Adventure in the beautiful PNW

NOTE: This road trip itinerary is solely meant to be a guide. Some national and state parks may be closed due to COVID-19. Please check the regularly updated Olympic Peninsula website before you head out.

Native people have made their home in the desolate beauty of the Olympic Peninsula for nearly four thousand years. Once you experience the magic of this place, you’ll understand why. Get ready for a ride back in time.

To ease into the journey, you’ll begin your trip with a ferry ride from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island. Over the next week, you’ll make a loop of the stunning Olympic Peninsula and explore mountain lakes, rainforests, and some of the Pacific’s most remote beaches before returning (all too soon) back to Seattle.

Day 1: Seattle → Quilcene (51 miles)

Start your trip off at Peace Vans, conveniently located in SODO near the ferry terminal. Hop in your van, grab a cup of delicious coffee and pastries from Macrina in SODO to start your trip off on the right foot. 

Board the next available ferry to Bainbridge Island. The Bainbridge ferry terminal is located just 2 miles from Peace Vans headquarters. Once on the boat, make sure to head up to the passenger deck for supreme views of the Seattle skyline. Did someone say photo op?

Once you’ve crossed onto Bainbridge, you’ll find yourself in the very quaint downtown - Winslow. If a stop in lovely downtown Bainbridge is on your bucket list, then combine that with a grocery shop at Town & Country. If you got a late start or want to move along a bit faster, Central Market further up the road will be a faster stop.

If you started your day early, grab a bite to eat at Hitchcock Deli or Blackbird Bakery. Winslow is also known for local beer and wine tasting rooms; grab a growler or bottle of wine for your campsite this evening, there’s plenty of options! If you need a late lunch, we’d also suggest Bruciato - delicious wood fired pizzas that can be taken to-go. 

If you enjoy Bainbridge and have time to hangout a bit, the Bloedel Reserve is a beautiful place to experience both history and nature. There is an entrance fee. 

A stop in Poulsbo to indulge your sweet tooth is a must. Sluy’s Bakery has been in this town for ages, and serves up some seriously delicious pastries. The strip that Sluy’s is located on - Front St. - also has great, local shops for you to peruse. 

Carry onto your campsite for the evening. We strongly recommend using a Hip Camp private camp site. Each one that we have suggested on this trip itinerary are vetted through Peace Vans trip planning experts and great for van camping. Just outside of Quilcene are two great spots for this evening: Wildwood Farms or Cedar + Fern. 

If you need last minute items for the evening, there’s a food store, deli and brewery in Quilcene, not far from both of these campsites. 

Day 2: Quilcene →  Sol Duc (87 miles)

Head north to Port Townsend, located on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula. There’s food and shopping on Water Street. If you’d like a place to hang outside and grab a beer, we’d strongly recommend Propolis Brewing or Port Townsend Brewing - they often have live bands play! Fort Worden State Park - right on the water - is also a wonderful place to explore with the whole family. 

Continue on the 101 to Sequim (about 30 miles). Pull off just past Sequim and head north to Dungeness. Hiking the Dungeness Spit is fun for all ages. It’s the longest natural sand spit in the nation, and a National Wildlife Refuge. If you can make it 5 miles out, there’s a super cool lighthouse! Note that high tide can make it difficult to get all the way to the end, so monitor tide charts before you head out. 

Grab some food/essentials in Sequim or Port Angeles (17 miles west on 101), then head to your campsite for the night - Sol Duc Rainforest Hide Out.

We highly recommend checking out Lake Crescent - it’s stunning and also has a lodge on the southside. You can peruse the guest shop and buy some trinkets if you like. Joyce Campers, you can do this on your drive tomorrow :)

Hike suggestions if you have time:

• Marymere Falls just south of Lake Crescent Lodge - it’s 2-miles and pretty easy. 

• Extremely adventurous folks can take the hike up Mount Storm King - just shy of 5-miles, it’s pretty difficult (note: this would not be ideal for children).

Day 3: Sol Duc → La Push (40 miles)

Head south to Sol Duc Falls - this is a 1.5-mile hike, and fairly easy with a gorgeous reward of beautiful falls at the end. Then make the drive on to La Push. If you need groceries, stop in Forks before heading out to the Coast - there’s a Thriftway where you can get everything you need.

Cook up some food at your Hip Camp for the night - Shangri La Push - but don’t get too cozy. You’re going for an evening adventure! Catch the sunset at Rialto Beach. Don’t miss this step! It’ll be your first taste of the coast, and it sure is a beautiful place to enjoy the wonders of the Pacific Northwest. 

Day 4: La Push → Queets (56 miles)

Pack a picnic and explore the beaches of La Push. You could spend hours checking out marine life and nature - it’s breathtaking! There are three different beaches (1, 2, and 3) and we’d say First & Second Beach are the easiest to access. If you couldn’t get enough of Rialto Beach, do the 4-mile Hole in the Wall hike. It’s fairly easy and has great views of the ocean. 

Hop back on the 101 from La Push, move through Forks and down on to Queets. Yes, Forks is the town of Twilight. If that’s your thing, take the tour! 

Detour: Did you know the Peninsula is home to rainforests? Take a detour to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center, and walk around the Hall of Mosses or Spruce Nature Trail - both are gorgeous trails that showcase the diversity of the Pacific Northwest. 

Stop by the Tree of Life near Klaloch. A short walk down to the beach will bring you to a courageous tree saddling the shore - it’s one of the most visited trees according to National Geographic! This thing is pretty tenacious, but please don’t climb on its roots … we want it to stay as long as possible. 

It’s time to set up camp between Klaloch and Queets. This campground is just off the beach, so get there in time to enjoy the sunset! Reserve a spot through Hip Camp.

If that is full, head to the Hoh River Campsite (recommended by multiple renters) - “This property is located along the Hoh River and features old growth maple trees, large ferns, walking forest-to-river trails, and a beautiful private pond where you can pick mint as you stroll around.”

Day 5: Queets → Humptulips (50 miles)

Make your way towards Lake Quinalt, a glacier fed lake. Route yourself to Lake Quinalt Lodge - there is a mercantile store, museum and a few trails to walk around there. 

There are two Hip Camps we suggest for tonight - Humptulips Valley River and Wishkah Blue. If you plan on staying the night at the Humptulips Valley River campsite, it is just southwest of Humptulips. From the camp, you can visit Copalis Beach or Ocean Shores. There is a pub eatery and grocery store in Copalis. If you have time, continue up the 109 towards Moclips for beautiful views of the ocean. 

Ocean Shores is a vacation beach town - you can do many things here including ride horses or mopeds. Peruse the many shops, grab a scoop of ice cream or buy a kite to fly out on the beach! Check out Ocean Shores Tourism for everything you need to know about the town. 

If you’re thinking about staying at Wishkah Blue: continue on the 101 past Humptulips to the campground. (You could check out Ocean Shores, then head north on the 101 to the campground.) There’s tons to explore on their property - including a river, pottery studio, and a field of daisies!

Day 6: Humptulips → Peace Vans (130 miles)

All amazing trips must come to an end - make your way back to Peace Vans today. If you have time and need a good cup of joe for your drive, stop off at Olympia Coffee Roasters in Olympia to fuel up. We can’t wait to hear all about your trip around the Peninsula!

4-night itinerary: If you want to make your trip one night shorter, take a longer drive on day 3, skip La Push and take 101 south from Sol Duc or Joyce down to Queets.