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Washington · Est. 1938

Olympic National Park

Last verified $30 / vehicle

With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Come explore! — nps.gov

OLYMPICWASHINGTON47.80°N · 123.67°W
A herd of elk crossing a river.
Photo: NPS Photo/Jon Preston

Olympic National Park at a glance

State
Washington
Established
June 29, 1938
Size
923,046 acres
2025 visits
3,584,187
Busiest-park rank
#9 of 63
Entrance
$30 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Olympic quiet?

Olympic is busiest in August and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, June is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 3,584,187 recreation visits, the #9 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Olympic open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 81,950, Feb 93,324, Mar 133,353, Apr 134,215, May 247,409, Jun 301,287, Jul 501,508, Aug 625,799, Sep 420,210, Oct 263,849, Nov 177,710, Dec 99,558.

Quietest: JanuaryBusiest: August

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Olympic

Private vehicle$30
Motorcycle$25
Per person (on foot / bike)$15
Olympic annual pass$55

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Olympic National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Olympic

The National Park Service lists 11 things to do in Olympic National Park, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.
All activities →
  • See Madison Falls5-15 Minutes · All year

    Madison Falls is a stunning 60-foot waterfall near the Elwha River. It's also one of the most accessible destinations at the park, making it a great stop for families and visitors of all abilities.

    Pets OK
  • Take a Short Hike Near the Visitor Center15-30 Minutes · All year

    Near the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, two short loop hikes take visitors through peaceful, green lowland forests.

    Pets OK
  • Walk the Moments in Time Trail15-30 Minutes · All year

    Take a peaceful stroll at Barnes Point on Lake Crescent on the Moments in Time Trail.

  • Watch for Salmon at Salmon Cascades15-45 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall

    In the late summer and early fall, salmon can be seen leaping from Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River! Get a glimpse on a viewing platform located above the cascades.

  • Tidepooling on the Olympic Coast30-180 Minutes · Summer

    There are special places that allow you to see sea creatures up close without leaving the beach! Tidepools are home to fascinating creatures like sea stars, anemones, barnacles, nudibranchs, crabs, and more.

  • Hurricane Ridge Shuttle1-2 Hours · Summer

    Skip the stress and help the environment by taking a Clallam Transit bus to Hurricane Ridge! This summer season bus transports park visitors directly from downtown Port Angeles, Washington, to one of Olympic National…

    Fee
  • Backpack in Olympic National ParkAll year

    While this app is a great tool for "front country" visits (places you can get to with a car, bike, or short hike), it's not meant to guide you through the back country. For that we have the Wilderness Information Center…

    Reservation/permitFee
  • Go to the BeachAll year

    A trip to the Olympic Coast is sure to be memorable! Olympic National Park contains several beach areas along the coast, each with something to offer. Learn more about popular beaches and start planning your trip!

    Pets OK
Show all 11 things to do

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Olympic

Summers tend to be fair and warm, with high temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F. July, August and September are the driest months, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. While winters are mild at lower elevation, snowfall can be heavy in the mountains.

It is common for different weather conditions to exist within the park at the same time. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Olympic

You can reach Olympic National Park via the I-5 corridor or by any one of the quieter state roadways. Once you arrive on the Olympic Peninsula connect to Hwy 101 to reach any destinations in and around Olympic National Park. From Olympia: take I-5 to Hwy 101 From Tacoma: take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104.

From Washington/Oregon Coast connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen.

Olympic National Park Visitor Center, Port Angeles, WA, 98362 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Olympic

  1. Mount Rainier National Park113 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  2. North Cascades National Park129 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  3. Crater Lake National Park344 mi~8 h drive (est.)
  4. Redwood National and State Parks445 mi~11 h drive (est.)
  5. Glacier National Park458 mi~11 h drive (est.)
  6. Lassen Volcanic National Park517 mi~12 h drive (est.)

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Seattle (62 mi) · Portland, Oregon (164 mi)

Road trip

Mount Rainier, Olympic & North Cascades

3 parks, about 242 miles between them (~6 h of driving, estimated).

Olympic is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Photos of Olympic National Park

Orange sea stars on a rocky coast.
Photo: NPS Photo/Bill Baccus
Hikers sit and watch the sun set behind snow-capped mountains.
Photo: NPS Photo

FAQ

Olympic, quickly

When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park?
If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. August is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Olympic National Park?
$30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
Do you need a reservation for Olympic National Park in 2026?
The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Olympic National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Olympic National Park?
The National Park Service lists 11 things to do in Olympic National Park, including See Madison Falls, Take a Short Hike Near the Visitor Center, Walk the Moments in Time Trail, Watch for Salmon at Salmon Cascades, Tidepooling on the Olympic Coast. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Olympic National Park become a national park?
Olympic National Park was established as a national park on June 29, 1938.
What is the closest national park to Olympic?
Mount Rainier National Park, about 113 miles away in a straight line (roughly 3 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

  1. 1.Olympic National Park — official site · National Park Service
  2. 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  3. 3.Olympic National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/olym.

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