
28 Best National Park Road Trips in the US
These epic national park road trips each offer something special, from desert landscapes to snow-capped mountains to rainforests and more.
Olympic National Park is home to historic lodges like Lake Crescent and Kalaloch, where rustic meets luxury. Plus, you'll be immersed in all the natural beauty this park has to offer.

Olympic National Park is a sprawling reserve on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The pristinely preserved park features a variety of breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems, from dense, old-growth forests and wild beaches to the rugged peaks of the Olympic Mountains. Numerous backpacking and hiking trails wind through the park's rainforests and along the coastline, and the towering snow-clad peak of Mt. Olympus attracts climbers from around the world.
Situated just 60 miles from Seattle, Olympic National Park is ideal for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation. There is a great selection of places to stay for all budgets both in and near the park from camping and self-catering cabins to cozy mountain lodges, romantic forest retreats, and family-friendly hotels.
Designated as both an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, Olympic National Park is well worth a visit for its spectacular beauty, amazing diversity, and fantastic outdoor activities. In partnership with Hotels.com, I've put together a list of some of the best hotels and accommodations in and around the park, offering comfortable lodging, great amenities, and easy access to all the popular attractions.






If you can't find suitable lodging in Olympic National Park, there are plenty of great places just outside the park and within driving distance of all the park's attractions. The park can get quite busy in the summer months, so staying outside the park will allow you to enjoy all the national park has to offer without dealing with the crowds.
Here are some great places to stay near Olympic National Park in lovely towns like Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks, which include comfortable lodging, fantastic amenities, and easy access into the park.

Quileute Oceanside Resort is a laid-back oceanfront resort in the little village of La Push on the northwestern coast of the Olympic Peninsula and a great choice if you are a budget traveler. La Push lies at the mouth of the Quillayute River and is well known for wild Pacific beaches like First Beach where you can see some massive huge waves crashing onto the shore.
The family-friendly resort is near Olympic National Park and is a great place to stay if you want to enjoy both the attractions of the park and the wild Pacific beaches, and the natural beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. The resort offers a variety of accommodations from simple motel rooms with kitchenettes to cozy cabins with fireplaces or wood stoves.
There is also a basic campground and an RV park if you are road-tripping, and there is free access to several forested hiking trails around La Push that lead to Second and Third beaches, and the famous Hole-in-the-Wall on Rialto Beach.

Set on a beach along the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Port Angeles Harbor, the Red Lion Hotel is a down-to-earth hotel that offers the best of both Port Angeles and the Olympic National Park. The hotel has comfortable rooms with standard conveniences like minifridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, and upgraded suites have pull-out sofas for extra guests and spacious balconies with charming beach and harbor views.
An outdoor swimming pool and hot tub are ideal for relaxing after a day of exploring the park, and guests can dine at the casual restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. The Olympic National Park is a few miles from the hotel and Port Angeles Harbor has plenty of shops, restaurants, and fun things to do. The lovely towns of Sequim and Port Townsend are close by if you feel like venturing further afield.

If you are looking for a comfortable, family-friendly getaway near Olympic National Park, the Olympic Suites Inn is a good bet. Located on the banks of the winding Calawah River in Forks, Washington, the hotel has spacious and inviting guest rooms with rustic design and cozy lodge-style décor. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms, modern amenities like televisions and free wi-fi, and balconies boast lovely views.
The inn is within easy driving distance to Olympic National Park where you can explore the many superb attractions like the Hoh Rain Forest, the Sol Duc Falls, and the wild beaches of the Pacific. There are also 611 miles of picturesque trails that are ideal for hiking and mountain biking.

Located in the town of Forks on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, the Forks Motel is a casual, family-friendly motel with comfortable lodgings that makes a great base for exploring Olympic National Park. Standard guest rooms have comfy furnishings and en-suite bathrooms, and Jacuzzi suites are ideal for families with multiple beds. There is an outdoor swimming pool for cooling off in the summer, and some motel rooms are pet-friendly, so you can travel with your four-legged friend.
Olympic National Park is just east of Forks and easily accessed from the Forks Motel. There are also some spectacular landscapes around Forks like the Calawah, Sol Duc, and Bogachiel rivers where you can fish for steelhead and salmon, and the magnificent Hoh Rain Forest where you can hike for miles.

GreenHouse Inn by the Bay is a lovely family-run inn in the small town of Sequim that is a great base for exploring Olympic National Park and the natural beauty of western Washington. Boasting a warm and welcoming, home-away-from-home ambiance, the inn has comfortable guest rooms with shared or en suite bathrooms and modern in-room amenities. Private balconies have beautiful views of the bay and the mountains of Olympic National Park, which is a short drive away.
Relax in a comfy communal lounge, enjoy wine-tastings in the evenings, and indulge with a massage in your room. A concierge service can organize a variety of excursions for you that will showcase the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. Enjoy day hikes in the Olympic National Park, whale watching in the bay of the Salish Sea, and unforgettable hot air balloon rides over the beautiful lavender farms surrounding Sequim. Port Angeles is a short drive away from the inn and the charming town of Port Townsend on the very tip of the Olympic Peninsula is worth a visit.
The best time of the year to visit the Olympic National Park is from spring through fall. The winter rains make the landscapes in the area lush and verdant and excellent for a hiking, trekking, or backpacking trip.
The park has so many things to see and do, you could easily spend a week exploring the spectacular landscapes, however, if you are limited on time, you can enjoy the best of what the park has to offer in two days. You might have to do quite a lot of driving on your trip, but you'll be able to explore and enjoy Olympic National Park, which is nicknamed the jewel of the Pacific Northwest for good reason.
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If you do decide to travel at this time, here are our recommendations:
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