Olympic National Park is one of the three National Parks located in Washington. It is an easy weekend trip from Seattle and the area is the perfect place to spend a long weekend. I recommend spending two days in the park, but we only had enough time to spend one day at Olympic National Park. From gorgeous rainforest trails to hikes on the beach, Olympic National Park has a ton of beautiful stops and things to do.
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History of Olympic National Park
This area of the United States was first inhabited by many Native American tribes who used the area for hunting and fishing. In total, 8 tribes settled in the area: the Makah, Quileute, Hoh, Quinault, Skokomish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, and Lower Elwha Klallam, and many are still in the area today.
In the late 1800s, settlers began to appear in the area and harvested a lot of the timber. In the 1920s, the people saw what logging was doing to the area and stopped harvesting the timber. During this period there was an explosion of people’s interest in the outdoors. The first proposal for Olympic National Park took place in the 1890s but it took until 1909 for Mount Olympus National Monument to be established. Finally, in 1938, the area became Olympic National Park.
Best Time to Visit
Summertime is the prime time to spend one day at Olympic National Park. The park gets BUSY during this time. If you do not get to the entrances by 8am, plan on having to wait at least an hour to get in. A lot of the parking lots are very small and the roads are narrow. Thus, they limit the number of cars in each area.
If you visit during one of the other seasons, make sure to pack a warm jacket/raincoat, boots as it rains over 140 inches a year.
How to get to Olympic National Park
Highway 101 runs around the Olympic Peninsula and connects all the entrances to the park.
From Seattle, take I-5 South to the 101. This is about a 3 hour and 45-minute drive.
From Portland, take I-5 North to the 101. This will take about 4 hours.
Transportation Around Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is a bit unique in that there are five main areas to the park that are spread out across the peninsula. Some of them are an hour’s drive from each other, so you will need to have your own car to get around the Olympic Peninsula and spend one day at Olympic National Park.
Hours and Admission
It costs $30 for a 7 day pass into the park. If planning on visiting multiple National Park sites in a year, opt to buy an America the Beautiful Pass for $80. This grants you admission into all the parks for a year. Olympic National Park is open 24 hours a day all year long. However, June to September are peak months, so plan accordingly if visiting during that time.
Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best National Park hotels here!
We opted to stay in Sequim at the Olympic View Inn because it was the cheapest place I could find for $150/night. Although the hotel was nice and Sequim was a nice town, I would recommend trying to stay in Port Angeles or Forks as it is closer to the main sections of the park. However, keep in mind there are not a ton of options and no chain hotels, so do not expect luxury accommodations.
During the peak season, hotels in the area book up fast, so you need to plan months in advance to score the best deal. Make sure to check out Priceline Express Deals to try and save some money!
What to See During One Day at Olympic National Park
There are a ton of things to do during one day at Olympic National Park. If you have time, spend at least two days exploring what the area has to offer.
Day 1
Hoh Rain Forest
The number one thing to do during one day at Olympic National Park is to visit the Hoh Rain Forest. This is easily the most popular area in the park. You will need to get to the parking lot early if you want a spot. We got to the lot by 8am and it was already full! Luckily we were able to find a spot on the street. The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the United States. The area was formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.
Hall of Mosses/Spruce Nature Trail
First, hike the 0.8-mile Hall of Mosses Trail. This super easy trail takes you through the Hoh Rain Forest. If up to it, add on the 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail loop. It also takes you through other parts of the Hoh Rain Forest. If you hike both trails, it is only a 2-mile round trip hike. There is also a visitor’s center to explore in this area. This area is probably one of the most picturesque areas of the park and is a must-stop during one day at Olympic National park.
Forks, Washington
Next, grab lunch in Forks, a small town located in the Olympic Peninsula that has grown in fame due to the Twilight series. There are not a ton of great options so keep that in mind if you plan lunch here. We opted to eat lunch at Pacific Pizza. While it wasn’t the best pizza in the world, it was a great value and fueled us up for the afternoon. You can also opt to stop at the Timber Museum. Twilight fans will recognize Bella’s truck from Twilight parked outside of the museum.
La Push and First Beach
After lunch, head to La Push and First Beach. This is another area that became popular due to the Twilight series. Although not part of Olympic National Park, it is still worth a visit. When entering the La Push Reservation you will notice a sign stating “No Vampires Beyond This Point.” They also have a Twilight Treaty Line sign. Once at First Beach, you can opt to walk around the beach or on the driftwood that has washed up onshore. First Beach is usually pretty windy even in the summertime, so make sure to have a warm jacket.
You can opt to visit Second and Third Beach as well which are part of Olympic National Park. These beaches require a hike to get to them, so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting these two beaches.
Sol Duc Falls
This afternoon, take a hike to the Sol Duc Falls another great stop during your one day at Olympic National Park. This 1.6-mile out and back moderate trail takes you to the Sol Duc Falls. At the end of the hike are several lookouts over the falls. If you want a relaxing way to end the day, head to the Sol Duc Hot Springs after you finish hiking.
Other Things to do at Olympic National Park
If you have more time there are some great other areas to check out in Olympic National Park. I definitely want to go back to explore some of the other areas of the park I did not get to.
- Hurricane Hill: a 3.2 mile out and back trail with views of the Olympic Peninsula and Port Angeles.
- Staircase Rapids: 2.1 mile loop trail along the river through the forest.
- Ruby Beach: One of the most popular beaches in Olympic National Park.
- Lake Crescent: A gorgeous lake that is part of the National Park located west of Port Angeles.
- Mt. Walker Viewpoint: Offers viewpoints of the Puget Sound.
- Quinault Rainforest Nature Loop: A 0.9-mile loop trail in the rainforest.
- Hurricane Ridge: A 17-mile scenic drive up to a viewpoint.
- Marymere Falls: A 1.7-mile trail to a gorgeous waterfall.
- Rialto Beach: The most popular beach in the park. You can hike 1.5 miles each way along the beach to the infamous Hole in the Wall. Note you must go at low tide.
Where to Eat Near Olympic National Park
Port Angeles is a super cute little town with a ton of adorable restaurants to eat at. If you are a Twilight fan, you will want to eat at Bella Italia. This is the restaurant where Edward and Bella go on their first date in the series.
In Sequim, Nourish Sequim is a very popular choice to eat at. They are known for having seasonal menus and everything is organic. A lot of the dishes use local ingredients and they keep as much as possible gluten-free. For breakfast, check out the Oak Table Cafe. They are known for their various pancakes and also have a ton of omelet options.
What to Pack for Olympic National Park
- A rain jacket is a must no matter what time of the year you go.
- Comfortable quick dry pants.
- Water resistant or waterproof shoes
- Backpack
- Water
- Snacks (I love beef jerky and trail mix)
You can easily spend a weekend at Olympic National Park, but one day at Olympic National Park will enable you to hit the main sites of the park. If you have more time, head to Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, or Seattle after spending time at the park.
2 thoughts on “One Day at Olympic National Park and the Spectacular Olympic Peninsula”
Thanks for this post! How many hours -approximately- do you suggest or think we’ll need to visit the park in one day?
We spent about 10-12 hours in the park the day we went.