Welcome to the itinerary for the ultimate 1 week Washington national parks road trip! If you’re looking for a destination that seamlessly blends natural beauty with thrilling hikes, then look no further than these lush national parks. You may be wondering how to maximize your time in Washington and visit all three national parks- I’ve got your back. My family of 5 had just 1 week to explore the pristine wilderness of Washington’s National Parks, and we were able to experience North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park.
Let’s dive into this adventurous Washington National Parks road trip itinerary!
Washington National Parks Road Trip Day 1: Travel to Washington
On the first day of our trip, we got up bright and early and flew from New Jersey to Seattle.
The first national park on our Washington road trip was North Cascades National Park. We drove about 4 hours from Seattle to a cute little town called Winthrop, right outside the park. We arrived at Methow River Lodge in the evening and went on a sunset walk around the area, admiring the wildflowers and sensational Pinetree smell.
As for places to stay near North Cascades National Park, Methow River Lodge was quaint, clean, and overall a lovely experience. Located right on a river and just a short walk from town, it was the perfect spot to stay and I would love to visit again! There are also campgrounds in the park and another town with hotels called Marblemount. Be sure to check out a map and decide which area works best for your stay, and read 5 TIPS FOR PLANNING AN AMAZING WASHINGTON NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP.
Day 2: North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is renowned for its jagged peaks, gorgeous alpine lakes, and lush forests. As for things to do in North Cascades National Parks, visitors can explore various hiking trails, which is exactly what my family set out to do.
Before heading into the park, we explored the adorable town of Winthrop and found Rocking Horse Bakery, where we grabbed some lattes and pastries. Then, we drove into the park and stopped at viewpoints along North Cascades Highway on our way to the Blue Lake Trail trailhead.
Blue Lake Trail
Blue Lake Trail is a moderate 4.6-mile out-and-back hike, and it was perfect for our first excursion of the trip. It’s an uphill trail and there was still some snow on the path in mid-June. At the end of the trail, you will find the pristine Blue Lake. The water was a surreal blue color and so cold that it had chunks of ice floating in it.
- Location: Access from the North Cascades Highway 20. The trailhead is located on the south side of the road between mileposts 161 and 162.
- Distance: 4.6 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 915 feet
- Rating: Moderately challenging
North Cascades Highway
You can drive through the whole park via the North Cascades Highway, with stops overlooking Diablo Lake. Diablo Lake, with its mesmerizing turquoise waters, is a breathtaking sight and a beloved gem of Washington’s wilderness- you won’t want to miss it. Gorge Creek Falls is another quick stop along the North Cascades Highway that we explored.
Making our way back to Methow River Lodge, we stopped for burgers at Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon in Winthrop. The Saloon was giving Wild West vibes and is actually the oldest legal saloon in Washington state. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it a great place to fuel up before or after your hikes in North Cascades National Park.
Day 3: Travel to Olympic National Park & Explore Lake Crescent
Day 3 of our Washington national parks road trip started with a quick breakfast at the lodge before driving 4 hours to Port Angeles. From Winthrop, we had to drive back through North Cascades National Park, which was a fun opportunity to get one last glimpse of the park. The route to Olympic National Park requires you to take a ferry, so make sure to plan ahead and schedule your ferry time. We took the Washington State Ferry from the Coupeville Ferry Terminal.
Where to Stay Near Olympic National Park on Your Washington National Parks Road Trip
Port Angeles is easily accessible and has a wide selection of hotels, which is why we chose to stay here while visiting Olympic National Park. Upon our arrival to Port Angeles, we checked into the Olympic Lodge early, grabbed subs from Drake’s U-Bake Pizza & Subs, and headed to Lake Crescent. This was about a 30-minute drive.
Lake Crescent
We found a spot off Bovee’s Meadow Nature Trail with a picnic table right on the shore of Lake Crescent. The water was freezing but we went for a refreshing swim anyway, and the views were truly amazing. Lake Crescent Lodge also has a great area to set up for a lake day.
