The Perfect 2-3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary

I get so many questions when it comes to Olympic National Park! As a local, I have been exploring this national park for years and love seeing the different landscapes. The Olympic Peninsula has it all! It has mountains, beaches, waterfalls, rainforests, and lakes. It is so diverse, which is probably why it is so popular. Since it is difficult to plan because everything is so distant, I decided to do the perfect 2-3 day Olympic National Park Itinerary. This is coming from a local who has explored this area countless times and knows which places are worth your time.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. 

Best Time To Visit Olympic National Park

• Spring: Temperatures are cool to mild, and the weather is unpredictable during this time. But, it is the second most popular time to visit.
• Summer: This is the best time for hiking Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, and it is also the most popular time to visit. Temperatures are mild to warm. Rain and thunderstorms are a possibility. This is the best time to get great weather, but it is probably the most crowded.
• Fall: Temperature decreases, and precipitation increases during this time of year. People still hike during this time of year but not as many as Spring and Summer.
• Winter: Winter is when Olympic NP experiences the highest amount of precipitation. Chances of snow on the trail are high. The wintertime is the least popular time to visit.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park

Where To Stay

Olympic National Park is huge! That is why it is best to stay in two different areas. Port Angeles and Forks. The first night in the park you should stay in Port Angeles. On the second and third nights, you should remain in Forks to minimize the amount of driving.

Port Angeles

• Olympic Lodge: I stayed at the Olympic Lodge for one weekend, and it’s one of the city’s best hotels. It isn’t a five-star hotel, and I feel the lighting needs some major updating, but it is the best hotel on the Peninsula. Also, the hotel is located close to Hurricane Ridge.  >Click Here To Check Pricing
• Sea Cliff Gardens: If you want something cozier, then check out this cute bed and breakfast. It located next to a cliff with spectacular views. Breakfast is good, the views are great, and the hosts are kind. >Click Here To Check Pricing

Forks

• Woodland Inns: Cute cabins with a patio, a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace, a seating area with a sofa, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. >Click Here To Check Pricing
• Quillayute River Resort Each room features a porch with river views, and it is close to Rialto Beach.>Click Here To Check Pricing

Read More: Where to Stay in Olympic National Park – 10 Best Cabins & Rentals

Map Of Olympic National Park Itinerary

Below is a color-coded map of the itinerary. If you want an official Olympic National Park Map, click here. If you want to buy a printed map of the park, click here.

What To Pack For Olympic National Park

• Sunscreen: You might get a sunny day at the park, and it is a part of the ten essentials. >Buy Sunscreen
• Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you wear tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes, hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
• Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
• Refillable water bottle: I always bring a Hydroflask on all my adventures. They are on the heavier side, but I know for a fact they will not break. I have had a few cheap water bottles break on me before. >Check Prices Now
• Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
• Sunglasses: It can get sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
• Snacks: The best snacks for hiking are jerky, nuts, energy bars. >These bars are great for hiking.
• Camera: The camera I have linked was one of the first cameras I started using on my travels. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
• First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
• Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
• Leggings or Hiking Pants: I love wearing leggings while hiking because I love how comfy they are but don’t forget that the PNW is known for being rainy. I still try to wear leggings as much as I can and only wear them in Olympic NP if I know it won’t rain that day. Either way, here are my excellent hiking pants that are super durable. >Click For My Favorite Hiking Pants
• Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
• Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Out
• Jacket: It can get pretty chilly all year long. Bring a Jacket! >Buy My Favorite Jacket
• Light Jacket: The PNW weather can be unpredictable. That is why I brought three jackets with me. It wasn’t so cold when I hiked, so I brought a light jacket. >Buy This Light Jacket
• Rain Jacket: When hiking in Olympic National Park, you need this in case it starts pouring on you, which is always a possibility in the PNW. >Buy A Great Rainjacket Here
• Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
• Fire Starter and Matches: This is just in case of an emergency. >Check Out This Fire Starter
• Compass: I always carry this with me just in case. >Click Here To Buy
• Knife: You never know if you will need it. >Buy My Knife Here
• Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get lost or you take longer than you thought you would to complete a hike. Trust me, it happens even to me. >Buy A Headlamp Now
• National Park Pass:  I highly recommend getting a year-long America The Beautiful Pass. >>>Get It Here
• Map: A map is essential so you don’t get lost. >Check This One

How Many Days In Olympic National Park

I feel like three days is a reasonable amount of time to see most of the popular spots in the park. Below I have options for three, two, and one day. If you want to do more than three days, check out my post on the best hikes in Olympic National Park. I will warn you that you will drive A LOT in this park. Everything is so far from each other.

>>>Rent A Car Here<<<

Olympic National Park Itinerary 3 Days

Day 1

Port Angeles

Ok, I will not sugarcoat it but driving around Olympic National Park is a pain! Everything is so far from each other, and the park is far from Seattle and the SeaTac Airport. You will probably get here midday, so I recommend stopping at Port Angeles, checking into your hotel, and grabbing a bite to eat at my favorite restaurant there: Next Door Gastropub.

Madison Falls

You are in for a treat! Madison Falls is one of Olympic National Park’s hidden waterfalls. I lived in Washington for years before I heard about it, and no other park itinerary on the internet will have it on their list.

What I love most about this waterfall is that there are no crowds, you can take a photo right next to the waterfall (no barriers), and it is so easy to get to. Seriously. I thought the road would be terrible, or the hike would be long, but nope! Driving and hiking here was a breeze! The trail is more accessible than Sol Duc Falls.

Madison Falls should be your first stop because it is close to Port Angeles, and if you are hungry, you can eat before or after exploring this waterfall.

