Olympic National Park

Untamed Wilderness, All in One

Olympic National Park spans mountains, forests and coastline along Washington’s western edge. Rainforests thrive here with towering trees draped in moss while rugged peaks rise above glaciers. The park protects diverse wildlife including black bears and orcas swimming nearby. Visitors explore trails through wildflower meadows or relax on sandy beaches where tide pools reveal marine life. Weather shifts quickly, bringing rain to lowlands and snow to higher elevations. This variety creates habitats supporting rare plants and animals adapted to Pacific Northwest conditions.

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National Park in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language, and all signs, guides, and services are in English. Communication with locals is generally very easy.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Olympic National Park Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Excellent for diverse wilderness landscapes. Hike alpine mountains, explore rainforest trails, walk wild Pacific beaches and enjoy scenic camping.

Place score

8.5

Best at:

Natural sites

Forests

Spotless

Hiking

Van travel

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

♻️ 9

Sustainability

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Olympic National Park, United States

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	July - Sep.
Shoulder season:	May - June, Oct.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Hurricane Ridge road often closed in winter due to snow, open daily only mid-summer

High alpine trails usually snow-free only July to September

Rainforest (Hoh, Quinault) wettest November to March, with some road and trail washouts

Don't miss

🏞️ Hike to Hurricane Hill for breathtaking panoramic views
🌲 Explore the lush trails of the Hoh Rainforest
💧 Visit Sol Duc Falls and enjoy the tranquil waterfall
🍃 Walk the serene Marymere Falls trail through old-growth forest
🏖️ Relax and beachcomb along the scenic Ruby Beach coast

You've been here?

Why travel to Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park offers an incredible variety of experiences in one place. You can hike through moss-covered rainforests, wander along wild beaches and explore alpine meadows, all within a short drive. It’s perfect for those who love both adventure and tranquility. However, be prepared for unpredictable weather, especially rain and keep an eye out for wildlife, including bears and mountain goats.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station
2 Olympic National Park - Elwha Valley
3 Sol Duc Hot Springs
4 Kalaloch

🎡Places for activities

1 Rialto Beach
2 Sol Duc Falls
3 Mora Campground
4 Hoh Rainforest Campground
5 Mount Storm King Trail
6 Marymere Falls Nature Trail
7 Obstruction Point Trailhead

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
2 Lake Crescent
3 Elwha River
4 Hurricane Ridge
5 Ozette Lake
6 Shi Shi Beach
7 Sol Duc Falls
8 Mount Olympus
9 Ruby Beach
10 Lake Quinault

🎈Events

Olympic Music Festival
Rainfest
Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival
Quilcene Fair & Parade
Sequim Lavender Festival
Forks Old-Fashioned 4th of July
Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival
Salmon Festival
Jefferson County Fair
Clallam County Fair

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Knowledge before you go

Plan for multiple days across diverse ecosystems.
Check tide charts for coastal hikes to avoid high tide dangers on beaches.
Visit Hoh Rain Forest early morning to experience misty ancient giants quietly.
Hike Hurricane Ridge trails for alpine meadows and Olympic Mountain panoramas.

How to travel to Olympic National Park

The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). From there, drive around 2-3 hours to reach Port Angeles, the main gateway to the park. Ferries from Seattle to Bainbridge Island or Kingston can shorten the drive.

Access summary

From Seattle–Tacoma Airport (SEA): Drive via Tacoma/Bainbridge, roughly 2.5–3 hours.
From Seattle city: Drive or ferry plus drive to Port Angeles, about 3 hours.
From Victoria (Canada): Ferry to Port Angeles, then short drive into park.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Olympic National Park

Accommodation options range from charming lodges within the park to campgrounds and cabins. Nearby towns like Port Angeles, Forks and Sequim offer additional hotels and motels.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Olympic Lodge by Ayres

9.5

Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor

7.9

Lake Quinault Lodge

8.2

Super 8 By Wyndham Port Angeles At Olympic National Park

8.0

Quality Inn Port Angeles - near Olympic National Park

8.7

Quality Inn & Suites Sequim at Olympic National Park

9.2

The Royal Victorian Motel

7.3

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites North Sequim By IHG

9.3

Red Lion Inn & Suites Sequim

8.5

Olympic Inn & Suites Port Angeles

7.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Olympic National Park

The park is best explored by car, with Highway 101 looping around the Olympic Peninsula. Key entry points include Port Angeles, Forks and the Quinault area. Limited bus services and guided tours are also available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-13 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 13% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£70	£149	£387
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£75	£188
🍝 Food per day	£34	£67	£174
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£7	£25

Notable additional fees: US$30 (£22.53) per vehicle (7 days). No non-resident surcharge; the America the Beautiful annual pass is US$250 (£187.78) for non-US residents.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£25
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£17
🍟 Fast food combo	£10.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£12
☕ Cappuccino	£3.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£14
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£110
🤧 Cold medication	£8
💇 Basic haircut	£16

Safety information overview

General safety

Olympic National Park is generally very safe. Follow trail guidelines, keep your distance from wildlife and be mindful of slippery paths, especially in wet conditions.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are limited within the park. The nearest hospitals are in Port Angeles. Bring a well-stocked first aid kit, especially for remote hikes.

Accessibility

Many trails and viewpoints are accessible, but some areas are rugged. Facilities like the visitor center at Hurricane Ridge offer good accessibility options.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink in most developed areas, but for backcountry trips, bring a water filter or purification tablets.