Are you planning a weekend road trip through Olympic National Park? Check out this quick guide to the best places to visit and things to do in Olympic National Park if you only have a weekend!

why this blog! Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’m a full-time outdoor writer & guide. I lead women’s trips, often by kayak, and spent 2023 living in Northern Washington and guiding. While I was there, Olympic National Park was one of my favorite places to visit. It’s truly one of the most magical spots out there, and I’m stoked to personally show you around! I write all of my articles myself: no ghostwriter, no AI. Just a person who has actually been to the place and is committed to outdoor education and helping you plan a trip!

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Planning a Weekend Olympic National Park Road Trip:

There are a couple of key things to keep in mind when planning your Olympic National Park Road Trip! The first is that it WILL take you longer to get to the Olympic Peninsula from Seattle than you realize; plan accordingly, but I’ll talk more about that soon. The second is that there is enough to do in Olympic to easily fill a week of adventures! This route will include suggested activities for you to pick and choose from.

The last thing to consider is where to stay or basecamp. The two best options are either Port Angeles, near Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent, or Forks, near the Hoh Rainforest and the Coast. I recommend one night in each location to see the most variety.

1) Getting to the Olympic Peninsula from Seattle:

Your two options to get to the Olympic are to drive south of the Puget Sound through Olympia and back up, which takes a longer time than you think I promise, or to take the ferry either from Edmonds to Kingston or Fort Casey to Port Townsend. By the time you factor in gas and time stuck in traffic, I’m not actually sure it’s cheaper to drive. I lived in Bellingham when I lived in the Pacific Northwest, so the Fort Casey to Port Townsend ferry was easily the best way to get to the Olympic Peninsula. You’ll ideally want to reserve a spot on the ferry in advance, which you can do here.

READ: Your Ultimate PNW Packing List

Realistically, getting to Port Angeles from Seattle is probably going to take up most of your Friday, even if you’re able to leave around three pm. I recommend snagging a late dinner in town and then going to bed early to make the most of your Saturday.

2) Sunrise at Hurricane Ridge

Start your day early and head up Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park to hit up the Hurricane Trail System. You can hike the moderate 3.5 mile Hurricane Hill hike. This hike is mostly paved, and very popular! Watch for for Olympic Marmots. The road opens at 7am, and the sooner you get in the better.

PRO TIP: I recommend packing as many meals in advance as possible to save time, and eating out for dinner. Have a breakfast on the go and a lunch on the go!

3) Visit Lake Crescent

For the ideal weekend trip in Olympic, after a morning on Hurricane Ridge you’ll want to start making your way toward Lake Crescent and eventually over to Forks, Washington. The Lake Crescent area of Washington is gorgeous, with both short hikes, scenic pullouts and long hikes. While visiting Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park I recommend budgeting around three hours to explore.

While visiting the Lake Crescent area, consider checking out some combination of these activities:

• Hike Marymere Falls (2 miles round trip). Add Mt. Storm King for a longer, more difficult hike (4 miles round trip, ends as a climbers trail.
• Eat lunch at one of the many picnic tables and scenic areas around the lake
• Just outside of Lake Crescent, visit Sol Duc Falls (Less than two miles; DO NOT hop the fence for a better view. There was a June 2025 death).

4) Sunset on the Coast

In time to catch the sunset, head out to the coast! I recommend checking out Rialto Beach on the coast near La Push and, if time, hiking all the way to Hole-in-the-Wall, an iconic arch (three miles). Keep in mind that open coast trips are subject to the tide! If the tide is high you’ll need to hike the overland trail and not the beach. If the tide is low, you can easily hike the beach line and tide pool on the way out. 

Other great sunset beaches in Olympic National Park include Third Beach (just over one mile) and Ruby Beach (no hike). If you can snag a campsite at Kalaloch Campground, absolutely do it, it’s the perfect place to wake up.

5) Visit the Hoh Rainforest

After sunrise and breakfast on the beach, head into the Hoh Rainforest. This part Olympic National Park is one of most beautiful and kid-friendly things to do! The Visitor’s Center is super cool and the best hiking trails include Hoh Rainforest Trail, an easy hike through the beautiful Hall of Mosses, the Spruce Nature Trail and the Hoh River Trail.

Hoh Rainforest is beautiful, but popular! You can expect crowds on weekends. The park visitor’s center in the Hoh Rainforest uses a metered entry, which means you’ll wait in line for the park to let you in when someone leaves. This system generally works well, and because the Hall of Mosses Trail is so short, parking lot turnover can be very quick.

6) Visit Cape Flattery

Olympic National Park is on traditional Makah Land, and Cape Flattery and the Makah Nation are technically outside of Olympic National Park, but still well worth a visit! In order to hike Cape Flattery, you’ll need a Makah recreation pass, which you can purchase in person at the Makah museum.

Overall, the hike to Cape Flattery is one of the prettiest Olympic Peninsula hiking trails and one of the best views in the state of Washington! To pick up your Makah recreation pass and familiarize yourself with the local culture and history, visit the Makah Museum. Here, you’ll learn about the history of the seafaring Makah Nation with genuine artifacts.

Cape Flattery is the northwestern-most point in the contiguous United States, making it geographically interesting as well. Hiking Cape Flattery is a 1.5 miles round trip with boardwalks and great views of sea stacks, cliff line and the open Pacific Ocean.

From here, it’s midday Sunday and it’s time to grab a late lunch and start heading back to Seattle and wrap up your weekend!!

READ: Best Things to do in Olympic National Park

Tour options for Olympic National Park:

For guided tour options to streamline your weekend, check out the Best of Olympic All-Inclusive All Day Tour from Seattle for a naturalist-guided tour option with hiking, transport from Seattle and lunch! If you can spend more money and don’t want to worry about traveling with strangers, book a similar private tour to experience Olympic with a private guide.

What to Pack for your weekend road trip in Olympic National Park:

The Olympic range can be rainy and cool, so plan accordingly. To visit Olympic National Park, you’ll need an America the Beautiful pass or $30 entrance fee for the week.

• Long pants: for women looking for a flattering fit and functionality try Kuhl Freeflex or REI Trailmade
• Long sleeve wool baselayers : wool tops like this make a great hiking layer both for sun protection and for regulating body temperature 
• Shorts: I like a quick dry pair with a built-in belt  and a swim-friendly pair with an elastic waist, swim-friendly pair
• If paddling or swimming: a UPF sun hoodie
• A down puffy jacket that packs down small: nights are a lot cooler than you might expect!
• Leggings with pockets!!! 
• A solid day hiking pack
• On rugged trails, trekking poles
• Hiking boots: I like Oboz Bridger Mids for best grip and ankle support, or alternately hiking/paddling sandals like Bedrocks (designed for paddling guides and paddling guide (me) approved)
• A solid raincoat
• If camping: a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad
• An America the Beautiful Pass
• If backpacking: backpacking gear!

READ: What to Wear Hiking (for beginners+what to pack)

Where to stay near Olympic National Park…

Best options for where to stay near Olympic are generally speaking in Port Angeles or near Forks! Here’s a few spots I would recommend:

• Lake Quinault Lodge
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sequim By IHG
• Riviera Inn, Port Angeles
• Olympic Lodge by Ayres
• A Hidden Haven Bed and Breakfast

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