Olympic National Park is one of Washington’s three national parks. It’s located on the Olympic Peninsula near Seattle and it encompasses a large area with rugged coastlines, temperate rainforests, highland forests, and majestic glacier peaks.
One of the first things you’ll need to do when you start planning your trip there is deciding where to fly into for Olympic National Park.
This guide is here to help you choose the best option for your trip.
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This guide outlines a range of convenient airports that you could be the best for your trip. However, the nearest airport with commercial flights to Olympic National Park is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Planning Your Trip to Olympic National Park
Because Olympic National Park is big with several distinct areas and landscapes, planning a trip there takes some effort.
- First up, you’ll need to decide when to go.
- You’ll also need to decide how long to go for.
- Then, you’ll need to decide where to stay. Port Angeles and Forks are common towns to stay in or near.
- Now that you have decided where to stay, the next thing is to decide the best way to get to Olympic National Park. Read my guide How to Get to Olympic National Park for more details.
If you’re taking a road trip, you’ll need to rent a car and plan out your route. Book a car through Discover Cars – you enter your destination and they scan all of the available cars in all the agencies to find the best price for the type of car you want.
You can also read my Guide to Finding the Cheapest Rental Car for handy tips. Check my Road Trip Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for your trip.
- If you’re going to fly, read on to find an airport close to Olympic National Park. That’s what this guide is to help you do!
- Then you’ll need to book a flight. I recommend using Skyscanner to search through all available flights to find the cheapest.
- Finally, you will need to decide your itinerary.
If I have an itinerary for this park: If you’re a planner, then I can make this easy for you. Pick up one of my very detailed, hour-by-hour, day-by-day itineraries for Olympic National Park (you can get them for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days).
For other information about Olympic National Park, check out my Olympic National Park Guides.
READ MORE:
Visitors Guide for Hurricane Ridge
10 Best Hikes at Hurricane Ridge
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Closest airport to Olympic National Park
How to Choose Your Flights to Olympic National Park
Choosing the nearest airport to Olympic National Park that it makes sense to fly to depends on your travel itinerary. These are some things you need to consider:
- Which sections of the park are you planning to visit? You can access the national park through different entrances via US 101, including the Hurricane Ridge Entrance near Port Angeles; Elwha, and Sol Duc on the peninsula’s north side’ Hoh Rain Forest in the west area, and the coastal Mora entrance.
You can also access the park via the northeast Deer Park Entrance, the northwest Ozette Entrance, the southwest Queets entrance, the south entrance on Quinault, and the southeast Staircase entrance.
Which entrance you choose first/last can influence your airport decision. - Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Are you planning to see other national parks like Mount Rainier or North Cascades? Some airports are closer to these parks so it makes sense to use them.
- When are you going? Are you taking your trip in winter? Some airports have more limited options in the less popular winter months.
- Where are you staying? What town are you staying in? Some park entrances may be nearer to particular airports. Staying near the airport you’re flying to and from Olympic National can save you traveling hours.
- How much time do you have? If you have limited travel time, you can lessen the hours driving to the park by flying to the closest airport.
- What’s your budget? Are you looking for budget flights? Some airports have limited airline services. Car rental services also vary with different airports.
- Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? Some airports have limited flight services compared to certain airports.
- Where are you flying from? Are you taking a domestic or international flight? Major airports offer more options for connecting flights and access to more US cities.
- What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Different car rental companies vary in several airports in rates and car types.
What are the Best Airports Near Olympic National Park?
The airports near Olympic National Park are:
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- William R. Fairchild International Airport (CLM)
- Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (Seattle Lake Union Seaplane Base) (LKE)
- Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the closest commercial airport to Olympic National Park. This is where most people fly into when visiting Olympic National Park.
Over 30 major domestic airlines and international flights are served in this airport, so you’ll have plenty of options for connecting flights.
Getting a car rental service won’t be a hassle because there are plenty of car rental agencies you can choose from. The rental offices are offsite, but there’s a frequent 24-hour shuttle service to get you to the car rental facility.
