Community Forums

Nxkharra · 04-21-2015, 11:11 PM

Hi all, could you please advise how best is to go to visit ONP from Seattle? Should we leave our MH in Seattle and take the car to the park? Should we leave the MH and car and take the ferry? How about transportation at the park if the last option is chosen?

Itasca Meridian 36M, 2013. Jeep Wrangler X, 2009
Full Timer from Norfolk VA

Mr_D · 04-21-2015, 11:20 PM

No transportation in the park, plus the park is many miles from the ferry landings. My daughter and SIL live in Sequim. Personally I'd go down to Olympia and come back up on the other side of the fjord. Slow going though but a really nice drive and scenery.

travelingirl · 04-22-2015, 01:37 AM

I second Mr D Go south to Olympia and drive MH and toad up the west side to the park. Very pretty drive.

Wbonsell · 04-22-2015, 07:42 AM

Ferry cost for MH and toad is obscene. Take the scenic route out of Olympia or take the Narrows bridge and run through Shelton and up the 101.

mikelcan · 04-22-2015, 08:24 AM

How long of a trip to ONP are you thinking? A day trip to Hurricane Ridge? A day trip to Stair Case trail? A week long adventure? The park is a very large area. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to get from Seattle to Port Angeles via the Brainbridge Island ferry not counting the travel time to the ferry and any ferry wait time. If you are north of Seattle then the Kingston/Edmunds ferry is a good route but about the same amount of time to get from Edmunds to Port Angeles. Taking a car on the ferry is good for a day trip (although it would be a long day). There is no easy transportation for walking on the ferry to get to the park in a reasonably period of time.

If you are looking at spending more than a day in ONP then bringing the motorhome though Olympia would be my first choice with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being the second choice. Time permitting I would recommend a multi day trip spending some time camping in the park making the 101 loop around the park. Starting in Olympia come up through Shelton stay some where around Brinnon, second day travel to Port Angeles area, Third day to Sol Duc Hot springs and soak a bit, then down the coast side for a day or two ending back in Olympia.

Mike

frankdamp · 04-22-2015, 09:20 AM

Another option is to drive up to Anacortes then to Coupeville and take the ferry to Port Townsend. From there, SR-20 to 101 then counterclockwise round the park on the coast road to Ilwaco and back on highway 12 to Olympia.

BurienTimmer · 04-23-2015, 01:36 AM

Having ridden and driven around the Olympic Peninsula many times (it's about 550 miles to do the full loop without side trips), I strongly recommend the counterclockwise direction over the Tacoma Narrows bridge. While I really like them (I rode 3 today) ferries are very expensive in a MH, and you really want to have your lodging with you when you make the loop.

If you are just going to do a day trip, use the toad. Feel free to ask any other detailed questions about what to see there.

Tim Bowman
1994 Montara

Nxkharra · 04-24-2015, 09:51 AM

All, thanks for all the great advices as always. We decided to scratch this for now. Too much planning and expense. We will head north to Vancouver for few days and take the ferry to Vancouver Island. We will return after few days and work toward Banff and down to Glacier NP in Montana.
Please share any advice for this route.

Itasca Meridian 36M, 2013. Jeep Wrangler X, 2009
Full Timer from Norfolk VA