Nearby Hikes
After we had our fill of sun and swim, we got our hiking outfits on and did the short Marymere Falls Hike, a 1.7-mile out-and-back trail that leads you to a gorgeous waterfall. While there are inclines to get to the view of the falls, it’s a moderately easy hike overall. If you’re up for a difficult hike, Mount Storm King is a 4.1-mile hike that leads to views overlooking Lake Crescent.
- Location: Parking is located off Lake Crescent Rd near the Storm King Ranger Station
- Distance: 1.7 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 314 feet
- Rating: Easy
Devil’s Punchbowl is a short 2.4-mile out-and-back hike that brings you to a surreal swimming hole. This spot is especially great if you’re a thrill seeker looking to jump into deeper parts of the lake.
- Location: Parking for Devil’s Punchbowl is on the north side of Lake Crescent off East Beach Road
- Distance: 2.4 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 137 feet
- Rating: Easy
By the time we got back from seeing Devil’s Punchbowl, it was late but we were starving. It was surprisingly hard to find a table for dinner in Port Angeles, but we ended up at Next Door Gastropub for some filling pub-style food.
Day 4: Visit the Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach & Sol Duc Falls
Olympic National Park is surreal because of the several different ecosystems it protects. From mountains to rainforests to beaches, this almost one-million-acre park has almost everything. The best part is that it’s possible to visit all of these environments in just one day!
Hoh Rainforest
Day 4 was rainy, which was very timely considering our first stop of the day was the Hoh Rainforest. With Olympic National Park being as gigantic as it is, the Hoh Rainforest was a 2-hour drive from our hotel. Parking is limited, which can cause the line at the entrance to get pretty backed up. That being said, we arrived before 10 AM and there was still a bit of a wait to get into the parking lot. I would recommend going as early as you can.
Once parked and settled, we started with the Hall of Mosses Trail, an iconic 0.8-mile loop that leads you through an old-growth forest. Accessible from the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, this easy trail is an exciting way to learn about the ancient forests and search for banana slugs. From the visitor’s center, you can also walk on the Spruce Nature Trail, an easy 1.4-mile loop that takes you along Taft Creek and the Hoh River. My family was lucky enough to spot a stunning elk on this walk!
For food, Hard Rain Cafe is conveniently located on your way out of the Hoh rainforest, serving burgers, sandwiches, coffee, and more. After fueling up with some grilled cheeses, we drove 30 minutes to Ruby Beach hoping to see some marine life.
Beaches
Ruby Beach is known for its picturesque coastline and tide pools- it was stunning but also one of the coldest beach experiences I’ve ever had. The scene gave Twilight vibes, too. (For all the Twilight fans- it’s also notable that we drove right through Forks on our way from Port Angeles to the Hoh Rainforest.) Just a short drive from Ruby Beach is The Tree of Life, with fully exposed roots due to erosion. If you’re nearby, this is worth seeing, and you can find it located near the Kaoloach campground.
Sol Duc Falls
Our day didn’t stop there. On our way back to Port Angeles we stopped to hike the Sol Duc Falls Trail. A short 1.6-mile out-and-back walk, it’s a gentle path that leads you to a beautiful three-prong waterfall that comes from the Sol Duc River. Rainbows are captured in the spray from the falls, making it a truly magical scene. You won’t want to miss this hike.
- Location: Parking lot is located at the end of Sol Duc Hot Springs Rd
- Distance: 1.6 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 226 feet
- Rating: Easy
Lake Crescent Lodge was the perfect place for dinner after such a busy day. With stunning views of the lake and a delicious menu, it’s a great location to stop by for a meal or stay overnight.
Day 5: Hike Mount Townsend & Travel to Mount Rainier National Park
When we visited in June 2023, Hurricane Ridge was closed due to fires that had occurred in May 2023. We had hoped to hike Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge, a stunning 3.4-mile trail. Instead, we got an alternative from a park ranger who suggested we hike Mount Townsend. An 8.5-mile out-and-back hike that’s almost entirely switchbacks, Mount Townsend was the most challenging hike of the trip. On a clear day, you can see Mount Rainier from the summit (which sounds serene) but unfortunately, the day we hiked was fully cloudy. It was actually like hiking through a cloud, which was amazing in its own way.
