One Day in Port Angeles: 8 Best Things To Do

Welcome to Port Angeles, the gateway to Olympic National Park. Port Angeles is a charming coastal town located on the Northern Edge of the Olympic Peninsula, known for its creativity and outdoorsy atmosphere.

Whether you choose to spend a few hours or a whole day here, Port Angeles has a lot to offer. From hiking trails to strolling the waterfront to eating amazing cuisine, Port Angeles has something for everyone.

I’ve been visiting the Olympic Peninsula for years and have always made time to explore Port Angeles for a day or two. With the mixture of a small town and a natural setting, it’s the perfect stop before or after your visit to the Olympic National Park.

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Getting To and Around Port Angeles

Port Angeles is located right on Highway 101. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Sea-Tac Airport and 30 minutes east of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. The majority of shops and restaurants are a short detour off the highway, towards the water’s edge. With First Street, Waterfront Street, and Railroad Avenue being the most lively spots around town.

While there is some public transportation in Port Angeles, most of the routes take you to other towns, so it’s best to have your own transportation. There is plenty of free parking in the main hub of Port Angeles. While it is a very walkable town, it’s also popular to bike around, especially if you are traveling further away from the town center.

CHECK OUT: How to Get to Olympic National Park (Road Trip Ideas + Airports)

1. Port Angeles City Pier

The Port Angeles City Pier is a great starting point for your visit to Port Angeles. From here, you can climb the Port Angeles Tower, hang out on Hollywood Beach, take the waterfront trail, and more!

The most common thing to do at the Port Angeles Pier is to climb the Port Angeles Tower. From here, you get views above Port Angeles, with the Olympic Mountain Range in the distance. Over the water, you can see Mount Baker and Vancouver Island.

2. Feiro Marine Life Center

The Feiro Marine Life Center is one of my favorite things to do in Port Angeles. Located at the Port Angeles City Pier, the Marine Life Center is an immersive and educational experience for people of all ages, but especially kids. This is a small aquarium housing sea life that is found in the surrounding bay area. The employees are incredibly informative, answering any questions you might have about the sea creatures.

There are three touch tanks where you get to safely touch sea cucumbers, sea stars, urchins, and more! One interesting fact is that the water for the indoor tanks is pumped directly from the ocean, just outside the doors.

The Marine Life Center was created by Arthur D. Feiro, who wanted it to be a space of education and to spread awareness of how interconnected we are with the ocean and the creatures that call it home. They host several events a year, some geared towards littles and some being adult-only. General admission to the center is ~$6 per person.

3. Port Angeles Wharf

Situated by the Port Angeles City Pier, the Port Angeles Wharf is an up-and-coming hangout spot. With three floors to explore, housing several restaurants and shops, the Wharf is a great spot to relax by the water.

Some activities to do here are to visit the Olympic Coast Discovery Center or play some games at the Arcade. The Arcade is filled with classic video games like Pac-Man, air hockey, and a variety of pinball machines. Right across the hall, you can treat yourself to New Zealand-style ice cream at Welly’s, where they blend in fresh fruit with every scoop.

At the Wharf, you’ll also find the One of a Kind Art Gallery, hosting 50 different local artists, and the OP Store, selling Olympic Peninsula-themed gifts. If you want a good meal with ocean views, Downriggers is a local favorite specializing in seafood and steaks, with plenty of burger options available as well.

Olympic Coast Discovery Center

The Olympic Coast Discovery Center is an awesome resource for local history and scientific research in the area. They teach about marine conservation, maritime heritage, and exploration of the ocean. There are exhibits and local guides who educate and answer any questions you have about the Olympic Coast. The Discovery Center is completely free to visit and explore.

The Olympic Coast Discovery Center is open weekends only from Memorial Day through June. Then they are open daily from July through September. They are located on the 2nd floor of the Wharf.

4. Explore Downtown Port Angeles

Once you arrive in Port Angeles, it won’t take long to notice all of the hand-painted murals dotted around downtown. These murals tell stories of the deep history of Port Angeles. You can walk the streets on the self-guided Art Mural Trail to read the stories behind these beautiful pieces of art. You can get the mural map here. While you’re on this journey, don’t forget to stop by some local shops and experience the hospitality of Port Angeles.

