Waterfalls on Hood Canal and Olympic Peninsula around the Olympic National Park are accessible and great year round. Sign up for road alerts. My name is Marissa, and Im a travel writer and photographer from Seattle. The hot spring water comes from rain and snow melt seeping through the earths floor and fusing with gasses from volcanic rocks. Youll find a few viewpoints along your drive. The area is very easy to explore utilizing the Trail of Mosses and Spruce Nature hiking trails. First stop is out to the northeast tip of the peninsula, historic Port Townsend. While the trip was hosted by the OPTC, all opinions are my own . Youll find several economy lodging options. A Year in Review . This special place is also a great family vacation A weekend on the . We also managed to fit a cooler and extra blankets. Youll also find several hikes and breweries to visit on your Olympic Peninsula road trip if you feel like extending your day here. Your email address will not be published. The Olympic Peninsula and Washington Coast - Fodor's Travel WeTravel: The Best Group Trips & Yoga Retreats Worldwide Continue west on U.S. Highway 101 to the deep, turquoise waters of Lake Crescent. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resortoffers three Mineral Hot Spring pools and one Freshwater Pool. Depending on your beach walks this day, you will want to keep an eye on the tides to be sure you dont get stranded! In the morning on your Olympic Peninsula drive, leave from Port Angeles and head west on the Highway towards the Elwha River Valley. Known for roaming Roosevelt elk and flying squirrels. Hurricane Hill Trail (3 miles round trip) offers 360 panoramic views of Mount Olympus, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Victoria Island, Canada. You will be here for two nights and you can reserve a room in the lodge, a cabin on the shore, or space in the campground. Location Ocean BeachesWA Forks has some unique things to do on the Olympic Peninsula, such as the Hall of Mosses, an area of moss-covered trees. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. So are you ready for your next road trip? The getaway, while short, was packed with a day of adventures, and we had a blast exploring some spots in the Olympic National Park for the first time. Good to Know: During this portion of my trip to Washington, I was hosted by the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission, a nonprofit that promotes tourism to the Olympic Peninsula. Many people decide to stay here for a few days on their Pacific Northwest road trip. There are challenging multi-day hikes to the Mount Olympus summit for the more advanced hikers. They have a yummy little restaurant inside of the lodge . This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission, if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Tip: If youre short on time you can still see the lake from US 101, which follows the southern shoreline of Lake Crescent for 10.3 miles. The Olympic Peninsula is an easy drive from Portland. Here are a few tips to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula road trip itinerary so you can make the most of your trip! 9 Awesome Things To Do in Corolla NC on Your Next Family Vacation! In addition, here are a few other items that will make your journey easier. Make the 45-minute return drive to Port Angeles for your overnight stay. Weekend road trip on the Olympic Peninsula Ted Boyer Ruby Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the Olympic Peninsula thanks to notable sea stacks and ruby-like crystals in the beach sand. I definitely miss the rainforest and coastline here. Pro Travel Tip: Extend your trip and explore Mount Rainier National Park southeast of Seattle, or head south on I-5 to Portland, Oregon. Sol Duc Hot Springs to Salmon Cascades 11 minutes (5 miles). Later in the evening waltz away at the street dance. This means your trip will take longer since you have to go around the park, but its worth it since this is one of the best scenic drives in Washington State. All Right Reserved. Youll enjoy some of the most beautiful views you can find of the Olympic Peninsula, Seattle skyline, and the Puget Sound. Share your adventure on Instagram!! These include scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking, and much more. Send me a Printable PDF of theRoad Trip EssentialsANDTravel Planning Tips & WorksheetNow! Olympic National Park 5-day Road Trip Itinerary - Bearfoot Theory Try to get on the road between 7-8 AM to make sure you have enough time! This does look like an incredible road trip