Olympic National Park

Fly-and-drive RV road trip · round trip from SEA

Seattle to Olympic National Park RV Road Trip

From Seattle across Puget Sound to the Olympic Peninsula's mountains, rain forest and coast.

Photo: Olympic National Park (Public domain)

Seattle to Olympic National Park by RV is about 127 miles and about 3 hours of driving via Bremerton, Chimacum. This round trip covers 255 miles in 4 nights (5 days): Olympic Peninsula (3 nights), then back to Seattle. Best months: Jun–Sep. Off season now · best Jun–Sep.

At a glance

Trip length
4 nights · 5 days
Route
Seattle → Olympic Peninsula → Seattle · 255 mi · about 6 hours driving
Longest driving day
About 3 hours
Arrive and depart
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
RV pickup and return
Seattle area (rental listings around Seattle)
Overnights
Olympic Peninsula → Seattle (near the airport and RV return)
Best months
Jun–Sep

Customize a suggested itinerary. RV rentals, campgrounds, and activities are booked separately with providers. Airports are planning reference points; flights are arranged separately.

Route map and itinerary

Loading map…
  1. Day 1 Olympic Peninsula · about 3 hours
  2. Day 2 Olympic Peninsula (night 2)
  3. Day 3 Olympic Peninsula (night 3)
  4. Day 4 Seattle (near the airport and RV return) · about 3 hours
  5. Day 5 Fly home from SEA

Day by day

  1. Day 1 Arrive in Seattle and pick up your RV

    Experience

    Land at SEA, get to your rental location (some owners offer airport pickup or delivery; otherwise allow for a taxi or rideshare), do the walkthrough and orientation, and stock up on groceries, water and propane before you leave town.

    Getting there

    After pickup: about 3 hours · 127 mi to Olympic Peninsula. Keep the first afternoon short; you're learning the vehicle.

    Your stay: 3 nights (check out Day 4)

    Inside the parkSol Duc Hot Springs Resort CampgroundPort Angeles, WA · inside the park · 4.0★ (866)Why stay here: Inside the park, so no daily drive to the entrance; lists RV sites up to 50 ft; full hookups listed; 4.0★ from 866 reviews.
    Change or extend: Add a night here in the planner
    Compare 3 other campgrounds
    • Close to Olympic PeninsulaSalish Trails RV and Campground ParkPort Angeles, WA · about 15 min to Olympic Peninsula (estimate) · 4.7★ (3)Lists sites up to 60 ft; confirm your site fits
    • Close to Olympic PeninsulaRV@OlympicPort Angeles, WA · about 10 min to Olympic Peninsula (estimate)Lists sites up to 50 ft; confirm your site fits
    • Close to Olympic PeninsulaElwha RV ParkPort Angeles, WA · about 10 min to Olympic Peninsula (estimate)Lists sites up to 40 ft; confirm your site fits

    Getting around Olympic Peninsula

    From Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground: you're inside the park.

    Driving the RV
    • Trailhead and town lots are often small; check RV parking before you go.
    Shuttles

    We don't have verified shuttle information for Olympic Peninsula; check the park or town's official site.

    Activities with pickup

    Loading activities…

    Other local transport
    • Rideshare, taxis and bike rentals vary by area and season; arranged and paid separately.

  2. Day 2 Olympic Peninsula: explore

    Experience

    Three nights around Port Angeles give time for Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and a day trip to the Hoh Rain Forest.

    Travel today

    No campground change today; local travel is additional.

    Your stay

    Stay a second night at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground · same site, no packing up

  3. Day 3 Olympic Peninsula: explore

    Experience

    A free day: revisit a favorite viewpoint or take a longer hike.

    Travel today

    No campground change today; local travel is additional.

    Your stay

    Stay a third night at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground · same site, no packing up

  4. Day 4 Drive back toward Seattle

    Experience

    Spend the last night close to the rental return so departure morning is easy: dump tanks, refuel and clean up as your rental agreement requires.

    Getting there

    about 3 hours · 128 mi

    Your stay: 1 night

    Near the airportSaltwater State ParkDes Moines, WA · about 10 min from the RV return areaWhy stay here: About 10 minutes from the RV return area; lists RV sites up to 60 ft.
    Change or extend:
    Compare 2 other campgrounds
    • Near the airportVasa Park ResortBellevue, WA · about 25 min from the RV return area · 4.0★ (10)Lists sites up to 60 ft; confirm your site fits
    • Near the airportSun Outdoors Gig HarborGig Harbor, WA · about 30 min from the RV return area · 4.7★ (83)Site length not listed: ask the campground

  5. Day 5 Return the RV and fly home from SEA

    Experience

    Return the RV at the agreed time (check-in times vary by owner), then get to the airport. Leave a buffer: returns, inspections and the transfer can take a couple of hours.

    Getting there

    Short drive to the rental return, then transfer to the airport.

Campgrounds are suggestions from our park data, ranked by estimated drive time to the destination first, then listed site length, then reviews; "Inside the park" uses the National Park Service's list. Drive times are estimates. Seasonal openings and live availability aren't in our static park data; the planner checks them for your dates. Open dates and prices are checked live in the planner.

RV pickup and return

Pick up and return the RV in the Seattle area. Day 1 allows time to get from SEA to the rental (owners' locations vary; a few offer airport pickup or delivery), the walkthrough, and a grocery stop, so the first drive is short: about about 3 hours to Olympic Peninsula. The last night is near the return so you can refuel, empty the tanks and return on time before your flight.

Pickup and return times, mileage allowances and fees are set by each owner; check them before you book. This trip is about 255 miles.

RV rentals near Seattle airport

Before you go

  • The ferry from Seattle or Edmonds is the shortest way over; RVs pay by length, and you can drive around via Tacoma instead.
  • Summer is the dry season; much of the year is wet on the coast and in the rain forest.
  • Some park roads and campgrounds close seasonally; check nps.gov/olym.

Official National Park Service pages: Plan your visit · Alerts & conditions · Directions & access · Fees & passes · Camping (official) · Hours & seasons

Seattle to Olympic National Park by RV: common questions

How far is it from Seattle to Olympic National Park?

Seattle to Olympic National Park is about 127 miles, roughly about 3 hours of driving via Bremerton, Chimacum without stops. The whole round trip in this itinerary is about 255 miles.

How many days do you need for Seattle to olympic national park by RV?

Plan on 4 nights (5 days): Olympic Peninsula (3 nights), with an easy first afternoon after RV pickup and a final night near the RV return so departure day isn't rushed. The longest driving day is about 3 hours.

When is the best time to go?

Jun–Sep. The ferry from Seattle or Edmonds is the shortest way over; RVs pay by length, and you can drive around via Tacoma instead.

Where can you camp with an RV?

Suggested RV campgrounds near Olympic National Park include Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground, Salish Trails RV and Campground Park, RV@Olympic. Inside the park: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground. Check site length and hookups with each campground before booking.

Can you rent an RV near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport?

Yes. RV rental listings from Outdoorsy and RVshare are available around Seattle. A few owners mention airport pickup in their listings and some deliver; otherwise you arrange your own transfer to the owner's location. RVs and campgrounds are booked separately with each provider.

Related trips

RV parks near Olympic National Park · All fly-and-drive trips · Road trip planner

Seattle to Olympic National Park
4 nights · round trip