s a short walk to reach the falls, only 1.5 miles round trip, and there’s almost no elevation gain.
Truly a win, are we right?!
The Sol Duc Falls look like your typical PNW waterfall – covered in moss and bright green in every direction. The park has many waterfalls, but this is definitely one of the best waterfalls in Olympic National Park….and for good reason!
Stop 3: Lake Crescent
Now it’s time to spend the rest of your day exploring the Lake Crescent area. This is one of the most popular areas of the park.
Lake Crescent is a 600 ft+ deep lake that sits at the base of the surrounding mountains and rolling hills. We’ve always thought that it looks like the fjords in Norway!
Some people like to just chill out on the shore of the lake, and others like to kayak or explore the trails around the area.
We’ll get into some of the best things to do around Lake Crescent next!
Stop 4: Marymere Falls
Found just a short walk from Lake Crescent, your next stop will be another of Olympic National Park waterfalls – Marymere Falls.
The hike takes you through a mossy old-growth forest before you finally catch a glimpse of the beautiful waterfall. This one is quite different from Sol Duc Falls and drops 90 feet down into Falls Creek.
The trail to reach the falls is just shy of 2 miles and has minimal elevation gain.
The only real climb is right as you’re getting to the falls, where the trail loops up a hill to the viewpoint. Again, it’s pretty easy and we’ve seen people of all ages on it!
Stop 5: Mount Storm King (Optional)
While you’re out exploring Marymere Falls, decide whether or not you’ll want to add on the hike to Mount Storm King. Keep in mind that this trail is very strenuous, so it’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re a hiker or like a challenge, this is the perfect trail.
The trek up to Storm King is 4 miles roundtrip and covers 2,100 feet in elevation gain. This means you’re climbing a steep incline and switchbacks the entire 2 miles up.
Not to mention, on the last push to the viewpoint, ropes must be used to scale a rockface. It would be an understatement to say this hike is difficult, so much so that there are warning signs to caution any novice hikers against it.
But at the top, it’s one of the most amazing views views in the park – or so we’re told! We made it up to the rope wall and turned back! We know, we know 🙁 Lauren sprained her ankle (previously, not on this trail!) and the rope wall climb was just not an option.
From the photos we’ve seen, you’ll have an expansive view that overlooks Crescent Lake and the beautiful mountains surrounding it! So, if you’re fit and up for a challenge, strap on your boots and give Mount Storm King a go!
Stop 6: Lake Crescent Lodge
After you’ve finished up your hikes, whether you challenged yourself with Mount Storm King or relaxed at Marymere Falls, end the day with some time at Lake Crescent Lake Lodge.
This historic lodge is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and a drink after what was a long day of exploring Olympic National Park. And after enjoying your meal, head out onto their beach or dock to watch the sunset!
Oh, and if you’ve tackled Mount Storm King and need a rinse (like we did!), jumping in Lake Crescent will be chilly, but the refresh you may need!
Alternatively, if you want to get out on the water and not get wet, you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes from the Lake Crescent Lodge.
It’s a lovely little spot to unwind and enjoy the sunset before returning to your accommodation in Port Angeles for the night.
NOTE: This will be your last night in Port Angeles. Tomorrow, you’ll check out of your accommodation and make your way to Forks, where you’ll be staying the night.
Day 2 Olympic National Park Itinerary
The Morning
Start the morning by gathering your stuff and checking out your Port Angeles accommodation. Staying in Forks for your second and third nights makes the most sense from a logistical perspective.
To help you plan, Forks is about a 1 hour drive from Port Angeles. You’ll want to get a rather early start, and the first stop on your second day in Olympic might be THE most popular location in the whole park, the Hoh Rainforest.
Stop 1: Hoh Rainforest
One of the main stars of the show on the Olympic Peninsula is the Hoh Rainforest. It’s one of the few rainforests in the United States and one of the country’s largest temperate rainforests.
