Port Angeles is one of my favorite home bases on the Olympic Peninsula. I get out there at least once a year for hikes in Olympic National Park, the waterfront, the wineries, and the laid-back town itself. It’s also a great launch point for a weekend trip from Seattle because you can be there in about three hours, including the ferry.
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Port Angeles, WA, for a weekend or just a quick stop on a longer Olympic Peninsula trip, there’s plenty to keep you busy. From wine tasting and waterfront restaurants to hikes in the park and the ferry to Canada, this is a Washington town that punches above its size. Here are 12 of my favorite things to do in Port Angeles, plus where to stay and tips for planning your visit.
Where to Stay in Port Angeles
Port Angeles has a mix of waterfront hotels and downtown stays with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Here are three picks if you’re using Port Angeles as your base.
Where to Stay in Port Angeles
- Where I stayed (waterfront): Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor is right on the waterfront with an outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, and walkable access to downtown restaurants and the ferry.
- Downtown with harbor views: Port Angeles Inn is on a bluff overlooking the harbor and Vancouver Island, three blocks from the ferry station. Rooms have harbor or Olympic Mountain views.
- Budget-friendly with breakfast: Quality Inn Uptown is in the heart of downtown with free hot breakfast, mountain or harbor views, and pet-friendly rooms.
- Vacation rental: Browse Port Angeles Vrbo rentals for waterfront homes and cabins with more space.
- Browse all options: All Port Angeles hotels on Booking.com.
1. Learn About Sea Life at Feiro Marine Life Center
One of the best things to do in Port Angeles when it’s raining is to stop by the Feiro Marine Life Center. The small center is right on the waterfront and has multiple touch pools inside, so you can see and touch starfish, sea anemones, and small fish. My toddler loved it, and I’ve been back a few times since.
They also have informative displays about the marine life of the Pacific Northwest. There are plenty of other things to do in the Pacific Northwest if you’re planning a longer trip in the region.
Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for kids ages 3-17, and free for kids under 3.
2. Play at an Arcade
When you want a fun thing to do in Port Angeles that stays dry, The Arcade at Port Angeles Wharf is a winner. There are rides for small kids and games for all ages, including air hockey, basketball, skee ball, and old-school arcade machines. My kids absolutely loved spending an hour here while we were dodging a rainy afternoon in the town.
If you work up an appetite, the same building has Smuggler’s Landing and Downriggers on the Water for a quick meal. The Wharf is right next to the Feiro Marine Life Center, so it’s easy to make an afternoon out of hanging out in this area.
3. Taste Local Wine
One of my favorite activities to do during a Seattle weekend trip on the Peninsula is wine tasting, and Port Angeles has multiple wineries worth stopping at. Here are three I’ve been to and would recommend.
- Harbinger Winery is in a converted ex-logging-truck shop and feels cozy and laid-back. I loved the Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc enough to take both home. Kid-friendly tasting room.
- Camaraderie Cellars has a beautiful tasting space both indoors and outdoors. They’ve been making wine for decades, so you know it’s good.
- Olympic Cellars is known as the home of the “working girls.” Family-owned and women-operated, with fun wines like Rosé the Riveter and Go Girl Red.
4. Try Local Food
After all that wine tasting, you’ll probably need to get some food in you. Luckily, there are tons of restaurants in Port Angeles to visit, depending on what you want.
- Barhop Brewing & Artisan Pizza – I love the casual atmosphere of this restaurant, where you can watch sports on their TVs, bring your kids, and enjoy tasty pizza and local beer.
- Next Door Gastropub – This restaurant is in the middle of downtown and has an outdoor patio for nice weather and cozy booths inside for rainy days. It’s a fun place for a date or for happy hour with friends, with good cocktails.
- Smugglers Landing – You’ll love this waterfront restaurant with a solid selection of breakfast items as well as burgers, fish, and chips for lunch or dinner.
5. Shop at the Farmers’ Market
The Port Angeles Farmers’ Market is open year-round at the Gateway Transit Center downtown, which sets it apart from most farmers’ markets in the state. It’s a fun stop to add to your weekend, whether you’re stocking up for a vacation rental or just grazing.
Regular hours are Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. They also run extended summer hours from late May through mid-September, when the market is open 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. You’ll find fresh bread, pastries, produce, meat, artwork, and local crafts.
6. Take the Ferry to Canada
If you want a unique thing to do in Port Angeles or an excuse to extend your trip, you can take the Black Ball Ferry directly from the waterfront to Victoria, BC. Make sure you have your passport and check current international protocols before you go.
The ferry will take you to Victoria, and you can bring your car if you want to explore further. It’s one of my favorite Vancouver weekend getaways when I want a change of scenery.
That said, Victoria itself is super walkable, so I usually save money and skip the parking hassle by walking on as a passenger. Check the current ferry schedule on the Black Ball Ferry site before you book, since departure times vary by season.
If you don’t want to commit to a full Vancouver Island trip, you can also just hang out on the waterfront and watch the boats come and go. Nighttime is especially fun because the boats are all lit up.
7. Walk or Bike on Ediz Hook
When you want a different view of the city, head out to Ediz Hook. It’s a three-mile spit that starts at the Port Angeles Boat Haven and runs straight out into the water. You can walk or bike along the entire length of it.
On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped Olympic Mountains from one direction and Victoria, BC, from the other. It’s one of the reasons Port Angeles is one of my favorite small towns in Washington state. If you’re lucky, you might spot seals or even whales passing by. This is also one of the best free things to do in Port Angeles if you’re keeping a budget.
