Top Things to do on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

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Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula is a diverse and exciting destination for nature lovers. Boasting one of USA’s top 10 most visited National Parks, plus scenic historic townships, lavender festival and pop culture ties—there is so much to see and do! Let us guide you around the region’s highlights, plus get our 4-day Olympic Peninsula itinerary.

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Where is the Olympic Peninsula?

Olympic Peninsula is located in the west of Washington State. It is a wide promontory surrounded on three sides by Puget Sound, Salish Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

What is the best time to visit the Olympic Peninsula?

The best time to visit the Olympic Peninsula is during late-Spring through to Autumn (May-October).

• Winter is characterized by high levels of snowfall in the mountains and rain in temperate forests. Some of the roads, campgrounds and trails will be closed from October through to May.
• Summer is the warmest and driest, but also the busiest tourist season. The limited accommodation becomes expensive and books up well in advance. There may be long queues to enter some parts of the National Park such as the Hoh Rainforest. July is the time to see lavender in bloom.
• Spring weather can be unpredictable and still quite rainy until late in the season. The upside is fewer visitors, gushing waterfalls and active wildlife.
• Autumn is wet and temperatures drop off steeply in mountain areas. The rain is worth enduring for fall colours in October.

How to get to the Olympic Peninsula?

The nearest major airport to the Olympic Peninsula is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From there you can drive through the cities of Tacoma and Olympia to reach the Peninsula or utilise one of various ferry services to cut across Puget Sound.

Relevant ferry services run from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton; or from Edmonds to Kingston. Taking the ferry may or may not be a shortcut depending on how busy they are. In peak periods, lines for the ferry can be as long as it would take to drive the entire way around, so book in advance or keep an eye on wait times via the Washington State Department of Transportations (WSDOT) website and/or Washington State Ferries Twitter.

Canadian visitors can take the Coho Ferry from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles.

Top things to do on the Olympic Peninsula

1. Visit Olympic National Park

Many of the Peninsula’s top sights and experiences are located in Olympic National Park. These include mountaintop vistas on Hurricane Ridge and the mystical, temperate Hoh Rainforest. Enjoy scenic lakes perfect for kayaking, SUPing and other water-based activities. Plus, incredible driftwood-strewn beaches where you can view amazing sunsets! See a detailed guide to Olympic National Park here.

2. Engage with indigenous cultures

Nine Native American tribes call the Olympic Peninsula home. There are two large reservations where indigenous people reside on the Peninsula – Makah and Quinault. Visit the Makah Museum for more insight into First Nations history and culture on the Olympic Peninsula.

Note: Not all tribal lands are open to visitors. Check their websites before visiting: Makah Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, Skokomish Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe.

3. Visit the USA’s most northwesterly point

Cape Flattery is the contiguous United States’ most northwestern point and is located on the Olympic Peninsula. The Cape is on the Makah Native American Reservation which is open to visitors. You will require proof of vaccination and a $20 Recreation Permit that can be purchased in Neah Bay.

4. Explore historic Port Townsend

This has to be one of the grandest small towns you’ll ever come across! Port Townsend was once on its way to being the Northern Pacific Railroad terminal and a major trade port. Speculators commissioned Victorian mansions and grand commercial buildings at the waterfront. Then the Railroad changed its plans!

Hence, the historic district of Port Townsend is far more opulent than one might expect. Escpecially for a city with a population of little over 10,000 permanent residents. It’s beautiful Sound-side location benefits from a rain shadow cast by the Olympic Mountains, making it sunnier than much of the rest of the Peninsula.

Stop for lunch or a coffee in the historic main street; drive by the mansions of yesteryear; and visit Fort Worden Historical Park.

5. See Sequim’s purple haze in July

The town of Sequim (pronounced “skwim”) claims the title “Lavender Capital of North America”. Like Port Townsend, it sits in the rain shadow. It’s dry climate and moderate temperatures make it perfect for growing lavender.