The Hurricane Ridge Entrance and the Lake Quinault Entrance are both about 130 miles/ 2.5 hours from the airport.
Location:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport lies south of downtown Seattle and northeast of Tacoma.
Distance from Seattle to Olympic National Park
- Distance from Seattle Airport to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 125 miles
- Distance Seattle to Olympic National Park (Lake Quinault): 134 miles
Travel time from Seattle – Olympic National Park
- Travel Time from Seattle Washington to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Travel Time Seattle/Tacoma to Olympic National Park (Lake Quinault): 2 hours and 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Multiple domestic and international airlines fly to and from Seattle-Tacoma International
Rental car options:
- Offsite: (Car Rental Facility): Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, Rent-A-Wreck, Sixt, Thrifty
Getting from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car rental services
Pros:
- Nearest international airport to the Olympic National Park
- Options for multiple domestic and international flights
- Options for cheaper and budget flights
- Access to other Washington national parks, Mt. Rainier and North Cascades
- Drop by to see the city of Seattle
Cons:
- Still takes more than two hours to drive to the park
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you are looking for more flight options
- If you’re also visiting the two other Washington national parks
William R. Fairchild International Airport (CLM)
One good option to quickly get you to Olympic National Park from Seattle is to take a charter flight to William R. Fairchild International Airport. It’s the closest airport to Port Angeles, so it’s the nearest to the park by location. The airport exclusively offers charter services to and from all northwest regions in the US and Canada.
You can choose between Budget Rent a Car located on-site at the airport or Enterprise, which is located offsite for your car rental services. It’s just a quick ten-minute drive from the airport to Olympic National Park’s Visitor Center, so it’s very convenient to travel from there.
Location:
The airport is located within the Port Angeles city limits in Clallam County, Washington.
Distance from Port Angeles to Olympic National Park
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 4.5 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 121 miles
Travel time Clallam County, Washington – Olympic National Park
- Travel Time from Port Angeles WA to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 10 minutes
- Travel Time to Lake Quinault: 2 hours and 25 minutes
What airlines fly out of William R. Fairchild International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Rite Bros Aviation: Charter service and scenic tours
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Budget Rent a Car
- Offsite: Enterprise
Getting from William R. Fairchild International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car rental services
Pros:
- Technically the nearest airport to the park
- Scenic flight tours are available
Cons:
- Only charter services are available here
- Flights can be more expensive
- Limited car rental options
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you prefer to fly on a charter plane and you want the fastest way to get to the park
Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
If you’re flying from the British Columbia area, the nearest Canadian airport you can fly to get to Olympic National is Victoria International Airport. This commercial airport is served by eight airline companies with flights to Seattle through Alaska and Air Canada.
Rental car services are available onsite including most major agencies. Other car rentals are also available offsite. It takes approximately two and a half hours to the Hurricane Ridge entrance, including the ferry ride to Port Angeles. The entrance through Lake Quinault is much farther and would take you about five hours to drive there.
Location:
Located near Victoria, on the southern end of Vancouver Island in Canada.
Distance from Victoria to Olympic National Park:
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 70 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 264 miles
Travel time to Olympic National Park:
- Time to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 2 hours and 40 minutes (includes ferry)
- Time to Lake Quinault: 4 hours and 55 minutes
What airlines fly out of Victoria International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska: Seattle
- Air Canada: Seattle
- Air Canada Express
- Air North
- Flair Air
- Lynx Air
- Pacific Coastal
- Swoop
- WestJet
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, National Car Rental
- Offsite: Alamo and Enterprise
Getting from Victoria International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car rental services and ferry ride
Pros:
- Nearest Canadian airport to get to the park
- Connecting flights to British Columbia cities and Seattle
- Plenty of car rental options both onsite and offsite
- Budget flights available
Cons:
- Few international flights offered
- Involves a ferry and an international border crossing to get to Olympic National Park
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you are combining a trip to Olympic with a road trip around parts of southern British Columbia/ northern Washington
- If you have a longer time to travel
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
If you’re planning to also visit British Columbia in Canada, Vancouver International Airport is a convenient choice since it’s the closest airport to Vancouver. Washington national parks can easily be accessed from this airport. Flights here include both major domestic and international airlines that fly to different US and other international cities. You can also get budget flights and frequent flyer programs here with your favorite airline company.
