Why You Should Plan a Road Trip to Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula

As I step into the Hoh Rain Forest, I'm immediately captivated by its unique charm. The myriad shades of green, from the vibrant mosses clinging to trees to the deeper emeralds of the towering Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock trees, create a kaleidoscope of nature's beauty. It's a sight that's hard to forget, especially when these giants can reach more than 300 feet high and seven feet in width.

Perched on the western side of Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rain Forest is one of the park's most cherished gems. As one of the largest temperate rainforests in America, it receives an average of 14 feet of rainfall each year, yet on the day of my visit, the sky was a clear, brilliant blue, adding to the forest's allure.

If you're craving an exhilarating outdoor adventure, take a road trip through this national park and the surrounding Olympic Peninsula. Start your journey by flying into Seattle, then rent a car and follow our leisurely loop around the Olympic Peninsula and the park before returning to Seattle. This region is at its best from late spring through fall, when the temperatures are pleasant, and there are more sunny days than usual, offering you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Seattle to Port Townsend

Leave the bustling city of Seattle and head southwest via I-5 S. In just 45 minutes, you'll find yourself in the charming town of Gig Harbor, named after the bay on Puget Sound it faces. Gig Harbor's walkable waterfront is a delight, lined with shops and restaurants that offer breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier on clear days. If the weather is in your favor, I recommend sitting outside on the patio at Tides Tavern. This pub grub-serving tavern is renowned for its adults-only ambiance, views, and, of course, its excellent clam chowder.

Another 40 minutes past Gig Harbor is Finnriver Farm and Cidery, which is also worth a quick pause. They have a range of unique flavored ciders and fruit wines on tap for visitors to taste. On weekends, there is live music. It's not far from here to your stop for the night in Port Townsend. A charming village by the sea with an artistic soul, it has a main street with shops and restaurants. You'll want to spend the night at the Chevy Chase Beach Cabins, which have spectacular views of Discovery Bay.

You can grab dinner at one of the restaurants in town. Or if you feel up for a bit more driving, The Fireside Restaurant in the neighboring city of Port Ludlow, about 30 minutes away, focuses on Pacific Northwest fine dining.

Port Townsend to Lake Crescent Lodge

On your second day of road-tripping, you'll enter Olympic National Park, your destination for the night. It's under a two-hour drive to the park's western entrance. One of the top 10 most visited national parks in the US, it covers almost one million acres in the Olympic Peninsula.

First up is the Sol Duc Valley in the park's northwest region. You'll discover old-growth forests, subalpine lakes, and the Sol Duc River here. Also, here is Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where you'll want to stop. The resort, where you can also book cabins, has three natural mineral hot spring soaking pools with temperatures between 99 and 104 degrees F. You can book 90-minute soaking slots here. Hotel guests have free access.

From Sol Duc it is just about 30 minutes to the stunning Lake Crescent Lodge, your home for the night. The historic lodge was built in 1915 and is a perfect base camp for exploring the park. The place boasts turn-of-last-century charm and is on the shores of pristine Lake Crescent. The lodge sits amid giant fir and hemlock trees and many great hiking trails around the lake's shore. Check out the hike to spectacular Marymere Falls. Make a dinner reservation at the lodge's dining room, known for its creative regional fare.

Lake Crescent Lodge to Lake Quinault Lodge

Today, you'll dip in and out of the park. After breakfast, drive about 40 minutes to the town of Forks. If you are a fan of the

“Twilight” series by Stephanie Meyer, Forks is worth a stop. The books and subsequent movies were set here. There is a “Twilight” museum and an annual Forever Twilight festival for avid fans.

Just past Forks is the entrance to the Hoh Rain Forest. You'll want to stop here and walk along the Spruce Nature Trail, which is 1.2 miles long and loops through old and new-growth forests alongside Taft Creek and the Hoh River. The Hall of Mosses Trail is an iconic loop that's flat and less than a mile away. It takes you past a fantastic moss-draped maple tree grove.

From the Hoh, it is a 45-minute drive to Ruby Beach. One of the most photogenic beaches on the West Coast, it is famous for its towering sea stacks (huge rocks rising from the ocean floor that get smaller or larger based on tides), giant surf-tossed logs, and bald eagles. Park in the parking lot facing down at the beach, then follow a ? mile trail down to the beach.

It is just under an hour's drive from Ruby Beach to your destination, Lake Quinault Lodge. We recommend booking at least two nights here to explore the park and soak up the ambiance at this grand, yesteryear hotel. Surrounded by mountains and on the shores of Lake Quinault, the lodge is the only place to stay within the Quinault Rainforest. Built in 1926, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and constructed in the great lodge "Parkitecture style," with an impressive grand lobby and Adirondack chair-lined great lawn sloping down to the lake.

The lodge has 91 rooms in various styles, including the luxurious Fireplace and Lakeside Rooms. Many rooms have great views. The lodge dining room serves hearty and delicious fare. Breakfasts are massive and will give you enough fuel to spend the day hiking some of the eight miles of surrounding interconnected trails. Check out the "World's Largest Sitka Spruce Tree" while you are here. Look for it off the Rain Forest Nature Trailhead. It is over 1,000 years old, 191 feet tall, and nearly 18 feet in diameter. You can also take kayaks, canoes, or paddleboats on Lake Quinault. During the summer, the lodge offers guided Quinault Rain Forest Tours, interpretive nature and wildlife tours, and guided boat tours.

It is about a 3-hour drive back to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from Lake Quinault Lodge where your epic road trip sadly ends.