Olympic National Park Travel Guide
Widely considered one of the best natural parks in America, offering rocky mountain ranges, plush rain forests and a rugged coastline, this park is a must visit for outdoor and park enthusiasts which is why I plan on visiting so let’s plan out a trip to Olympic National Park!
About Olympic National Park
Located in the Pacific Northwest in Port Angeles, Washington the park spans nearly a million acres and covers 73 miles of coastline. The park is well known for its diverse terrain, consisting of glaciated mountains, damp rain forests, sandy beaches and pristine lakes. Wildlife is ever present in this park with elk, deer, black bear and mountain lions roaming the hundreds of thousands of acres.
What to Know Before Visiting Olympic National Park
Entrance Fees
Like other national parks the fee to enter is $30 per vehicle, if you plan to visit several national parks throughout the year it might be worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass which grants entrance to all the national parks in the country.
Have a Full Tank of Gas
As mentioned before this park is huge so drive times are long, being from the NYC metro area this was an adaption for me when I started traveling and visiting national parks and larger states, growing up everything was 15, 20 or 30 minutes away and anything longer than an hour was “too far” but when visiting this park be mindful that it can take 2-3 hours to reach destinations.
Poor Cell Service
Not surprisingly, cell service will most likely be spotty throughout the park so mentally prepare for that, but I’ve read Verizon works the best,
When is The Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park
A subjective question, I personally think the best time to visit would be the summer when the weather is warmer, trails are open and clear and wildlife is abundant. The one downside is the large crowds given that this is the most popular time to visit which might frustrate those seeking solitude away from people.
Getting to Olympic National Park
The closest airport to the park is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport which is about a 2 hour drive from the park’s entrance. You could also fly into Portland International Airport and drive 4 hours or fly into Vancouver International Airport and drive 5 hours to the park.
Places to Stay in Olympic National Park
There are 5 lodges in Olympic National Park:
Considering these options are all in the park, expect them to be on the pricier side, if you are okay with not being located in the park then check out other options in the town of Port Angles.
If camping is more your speed keep reading, we’ll go into detail shortly.
Best Things to Do in Olympic National Park
Hike Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge
This trail is roughly 3.5 miles and takes a little under 2 hours to complete and is one of the most popular destinations in the entire park, offering panoramic views of the park.
2. Mount Angeles via Klahhane Ridge
This is a challenging 5.6 mile hike to the top of Mount Angeles that of course has amazing views. Checkout more info on the hike here.
3. Go Star Gazing
On a clear summer night you can enjoy the wonder of the Milky Way and soak in the stars, Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent are popular spots to stargaze.
4. Explore the Hoh Rain Forest
Explore this lush green rain forest that receives up to 14 feet in rainfall each year! This rain forest is so vibrant and green that it almost looks fake.
5. Visit One of the Beaches at Olympic National Park
There is no shortage of coastline at this park so to no surprise there are several stunning beaches! It’s so easy to get caught up in the hiking trails and camping but can’t forget to check out the beaches:
Rialto Beach
Ruby Beach
First Beach
Second Beach
Just to name a few.
6. Kayak in Olympic National Park
Explore Lake Crescent by booking a kayak rental through Elevate Outdoors.
7. Camping in Olympic National Park
There is no shortage of campgrounds so check out the list here to find more information, but I can’t imagine a better way to truly immerse yourself in the beauty of the park by staying at one of these campgrounds:
Deer Park- First come, first serve
Dosewallips- First come, first serve
Fairholme- Reservation needed
Graves Creek- First come, first serve
Heart O’ the Hills- First come, first serve
Hoh- Reservation needed
Kalaoch- Reservation needed
Log Cabin- Reservation needed
Mora- Reservation needed
North Fork- First come, first serve
Ozette- First come, first serve
Queets- First come, first serve
Sol Duc- Reservation needed
South Beach- Fist come, first serve
Staircase- First come, first serve
Summary
That’ll do it! Our trip to Olympic National Park has been planned, hopefully you found this useful and are feeling inspired to add this park to your bucket list!
