Visiting in Summer

A busy day at the Heart O' the Hills entrance station on Hurricane Ridge Road

NPS Photo

There are so many places to go at Olympic National Park! These destinations are spread across Washington's Olympic Peninsula, and have separate entrance roads.

Olympic National Park is mostly located in the center of the Olympic Peninsula, with a detached strip of protected coastline along the Pacific Ocean that is also part of the park. The interior portion of the park has entrance roads to places like Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc, and the Hoh Rain Forest, but these roads end after 15-18 miles. There are no roads across the park and 95% of the park is wilderness.

Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rain Forest are extremely popular places to visit in summer and the parking lots can fill completely, especially on weekends and holidays. When no parking is available, vehicles will be stopped at entrance stations. Vehicles are let in as other vehicles exit. Wait times can be long (1-2 hours) during busy periods.

How can you prepare for a successful summer visit to Olympic National Park while also anticipating crowds? Plan ahead and be flexible! Get started by reading through the information on this page.

Visiting During Busy Periods

Like other national parks, Olympic has seen a dramatic increase in visitation over the last few years. Olympic hosts over 3 million visits each year. Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rain Forest experience crowded conditions during busy periods throughout the year, including spring break, throughout the summer, and especially holiday weekends (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day).

You can expect:

• Long entrance station lines.
• Limited parking at the Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rain Forest visitor centers.
• Limited parking at popular trailheads.

However, there are ways to navigate and avoid some of this congestion to make the most of your time in the park. Here are some tips for visiting Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rain Forest, two of the park's most popular summer destinations.

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Visiting Hurricane Ridge

When to Visit

Peak summer visitation time is from 10 am - 2 pm. To avoid the crowds, try to arrive before 10 am or visit after 2 pm on normal weekends, and after 3 pm during holidays.

Entrance Station Wait Times

When the parking area at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center reaches capacity, traffic is then metered at the entrance station at Heart O' the Hills, and vehicles enter as others exit. Wait times can be up to two hours, but vary based on visitor turnover.

Summer 2023 Construction at the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge

In summer 2023, the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge will be undergoing a major rehabilitation. The Day Lodge will be closed to the public, and parking may be further limited during construction. Food and drink will not be available.

Take the Bus to Hurricane Ridge

Our #1 tip for visiting Hurricane Ridge this summer while avoiding the hassle and stress of driving and parking is: take the bus! Clallam Transit offers a special summer bus route from downtown Port Angeles to and from Hurricane Ridge. Riders must have purchased their passes to the park in advance and must purchase bus tickets. Learn more here.

Alternate Destinations

Disappointed to find a long wait time at the entrance station? Keep alternate destinations in mind. You can explore a less-visited area of the park, then try to return to Hurricane Ridge later in the day or evening. Some nearby suggestions are:

• Heart O' the Hills offers lovely hikes through old growth forests
• Deer Park offers views of the Olympic Mountains

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Visiting the Hoh Rain Forest

When to Visit

For visitors wanting a quiet experience with fewer people and a better chance to see wildlife, we suggest arriving before 10am or after 5pm, or visit in the off season. June, July and August are the three busiest months for visitation. All trails and parking lots are busy during these months.

Peak summer visitation time is from 10 am to 5 pm. To avoid the crowds, try to arrive before 10 am or after 5 pm, and after 6 pm during holidays.

Memorial and Labor Day Holidays: Sunday is the busiest day for these 3-day weekends. Expect longer than normal delays on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the holiday weekends. For Saturday and Sundays, traffic can be metered into the late afternoon.

4th of July: This is a busy week in general, but the level depends on what day of the week the 4th falls on.

Entrance Station Wait Times

Starting mid/late June, the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center parking area can reach capacity by 10 am daily. Traffic is then metered at the entrance station, and vehicles enter as others exit. Wait times will vary based on visitor turnover.

There is no bypass lane for visitors that already have passes, as it is a single lane entrance station only. The long lines at the entrance station are a result of the parking area being at capacity, not due to slow service at the entrance station. There is no bypass lane for visitors that already have passes, as it is a single lane entrance station only.

Estimated wait times, depending on the time of day and length of the line.

• Arriving between 10-11 am & 4-6 pm: approximately 30-45 minutes

• Arriving between 11 am and 4 pm: 1-2 hours

Please do not exit your vehicle while waiting in line at the entrance station. Exiting your vehicle and walking on the narrow road is unsafe.

Parking at the Hoh Rain Forest

Even when the entrance station is not metering traffic, parking is difficult to find between 10am - 5pm during the week. Visitors can check the overflow parking areas near the campground rather than trying to park in the main parking lot.

Once you enter the Hoh Rain Forest area, please:

• Avoid muddy areas, do not block traffic or roadway.

• Do not double-park.

Parking for large RVs: There are some RV designated parking spots. However, these fill up quickly. Visitors with large RVs should try to arrive before 10am or visit in the evening unless they are camping in the campground. If you are towing a trailer, consider unhooking the trailers before visiting the Hoh Rain Forest.

No Gas or Food Services

There are no gas or food services at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Fuel up before you visit and remember to bring your own food. Pets are not allowed on the trails at the Hoh Rain Forest.

Alternate Destinations

Disappointed to find a long wait time at the entrance station? Keep alternate destinations in mind. You can explore a less-visited area of the park, then try to return to the Hoh Rain Forest later in the day or evening. Some nearby suggestions are:

• Visit the amazing Washington Coast! See one of Olympic's beautiful beaches at their peak.
• See the lovely and peaceful rain forests of the Quinault area of the park.