Visit the gateway to the Olympic National Park in Washington State.
Port Angeles is the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula, with a population of 20,000 people.
It's the gateway to the Olympic National Park, and less than 30 minutes to key attractions like Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent.
Port Angeles is also the starting point for a 6 day drive around the Olympic National Park, or you can take the 90-minute ferry to British Columbia.
This busy port city has a stunning setting on the Strait of Juan De Fuca, with a bustling waterfront that features the 46,000 square foot Port Angeles Wharf with shops and restaurants. The popular Feiro Marine Life Center is next door at the City Pier. The historic downtown area is then an easy walk from the waterfront, with a great selection of restaurants.
There are other must-see attractions at Port Angeles, like the 3-mile Ediz Hook spit that you can drive along, with soaring views of the snowcapped Olympics. However, the best views of Port Angeles are from the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. There are also two charming wineries, Harbinger Winery and Olympic Cellars.
There are plenty of hotels in Port Angeles, including the Red Lion Hotel on the waterfront, and the beautiful Olympic Lodge by Ayers. There is no ferry service directly from Seattle.
10 best things to do in Port Angeles
1. Port Angeles Wharf
The Port Angeles Wharf has stunning views, and is home to three restaurants, a coffee shop, icecream shop and galleries. Eat at Downriggers on the Water for incredible views, or the trendy Roosevelt for woodfired pizza, cocktails, beer and wine. Kids can enjoy a sweet treat at Welly's Real Fruit Icecream, and you can stop for a coffee at the Silver Lining Cafe.
Sit outside on the patio at the Roosevelt, on the Port Angeles Wharf.
2. Port Angeles City Pier
The Port Angeles City Pier is adjacent to the Port Angeles Wharf. Visitors can walk to the end of the pier, then climb a tower for 360 degree views of the Port Angeles Harbor and Olympic Mountains.
These are the incredible views from the end of the Port Angeles Pier, looking towards the Red Lion Hotel and the Olympic Mountains.
There's also some stunning murals at the start of the Port Angeles Pier, depicting Port Angeles' earliest days. The Ennis Creek Mural (above) depicts the Puget Sound Cooperative Colony in 1889. This colony was full of ambitious settlers seeking a new life in a utopian colony, who even built churches, a steamship and an opera house! Unfortunately it only lasted 10 years, but the settlers stayed on in Port Angeles.
3. Feiro Marine Life Center
The Feiro Marine Life Center is at the entrance to the Port Angeles City Pier, with exhibits on the fascinating marine environment in this area, including touch-pools for kids, a tank full of jellyfish, an octopus, and fun organisms to look at under a microscope. Check hours & admission.
4. Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach is next to the Port Angeles City Pier, and a great place to relax on the sand. The water is too cold for swimming, and there are no lifeguards. You can stay at the Red Lion Hotel, overlooking the beach.
5. Olympic Coast Discovery Center
The FREE Olympic Coast Discovery Center is on the Port Angeles Wharf, with exhibits on the protected marine life along the 3,310 square mile Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Check hours.
6. Downtown Port Angeles restaurants & shops
It's an easy walk from the waterfront to Downtown Port Angeles, where most of the activity is along historic Front Street and First Street.
Stop for coffee at the woodsy Great Northern Coffee Bar, then enjoy a meal at the trendy Next Door Gastropub. Kids will love a visit to the old fashioned Northwest Fudge and Confections store.
Some other great choices include breathtaking views from the Harbinger Wine Bar, a beer at the hipster Angeles Brewing Supplies and Taproom, and a burger and a cocktail at the atmospheric Spruce bar.
The chic Kokopelli Grill serves seafood and steaks in a European inspired restaurant perfect for the family, or you can enjoy delicious Memphis-style BBQ at Barbeque!
Looking for a scumptious brunch? Then try New Day Eatery, or First Street Haven.
Eat on the patio at Next Door Gastropub.
The super swanky Bistro at Sapor (pictured above), serves cocktails and small plates. Dine at the street level bistro, or take the stairs down to the atmospheric basement and slip into a luxurious booth.
7. Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain
The Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain is in downtown Port Angeles, located at the intersection of Front and Laurel streets. The main reason to visit here is to climb the stairs and get a fantastic view of Port Angeles all the way to British Columbia!
Climb the stairs to experience the amazing views!
The MV Kalakala mural is just across the road from the fountain, and is the most popular mural in Port Angeles. This art-deco styled ferry nicknamed the "Silver Swan", operated from 1935 to 1967 between Seattle and Bremerton. It was the height of luxury, with velvet seats and a moonlight orchestra. During the 1962 Seattle World Fair, it was the second biggest attraction after the newly built Space Needle.
8. Olympic National Park Visitor Center
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center is the most popular visitor center in the Olympic National Park, located in the foothills of Port Angeles at 3002 Mount Angeles Road (check hours). This beautiful visitor center is a must-see, with fantastic exhibits on the flora and fauna of the Olympic National Park, a 25-minute movie, kids' play room, historic cabin, and friendly Park Rangers who can assist with maps and information on the Olympic National Park.