For car rentals, you’ll have plenty of options for rates and services both onsite and offsite. From Vancouver International, you can drive via Edmonds-Kingston ferry or take a ferry from Whidbey Island. It takes about 90 minutes to cross from Victoria straight to Port Angeles area via the Black Ball Ferry Line.
Driving time to either the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angelese and Lake Quinault is approximately five hours.
Location:
Vancouver International Airport is located in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Distance from Vancouver to Olympic National Park:
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 319 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 459 miles
Travel time to Olympic National Park:
- Time to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Time to Lake Quinault: 5 hours
What airlines fly out of Vancouver International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Vancouver International Airport offer domestic and international flights to key cities at this airport.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: National, Alamo, Hertz, Dollar Thrifty, AVIS, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car
- Offsite: Routes Car Rental, Evo Car Share, ALIGO Rent a Car, West Coast Car Rental
Getting from Vancouver International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car rentals and ferry
Pros:
- Plenty of domestic and international airlines fly here
- Connecting flights to key cities in the US and outside the country
- Available budget flights
Cons:
- Long drive to the park
- Requires a ferry and international border crossing
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you’re also visiting British Columbia and/ or northern Washington on your trip to Olympic
- If you have plenty of time to travel
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Portland International Airport is a large airport with plenty of options for both domestic and international airlines. You have convenient access to connecting flights to and from major cities across and outside the US. There are budget flights offered here and you can also get points for frequent flyer programs.
You’ll also have several onsite and offsite options for car rental services. From Portland, you can drop by several stops on your road trip like Longview in Washington or Centralia. You can also access Mt. Rainier on this route, then proceed to Dosewallips River, Port Townsend and head off to Port Angeles.
Location:
Portland International Airport lies northeast of Portland’s downtown area in Multnomah County.
Distance from Portland to Olympic National Park:
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 230 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 189 miles
Travel time from Portland, Oregon to Olympic National Park:
- Time to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Time to Lake Quinault: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What airlines fly out of Portland International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Portland International offers plenty of domestic and international airlines connected to major cities.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Zipcar
- Offsite: Alamo, Budget, Thrifty (Shuttle services are provided to their locations)
Getting from Portland International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car service rentals
Pros:
- Options for domestic and international flights
- Plenty of car rental companies
- Cheaper flights and frequent flyer offers are available
- Stop by to see Mount Rainier National Park
Cons:
- Long drive to the park
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you’re also visiting Oregon and/ or southern Washington destinations on your trip to Olympic
- If you’re adding a trip to Mount Rainier National Park to your itinerary
Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (Seattle Lake Union Seaplane Base) (LKE)
Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base located nearby South Lake Union in Seattle offers daily scenic tours and charter services to places including San Juan Islands, Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula, Bremerton and Bellingham. Charter terminals in Washington are also connected to this airport.
You can fly here via Kenmore Air services if you’re opting for a unique experience to see Mt. Olympic National Park. Experience flying over the stunning sites of the Olympic Peninsula on Pilatus PC-12 charter planes or Kenmore Air seaplanes. They have a range of two-seater to ten-seater aircrafts to accommodate guests.
Location:
Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base sits on Lake Union, one nautical mile north of Downtown Seattle.
Distance to Olympic National Park:
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 85 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 149 miles
Travel time to Olympic National Park:
- Time to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 2 hours and 30 minutes (includes ferry)
- Time to Lake Quinault: 3 hours
What airlines fly out of Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base? Which airports connect to there?
