Evergreen forests & coastal bliss
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Pacific Northwest
Olympic NP to Portland
Olympic NP and Portland sit about 264 km (164 mi) apart in a straight line, with Portland to the south. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Pacific Northwest itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 264 km · 164 mi
- Est. road distance
- 317–369 km
- Est. drive time
- 3 h 15 min – 5 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Pacific Northwest itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 317–369 km (197–230 mi) of road and 3 h 15 min – 5 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
By train
Our Pacific Northwest guide also mentions trains for parts of the trip. Whether a direct train links Olympic NP and Portland depends on the line — check timetables.
Seattle and Portland are connected by road and by train, so the first leg is flexible. For Olympic National Park you will want a car, since the park is large and spread out. Part of the route can use a ferry across Puget Sound.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Portland
Spend two days: one in the city's gardens, books and food carts, one out in the Columbia River Gorge.
Powell's City of Books
A full city block of new and used books across color-coded rooms.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Walled Ming-style garden with a teahouse in Old Town Chinatown.
Portland Japanese Garden
Eight garden styles on a Washington Park hillside, often called the finest outside Japan.
Pine State Biscuits
Southern biscuit sandwiches; the Reggie Deluxe with fried chicken and gravy is the classic.
Multnomah Whiskey Library
Leather-and-wood whiskey bar with 1,500+ bottles and a rolling cart service.
International Rose Test Garden
Free garden of 10,000+ rose bushes with city and Mount Hood views.
Before you leave Olympic NP
Plan two to three days: the park spreads across mountains, rainforest and coast with no road through the middle.
Hurricane Ridge
Paved road to subalpine meadows with views across the Olympic range and Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Marymere Falls Trail
Easy 1.8-mile round trip through old-growth forest to a 90-foot waterfall.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Historic 1915 lodge whose dining room serves Northwest dishes with lake views.
On this curated route
Where Olympic NP → Portland sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Portland to Olympic NP is the same 264 km in a straight line, heading north. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in August, when Portland averages highs 14°C warmer than Olympic NP. Over a year, Olympic NP gets about 390 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic NP high | 0° | 0° | 1° | 4° | 9° | 11° | 15° | 15° | 12° | 7° | 2° | -1° |
| Portland high | 8° | 9° | 12° | 15° | 19° | 22° | 28° | 29° | 25° | 17° | 11° | 7° |
| Olympic NP rain | 286 | 162 | 224 | 137 | 86 | 63 | 31 | 42 | 86 | 198 | 292 | 270 |
| Portland rain | 216 | 144 | 178 | 119 | 79 | 55 | 11 | 20 | 57 | 137 | 217 | 251 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Portland month guides.
Olympic NP to Portland: questions travelers ask
How far is Olympic NP from Portland?
Olympic NP is about 264 km (164 mi) from Portland in a straight line, with Portland to the south. By road, we estimate 317–369 km (197–230 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Olympic NP to Portland?
An estimated 3 h 15 min – 5 h 45 min, assuming 317–369 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Olympic NP to Portland?
Our Pacific Northwest itinerary includes this leg. Pacific Northwest runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Getting to Olympic NP
- Seattle to Olympic NP 98 km
Guides for both ends
- Olympic NP travel guide
- Olympic NP weather best time to visit
- Portland travel guide
- Portland weather best time to visit
Portland by month
Plan Olympic NP → Portland with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.