8. Go on a Hike
While not in the city itself, Port Angeles is one of the best bases for hikes in Olympic National Park and the surrounding area. Some hikes are less than 30 minutes from town, while others on the coast or in the rainforest are farther away. If you want a structured itinerary, see my one day in Olympic National Park guide.
Always check the WTA website for closures and recent trail conditions before heading out. If you’re hiking in winter, bring proper winter hiking clothes.
Here are three hikes I’d recommend for any visit.
Sol Duc Falls
Sol Duc is one of my favorite waterfall hikes in Washington because it’s such a stunning fall, especially after it’s rained recently. This hike is about a mile long through the forest, with only a slight elevation gain, making it suitable for kids or those who aren’t used to long walks. You’ll love getting out here for a hike when looking for things to do near Port Angeles that are active.
You’ll come to a bridge and waterfall about halfway through, but make sure to keep going on to see the much larger Sol Duc Falls at the end. Once you get there, you can choose to extend your hike with several different hikes by following the signs.
Marymere Falls
Marymere Falls is only half an hour away from Port Angeles and one of the easier Washington hikes, which means it’s popular. That means you’ll want to get to the trailhead early if you go during a peak time like summer. You’ll walk through the forest for about a mile, go over a river, and then head up some pretty steep stairs to get to the viewing platform for the waterfall.
Ozette Triangle
The Ozette Triangle is a longer hike that’s perfect if you want to fill a full day or build it into an Olympic Peninsula road trip. It’s a 9-mile loop that takes you through old-growth coastal forest on boardwalks and then along a wild stretch of Pacific coast.
You can shorten it to 6 miles by hiking three miles out to the ocean and turning back the same way. If you go the full loop, check tide tables in advance so you don’t get stuck on a section of beach during high tide. There are also backcountry campsites if you want to overnight. Also, keep a lookout for bears – I saw three black bears on the beach last time I was here!
9. Drive Up to Hurricane Ridge
If you have the time, Hurricane Ridge is one of the most popular things to do near Port Angeles and a must on any visit to Olympic National Park. It also makes a great day trip from Seattle if you can swing a long day with an early ferry. The road climbs 17 miles of switchbacks from Port Angeles up to 5,242 feet, with pullouts along the way for views of the Olympic Mountains and across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island.
The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burned down in 2023 and is still being rebuilt, so there are no services at the top right now. Pack everything you need before you drive up. There’s still a small staffed information station at the top in summer.
10. Explore Salt Creek Recreation Area
Salt Creek Recreation Area is about 20 minutes west of Port Angeles and is one of the more underrated things to do near Port Angeles. There are campgrounds for overnight stays and parking lots for day visits. You can take the stairs down to the beach when the tide is out, and the tide pooling here is some of the best in the region.
If you’re a scuba diver, this is one of the top shore diving spots in the state. The underwater park has wolf eels, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and anemones. Fall and summer are best for the kelp forest.
If you prefer staying dry, there’s a playground for kids to burn off energy and WWII bunkers from when this area was Camp Hayden in the 1940s. The bunkers are a fun stop for history buffs.
11. Shop Local
Downtown Port Angeles is small but has a good mix of antique shops, outdoor gear stores, art galleries, and boutique shops. It’s one of my favorite rainy day activities when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
If you forgot something for your hike, there’s outdoor gear in town. If you want a souvenir or something for your home, the boutique shops and art galleries are worth browsing. I especially love the antique shops if you have time to dig around.
12. Visit Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is one of my favorite places in Olympic National Park and one of the top Port Angeles attractions, even though it’s technically in the park. It’s a deep, glacier-carved lake with unreal blue-green water and mountains rising up on every side.
This is also where the trailhead for Marymere Falls is, so you can pair the two. You can rent kayaks from Lake Crescent Lodge in the summer to get out on the water, or just walk through the historic 1915 lodge and grab a coffee on the lawn overlooking the lake.
For more nearby activities, see my full guide to things to do in Olympic National Park.
Port Angeles FAQ
What is the best time to visit Port Angeles, Washington?
Late spring through early fall is the best window for visiting Port Angeles. May through October has the driest weather, the most accessible trails in Olympic National Park, and the best chance of clear views of Vancouver Island. July and August are peak season with the warmest temperatures but also the biggest crowds, especially in the park. Winter visits are quieter, but you’ll get more rain and limited access to higher-elevation trails.
How many days do you need in Port Angeles?
Two to three days is the sweet spot. A weekend gives you enough time to explore downtown, hit at least one hike, do some wine tasting, and either take the ferry to Canada or drive up to Hurricane Ridge. If you want to combine Port Angeles with a deeper Olympic National Park trip, plan for four to five days.
Is Port Angeles worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you’re interested in hiking, wine, or Olympic National Park. It’s also the launch point for the Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, BC, making it a unique base for an international weekend trip without flying. The downtown is walkable, the restaurants are solid, and the waterfront access is hard to beat.
What can you do for a weekend in Port Angeles?
For a weekend in Port Angeles, you can hike one of the trails in Olympic National Park (Marymere Falls or Sol Duc Falls are good easy picks), do a winery flight at Harbinger or Camaraderie Cellars, walk Ediz Hook for the views, grab dinner downtown at Next Door Gastropub or Barhop Brewing, and check out the Saturday Farmers’ Market if your timing lines up.
That’s my list of the top things to do in Port Angeles, Washington, based on multiple visits over the years. Whether you’re stopping for a weekend, using it as a base for Olympic National Park, or working it into a longer Pacific Northwest road trip, it’s one of those underrated towns that earns repeat visits.
Have a favorite spot I missed? Let me know in the comments.
