A Spontaneous Olympic Peninsula Road Trip

Kristin Jones
Nov 6
4 min read

It started with no plans at all. Friday morning was drizzly in Seattle, but as the clouds began to break and the fall colors came alive, I decided to take advantage of the change in weather and head out on a spontaneous road trip to the Olympic Peninsula.

Getting to the Olympic Peninsula

To reach the peninsula from Seattle, we took the Vashon to Southworth Ferry, which included a quick layover on Vashon Island. The ferry ride is always a treat in its own way — a calm transition from city bustle to wilderness vibes.

From there, we drove a counterclockwise loop around the peninsula — about 450 miles total by the end of the weekend — with plans to car camp at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort before exploring the Hoh Rain Forest and finishing the trip at Ocean Shores.

Sol Duc Hot Springs

Since it was a last-minute decision, I found that the Sol Duc Hot Springs Campground had first-come first-serve sites so we decided to take the risk that we would find one since we are now in chilly, wet fall weather. When we arrived, the system was a little confusing — each campsite number was marked with a small sign that read either Reserved Tonight or Reserved Tomorrow. Once we figured it out, we grabbed a great spot in Loop A (site 10) and quickly set up camp.

That night, we soaked in the hot springs, had dinner at the resort restaurant, and ended the evening around a campfire with s’mores.

The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has four pools of different temperatures including a cold plunge, but we stuck to the hottest pool. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and I loved my roasted chicken with parsnip puree. They also have a coffee stand that's open in the morning for latte's. The market at the resort sells everything from firewood and marshmallows to beverages and snacks, making it an easy and comfortable camping setup — perfect for spontaneous travelers.

Morning at Sol Duc Falls

We didn’t sleep amazing (typical for the first night out), but the air mattresses were comfy enough and our quilts kept us warm. After coffee and breakfast, we walked the short two-mile round-trip hike to Sol Duc Falls — a lush trail lined with mossy trees and misty air.

Afterward, we stopped along the Sol Duc River and lucked out to see the Salmon running up the river at the Salmon Cascades. Additionally, we went further down stream where fishing is allowed to check a few deeper pools. Fishing regulations here differ from the rest of Washington; Olympic National Park has its own rules and you don't need a fishing license. Most rivers are catch-and-release only, though you can keep up to two marked hatchery steelhead in designated areas.

The Hoh Rain Forest

By late morning, the rain started coming down in earnest — fitting, considering we were heading to the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the wettest places in North America. This is where having the right rain gear made all the difference. I wore my Outdoor Research men’s Furio hardshell jacket and Trailbreaker II pants, while John wore a pair of Marmot full-zip rain pants I’d picked up in Europe.

We hiked the Hall of Mosses Loop, a short but beautiful 0.8-mile trail draped in green from every angle. Giant trees towered overhead, logs were blanketed in thick moss, and mist filled the air.

As we left the Hoh, we spotted the Roosevelt elk herd, the largest wild herd in North America. And as we stopped to fish a few more stops, I found a small piece of terminated quartz crystal along the riverbank — a random and beautiful surprise.

Ocean Shores

By evening, we were ready for something dry and warm, so we drove south to Ocean Shores, booking a last-minute stay at the Lighthouse Suites Inn. The drive took about two hours, and of course, the gas light came — what’s a road trip without a little drama? We rolled into the station just in time.

The storm continued through the night, but we woke to a break in the weather with only some moody skies and wind. We were excited to go beachcombing along the shoreline, searching for sand dollars and shells. Among the treasures, we found five whole sand dollars and an old Japanese glass float — a ukidama, or rolling pin-style fishing glass float that is at least 45 years old, if not older. Such a cool find to wrap up the weekend.

Final Thoughts

This trip was a perfect reminder of why spontaneous adventures are often the best ones. In just three days, we covered the full Olympic loop, soaked in hot springs, wandered through ancient rainforest, spotted elk, and combed stormy beaches — all because the weather decided to give us a break.

Check out the full video on YouTube and stay tuned each Thursday for the latest adventure: https://youtu.be/Edzuf9n791g

Quick Tips for a Spontaneous Olympic Road Trip

Bring all your rain gear. The peninsula is one of the wettest places in the U.S.
Check Recreation.gov for first-come, first-serve camping availability at Sol Duc.
Plan flexible lodging. The weather may push you toward a hotel or cabin.
Watch for wildlife. The Roosevelt elk herd and salmon runs are incredible in fall.
Embrace spontaneity. Some of the best memories come from unplanned detours.