The Olympic Peninsula loop is the classic way to see Olympic National Park: US 101 wraps around three sides of the Olympic Mountains, and short spur roads lead into each part of the park. No single road crosses the middle, so you circle it. Here is how we would plan it, with links to our guides for each stop.
Quick answer
How long does the Olympic Peninsula loop take?
Using the park’s mileage chart, the Olympic Peninsula loop from Port Angeles through Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, Mora, the Hoh, Kalaloch, Quinault and Staircase adds up to about 433 miles and 11.5 hours of driving. Hurricane Ridge adds about 1.5 hours round trip. With stops, we suggest four or five days.
- US 101 circles the park; spur roads reach each area
- Longest leg: Quinault to Staircase, 126 miles
- Hoh River Bridge on US 101 is single lane at 25 mph
- Hurricane Ridge Road check line: 360-565-3131
How the loop works
The park describes US 101 as the highway that circumnavigates the peninsula. Hurricane Ridge Road climbs 17 miles from Port Angeles, Sol Duc Road runs 14 miles up its valley, and the Upper Hoh Road runs 18 miles to the rain forest. Staircase sits 16 miles in from Hoodsport on a road that is part paved and part gravel.
The park suggests two home bases: Port Angeles or Lake Crescent for the mountains and Sol Duc, and the Forks area for the Hoh and the coast. We like driving clockwise from Port Angeles, because the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is the best first stop for maps, conditions and passes.
Olympic National Park road trip drive times
These legs come from the park’s Getting Around mileage chart. Add time for stops, summer traffic and roadwork.
Loop legs compared
| Leg | Miles | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Port Angeles visitor center to Hurricane Ridge | 17 | 45 minutes |
| Port Angeles visitor center to Lake Crescent | 21 | 30 minutes |
| Lake Crescent to Sol Duc | 16 | 1 hour |
| Sol Duc to Mora (Rialto Beach area) | 50 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Mora to Hoh Rain Forest | 47 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Hoh Rain Forest to Kalaloch | 40 | 1 hour |
| Kalaloch to Quinault | 33 | 45 minutes |
| Quinault to Staircase | 126 | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Staircase to Port Angeles visitor center | 100 | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Check roads before you go: fall 2026
This fall brings one big change. Washington State Department of Transportation engineers found cracks in support beams on the 95 year old US 101 Hoh River Bridge south of Forks. Since July 14, 2026 the bridge has carried one lane of alternating traffic at 25 mph, and WSDOT says that single lane stays until a permanent repair is made.
As of October 14, 2026, the WSDOT Hoh River Bridge project page lists overnight full closures from 7 pm to 5:30 am each night through the morning of Monday, October 19. There is no detour across the Hoh River. During a closure you cannot drive between Forks and Kalaloch, and going around the east side of the peninsula adds at least four hours, according to the park.
Other changes the park listed as of October 2026:
- Mora Road: closed beyond Mora Campground for construction from July 8 to October 15, so Rialto Beach could not be reached by car.
- Staircase: the developed area reopened July 8 after the Bear Gulch Fire, but wilderness trails beyond it, including Shady Lane and Four Stream, remain closed.
- Hurricane Ridge Road: the winter season generally runs late November through March, with the road open Friday through Sunday and some holidays, weather permitting, and chains required in every vehicle.
Check the park’s road conditions page and the WSDOT travel map before each day’s drive.
A five day Olympic National Park itinerary
This is the order we suggest for a first Olympic Peninsula loop. Each day stays around three hours of driving or less, apart from the long run home.
Day 1: Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge
Start at the visitor center, then drive up to Hurricane Ridge. Since the Day Lodge burned in 2023, the ridge has restrooms in temporary trailers but no drinking water, food or gift shop, so fill bottles first. In summer, Clallam Transit runs a shuttle from downtown Port Angeles. Watch for the Olympic marmot at Hurricane Ridge.
Day 2: Lake Crescent and Sol Duc
US 101 runs right along the south shore of Lake Crescent, close to the Marymere Falls trail, and the Spruce Railroad Trail follows the north shore. Our Lake Crescent guide covers hikes, paddling and lodging. Then head up the valley with our Sol Duc Falls and valley guide.
Day 3: Rialto Beach and the Hoh Rain Forest
From Forks it is a short run to the coast, where our guide to Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall explains tides and the walk north. Then turn inland on the Upper Hoh Road. The park says the Hoh is under an hour from Forks, and our temperate rainforest guide covers the Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail.
Day 4: Kalaloch, Ruby Beach and Quinault
South of the Hoh River, US 101 meets the ocean. Stop at Ruby Beach for sea stacks, then see the Kalaloch Tree of Life clinging to its eroded bluff.
Quinault has a scenic loop drive and short rain forest trails, including the 1.3 mile Kestner Homestead loop. The valley is also the gateway to the East Fork trail, the route behind our story on moving the Enchanted Valley Chalet.
Day 5: Staircase and the drive home
This is the longest leg: 126 miles from Quinault to Staircase, via Aberdeen and Hood Canal. The park describes Staircase as a cathedral of Douglas firs along the Skokomish River, reached on a road past Lake Cushman. The Staircase Rapids Loop and campground are open.
Staircase to Port Angeles is another 100 miles, so leave time. Burned slopes from the Bear Gulch Fire raise the risk of falling trees, rockfall and debris on the road, and the park asks drivers to slow down and carry extra food and water.
Practical tips for the loop
- One pass covers the trip. A seven day vehicle pass covers every area, and our guide to Olympic National Park entrance fees compares the options.
- Book campsites early. Several campgrounds take summer reservations; see Olympic National Park campgrounds compared.
- Travelling with a dog? Pets aren’t allowed on Hoh trails; dogs in Olympic National Park lists where they can go.
- Need gentle paths? See our guide to accessible trails in Olympic National Park.
How Friends of Olympic National Park helps
We are Friends of Olympic National Park (FONP), a volunteer led friends group based in Port Angeles. Our volunteers help care for places on this route, from the Visitor Center grounds to Kalaloch area beaches. If the loop wins you over, become a member or look at our volunteer opportunities for your next visit.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the Olympic Peninsula loop?
The park’s mileage chart puts the main loop at about 11.5 hours of driving, plus about 1.5 hours for Hurricane Ridge. We suggest four or five days with stops.
Can you drive through the middle of Olympic National Park?
No. The park’s roads are spurs off US 101, which circles the peninsula, so you reach each area from the outside.
Is the Hoh River Bridge on US 101 open?
As of October 14, 2026, WSDOT runs one lane of alternating traffic at 25 mph, with overnight full closures from 7 pm to 5:30 am through the morning of October 19. Check the WSDOT project page before you drive.
Do I need a separate pass for each part of the park?
No. One Olympic National Park entrance pass covers every area of the park for seven days.
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