Evergreen forests & coastal bliss
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Pacific Northwest
Seattle to Olympic NP
Seattle and Olympic NP sit about 98 km (61 mi) apart in a straight line, with Olympic NP to the west. It is leg 1 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
- 98 km · 61 mi
- Est. road distance
- 117–137 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 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 117–137 km (73–85 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 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 Seattle and Olympic NP 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, plus 1 place near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in 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.
Next Door Gastropub
Port Angeles gastropub with Northwest taps and burgers, a good base-camp dinner.
Lake Crescent
Glacier-carved lake with clear blue water, kayak rentals and lakeshore trails off US-101.
Sol Duc Falls
Short forest walk to a waterfall splitting into channels in a narrow gorge.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 15 km of the straight line between Seattle and Olympic NP. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Before you leave Seattle
Give it two full days: markets and waterfront one day, Ballard, Fremont and the parks the next.
Pike Place Market
Century-old public market with fishmongers, produce stalls and the original market arcades over Elliott Bay.
Zig Zag Café
Classic cocktail bar tucked down the Pike Street Hillclimb steps below the market.
Seattle Art Museum
Downtown art museum with strong Northwest Coast Native and modern collections.
On this curated route
Where Seattle → Olympic NP sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Olympic NP to Seattle is the same 98 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in March, when Olympic NP averages highs 10°C cooler than Seattle. Over a year, Olympic NP gets about 650 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle high | 8° | 8° | 11° | 14° | 18° | 20° | 24° | 24° | 21° | 15° | 10° | 7° |
| Olympic NP high | 0° | 0° | 1° | 4° | 9° | 11° | 15° | 15° | 12° | 7° | 2° | -1° |
| Seattle rain | 174 | 108 | 138 | 95 | 70 | 51 | 19 | 29 | 58 | 125 | 188 | 175 |
| Olympic NP rain | 286 | 162 | 224 | 137 | 86 | 63 | 31 | 42 | 86 | 198 | 292 | 270 |
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 Olympic NP month guides.
Seattle to Olympic NP: questions travelers ask
How far is Seattle from Olympic NP?
Seattle is about 98 km (61 mi) from Olympic NP in a straight line, with Olympic NP to the west. By road, we estimate 117–137 km (73–85 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 Seattle to Olympic NP?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min, assuming 117–137 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Seattle and Olympic NP?
Near the straight-line path we have 1 place from our curated guides, including Bloedel Reserve (Bainbridge Island). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Seattle to Olympic NP?
Our Pacific Northwest itinerary includes this leg. Pacific Northwest runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Onward from Olympic NP
- Olympic NP to Portland 264 km
Getting to Seattle
Guides for both ends
- Seattle travel guide
- Seattle weather best time to visit
- Olympic NP travel guide
- Olympic NP weather best time to visit
Olympic NP by month
Plan Seattle → Olympic NP 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.