seattle to olympic national park day trip

At a high level, heres our recommendation in terms of where to stay: If you want to spend a night near the Hoh Rainforest, stay at the Hoh Valley Cabins, which will put you in prime position for beating the crowds out to the rainforest. By Zipster16. WebThis remarkably undisturbed forest is not only part of Olympic National Park, but is also recognized as a World. So, before we dive into all the different parts of the park and their entrances, keep in mind that there are 2 parts to the Olympic Peninsula: You can get into parts of the forest without a pass but you will need one for the park part. Stay at either Chito Beach Resort or Hobuck Beach Resort. This park sprawls across multiple eco-systems and has mountain peaks, ocean, lakes and old-growth super-tall trees in forests. It is not at all an easy hike. Olympic National Park is located on a large peninsula west of Seattle. In the morning, youll be picked up at your accommodation by a comfortable bus or minivan. If a day trip to Olympic National Park isnt enough, you could also choose to go on a 3-day tour to from Seattle. 07:25: Pick-up at Uwajimaya Renton (Address: 501 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057) 07:30: Proceed to Olympic National Park. Start date | 2021-01-01 Be inspired by the glacier-capped peaks, valleys of forests, hot springs, Free cancellation Recommended by 92% of travellers from 121.38 113.29 per adult Reserve 2. Its also one of the most popular trails in the park, which means parking can be a nightmare and the trail will likely be packed. Elwha River and the Dam are popular stops just before lunch. From the trailhead, its a 3.5 mile hike out to the beach (one way). To get from Seattle to Olympic National Park, youve got a couple of options. How to ride WA state ferries as a drive-on car passenger? For the purposes of this guide, lets think about Olympic National Park as five different regions. Olympic National Park is massive just under a million acres and its size means that there are several distinct ecosystems within the boundaries of Washingtons biggest national park. The distance from Seattle to Mt. Weve got you covered. On the way back, stop by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where youll find hot springs that you can take a soak after a long day of exploring. Another option for accessing Olympic National Park is to purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass. Its a pretty spectacular view, and well worth the 800 feet of elevation you have to climb to get there. If youre looking for a longer hike, its worth doing a portion of the Hoh River Trail, which forks off from the Spruce Nature Trail and follows the Hoh River all the way up to Mount Olympus (~17 miles, one way). Its a short hike down from the parking lot, and is full of picturesque driftwood and sea stacks just off the coast. By about 10am, the trails are packed with people. The best place to see a sunset in ONP is either on a mountain like the summit of Hurricane Ridge or at Rialto Beach. The hike out to Cape Flattery is an easy one its under a mile and a half with just 200 feet of elevation gain. Sandy beaches, one of the biggest temperate rainforests in the country, and towering peaks and icy glaciers of Mt. Dont miss our other guides to Washington States Amazing National Parks! Interested in a private experience for your group? This stunning facility, perched above the beach, is run by a national parks concessionaire and is popular for its beach access, stunning views and cabins that are well-equipped and fully self-contained. Some tours include lunch and a snack. Its particularly pretty in the early morning when the sun rays pierce through the dense canopy of trees and illuminate the mist that is floating throughout the rainforest. It looks like its floating above the beach below. The majority of campgrounds in the park are actually first-come-first-served. 1-Day Seattle to Vancouver City Tour $149.00 $144.53. Kalaloch beach is a beautiful and wide pacific coast beach with a lodge, camping grounds, and in close proximity to both the Quinault Rainforest and the Hoh Rainforest. But assuming youre driving and not helming a private helicopter, youll traverse a little over 80 miles. Olympic National Park is a While I think you can rent downtown and return the car to the airport, check with the rental agency before you sign anything. 1. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100365999', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle is easy to navigate without a car and we probably won't need a car for the first few days of our trip. The MayflowerPark Hotel for exploring Seattle? After you go, share with us your experiences below in the comments! At the beach, there are all sorts of tidepools to explore, sea stacks to admire, and more. Most will start their road trip journey to She is obsessed with everything outdoors, especially hiking, traveling and will take any opportunity to #getoutside for adventure or to just vibe with the earth. The second option is the Bainbridge Ferry, which leaves from downtown Seattle and drops you on Bainbridge Island. What were saying is that Olympic National Park should definitely be on your radar as a great long weekend trip from Seattle. This national park offers almost a million acres, including mountains, rain forests, hiking trails, and coastline. St. Helens, ONP, Family Reunion Itinerary for late July/early August, From Vancouver to Portland via North Cascades National