The Hoh is characterized by bright moss and greenery that covers every inch of the forest floor and weaves up into the trees. It’s nothing short of magical and so unique to other places you may have seen.
When visiting the Hoh Rainforest, we recommend getting there early!
We were chatting with a Park Ranger who told us that if you’re not here by 10 am, you can expect to wait to enter as it’s usually one in, one out by then.
One of the best places to really experience the forest is the Hall of Mosses trail.
This short nature trail suits all fitness levels as it’s easy. At only 0.8 miles and no elevation gain, this loop brings you right through the old-growth forests, allowing you to really take in the nature and beauty of this place.
If you feel up for it, another wonderful trail (the second of the two in the Hoh) is The Spruce Nature Trail. Taking 1.2 miles to complete, the easy-going trail is peaceful and tranquil as it navigates you through a different section of the rainforest.
Stop 2: Olympic Beaches
After you’ve seen the rainforest, it’s time to head to Olympic National Park’s final stop to complete the trio of ecological diversity: mountains, rainforest, and ocean.
Olympic National Park has dozens of beaches to visit, but we’ll touch on our favorites and the most popular just below.
Oh, and it should be stressed that you may not have time to visit all of these beaches. Pick a few (as your time allows) and enjoy walking along the picturesque coastline the Olympic Peninsula is known for.
PRO TIP: Make sure to check the tides for any of the beaches you plan to visit on the Olympic Peninsula! Some beaches (or sections of them) are only accessible at low tides. You can use this site to check tides.
Rialto Beach
Known for its towering rock stacks, Rialto Beach should be first on your list. It’s even more well known for Hole in the Wall, a giant rock stack where a natural arch has formed that looks out into the Pacific Ocean.
To reach Hole in the Wall, it’s about a 3-mile roundtrip hike along the beach at low tide! If you are visiting when the tide is high, reaching the Hole in the Wall is not possible.
Regardless, the walk up and down Rialto Beach is leisurely, with plenty of photo opportunities of its large sea stacks and tide pools to explore!
La Push Beaches
There are three beaches that make up the La Push Beaches. Creatively named First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach make up some of the most scenic beaches on of the PNW.
Located a short drive from Rialto (15-20 minutes), the beaches of La Push require a little hiking to get to.
To get to First Beach, the easiest of the three La Push beaches to get to, is a short distance from the parking lot.
Second Beach (our favorite beach!) is about a 0.7-mile walk from the parking lot, whereas Third Beach, the longest walk of the three, is a 2.8-mile round-trip hike.
These beaches are just beautiful and were actually settings for the Twilight series. You’ll find rugged coastlines with sea stacks jutting out from the ocean and loads of driftwood scattered about its sand beaches.
Overnight camping is also allowed at these beaches as long as you have a wilderness permit and some bear canisters!
If you’re up for this (we camped at the second beach), it really is a great experience, especially if you can have a fire on the beach!
Ruby Beach
Another popular beach for those visiting the Olympic Penisula is Ruby Beach. Located about 1 hour away from the La Push Beaches, Ruby Beach is a popular beach for sunset.
Here, you’ll walk past massive driftwood that line the beach and, again, more rock stacks just offshore. It’s a nice place to relax, eat a picnic lunch, and wander around looking at the tide pools.
During low tide, it is possible to see a few starfish, crabs, and other sea life among the tide pools and sea stacks!
If you have some extra time, make the drive to the famous Tree of Life, which is just a bit further down the road near Kalaloch.
Whichever beach you choose to watch the sunset from (you really cannot go wrong with any of the above!), head back to your accommodation in Forks and plan to grab a bite to eat at the Westend Taproom Tip and Sip.
Day 3 Olympic National Park Itinerary
The Morning
For those only interested in the Olympic National Park 2-day itinerary, this will be the morning you check out of your Forks accommodation and head to Seattle to catch your flight home, or do what we did and head to Mount Rainier National Park!
