Olympic is a stunning national park located on a peninsula in the far northwestern corner of the United States. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to Olympic National Park, including the best airports to fly into, the best roads to drive, and the best ferries to take!
If you are flying to Olympic National Park, the best airport to use is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is about two and a half hours away.
Driving to Olympic National Park? You’ll love the views along the scenic Highway 101 that circles the national park.
If you find yourself on the east side of the Puget Sound (near Seattle), you can drive around it, but you can also take a ferry! There are several ferry lines that work really well for getting you to Olympic, which we’ll discuss below.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. Olympic can be a difficult park to navigate, so I’m excited to help you plan your upcoming trip to this unique national park.
Let’s talk more about how to get to Olympic National Park, including my advice on the best airports, roads, and ferries in the area!
Where is Olympic National Park Located?
Olympic National Park is located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. It is approximately 2.5 hours from Seattle, 3 hours from Portland, and 1.75 hours from Tacoma.
The nearest national park to Olympic is Mount Rainier National Park – both parks are located in Washington and are about 3 hours apart.
The closest towns to Olympic National Park with a decent number of amenities are Port Angeles and Forks. These are the main gateway towns to the national parks and where you’ll likely stay while you’re here.
Which Airport Should I Fly Into to Visit Olympic National Park?
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
If you search for airports near Olympic National Park, you’ll see several options populate. However, the airports that are super close to Olympic only service private, non-commercial flights. Because of that, if you’re looking to book flights to Olympic, you’re limited to flying into a larger airport that accepts commercial flights.
The best airport to fly into if you’re hoping to visit Olympic National Park is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which is about 2.5 hours from the park. This is my favorite airport to use to get to Olympic quickly and easily!
This airport is extremely convenient for exploring all three of Washington’s national parks. I suggest flying into Seattle, then either driving or taking the ferry to Port Angeles (3 hours) and exploring Olympic for 3-4 days. After that, you can drive to Mount Rainier (3 hours) and explore that park for 2-3 days. Finish off your tour of the Washington parks in North Cascades (4 hours from Rainier) for a day or two before heading back to Seattle.
Now that’s an amazing trip!
Portland International Airport
You can also consider flying into the Portland International Airport (PDX) if you don’t plan on visiting all three Washington parks in the same trip (I prefer flying into Seattle if I plan on exploring Washington State).
The Portland Airport is about 4 hours from Olympic National Park, and the drive is straightforward along I-5 and Highway 101. If you are hoping to experience some of the Oregon Coast and then want to pop up into Olympic, this airport might be a good option for you.
Planning a trip to Olympic can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the area? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Olympic National Park Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Best Roads to Olympic National Park
If you’re driving to Olympic, you have several route options that depend on where you’re coming from, which entrance you plan to use, and whether you would like to use a ferry or not.
Highway 101
Highway 101 is the main road around the Olympic Peninsula. It circles around Olympic National Park, so you will find yourself on this road many times as you explore the park!
This route is incredibly scenic — it’s a great way to experience the beauty of Washington’s coastline and Olympic National Park. You’ll travel through coastal towns and rural areas, which might be exactly what you need as you venture to the park for a few days of relaxation.
As you drive along Highway 101, you will pass by the most popular areas of Olympic. If you are driving this road clockwise, the first notable area you will reach is Lake Quinault, where you can take forested hikes with water views. As you continue north along the 101, you will reach the Kalaloch area of Olympic, which has sweeping ocean views and access to popular beach areas where you can stop and go tide pooling and view sea landscapes.
This road also takes you directly to the town of Forks, which is a popular area to spend a few days if you’re hoping to spend time at Olympic’s beaches or in the popular Hoh Rainforest. Forks is also the setting for the Twilight book series, so you’ll definitely enjoy exploring the town if you’re a fan.
If you continue along Highway 101 north past Forks, you’ll reach the Sol Duc Road, where you can find my favorite waterfall in the park, Sol Duc Falls. Continuing on, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of Lake Crescent! East of Lake Crescent is where you’ll find the city of Port Angeles and the entrance to the popular Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic.
Continuing past Port Angeles, you’ll then follow the eastern shoreline of the Olympic Peninsula before circling back around to the city of Olympia.