Visit the Port Angeles Farmers Market. The Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Gateway Transit Center Pavilion. Over 30 vendors show up and sell their goods. Whether you are looking for fresh vegetables, local honey, unique artwork, or even dog treats, the market has something for everyone.

Take the Port Angeles Underground Heritage Tour. In the early 1900s, Port Angeles was prone to flooding, so the town’s solution was to build underground tunnels and storefronts. These tunnels are now used to tell the story and history of what Port Angeles looked like over 100 years ago. The tours take place on Saturdays throughout the year. Tickets are ~$20 a person.

5. Bike, Walk, or Drive to Ediz Hook

Ediz Hook is a 3-mile spit that extends out from the land into the Port Angeles Harbor. At the end, you’ll be eye-to-eye with Port Angeles while sitting in the middle of the Juan de Fuca. This is a popular spot for whale and seal watching while getting amazing views of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island. On my last visit, I loved watching the seals playing in the water. Definitely pack your camera to get amazing pictures of the sealife and distant mountains.

While you can drive to Ediz Hook, it’s a popular biking or walking path. If you want to bike, but need a rental, check out Discover E-Bike. The walk or bike can start from the Port Angeles Pier, where you can follow the Olympic Discovery Trail. The Olympic Discovery Trail is a 135-mile route that runs from Port Townsend to La Push. The East Central part of this trail runs from Blyn to Port Angeles, including 6 miles that span across Port Angeles on the coastline. It runs along the entrance of Ediz Hook.

6. Take a Bus or Drive to Hurricane Ridge

Port Angeles is the starting point for the famous Hurricane Ridge. Hurricane Ridge is part of Olympic National Park and is 18 miles from Port Angeles. The drive is filled with incredible views, taking you high above the town and forests to a subalpine terrain. When you arrive, you will be face-to-face with Mount Olympus and the rest of the Olympic Mountain Range. From the top, you can take one of the many hikes through the meadows and along ridgelines.

My favorite hike at Hurricane Ridge is the Hurricane Hill Trail. A moderate 3.4-mile hike with about 800 feet of elevation gain. This easily accessible hike will make you feel like you’re on top of the world, with 360° views of the Juan de Fuca and the nearby mountain ranges. On a clear day, you can even see Lake Crescent from the top.

If you don’t feel like driving, you can take a seasonal shuttle that runs from Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge. From mid-May through September, the shuttle departs at the top of every hour from the Gateway Transit Center. The shuttle is ~$2 round-trip.

You will need a National Parks Pass to visit Hurricane Ridge, and you must purchase your pass before boarding the shuttle.

7. Visit the Salt Creek Recreation Area

A visit to Salt Creek Recreation Area is a must-do if you love tide pooling, hikes, and history. Salt Creek is located 16 miles from Port Angeles, a 20-minute drive. It’s known for sea stacks and tide pooling, with some of the most diverse and well-preserved tidepools on the Olympic Peninsula.

Tongue Point is where the magic happens. There are several access points here to reach the water, which require you to walk down steep stairs. It’s a short trek, though, and well worth it! Here, you have the opportunity to view sea stars, urchins, and maybe even some octopus during low tides. Be sure to check the tide charts before you go, because there isn’t much of a beach to walk on if the tide is high.

If you aren’t able to visit during low tide, there is still a lot to do in this park. It is part of the Whale Trail, which is a series of whale watching spots along the coast. You have the chance to see orcas, gray whales, and humpbacks from the overlooks. Seals and otters are also common sights along this coastline.

There are also some great hiking trails at Salt Creek. Salt Creek was originally called Camp Hayden during WWII. There are still bunkers on the property that you can hike to. Here are some of the most popular trails in Salt Creek:

• Bluff Trail: an easy 0.8-mile hike with 100 feet of elevation gain. This trail takes you through the coastal bluffs to the old WWII camp, where you can see remnants of the war still standing.
• Beach to Bunker Trail: an easy 3.5-mile hike with 488 feet of elevation gain. This trail features a walk along the coast to Tongue Point and then through the forests to the old WWII bunkers.
• Striped Peak Loop: a moderate 6.2-mile hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. This hike takes you to Striped Peak, which is the highest peak in the Salt Creek Recreation Area. The top peak gives you sweeping views of the coast and forest below you.