There are dozens of small farms across Sequim-Dungeness Valley and a number of them invite visitors to enjoy the summer bloom each July. You can wander the fields, pick your own bouquet and purchase lavender-based products. See my favourite Sequim lavender farms here!

6. Pick your own berries through the summer

From strawberries to raspberries, blueberries to loganberries, pick your own at Graysmarsh Farm in Sequim. U-pick opportunities run throughout the summer months, with different berry varieties rippening at different times. Graymarsh Farm also grows a little lavender on the side, making it an all-in-one-stop.

7. Visit the origins of Nirvana (band)

Aberdeen is the birthplace of Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana. The fishing town on the south of the Olympic Peninsula has a small Memorial Park honouring the late Nirvana frontman. You can take photos outside his childhood home at 1210 East 1^st Street. Fans should see more Nirvana-related sights here.

8. See the inspiration for Twilight

Forks inspired the original setting of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight novels. The former logging town wasn’t used as a filming location for the movies. However, it did inspire the author with its dark and rainy “vampire-friendly” vibes. Fans will recognize several locations around town used in the novel. The town also hosts an annual festival dedicated to the supernatural stories each September.

9. Indulge in fresh shellfish

Hood Canal and South Puget Sound is a bivalve epicentre. Harvest your own in the State Parks and DNR beaches that permit open public harvesting, just make sure you have a license. Alternatively, let the experts do the work and pick up fresh oysters, clams, mussels or geoduck at one of the local markets and restaurants.

10. Inspect Fort Worden Historial Park

Explore the old gun batteries, forests and beaches of old Fort Worden Historical Park. The site dates back to 1879 with the construction of Point Wilson Lighthouse. The old fortifications are a treat for photographers and history buffs, while the scenery on a fine day stretches from Mt Baker to Mt Rainier. Hike the 19.5-km (12-mi) of trails or cycle 13-km (8-mi) of bike trails. Camp, swim, attend a music festival and enjoy this beautiful spot by the Salish Sea.

4-day Olympic Peninsula itinerary

Steal our 4-day, tried and tested, Olympic Peninsula road trip including National Park highlights plus some extra cultural sights and places of interest as mentioned above.

Pro traveller tip: If you are having trouble getting accommodation, try reversing the itinerary. Most people tour the Olympic Peninsula anti-clockwise, so you have more chance of nabbing accommodation in peak periods by travelling clockwise.

Day 1

Drive Seattle to Sequim. If you take the ferry, you should have time to detour through Port Townsend for lunch. Visit a lavender farm or go berry picking in Sequim (summer only) and catch sunset from Dungeness Spit. Overnight in Port Angeles.

Day 2

Hike Hurricane Hill or a shorter trail from Hurricane Ridge. Go to Lake Crescent for a picnic lunch and hike through the old-growth forest to Marymere Falls. Continue to Sol Duc Valley and hike to Sol Duc Falls. Spend the night in Forks.

Day 3

Visit Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach. Time your beach trip for low tide if you want to explore tidal pools or hike to Hole-in-the-Wall, a highly recommended 5.3 kilometre (3.3 mile) return hike along the beach (note that soft sand and pebbles make this more of a workout than it sounds – allow plenty of time). If you prefer less walking, try Ruby Beach instead. Finally, make a quick stop at Kalaloch Campground to visit the Tree of Life. Overnight at Kalaloch or Lake Quinault.

Day 4

Take the Scenic Drive around Lake Quinault making various stops along the way, including the world’s largest Sitka Spruce and Merriman Falls! Grab lunch at the Salmon House on Lake Quinault, or cross back out to the coast for lunch in Seabrook. Return to Seattle via Kurt Cobain’s hometown of Aberdeen, for lunch.

Olympic Peninsula itinerary map

Get this map! If you have a Google account, you can save a copy of this map to use and adapt for your trip. Click on the top right corner and it will open in a new window where you can save it to your Google Drive/Google MyMaps.

Enjoy your time on the Olympic Peninsula and the wonderfully diverse landscapes it has to offer. For more National Park itineraries see here.

Peace, love & inspiring travel,

Madam ZoZo