This is a 2-lane highway that is fine for RVs. Just take your time, and enjoy the fantastic views!
State Routes 16, 3, and 104 from Tacoma
If you’re hoping to travel along quieter state roadways, then taking a few state routes might be the way you want to go. Taking this route makes sense if you fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and don’t want to bother with the ferry system.
From Tacoma, you’ll take State Route 16 north, which travels over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. This is a set of two suspension bridges over Puget Sound that link Tacoma to the Kitsap Peninsula.
You’ll continue driving along SR 16 until you reach the Bremerton area, where you will then take State Route 3. This stretch of your drive is packed full of attractions if you are hoping to make a few stops, such as the Elandan Gardens, a bug and reptile museum, and the Dickerson Creek waterfall.
Once you reach Port Gamble, you will turn onto State Route 104 and cross the Hood Canal Bridge. The views here are beautiful, and you might even catch a glimpse of a submarine, but be aware that this bridge closes periodically for boat traffic.
This route is mostly made of 2-lane roads. It is generally fine for RVs, but high winds (especially as you cross the bridges) can make this route less appealing in a larger vehicle.
The Best Ferries to Olympic National Park
The Seattle area has an awesome ferry system that can get your vehicle across the Puget Sound and over the Olympic Peninsula!
In my experience, it’s not necessarily faster to take a ferry than it is to just drive around using one of the routes listed above. However, taking the ferry can be a fun and unique way to experience the Pacific Northwest.
Edmonds – Kingston Ferry
The ferry that connects Edmonds to Kingston on the Olympic Peninsula is my favorite option if I’m north of Seattle. We use this ferry if we are traveling to or from North Cascades National Park over to Olympic.
It takes about 30 minutes to cross the Puget Sound on this ferry, but you’ll want to add in wait times to board the ferry, which sometimes can be an hour or two depending on the time of day (find the best times to travel here). This ferry doesn’t take reservations, but it does run every 45 minutes or so.
To get a standard vehicle on the ferry, plus a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids), it cost us $27.75. You’ll pay the Vehicle under 22′ + driver fee, plus the fee for one additional adult passenger. Kids 18 and under are free.
When you get to Kingston, it’s an easy 1.5-hour drive to Port Angeles and Olympic National Park.
Seattle – Bainbridge Island Ferry
If you’re in downtown Seattle, you can get on State Route 305 and access the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry that travels over to Bainbridge Island. It takes about 35 minutes to cross over to Bainbridge Island, and then another 2 hours to drive up to Port Angeles and Olympic National Park.
When you get to Bainbridge Island, you’ll cross the Agate Passage Bridge, take State Route 307, and continue driving towards Port Gamble, where you will drive along State Route 104 to Highway 101.
This ferry doesn’t take reservations, but it does run every 45 minutes or so. Similar to the Edmonds – Kingston Ferry, wait times can be long, so check the best times to travel here. The prices are the same for this ferry as well.
If you’d rather, you can also take the ferry to Bremerton, but I find that the Bainbridge Island Ferry usually makes more sense for getting up to Olympic.
Fauntleroy – Southworth Ferry
If you fly into SeaTac and you want to take the ferry but don’t want to bother with driving into downtown Seattle, the Fauntleroy to Southworth Ferry is your best bet.
This ferry runs every 45 minutes or so and takes about 40 minutes to cross the Puget Sound. You can’t make reservations for this one, so be sure to check the schedule and expect long wait times during the busiest times of the day.
This ferry is cheaper than the other two listed above, coming to $21.60 for a family of four plus a standard vehicle. When you get to Southworth, you’ll have a 2-hour drive up to Port Angeles and Olympic National Park.
This information should help you get to Olympic fast — there are so many fun adventures waiting for you in this exciting national park. Have a great trip!
More Olympic Trip Planning Information
Olympic Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Olympic? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Olympic — the top spots
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners
Best Things to Do — activities for every adventurer
The Ultimate Olympic Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know
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Hello. After Port Angeles, “circling back to the city Olympia”? Many people continue the “circle” on down to Tacoma, visit Port Townsend, in the summer stop at lavender farms in Sequim, visit the Naval Museum in Bremerton, and visit the other places you mentioned near Bremerton.
There are so many amazing things to do in that area!