It's a 30 minute drive to Hurricane Ridge from here!
9. Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is 17-miles south of Port Angeles, and has spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains. Hurricane Ridge offers a wide choice of hikes through alpine meadows and mountain lakes. During winter months, choose from downhill skiing, cross country skiing and guided snowshoe walks. Unfortunately the visitor center up at Hurricane Ridge burned down in May 2023, and there is no water, food or shelter up there, although a portable toilet is available. Check current road conditions.
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10. Ediz Hook spit.
Walk, bike or drive along the 3-mile crescent shaped Ediz Hook spit for the best views in Port Angeles! Look back across Port Angeles and the incredible backdrop of the snowcapped Olympic Mountains, or north towards Victoria BC in Canada. There's plenty of parking pull-outs along the way, and a few picnic tables at Harborview Park on the spit. The spit has open water with a sandy beach on one side, overlooking all the busy shipping traffic on the strait. The calmer waters of the harbor are on the other side, perfect for water sports like kayaking.
This is the 3-mile Ediz Hook spit, seen from the foothills of Port Angeles.
There are incredible views of the Olympic Peninsula from the spit.
11. Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is at the top of Beaver Hill, with sweeping views over Port Angeles and the Strait of Juan to Fuca. It has a semi-circular gallery constructed in 1951 that hosts rotating exhibitions from local artists.
The Webster's Woods Sculpture Park is directly outside, and has 100 unique artworks on display in a 5-acre forested area with a series of trails. There's a fun activity for kids where they are provided with a checklist of sculptures to find in the forest.
Check hours (1203 East Lauridsen Boulevard, Port Angeles).
12. Olympic Cellars
The Olympic Cellars is along Highway 101, inside a historic, 1912 barn that was once a dairy, then later a dance hall. Step inside the huge barn to sample wines at a bar salvaged from the Olympic Hotel in downtown Port Angeles. There's also a gift shop, a lovely outdoor patio with mountain views, and plenty of summer concerts. Check hours.
13. Harbinger Winery
Next stop is Harbinger Winery also on Highway 101, inside a rustic shed with colorful artwork, and tables and chairs nestled amongst wine barrel racks. This relaxed winery has award winning wines, that you can accompany with cheese plates, charcuterie boards, and yummy chocolate. There's also an eclectic range of gifts, and an outdoor seating area. Check hours.
14. Erickson Park
Erickson Park in Port Angeles is home to the fabulous "Dream Playground" for kids, with elaborate climbing towers, nets, slides, a zipline and swings!
15. 9/11 Memorial Park
Walk or bike along the waterfront trail at Port Angeles, part of the 135-mile Olympic Discovery Trail that starts in Port Townsend, passes through Port Angeles, and ends at the Pacific Ocean at La Push. The best section of the trail in Port Angeles, is the 0.7 miles traveling east from the City Pier, to the the 9/11 Memorial Waterfront Park. This park has a steel beam salvaged from the Twin Towers.
16. Port Angeles Visitor Center
The Port Angeles Visitor Center is also at the start of the Port Angeles Wharf, and gets 60,000 visitors a year! The experienced staff can tell you about local restaurants, tours and attractions!
17. Port Angeles Underground Tour
The 2-hour Port Angeles Underground Tour leaves from the Port Angeles Visitor Center, and takes you through the underground basements and streets of Port Angeles before the entire town was raised in 1914 due to flooding concerns (check hours & admission).
Ferries to Port Angeles
There is no direct ferry between Seattle and Port Angeles. To get to Port Angeles from Seattle, take the Seattle to Bainbridge Island Ferry then drive north-west for 1.5 hours. If you have more time, visit Bainbridge Island and charming Port Gamble along the way. The total distance from Seattle to Port Angeles is 82-miles.
Port Angeles accommodation
Review the best Lodging, Hotels, Rentals, Inns and B&B's in Port Angeles in the table at the bottom of this page. For the ultimate in luxury, stay at Colette's Inn or the George Washington Inn. Both have superb clifftop locations overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, and the colonial-style George Washington Inn is a replica of the President's mansion in Virginia.
- Hotel or Inn: Port Angeles Olympic Lodge, Red Lion, or the Inn at Rooster Hill
- Motel: Port Angeles Inn
- Clifftop water views & luxury: Colettes, George Washington Inn
- Water garden Cottages: Hidden Haven
- Ranch: Elwha Ranch
- Romantic B&B's: Northwest Manner B&B
Port Angeles Restaurants
Try the "First Street Haven Restaurant" for breakfast, and "Bella Italia" or "Michael's Seafood and Steakhouse" for dinner, also on First Street.
Attractions near Port Angeles
- Hurricane Ridge - 17 miles west of Port Angeles
- Dungeness Spit - 19 miles east
- Olympic Game Farm - 18 miles east
- Lake Crescent & Lake Crescent Lodge - 20 miles west
- Sol Duc Falls & Sol Duc Hot Springs - 43 miles southwest
- Port Townsend - 47 miles east
- Fort Worden - 48 miles east
- Port Gamble - 53 miles east
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