Hurricane Ridge

I know most people want to drive straight to Hurricane Ridge when they arrive at Olympic National Park, but trust me, it is best to leave this activity towards the end of the day. The sunset here is stunning! The best part is that you do not need to hike anywhere to see the gorgeous views of the mountains. The photo above was taken close to the visitor center.

Viewing sunset isn’t the only activity around this area. There are a few popular hikes at Hurricane Ridge, and if you have extra time, you can hike before sunset. Popular hikes include Hurricane Hill, Sunrise Point, and Klahhane Ridge.

Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Hurricane Ridge

Day 2

Sol Duc Falls

• Length: 1.6 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 226 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Families
• Trail Guide: Link 

Sol Duc Falls is probably the most popular hike in Olympic National Park. For this reason, I think it is best to get here very early to avoid the crowds. I have also hiked this trail many times, and it looks best in the early morning. The lighting hitting the waterfall from behind is magical (as seen in the photo above). Sol Duc is very popular because it is an easy hike for the whole family. Children especially love this trail!

You can also check out the Sol Duc Hot Springs hotel and pay to soak in the Mineral Hot Spring soaking pools if you have time.

Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is outstanding! It is tough to capture it all in a photo. The lake is so large, but it has a beautiful hint of a blue-green color.

Many people love to swim in the summer. Devil’s Punchbowl (an easy short hike) is one of the best places for that, but please note that the water will probably be cold. You can also go Kayaking.

A great place to take photos of the blue/green color of Lake Crescent is at the Marymere Falls trailhead. There is a dock near the parking lot to take incredible photos.

Marymere Falls

• Length: 1.8 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 298 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Families
• Trail Guide: Link

Marymere Falls is another hike that is perfect for the whole family. It is an easy day hike that is only 1.8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 500 feet. This trail can be the end of your day or if you are up for a challenge, attempt Mount Storm King, a walk away from Marymere Falls.

Mount Storm King

• Length: 4.1 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,106 ft
• Difficulty: Hard
• Best For: Experienced Hikers
• Trail Guide: Link 

Mount Storm King is one of the most well-known hikes in Washington State. The reason it is well known is because of how steep it is. It is only 4 miles round trip but has an elevation gain of 2,065!!!! If you don’t know much about hiking, that is a lot for only 4 miles.

Many people attempt it but end up turning around, especially in the section where you have to pull yourself up on ropes. I have witnessed many people turn around at this point, but luckily there is a viewpoint right before this. So if you are iffy on this trail, I would still attempt it up to the rope section. I want to note that the rangers do not put up these ropes, so use them at your own risk.

I loved the challenge, though! I am all about short but steep hikes! This hike is not for everyone, though, and that is ok. You can hang out at Lake Crescent instead.

Read More: A Fun Guide to the Mount Storm King Hike in Washington

Day 3

Rialto Beach

• Length: 3.3 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 108
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Families
• Trail Guide: Link 

I loved exploring Rialto Beach. I have been there many times and enjoyed hiking and camping on this beach, and it is probably one of the most popular beaches in the park. To get to the “Hole In The Wall,” as shown in the picture above, you have to hike 2 miles North. Hopefully, the tides are low because that is the only way to get to The Hole In The Wall.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Rialto Beach and The Hole In The Wall Washington

Second Beach And Or Third Beach

• Length: 2.1 Miles Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 278 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Family
• Trail Guide: Link 

Second Beach is a breathtaking beach trail with a fantastic rainforest and stunning sea stacks, and it is a great place to explore. I will warn you that you have to climb over a bunch of tree debris, and it can be difficult and slippery, so be careful.

If you have more time, check out Third Beach. The trailhead is nearby, and it is 3.6 miles round trip.

Hall Of Mosses

• Length: 1.1 Miles
• Elevation Gain: 78 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Families
• Trail Guide: Link 

The Hall Of Mosses must be added to your Olympic National Park bucket list! It took me a few years to finally see it, and I am glad we did. The trees are so mossy and magical, and it felt like I was walking around a fairy tale forest. The trail is easy and short, so it is perfect for the whole family.

You can also hike the Spruce Nature Trail, located in the Hoh Rainforest.

Kalaloch Beach

Kalaloch is probably my least favorite part of Olympic National Park, so you can probably skip it if you are running out of time. Kalaloch is south of Ruby Beach, but Ruby Beach is breathtaking for sunset, so it is more well suited for the last activity for the day.

Kalaloch does not have sea stacks, but it does have the well-known tree of life, as shown above. The tree is sadly starting to fall into the cave, so please do not hang from the tree.

Kalaloch is a massive beach, and many people love to lounge around here and have a warm fire while they watch the sun go down.

Ruby Beach

• Length: 1 Mile Round Trip
• Elevation Gain: 49 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best For: Families
• Trail Guide: Link 

Sunset at Ruby Beach is a perfect way to end your trip. This is my favorite Olympic National Park beach. The sea stack is breathtaking, and the trail is pretty straightforward.

Other Itineraries

Olympic National Park Itinerary 2 Days

Day 1

Day 2

Olympic National Park Itinerary 1 Day

The North side of the park is more beautiful than the West side so, if you only have one day, I recommend exploring this area for one day.

If You Have More Time

If you have more time, check out Lake Quinault on the way back to Seattle. It is located in the Southwest area of the park. The Quinault Rain Forest is a less popular version of the Hoh Rainforest.

Final Thoughts On Olympic National Park 3 Day Itinerary

Thanks for reading all about my Olympic National Park Road Trip. Make sure to check out my other Washington Blog posts:

• The 21 Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
• The Ultimate Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary
• The Most Incredible Washington Road Trip Itinerary: 7-14 days
• 25 Best Waterfalls In Washington State
• The 26 Of The Absolute Best Hikes In National Parks
• The 16 Best Spring Hikes In Washington State

Pin For Later: Olympic Peninsula Itinerary