National Park · WA
Olympic National Park
Olympic is three parks in one: a glaciated alpine range, 70 miles of wild Pacific coastline, and the temperate rainforest of the Hoh. You can stand in moss-draped old-growth in the morning and watch sea stacks at sunset. No other park does this.
Best time to visit
July through September for reliable weather. The rainforest is, predictably, wet — winter sees 12+ feet of rain in the Hoh. Wildflowers at Hurricane Ridge peak late July.
How long you need
Four days minimum to hit all three ecosystems without driving like a maniac.
Don't miss
- Hurricane Ridge for the Olympic Range panorama
- Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Mosses loop
- Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall (check tides)
- Sol Duc Falls and the hot springs
- Ruby Beach at sunset
What people get wrong
Trying to see everything from one base. The park has no through-road — you drive around the perimeter on US-101. Plan a counter-clockwise loop with at least two different lodging stops.
Entrance fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Valid for seven consecutive days. Applies to private, non-commercial vehicles (15 passenger capacity or less). The pass covers all vehicle occupants.
$30.00
Entrance - Motorcycle
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
$25.00
Entrance - Per Person
Valid for seven consecutive days. This fee admits one person without a vehicle, including hikers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Individuals fifteen years or younger are admitted free of charge.
$15.00
Commercial Entrance - Van
A commercial tour is defined as persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced or sold for leisure recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provisions of the service.
$75.00
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
A commercial tour is defined as persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced or sold for leisure recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provisions of the service.
$100.00
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
A commercial tour is defined as persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced or sold for leisure recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provisions of the service.
$200.00
Operating hours
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, although some roads, campgrounds and facilities are open seasonally.
Campgrounds
Deer Park Campground
Fairholme Campground
Graves Creek Campground
Heart O' the Hills Campground
Hoh Campground
Kalaloch Campround
Mora Campground
North Fork Campground
Ozette Campground
Queets Campground
South Beach Campground
Staircase Campground
FAQ
- Can I drive across the park?
- No. There's no road through the interior. US-101 circles the peninsula and spurs run inland to each major area.
- Where should I stay?
- Port Angeles for the north (Hurricane Ridge), Forks or Kalaloch for the coast and rainforest, Lake Quinault for the south.
- Do I need a tide chart?
- Yes. Several coastal hikes are impassable at high tide and the National Weather Service rangers will tell you horror stories. Free tide charts at any visitor center.