New National Park Adventures!
In the far northwestern reaches of the country is one of the most breathtaking National Parks: Olympic National Park. If you’re planning to visit this summer, we have not only a guide to the top things to do in the park but also a guide to the best places to stay near Olympic National Park.
If glacier-capped mountains, old-growth forests, lush rainforests, and breathtaking coastal beaches sound like a great place to spend your summer, then you need to add Olympic National Park to your list. It’s located in the northwestern part of Washington State, a couple of hours west of downtown Seattle.
The Olympic National Park is a veritable playground for outdoor enthusiasts, with various opportunities for things like hiking, biking, kayaking, and more. There are plenty of accessible locations and scenic drives within the park if you’re looking for an easier way to explore this vast wilderness. The park boundaries stretch from the coastal beaches in the west to its eastern sections near the Hood Canal.
In the middle, you’ll find the waterfront town of Port Angeles, which we think is one of the best places to stay near Olympic National Park. Port Angeles not only provides easy access to some of the park’s top attractions, like Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent, but it’s also a fun and exciting town to explore on its own. It’s also a great place to launch a variety of longer day trips, like the coastal beaches.
When it comes to finding the best places to stay near Olympic National Park, you’d be hard-pressed to beat the two Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts in Port Angeles. These two properties undeniably offer the best hospitality in the area. Standing behind them is the Select Registry brand of excellence, a reputation you can count on to bring you the best lodging properties from coast to coast.
New National Park adventures are waiting this summer. It’s time you discovered the best places to stay near Olympic National Park. Book today!
Best Places to Stay Near Olympic National Park
Port Angeles is a pretty cool little town, and it’s by far one of the best places to stay near Olympic National Park. Not only does staying in Port Angeles afford you easy access to some of the top things to do in the park, but it also places you within easy day-tripping distance to some of the further-off places.
Not only that, but Port Angeles itself is a fun place to spend some time and offers plenty of amenities while you explore the area. It’s a beautiful town sandwiched between the sparkling waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the towering Olympic Mountains, and it’s also the largest on the Olympic Peninsula.
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center is located in Port Angeles. It is where you’ll need to pick up all hiking and camping permits and get any other relevant information for your adventure ahead. In under an hour, you can be in the Olympic National Park viewing Mount Olympus or hiking Hurricane Hill from the Hurricane Ridge Recreation Area, hiking one of the myriad trails through the lush evergreen forests and mountain wildflower meadows, or even roaming around and paddling on the stunning waters of Lake Crescent.
When you’re done for the day, Port Angeles offers several excellent restaurants so you can refuel for the next day. There’s some great shopping in downtown Port Angeles, too, not to mention a few wineries in the area.
When you’ve thoroughly exhausted the Port Angeles area, it’s an easy day trip from here to neighboring Sequim, where you’ll find bountiful fields of purple Lavender and the charming and historic Victorian Port town of Port Townsend. To the west of Port Angeles, you can venture to the logging town of Forks, where you’re close to the Hoh Rainforest, the legendary beaches of La Push, and even further west to the coastal beaches from the Ozette area in the north to the Kalaloch area in the south.
This ease of access is one of the many great reasons Port Angeles is our choice for places to stay near Olympic National Park. However, as wonderful as Port Angeles is, the #1 reason we rank it as one of the best places to stay near Olympic National Park are the two Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts that call this charming town home.
The Select Registry seal of approval offers guests peace of mind, as all Select Registry properties strive for excellence in everything they do. Each property not only embraces individuality, providing a stay that far exceeds a boring and traditional hotel, but they have also passed the most comprehensive inspection process in the industry. Above all else, you’ll be treated to a clean and welcoming home away from home. Don’t just stay anywhere; Select your lodging.
Top Things to do in the Olympic National Park
It’s a good thing you’ve found the best places to stay near Olympic National Park – because we can promise you one thing: you won’t be able to see it all in one visit. The park boundaries are vast, with more than a million miles worth of trails and wilderness to explore. It takes hours to drive from one “end” of the park to the other, let alone the time involved in visiting the top attractions.