plan! The peninsulas coastline is home to stunning sea stacks, rugged pebble beaches, and gentle sandy shores. Posted On January 22, 2020 Last Updated on July 12, 2021 A weekend in Port Angeles is a change of pace and scenery from Seattle and approachable at an hour and a half drive plus a ferry ride. American National Parks. best things to do in the Pacific Northwest, Tips for Planning an Olympic Peninsula Road Trip, The Best Time to Go on an Olympic Peninsula Road Trip, What to Pack for an Olympic Peninsula Loop Drive, Where to Stay on an Olympic Peninsula Road Trip, 14 Must-See Stops on an Olympic Peninsula Road Trip, The Ultimate Olympic Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary, Day 1: Spend the Day in Port Angeles and Olympic National Park, Day 2: Explore Elwha Valley and Lake Crescent, Day 3: Visit Forks, Hoh Rainforest, and the Olympic Coast, best places to stay in Olympic National Park, guided tour of the Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach, 2 Days in Death Valley: The Ultimate Death Valley Itinerary. Prices start at $180 per night, and . Olympic National Park. Veprinac, Kroatien. After our weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula, the verdict was in on the space issue as well. Winter is not out of the question, but the main downside is that some activities will be limited due to snow. Below are additional Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Northwest guides or head on over to Visit Olympic Peninsula! Try using these powerful travel affirmations! Here are some vacation rentals I recommend if you want to rent them out for the weekend: As you can see from the Olympic Peninsula loop drive map above, this itinerary covers quite a bit of the region. Drive time: 1 hour 30 minutes. There you have it some of the best places to stop during an Olympic Peninsula road trip! And for those who want to get back in the water, Westport has some of the best surfing in the state. A huge shoutout to Erica from Tripscholars for sharing with us the beauty and excitement of the Olympic Peninsula. However, the areas by the coast rarely get snow, so you could still visit those attractions if you dont mind the weather. The Hoh Rainforest (pronounced Hoe) received its name from the Hoh River, which forced its way from Mount Olympus towards the Pacific Coast. I'm also super passionate about travel, wellbeing, and intentional living. Olympic Peninsula - 6 to 8 days - Bicycle Touring in the Northwest I did a similar trip in 2019, but we only had two days. From Forks, travel south on U.S. Highway 101 for 13 miles, then head east on Upper Hoh Road. Day 6: Lake Quinault to Montesano or Elma. LIKELY TO SELL OUT*. This is a three-hour drive, which will give you plenty of time to reminisce about your epic Olympic Peninsula road trip. 3. After a morning among moss-covered maple trees and towering spruce, continue west on Upper Hoh Road to U.S. Highway 101. Sequim hosts the annual Lavender Festival during July, and many people come from Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula just for this. Your email address will not be published. From Rialto Beach, its an easy hike to Hole-in-the-Wall. This makes it a great stop for lunch on your Olympic Peninsula road trip. Dont miss the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Aquarium to start. Spoiler alert dont be surprised that Forks looks nothing like it does in the film. Take the easy hike through the rainforest to Sol Duc waterfall. The main attraction found on the peninsula is The Olympic National Park. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The area provides beautiful views of the Olympic Mountain Range and the majestic Olympic Peninsula coastline. Although I have been a travel nurse for over two years now, I have learned a lot through my first three assignments out of state. Following breakfast we took a quick walk around town, checking out the harbor and a few shops including our favorite, Odyssey Bookshop. This was a women's only small intimate group. Print/PDF Map. Be sure to add this trip to your USA bucket list! Sol Duc Falls Trailhead to Lake Crescent 35 minutes (20.8 miles). What better way to appreciate being on the peninsula, than to get out on (or into!) You have successfully joined our subscriber list. It was our Family Day stat this past Monday and I fortunately had the whole weekend off! I also find it the most pleasant time to visit the Pacific Ocean, as the water here is quite cold year-round. Sunset is typically at 4:20 p.m. in December and at 9:20 p.m. in June. One-Week Itinerary: Best