Park, Must see/do in Seattle/Anacortes/San Juan Island area, Best Western Plus Park Place Inn & Suites. Year-round; May-Oct: Monday Saturday, Nov-April: Mondays & Saturdays. How do rental car drivers pay for toll roads & bridges? The trip from downtown Seattle to the Park takes about two hours, depending on which route you take. WebSeattle Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge (75 mins) Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent (45 mins) Seattle . Your first stop should be the Lake Crescent Lodge, where you can have a picnic lunch and relax next to the lake. Olympic National Park seems to have it all with lush rainforests, snow capped mountains, and a stunning coastline. Lunch is usually included and your expert tour guide will be at your side throughout the day. Pacific Northwesters have a passion for the outdoors. The reason? 800-715-HIKE Web4 Days / 3 Nights via HWY 101 This tour has you staying for one night at each of our unique destinations: Lake Crescent Lodge, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, and Lake Quinault Lodge. Bald eagles and other kinds of coastal birds call these beaches home, and youre sure to spot at least a few seagulls if nothing else. Do you have a permit? Unfortunately, getting there from Shi Shi Beach is a bit of a trek, and might not be worth it if youre done hiking for the day. Crowds and wildlife. generally including French-pressed local coffee, tea, and breakfast pastries. Head to the visitors center to use the restroom and prepare for an alpine walk before lunch. 10:30: Arrive Prices for passes are the following. Find amazing things to do at the best price, Fee per vehicle (including up to 15 occupants): $30, Fee per motorcycle (including one rider): $25, Annual pass (including one car or four individuals): $80. You can make it as long or short as youd like weve done the 5 mile hike out to Mineral Creek Falls and back, and enjoyed it. The trip will be unforgettable and youll be taken to all the best locations and sights. This means we earn money from brands when readers click through, purchase, or sign up for anything through certain links as outlined in the. Trips Alerts Sign in. When to Go to Olympic National Park July through September is peak season in Olympic, due to the warmer and drier weather. I will say that we really like the Hoh Valley Cabins. Ozette Lake is the third largest lake in Washington State, and is nearly eight miles long and three miles wide (at its widest point). 4. Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty. Hole-in-the-Wall is a natural sea arch carved by the dynamic waves of Olympic National Park reinvests 80% of all entrance fees into the maintenance and improvement of the park grounds. Show your support and donate to the tribes of that land, or to the. Headed to Olympic National Park? Once were on the peninsula, the course of your day can go so many ways. WebHow long is the drive from Seattle to Olympic National Park?. Join the Newsletter: Get brand new travel guides sent directly to your inbox! Discover the magnificent Hurricane Ridge and spectacular Lake Crescent! Hop on a bus and join a fun group of fellow travelers on an excursion to Olympic National Park. Spend a night or two in the backcountry! Dont waste daylight waiting in line at a busy lunch counter well bring a fresh, local, family-style lunch with local wines. We did the beach walk down to Hole in the Wall at sunset, saw two bald eagles, and I just about lost my tripod in the surf trying to get an epic sunset photo on the beach. You might want to get dinner before you go. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you plan to go to Hoh Rainforest, I suggest you also try to knock out everything else on that side of the park. On our Olympic tour we can offer pick-ups at: Seaside Station, Bainbridge Island220 Olympic Dr SE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Basket. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100354045', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hurricane Ridge? Make sure you have good boots. This will take a little longer since youll be going on roads with slower speed limits. For efficiency on a Seattle day trip is to use the ferries to Olympic National Park. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. The majority of your day today will be spent on the Makah tribes land you can learn about the Makah here, and its worth taking some time to acknowledge that you are on their land while youre enjoying this amazing part of the world. The sand is firm, and there aren't the mats of seaweed with their little bugs, both of which are all over Cape Alava. In winter, well likely opt for a comfortable spot inside if the weather is snowy or cold. If you are unable to drive to Olympic National Park and arent ready to make the bus journey by yourself, you should consider joining a guided tour. Likely walk length is one to three miles. Is the airport within a close proximity to the city that we could go there, rent a car, and return it on our way back to the airport? That being said, during the off-season, which takes place from October to May, some facilities such as campgrounds or visitor centers might be closed or have reduced hours. Here are 10 places to visit while living in Seattle that are sure to delight. Olympic National Park Tours 23 Tours & Activities Nature and The Cape Alava/Sand Point Trail is great, but you need to time it to the tides, and you need a permit. We have an entire guide to deciding where to stay in Olympic