The Olympic National Park is as diverse as it is big, too, and each ecosystem deserves your time. From the peaks of the tallest mountains to the thunderous roar of the ocean waves, here are the 10 of the best thing to do in the Olympic National Park this summer.
1. Hoh Rainforest
You’ve never experienced a green quite so lush and vibrant as the moss-draped world of the Hoh Rainforest. This well-preserved old-growth forest will take your breath away. It’s the rainest place in the contiguous United States and one of the best remaining examples of a temperate rainforest.
2. Hurricane Ridge
Located just minutes from downtown Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is one of the most popular destinations in the park and the easiest to access. It’s a great place to hike, admire the scenery, and even watch wildlife. Deer, mountain goats, and other wildlife are commonly seen here.
3. Lake Crescent
We’ve never seen a lake more beautiful than the pristine, teal waters of Lake Crescent. Visiting the Lake Crescent Lodge and taking one of the nearby hikes is one of the most popular things to do in the Olympic National Park. Head to Marymere Falls, get out on the water for some kayaking, bike the Spruce Railroad Trail, and make sure to enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking the lake at the Lodge.
4. Coastal Beaches
Feel the power of the pounding surf, walk for miles on pristine and untouched ocean beaches, and gain a new appreciation for the pristine nature that surrounds you at every turn in the Olympic National Park. There are more beaches than you’ll have time to visit, but the most popular include La Push’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd beaches, Mora & Rialto Beach, Kalaloch & Ruby Beach, Shi Shi Beach, and beaches accessed through the Ozette Triangle (Loop).
5. Sol Duc Valley
The Sol Duc Valley is known for its quiet serenity. Hike through the green and lushly forested lands before taking a soothing dip at the local hot springs resort. The most popular hike in the area is to Sol Duc Falls.
6. Hiking in Olympic National Park
Take a hike through the vast wilderness areas of the park. Hikes range from simple nature walks to longer day hikes and backpacking trips. Perennial favorites include Hurricane Hill, Grand Pass, the Bailey Range Traverse, Royal Lake Basin, Obstruction Point, Marymere Falls, 7 Lakes Basin, and Sol Duc Falls.
7. Scenic Drives
Taking scenic drives, which often include plenty of waterfall chasing, is a great way to see vast expanses of the park when you’re short on time. There are endless waterfalls found throughout the park (many of which are seasonal) – but some you can hike to and shouldn’t miss! Here’s a guide to 3 of the best waterfalls in the park.
Enjoy as much of the Olympic National Park as you can this summer, and when you’re done, know that the two best places to stay near Olympic National Park will still be here when you return for more. Book your getaway at our Washington Bed and Breakfasts today!
Places to Stay Near Olympic National Park
Colette's Bed and Breakfast
Colette’s Bed & Breakfast is a breathtaking 10-acre oceanfront estate, nestled between the majestic Olympic Range and the picturesque Strait of Juan de Fuca. This unique area is the gateway to Olympic National Park, a world of stunning coastline with booming surf, wave-manicured beaches, and sweeping vistas in every direction.
Each perfect day at Colette’s starts with a gourmet multi-course breakfast. Luxurious King Suites with magnificent oceanfront views, romantic fireplaces, and indulgent two-person Jacuzzi spas rejuvenate guests at the end of the day. Stroll through the 10-acre outdoor sanctuary at Colette’s Port Angeles Bed and Breakfast, which includes enchanting gardens, towering cedars and lush evergreen forest.
George Washington Inn
George Washington Inn sits on a high bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north and a pristine view of the majestic Olympic Mountains of Washington to the south. Built in 2007 as an exterior replica of George and Martha Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia, the fully-modern spacious king rooms offer luxury fit for a president.
With a lavender farm sharing the property, a wide variety of lavender products handcrafted by the innkeepers are available in the Inn’s gift shop. The full hot breakfast, prepared from scratch each morning, showcases the diversity of culinary lavender. Located just minutes from Sequim and Port Angeles at the gateway to the Olympic National Park, George Washington Inn offers a peaceful quietness in a country setting.