of the Olympic Peninsula - Moon Travel Guides As you can see, the Olympic Peninsula is an excellent Pacific Northwest getaway! Wake to the sound of ships and gulls in the Port Angeles harbor. The Olympic Coast is where Sitka spruce and western hemlock reach heights of up to 300 feet due to the high rainfall in this region. You may also see a plethora of sea life when the tide goes out, such as crabs, geoducks, and starfish. Theres ample parking on site and outhouse toilets. This Sitka Spruce has been stumping visitors for years, as its been alive and healthy despite the root system being completely exposed from soil erosion below it. You can enjoy a stunning walk along the coast, with a plethora of marine life that is easy to spot from the rocks. I hope to get out there this summer again. Keep your eyes open for orcas, who are often feeding in the area. Pro Travel Tip: Daylight hours vary between the seasons at this latitude. Also, Ruby Beach is a worthwhile stop. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sep 29, 2018 - Our go-to Olympic Peninsula road trip itinerary, including our favorite beaches, rainforest adventures, hikes, mountain views, lakes, and more! Thank you so much for this detailed article! Thanks again for letting me share this itinerary with your readers, Julie! The clear waters are thanks to a lack of nitrogen which hinders the growth of algae. 2022 Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission. Its close to some of the peninsulas best attractions and has a great downtown area with delicious restaurants and cute shops. The beaches and the wilderness are so enchanting. Ruby Beach to La Push, Washington 55 minutes (42.5 miles). Trek the coastline, catch a wave, discover teeming tidepools and dramatic sea stacks, and soak up Pacific Ocean views and sunsets that will leave Read More Diversity is the Hallmark Manresa Castle Hotel in Port Townsend, Wash. Michael Martin/Flickr. If you want to start your Olympic loop road trip on the south side of the Peninsula, youll get off at I-5 in Olympia and take US-101 N from there. Plan to spend at least 1 hour here. On the way back, make sure to put Lake Quinault on your Olympic Peninsula road trip itinerary. Recommended. If you're looking for somewhere to fly fish, this spot is for you. After breakfast make the one-hour drive to Port Angeles. For this reason we made a quick meal at our Airbnb and called it an early night. After lunch, take a hike at Mount Walker or Dosewallips State Park before heading on to Port Townsend to check out the town. As breezes blow away the morning mist, you'll discover dozens of fascinating tide pools with sea stars and urchins and other critters scurring about in the tide pools. Even if you arrive by 9:00 am, it will be there. Here's how to make the most of 2 days in the park. This guide gives you tips on preparing for your Olympic Peninsula loop drive, where to stop, and where to stay. Plan to spend the afternoon visiting Hurricane Ridge in, Continue west on U.S. Highway 101. Once youre finished with your hike, drive west to Lake Crescent. Drive: ~1 hours. Happy travels! Road Trip Guide: The Olympic Peninsula Loop | Trip101 And there's also a little beach area with canoes and paddle boards that you can rent to take out on the lake. Over a long weekend I embarked on a 500 mile road trip around Washington's Olympic Peninsula - my first ever solo camping trip. First, pick up a tide pooling guide in one of the visitor centers so you can understand more of what you are seeing. When it is finally time to leave the valley, head back out to the highway and drive south to Kalaloch Beach. Dont linger too longyouve got a lot to see today. Hurricane Ridge is one of the best hikes on the Olympic Peninsula, so youll want to put this on your drive around the Olympic Peninsula. Its formed from the damp moisture in the air and the high rainfall it receives. Downtown Seattle to Sequim You should visit Lake Crescent in the morning when the lake is at its calmest. Olympic Peninsula Weekend: The Hybrid and the Kabin This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . This is a family friendly facility, but it can get very busy, especially in the summer. The body of water surrounding the sand spit is Dungeness Bay, a remarkable yet fascinating geologic formation. There are easy spots, but know you will need to crawl over a log or two. Weekend Getaways: Olympic Peninsula. One , A magical destination like no other, the lush and diverse Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most popular spots on the Olympic Peninsula.