PNW Road Trip: Driving from the Olympic Peninsula to Seattle
Depending on where you’re coming from on the Olympic Peninsula, the trip to Seattle is between 82 to 140 miles and takes anywhere from 2 to 3.5 hours.
From Forks, Port Angeles, or Port Townsend on the northern Olympic Peninsula, follow U.S. 101 east to State Route 104, which runs 14 miles east to the Hood Canal Bridge. Cross the floating bridge and continue east for 9 miles on small, sometimes-winding State Route 104 through Port Gamble and to Kingston.
Board the Washington State Ferry to Edmonds, a community just north of Seattle’s city boundaries. From the ferry dock in Edmonds, take State Route 104 east for 5 miles to I-5, and then follow I-5 south for 13 miles to Seattle.
From Aberdeen on the southern Olympic Peninsula, follow State Route 8 east for 50 miles to Olympia. In Olympia, merge onto I-5 north and drive 60 miles to Seattle.
Stopping in Olympia
Right on I-5 and sitting at the bottom tip of Puget Sound is the capital city of Olympia, with a thriving downtown district, including the Olympia Farmers Market (700 Capitol Way N, 360/352-9096, 10am-3pm Thurs.-Sun. Apr.-Oct., 10am-3pm Sat.-Sun. Nov.-Dec.), hawking fresh berries and local meats.