For those carrying on with the 3-Day Olympic National Park itinerary, you’re in for a bit of driving today. If you’re tired from all the walking and exploring for the past 2 days, a road trip to the northernmost point of the continental US may just be what you need!
Stop 1: Cape Flattery
This is a unique spot on the Olympic Peninsula because it brings you to the northwesternmost point in the contiguous United States.
From Forks, the drive to Cape Flattery takes about 1.5 hours, but to say you stood at the northernmost point is pretty cool.
However, before you head to Cape Flattery, you’ll need to purchase a recreation permit (which is also good for your next stop!) from the Makah people. You can visit one of these places to buy your permit in person or online and then head to Cape Flattery.
Once at Cape Flattery (with your printed permit in hand), you’ll probably want to stretch your legs. You can take the Cape Flattery trail, which is about a 1.2-mile round trip that brings you to a stunning overlook of the offshore rocks and rugged coastline.
After exploring Cape Flattery, you can head into town for some lunch at Calvin’s Crab House, BIGGINZ Burgers Seafood, or Pat’s Place.
Stop 2: Shi-Shi Beach + Point of The Arches
Your final stop for the trip will be Shi-Shi Beach. Located 1 hour south of Cape Flattery, Shi-Shi Beach is one of the best beaches along the Washington coast.
We understand that the almost 9-mile roundtrip hike may sound a little daunting for some, but the elevation is minimal, and the views are great!
However, the trail to the beach is just over 2 miles one way (4 round trip). So, if you just want to head to the beach, your nearly 9-mile hike becomes a 4-mile hike.
However, if you want to see The Point of Arches, which is a cluster of nearly 30 sea stacks, you’ll have to walk along the flat beach to the south end, where the Point of Arches is located.
Look for purple and green starfish in the tidepools along the way and take in the fresh sea air and beautiful scenery! While it can be a long hike, it’s such a stunning way to end your itinerary for Olympic National Park.
TIP: You can camp on Shi-Shi Beach, but you’ll need a wilderness permit, Makah Recreation Pass, and bear canisters.
Olympic Park Reservations + Entrance Fees + Hours
Entrance fees are required at the park, and there are a few ways to do it. One is the standard entrance fee, which costs $30 per car and is valid for 7 consecutive days.
Secondly is the America the Beautiful pass. This pass covers entry to all U.S. National Parks for an entire year and is $80. This is great for people visiting three or more National Parks annually!
Currently, no reservations are required to enter Olympic National Park, so no worries! And the park is open 24/7, so you can enter and leave whenever you see fit for your trip!
Tips For Visiting Olympic National Park
Here are a few of our top tips for visiting Olympic National Park that will help you have an even more enjoyable time without worrying about the logistics!
- Dress Appropriately: You are entering a rainforest and will be near Seattle, nicknamed Rainy City, so pack and dress appropriately for rain! A proper rainjacket or even rain pants will come in handy during a visit to the Olympic Peninsula!
- Start Early: Avoid the crowds by getting an early start to the day. If you want to visit the Hoh Rainforest, the ranger station only allows in as many cars as can fit in the lot, and once that’s full, it becomes a one-in-one-out queue, so you could wait hours to get in! Get there early!
- Pack Food and Drinks: There are hardly any options for food in the park, and you’ll be on the move a lot! To keep things simple and easy, plan to have plenty of snacks and water packed so you can eat or even have a picnic on the go! There are grocery stores in Port Angeles and Forks. Pick up what you need there, and you’ll be good to go!
- Download Maps: Cell service in the park is limited, so download any maps you need for offline use. Google Maps and All Trails both allow this!
- Permits for Backcountry Camping: If you’ll be doing any backcountry camping, including beach camping, you’ll need a permit. And always be bear-aware in the backcountry!
- Check Latest Park Status: To avoid road and trail closures, check the latest conditions on the Olympic National Park website.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?!
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Happy Travels,
– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)