Flights and Charters:
- Seattle: Kenmore/Lake Washington, Seattle/Lake Union, Seattle/Boeing Field, Everett/Paine Field
- San Juan Island: Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor
- Orcas Island: Deer Harbor, Eastsound, West Sound, Rosario Resort
- Lopez Island: Fisherman Bay
- Victoria B.C: Victoria B.C, Victoria Seaplane Terminal
- B.C Inside Passage: Nanaimo, Sunshine Coast, Desolation Sound
- Vancouver, B.C: Vancouver, B.C.
Scenic Flight and Tours: Seattle Scenic, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens, San Juan Islands Scenic, Lake Washington Scenic
Terminals connected to Kenmore Air:
- Lake Washington Terminal – Kenmore, WA
- Lake Union Terminal – Seattle, WA
- Boeing Field – Seattle, WA
- Friday Harbor Airport – Friday Harbor, WA
- Eastsound/Orcas Island Airport – Eastsound, WA
- Victoria Inner Harbour / Seaplane Terminal – Victoria, BC
- Everett/Paine Field – Everett, WA
Rental car options:
Car rentals services are not available here.
Getting from Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base to Olympic National Park:
- Charter flights and scenic tours
Pros:
- Experience in scenic tours and charter flights
- See other attractions like San Juan Islands or touring Seattle
- Options for private charter services
Cons:
- Exclusively for charter services and scenic tours
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you’re deciding on scenic tours or charter flights to see the park
Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
Bellingham International Airport is not the closest airport to Olympic National Park, but it gives you easy access to North Cascades, in case you’re planning to visit other Washington national parks. The commercial airport lies near Downtown Bellingham.
You can fly commercial to several US cities like Las Vegas, Oakland, California, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Palm Springs, Phoenix-Mesa, and Seattle-Tacoma. If you would like to get bus tours or go around the area, you can get taxi services or bus transportation services offered by Airporter Shuttle/Bellair Shuttles, Greyhound Lines, and Quick Coach Lines.
You can rent a car going to Olympic National via AVIS, Budget, Enterprise/Alamo, and Hertz Corporation car rental services. To the Hurricane Ridge Entrance would take you approximately three and a half hours, with an additional half hour if you’re heading to the Lake Quinault entrance.
Location:
Just off Interstate 5 near downtown Bellingham.
Distance from Bellingham to Olympic National Park:
- Distance to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 153 miles
- Distance to Lake Quinault: 240 miles
Travel time to Olympic National Park:
- Time to Olympic National Park Visitor Center: 3 hours and 35 minutes
- Time to Lake Quinault: 4 hours and 5 minutes
What airlines fly out of Bellingham International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska/Horizon: Seattle
- Allegiant Air: Phoenix-Mesa, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland (CA), Palm Springs, San Diego
- Island Air Inc.
- Southwest Airlines: Las Vegas, Oakland
- San Juan Airlines: Blakely Island, Orcas Island, Friday Harbor, Lopez Island
- Sun Country Airlines
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Budget, Enterprise/Alamo, Hertz Corporation
Getting from Bellingham International Airport to Olympic National Park:
- Car rental services
Pros:
- Also near North Cascades National Park
- Connecting flights to several US cities
- Tour other destinations like Victoria, British Columbia, the San Juan Islands, Victoria, and the Canadian Gulf Islands
Cons:
- Only serves domestic flights
- Limited airline and flight services
- Limited car rental services
This is the best airport for Olympic National Park …
- If you have more time to travel
- If you’re also visiting North Cascades National Park and/ or other northern Washington attractions
Map of Airports Near Olympic National Park
Travel Insurance for Olympic National Park
A final thought. When you’re flying to Olympic National Park, consider getting travel insurance too. Make sure it includes trip cancellation, in case you need to cancel your flight before your travel, so that you can get a refund.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can swap this link for either choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Olympic National Park! I hope this guide to what airport to fly into for Olympic National Park has helped you answer the question: Where do you fly in to go to Olympic National Park?
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Closest airport to Olympic National Park
Which of the airport near Olympic National Park did you choose? I’d love to know. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and all of the main national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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