Plan Your Trip
Planning your trip to the Olympic Peninsula or Mount Rainier National Park can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re out of state. Don’t worry – I’m here to help!
If your flight into SeaTac airport gets in late, stay the night at a hotel near SeaTac before making the journey to the Olympic Peninsula or Mount Rainier National Park.
Highway 101 leading to Olympic National Park is a winding road and not well-lit.
The same goes for the roads leading to Ashford or Packwood, the two best towns to stay in when visiting Rainier.
Travel Planning Tools
I rely on the platforms and services below for my adventures.
Accommodation Platforms
- Booking.com – I love Booking.com because it features a wide variety of options from hotels to vacation rentals. Plus, the website and app are easy to navigate and filter for preferences.
- Expedia.com – Expedia.com offers excellent bundle deals for flights and hotels. On my most recent trip out-of-state, I saved nearly $200.00 by booking my car rental at the same time as my flight.
Book a Tour on Viator
- Best Olympic Day Tour – If you want to visit Olympic National Park from Seattle without the hassle of ferry and itinerary planning, book a tour and enjoy the convenience of provided food, drinks, and a naturalist guide.
- Best Mount Rainier Day Tour – This all-inclusive, small-group tour from Seattle gets a 5-star rating for good reason. The naturalist guides are friendly and knowledgeable, and lunch and snacks are provided.
No time for the national park? This narrated cruise pairs Seattle’s skyline and mountain views, with Mount Rainier rising in the distance.
Book My Favorite Places to Stay
Below are places I’ve stayed and experienced firsthand.
Olympic Peninsula
- Lake Quinault Lodge – Hands down, my favorite place to stay on the Olympic Peninsula.
- Hoh Valley Cabins – The best place to stay to arrive at the Hoh first thing in the morning to beat the crowds.
- Quileute Oceanside Resort – La Push’s only accommodation option. The Deluxe Cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows and water views.
- Lake Crescent Lodge – Located on the shores of one of Olympic’s best destinations and walking distance to my favorite Lake Crescent hikes.
- Terra Vista Chalet – Tucked away and surrounded by trees. The sound of the Elwha River soothed me as I fell asleep here.
- Juan de Fuca Cottages – Panoramic water views with a private beach across the street and a short drive to Sequim’s best beach, the Dungeness Spit.
- The Bishop Hotel – Port Townsend’s best boutique hotel features an extensive wine list and live music in the lounge.
Mount Rainier
- Paradise Village Inn – I slept well staying in their King Bed Cabin and ate well at their on-site Ukranian restaurant.
- Stone Creek Lodge – The best accommodation to visit the Paradise area and a few minutes from the Nisqually Entrance. My 5-night stay here was excellent.
- Mountain Meadows Inn – Cozy, home environment with a hot tub and breakfast items, 20 minutes from the Nisqually Entrance.
- Historic Hotel Packwood – Lots of charm and located directly across from my favorite place to eat, Packwood Brewing Co.
- Packwood Inn – Not fancy, but they had clean rooms available the week before my trip.
DOWNLOAD ALLTRAILS
Downloading hiking trail maps onto your phone means you can hike confidently even if you lose cell service. I even used a downloaded AllTrails map to help me navigate the roads of the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier when my AT&T cell service wasn’t available!
Washington State Resources
Below are resources and tips to help you journey across Washington with ease.
Washington State Ferries
Visit the website to find sailing schedules, make reservations, and buy tickets.
My tried-and-true tips for taking the ferry:
- Check how many spots are available – I do this before heading to the ferry. If it’s a busy travel time, I’ll check repeatedly on my way.
- Check the ferry camera – I do this when it’s snowing to see real-time weather conditions.
Every local has their own opinion on this, but the Bainbridge Island ferry is my preferred ferry for travel from Seattle. It’s a 30-minute ride, you get fantastic city views, and I like the option to stop and eat on Winslow Way on Bainbridge Island or Front Street in Poulsbo.
Department of Transportation
Washington State’s DOT does an excellent job of using social media to inform us about important travel information.
Check them out on Facebook and X.
I highly recommend checking road conditions and closures before heading out, especially during our rainy and stormy seasons from October to April.
Wondering What to Pack?
I love hooded, soft-shell jackets so much that I own three! Yes, three.
They’re the perfect article of clothing year-round because they’re lightweight and breathable, yet they insulate you from cold and wind. Most are water resistant, protecting you from light rain. You can also add a waterproof layer or a puffy jacket on top.
I’m outdoors A LOT, so I invested in two of the Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody.
A hooded, soft-shell jacket is an item I recommend always keeping in your pack!
Skip the guesswork, stress, and hours of research—let me help you plan your itinerary!