Olympic National Park
Three ecosystems in one park — the Hoh Rain Forest, the alpine ridge at Hurricane Ridge, and the sea stacks at Ruby Beach. A million acres of UNESCO wilderness.
Distance
140 mi
Drive time
~180 min
Route
I-5 + Edmonds–Kingston ferry, or the long way via Tacoma Narrows — Hurricane Ridge ~140 mi NW of Seattle
Best window
July through September for Hurricane Ridge access (snow lingers into early July and returns by November)
About Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park covers nearly a million acres of the Olympic Peninsula and protects three radically different ecosystems in a single park: the Pacific coast (60+ miles of wilderness coastline with sea stacks at Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, and Second Beach), the temperate Hoh and Quinault rain forests (one of the wettest places in the contiguous U.S., 12+ feet of rain a year, moss-draped Sitka spruce and western hemlock), and the glaciated Olympic Mountains (Mount Olympus rises to 7,980 ft just 35 miles from the open Pacific). The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. From Seattle, the canonical day-trip target is Hurricane Ridge above Port Angeles (5,242 ft, 17 miles of paved road from the Visitor Center to subalpine meadows with views across to Vancouver Island). The Edmonds–Kingston car ferry is the fastest route — Washington State Ferries accepts 12–15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits without an oversize surcharge. A real Olympic visit deserves an overnight, but Hurricane Ridge plus a Lake Crescent loop is a doable long day trip.
Why it's worth the drive
- Hurricane Ridge — 5,242-ft subalpine ridge, 17 mi of paved road from Port Angeles, views to Mount Olympus and Vancouver Island. The day-trip headliner.
- Hoh Rain Forest — Hall of Mosses Trail (0.8 mi loop) through one of the wettest forests in North America. Long way from Seattle (~3.5 hr one way) but the most-photographed forest on the continent.
- Ruby Beach + Second Beach — wilderness Pacific coast with sea stacks, driftwood the size of telephone poles, and tidepools at low tide.
- Lake Crescent — 624-ft-deep glacially carved lake on US-101, the Lake Crescent Lodge, and the easy Marymere Falls trail (1.8 mi round trip).
- Sol Duc Hot Springs — natural hot-spring soaking pools in the rainforest, 12 mi up the Sol Duc River from US-101.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge from Port Angeles
17-mi paved road climbs to a 5,242-ft visitor area with short walks through subalpine meadows and views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island. Note: the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned down in May 2023 — the road and trails are open, but expect a temporary visitor contact station only.
Hall of Mosses (Hoh Rain Forest)
0.8-mi loop through old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock draped in club moss. The drive from Seattle is 3.5 hours one-way — best done as an overnight from Forks or Lake Quinault.
Ruby Beach at sunset
Pacific-coast pull-out off US-101 with sea stacks (the most photographed is Abbey Island just offshore). Easy 0.2-mi trail down to the beach. Low tide for tidepools — check tide tables.
Lake Crescent + Marymere Falls
Stop at Lake Crescent Lodge for the dock view, then walk the 1.8-mi round trip to Marymere Falls — flat, paved, kid-friendly. The lake itself is glacially clear and 624 ft deep.
Sol Duc Hot Springs
Three mineral hot-spring pools and a freshwater pool, 12 mi up the Sol Duc River from US-101. Day-use admission. Combine with the easy Sol Duc Falls hike (1.6 mi round trip).
Edmonds–Kingston ferry
The ferry IS the trip on the way out. 30-min crossing of Puget Sound from Edmonds (north of Seattle) to Kingston on the peninsula. WSF accepts oversize vehicles; reservations recommended in summer.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Olympic National Park
- Take the Edmonds–Kingston ferry (Washington State Ferries) — fastest route from Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula. 15-passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits ride at the standard vehicle rate (no oversize surcharge under 22 ft). Reserve a vehicle slot on summer weekends.
- Backup if the ferry has a 90-min wait: I-5 S to Tacoma, WA-16 over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, WA-3 N, US-101 N to Port Angeles. Adds 60–90 min but no ferry queue.
- Hurricane Ridge Rd from Port Angeles is paved, no oversize restrictions. Bring tire chains November–April when conditions warrant; the road closes for storms.
- Cell service drops west of Port Angeles. Download offline maps before you cross the ferry.
- Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned down May 2023 — limited facilities (portable toilets only) until the temporary contact station rebuild completes. Bring food and water.
- If you're stretching to the Hoh or the coast, plan an overnight in Forks or Lake Quinault — Seattle to Hoh and back in one day is 7+ hours of driving.
Hurricane Ridge parking lot accepts 15-passenger Sprinters in standard spaces. Hoh, Sol Duc, and Mora ranger station lots are gravel but van-friendly.
When to go
Best time to visit
July through September for Hurricane Ridge access (snow lingers into early July and returns by November). The Hoh Rain Forest is most lush in spring (April–June) but accessible year-round. Coastal beaches are stunning year-round; storm-watching in November–February is its own draw. Avoid the Edmonds–Kingston ferry mid-day on summer Fridays — vehicle waits can hit 2 hours. Reserve.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Seattle fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to Sea-Tac (SEA), every downtown and South Lake Union hotel, Climate Pledge Arena, and the Edmonds–Kingston ferry terminal.
See Seattle vansPlan your visit
Official Olympic National Park resources
Olympic National Park — NPS
www.nps.gov
Hurricane Ridge conditions
www.nps.gov
Washington State Ferries — Edmonds–Kingston
wsdot.com
Park alerts & road conditions
www.nps.gov
More background
Olympic National Park FAQ
How long is the drive from Seattle to Olympic National Park?
Hurricane Ridge above Port Angeles is about 3 hours from downtown Seattle via the Edmonds–Kingston ferry (30 min crossing) and US-101. The Hoh Rain Forest is 3.5–4 hours each way and is better done as an overnight.
Does the ferry accept a 15-passenger van?
Yes — Washington State Ferries accepts 15-passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits at the standard vehicle rate (no oversize surcharge for vehicles under 22 ft). Reserve a vehicle slot on summer weekends.
Is Hurricane Ridge open year-round?
Yes, but the road requires tire chains in winter and closes for storms. The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned down in May 2023 — facilities are limited to portable toilets and a temporary contact station while the NPS rebuilds.
Can I see the Hoh Rain Forest in a day trip from Seattle?
Technically yes — but it's 3.5–4 hours each way plus the ferry. Realistic only as a 14-hour day. Most groups overnight in Forks or Lake Quinault to do the Hoh, the coast, and Hurricane Ridge across two days.
More day trips