National Park with all the details and specific recommendations. Planning a Trip to Olympic National Park? Keep an eye out for local plant species and rare birds. Tours with higher prices usually include lunch or snacks along the way.For a private day tour to Olympic National Park, expect to pay at least $380 to $500, while multi-day trips cost upwards of $1600. If sight seeing is something you want to do along the way, I recommend stopping to check out Scenic Beach on the Hood Canal off of 3 North (off the Newberry Hill Road exit). Trip Type: Small Group Adventure. Your guide will lead the way out of the city into the real Northwest. I got most of these descriptions from other hikers' reviews on these forums and on all trails, so they're not perfect. Spend the night along the northern coast near Neah Bay so that you can see Cape Flattery at its finest around sunset. This one drops you in Kingston on the other side of the Hood Canal, and from there youd head west until meeting up with US 101, which you follow to the park. Help! April 22, 2022 Mikaela Ruland One of the ways the Pacific Northwest shows its charm is through its diversity. For what its worth, we spent three days and two nights on the High Divide and LOVED IT, but we would have spent an extra night if we did it again to spend more time along the divide itself. Stay in Forks or La Push on your second night. Heres a map of the itinerary youll find below: There are some pretty incredible places to stay in Olympic National Park, from four historic national park lodges (we think theyre cool, but waaaayyy overpriced), to cool treehouses and cozy cabins, and coastal camping. This will give you more time to explore the beaches around La Push First, Second, and Third beach and also allow you to see the Quinault Rainforest in the early morning when it is at its most peaceful and serene. You are young and fit, and I'm sure you can do it. Trips | The Best Day Trips from Seattle to Olympic National Park 2021 WebOlympic National Park sprawls over 1,400 square miles (3,626 square kilometers) of green-soaked Washington wilderness. That being said, we would absolutely never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. For a day trip from Seattle, making the drive up to Hurricane Ridge from Port Angeles is recommended. The Olympic National Park isnt only beautiful, its also stolen land. The sea stacks at the south end of the beach are known as Point of Arches. If you want to skip the sights, continue straight onto 305 North. There are no reduced hours on public holidays or specific events. Yes. Total eligible cost | EUR 383,452.75 10:30: Arrive at Olympic National Park (Activity duration: 3 hours) 13:30: Leave Olympic National Park and head back to Seattle. WebSeattle Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge (75 mins) Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent (45 mins) Seattle . Evergreen Escapes: Amazing and memorable time - See 1,704 traveller reviews, 592 candid photos, and great deals for Seattle, WA, at Tripadvisor. Join our adventure community. This page contains affiliate links. BEST Olympic National Park Day Tour from Seattle. If you want a hotel, there are three great options in and around Forks that we think youll love. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Each pass is valid for seven consecutive days. The fastest way will be to drive along Highway 305 to Bainbridge Island and then onto Highway 3 to Port Gamble. In this itinerary, well make the alpine our primary goal, enter the National Park in Port Angeles, and drive up to famed Hurricane Ridge. I have read that (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Take in all the breathtaking scenic views along the journey. If youre staying in downtown Seattle (hotel, Airbnb, etc. WebAward-winning Hiking Tours: Olympic Inn-based Tour in Olympic National Park! No additional charges during your day. 11/01-03/31 Itinerary: Seattle Olympic National Continue west to the glacially-carved Lake Crescent, where youll explore the fern-filled forests that line its shores, venturing to Marymere Falls. From downtown, walk south along the waterfront toward Pioneer Square. The stroll through the Quinault Rainforest is quick and easy just a half mile and youll make your way along a well-defined, flat path lined with interpretive signs that will probably teach you some things about the temperate rainforest. There are two ferry routes you could take, and they take roughly the same amount of time. You can see costs here, which varies depending on how many people are in the car, and what kind of vehicle you have. Are two Ferry routes you could take, and well worth the 800 feet of elevation gain trip Olympic... Experiences below in the Park are actually first-come-first-served local, family-style lunch with local wines as! 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Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent Lodge, where you can have a picnic lunch relax. Radar as a great long weekend trip from Seattle, making the drive from Seattle to Olympic National seems. To skip the sights, continue straight onto 305 North we dont stand behind 100 % and your expert guide... Can see Cape Flattery at its finest around sunset waterfront toward Pioneer Square beach! About two hours, depending on which route you take new travel guides sent directly to your!... Is either on a mountain like the Hoh Valley Cabins to Washington Amazing! Discover the magnificent Hurricane Ridge or at Rialto beach you might want to from...