8. Attend a Festival or Event

• Second Saturday Art Walk: From 5-8 pm on the second Saturday of each month, downtown Port Angeles comes alive with art, music, and drinks.
• Dungeness Crab Festival: Crab Fest is a free three-day event celebrating the traditions and heritage of the Dungeness region. This event brings in over 12,000 visitors annually. The festival includes live music, local artisans, fun activities for the kids, tours of the United States Coast Guard Boat, and more. There is an optional crab dinner that you can participate in, or other local food vendors to choose from. Crab Fest takes place the same weekend as the Canadian Thanksgiving, which is the second Monday of October.
• Olympic Peninsula Fungi Festival: This festival celebrates all things about fungi. There are lectures, workshops, and forging walks. There will also be live music, art, and food vendors serving up their specialty, mushroom cuisine. Camping is allowed at the event. This is a ticketed festival; tickets will be announced closer to the festival dates. The festival takes place in mid-October.

Where to Eat

• Strait Slice Pizza: This pizza restaurant has been recommended to me over and over again, and I will say, it does not disappoint. It’s not uncommon for a line to form out the door, with people waiting to get their hands on this delicious pizza. They sell pizzas by the slice or whole pies. Each day, they have four pizza-by-the-slice options, which change daily. The slices are massive and are only ~$5.
• Chestnut Cottage Restaurant: This is a town favorite breakfast spot. They make a variety of specialty breakfast plates like scrambles, waffles, tacos, and more. They focus on preparing handcrafted breakfast and lunch options, making all of their breads and dishes by hand every morning.
• 929 Woodfire Grill: If you are looking for an elevated dining experience, I highly recommend 929 Woodfire Grill. They specialize in seafood and steak. They have a cozy patio with umbrellas and blankets, or indoor seating in a cottage-style house.

DON’T MISS: Where to Eat In and Around Olympic National Park

Where to Stay

Honestly, lodging in Port Angeles can be hit or miss. There are various inns and hotels around town, but I cannot confidently recommend any of them besides one, the Olympic Lodge by Ayres. You might have better luck trying to find a place to stay on Airbnb or Vrbo. I will also give some camping alternatives if you’re more nature-oriented.

• Olympic Lodge by Ayres (book here): This is a pet-friendly hotel, situated next to a golf course. They have a variety of room options, each offering a cozy space to relax for the night. Stays at the Olympic Lodge include a complimentary breakfast, access to the pool and jacuzzi, plus a complimentary shuttle that will take you within a 5-mile radius of the hotel.

Campgrounds near Port Angeles

• Heart O’ the Hills Campground: This campground is located 5 miles up the Hurricane Ridge Road, in the Olympic National Park. This campground is first-come, first-served year-round. They have basic amenities like flush toilets, drinking water, and campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. You do need a National Parks Pass to stay at the campground, which can be purchased at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center.
• Salt Creek Recreation Area: This campground offers a mixture of primitive and full hook-up campsites, some require reservations while others are first-come, first-served. The campground has full bathrooms with coin-operated showers. There is also a dump station on site that is free with an overnight booking. This campground is a great option if you want to explore the Salt Creek wilderness and the oceanfront.
• Elwha RV Park and Campground: This RV park has a variety of camping options, from RV parking with full hook-ups to primitive campsites. They even offer long-term stays and RV storage. They have hot showers, laundry services, and wifi. They even offer pet sitting, if you want to venture out without your furry friend for the day.

CHECK OUT: Best Places to Camp In and Around Olympic National Park

Know Before You Go

• Port Angeles is a small town, so many of the restaurants and stores close by 8 pm. Most restaurants are also not open 7 days a week, so you’ll need to do extra research to see when the restaurant you want to visit is actually open.
• If you are planning to venture into Olympic National Park, Port Angeles is one of the only spots to stop and get groceries and supplies. There is a Safeway in town, but be prepared to pay higher prices than normal.
• The Olympic Peninsula gets around 120 inches of rain per year, so come prepared with layers, rain jackets, and waterproof boots.

Port Angeles, known as the gateway to the Olympics, is a small town surrounded by nature. It’s the perfect place to recover after your Olympic Road Trip and the perfect place to stock up before you hit the road. With a wonderful art scene, the coastal experience, and many hiking trails within close proximity, it’s definitely a stop you should add to your Olympic National Park itinerary.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid the crowds. We created a step-by-step itinerary so you can visit the best places at the right times.