- Location: From Quilcene, take Penny Creek Rd to Forest Service Road 2812, which leads you to parking at the trailhead
- Distance: 8.5 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 2,982 feet
- Rating: Difficult
Where To Stay Near Mount Rainier on Your Washington National Parks Road Trip
After our hike, it was a 3-hour drive to Ashford, a cute little town right outside Mount Rainier, the third park on our Washington national parks road trip itinerary. The park was very accessible from Ashford, particularly the Longmire and Paradise areas. Packwood is another great central location outside the park. We stayed at The Lodge Near Mount Rainier, which is a little cabin that gives major Girl Scout camp vibes. It did have a cozy fireplace and some Harry Potter movies for us to curl up watching before hitting more trails the next day.
Day 6: Hike Comet Falls in Mount Rainier National Park
On day 6, we found a lovely spot for breakfast in Ashford, the Copper Creek Inn. They have generous portion sizes and award-winning blackberry jam. After filling ourselves up with pancakes, we were so excited to get into the park and finally see Mount Rainier.
Comet Falls
Although it was mid-June, there was still a ton of ice and snow on the two big hikes I was hoping to go on, Mount Fremont Lookout Trail and Skyline Loop. Again, we turned to the trusty park rangers, who suggested we hike to Comet Falls. It’s a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail that is moderately strenuous and almost entirely uphill on the way out. With Mount Rainier as a backdrop on your way to the falls, it truly is a stunning hike. The falls themselves are breathtaking, and we had so much fun taking photos and enjoying the view.
- Location: The Van Trump Park trailhead is located off Highway 706
- Distance: 3.5 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 1,286 feet
- Rating: moderately difficult
For lunch, we drove back to Ashford to go to Wildberry Restaurant. After my burger, I just had to try the Homemade Marion Blackberry Pie, which did not disappoint.
Trail of Shadows
Because we were a little sore after hiking Mount Townsend the day before, we went easy for the rest of the day and did the Trail of Shadows, a 0.7-mile loop that goes through the history of Longmire. This easy walk can be accessed right across from the Longmire National Inn on the main road. After the walk, we drove up through Paradise to see Reflection Lake, which had great photo ops. There was also an amazing overlook on the way with fabulous views of Mount Rainier.
Rather than going out for dinner, we grabbed a frozen pizza from the general store and had another cozy night at the lodge.
Day 7: Rampart Ridge in Mount Rainier National Park
The last day of an adventurous trip is always bittersweet! We went back to Copper Creek Inn again for breakfast because we loved it so much the previous day. Then we made our way to another ranger-suggested hike, Rampart Ridge Loop. 4.6 miles long, this steep trail had little to no snow and led us through the forest up to Rampart Ridge. We were able to see Mount Rainier along the way and gorgeous views into the valleys.
- Location: Accessible from the parking lot at Longmire
- Distance: 4.8-mile loop
- Elevation Gain: 1,417 feet
- Rating: Moderate
To close out our time in the park, we went on one more little walk on the Twin Firs Loop. This short 0.4-mile loop through old-growth forest allowed us to admire some gigantic trees, you can access this trail from the main road.
Heading Home
On our way to Seattle, we grabbed an easy lunch at Rainier Basecamp Bar & Grill. Once we got close to our hotel near the airport, we stopped for pedicures because to be honest, our feet needed some extra love after all those hikes.
The Crowne Plaza near the airport was the perfect place to stay before our early morning flight the next day, we got dinner there too before calling it a night.
Looking back on this Washington national parks road trip makes me eager to plan our next great adventure out west. From the jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier to the crystal clear water of Crescent Lake and every waterfall in between, this journey was nothing short of magical! As you plan your own adventure to the Pacific Northwest, get ready to lace up your hiking boots, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and embark on a series of adventures that will leave you enchanted. Happy adventuring!