Heading to the Seattle area in late July for 5-6 days and then planning drive south and spend 5-6 days on the Oregon coast then 1-2 days to see Crater Lake. Have never been to the area and would appreciate info on how to allot time and must see places. Family of 4 that likes to be outside, see cool things and hopefuly make a fishing trip. Olympia National park looks amazing, but also looks huge. Would love to spend part of the trip in the San Juan islands...but which island would be the best?

Thanks

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Posted by Saintsisit

Member since Jan 2013

4640 posts

Posted on 5/30/25 at 5:34 pm to craazyjose

We stayed on Lake Cushman in Olympic National Park last summer and absolutely loved it, but yes its very spread out. I think the drive from Cushman to Lake Crescent was about an hour and a half.

Lake Cushman

Lake Crescent

This summer we're doing Mt Hood in Oregon and spending a few days on Cannon Beach.

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Posted by tadman

Member since Jun 2020

4831 posts

Posted on 5/30/25 at 8:04 pm to craazyjose

This is an amazing trip. I've done it a few times and it's hard to do in one trip. Here is a sample itinerary I might do.

First, Seattle downtown is a dump these days and I never found it that exciting even when things were quieter and cleaner before Covid and the protests. I am not anti-city, I love many big cities. Accordingly I would scamper out of town ASAP after your meeting is done.

Olympic has little inside the park, so you have to stay nearby. Perhaps a few nights in Port Townsend (I love the Palace Hotel) and you can make some surgical visits into the park. Then either grab the ferry up to Whidbey and head up the mainland coast with another ferry to San Juans, or drive down I-5 to the Oregon coast. I would do the San Juans first.

Dont' miss deception pass between Whidbey and Fidalgo. There are lots of good bars and breweriews to pull off and have a drink. If you go in Dungeness season take advantage of that. Seabolt's in Oak Harbor has some amazing crab.

Enjoy your trip. The ferry rides are amazing, make sure to get out up on deck and watch for whales or just enjoy teh scenery.

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Posted by texas tortilla

houston

Member since Dec 2015

3365 posts

Posted on 5/31/25 at 11:37 am to tadman

Mt rainier national park is very nice if a clear day.

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Posted by Big Scrub TX

Member since Dec 2013

37090 posts

Posted on 5/31/25 at 2:49 pm to craazyjose

quote:
San Juan islands...but which island would be the best

For me, it's San Juan Island itself, especially the western side. Roche Harbor is cool. There's a really nice little cabin complex over there:

Snug Harbor Resort