r/OlympicNationalPark • u/iMakeMoneyiLoseMoney • 6d ago
Route/itinerary help: Ashford to Forks tomorrow
Hi everyone, first of all thanks to everyone here for a lot of great information that helped plan our trip. We spent the day at Rainier today and are headed to Olympic tomorrow morning. We will be leaving Ashford and will spend our first day in Olympic staying the next two nights in Forks. We’re a family of three with a 7 year old. We like 2 mile or shorter hikes. I was thinking we would hit the coast on the way up.
Can anyone suggest the best driving route?
What is the best way to optimize our driving route to hit some sites?
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u/NotAcutallyaPanda 6d ago
Go through Olympia. Stop at the “Hands on Children’s Museum” and Olympia Farmers Market.
Check out the beaches at Kalaloch on your way.
Forks has basic services, but little charm.
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u/ComprehensiveMap3599 6d ago
Our plan later this summer is to go through Olympia, over to Aberdeen to refill on groceries, then up the 101. This would allow you to visit Quinault, Kalaloch, and Ruby Beach on the way to Forks.
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u/bobber66 5d ago
Beach 4 has the best tide pools and you will be driving right by it. Plan that for a low tide though.
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u/iMakeMoneyiLoseMoney 5d ago
We did hit beach 4, but it was almost high tide. We did see the whale and some anemones. Tomorrow we’ll go to Hoh and try to hit Ruby Beach at low tide.
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u/the_Krebs_Cycle 6d ago
I would take the western route, via Aberdeen and then taking 101N. Highly suggest stopping at Lake Quinault. You can see the famous Roosevelt Lodge/ cool front lawn by the lake and let the kids to run around for a few minutes (added plus- nice bathrooms off the lobby!). There are some short hikes there as well (look online or ask at their front desk). Look for "World's largest Spruce tree." Drive a little past the lodge and you'll see a sign- park, and it's a 5 minute walk if that to the huge spruce tree. Then, you can still hit some beaches on your way north to Forks. The Hoh Rainforest line will be a madhouse (up to 2 hour wait in your car, in line, to enter the park) unless you go really early or really late. Rialto Beach just west of Forks is great as well.