Port Angeles
Discover Port Angeles
Port Angeles is the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, and the county seat of Clallam County. It's a great place to start for a trip to Hurricane Ridge and the rest of Olympic National Park. Outdoor sports like kayaking, biking or hiking are very popular, while the quaint shops attract shoppers downtown and the expansive waterfront provides relaxation. Beautiful Pacific beaches are nearby and the lavender fields and berry farms of Sequim beckon all summer. As the nearest towns to the west are over 55 mi (89 km) away, this article covers listings as far west as Joyce on State Route 112 towards Neah Bay.
What to Experience in Port Angeles
Taste of Port Angeles...
Being on the water means delectable seafood! Look for salmon, clams, and the sweet and soft Dungeness crabs. The downtown has been gentrifying enough that some ethnic restaurants, especially Asian, can be found. Group travelers can find a better deal by renting vacation homes around the area. For small groups that want a stay of homey feeling, there are also multiple choices of BnB accommodations. Many budget hotels are located downtown, with easy access to restaurants and shops. Most telecom companies are able to stream 4G-LTE internet speed at the downtown area, but it can quickly deteriorate the further away you are from Highway 101. In the national park, coverage can be spotty at Lake Crescent, to non-existent at Hurricane Ridge. You may get Canadian networks at times which could lead to roaming costs; but it will be helpful for Canadians calling back home. The area codes for Port Angeles, and the peninsula as a whole, are 360 and 564. Because their areas overlap, all numbers must be dialed with the area code, including local calls. Take the Olympic Loop for a scenic drive around the Olympic Peninsula:
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Port Angeles into what it is today.
The area around Port Angeles was inhabited predominantly by the Indian tribes of Klallam and Makah in an area of abundant natural resources, coniferous forests and deep blue sea that sustain prolific wildlife. The first non-native sighting of the peninsula was made by explorer Juan Perez in 1774. The first sailing along the Strait of Juan de Fuca was recorded by Captain Charles Barkley, who named the water body after Ioannis Phokas, the Greek explorer striving to seek the Strait of Anián, which legend has it is actually this same water passage. The harbor was then named "The Port of Our Lady of the Angels" by Spanish explorer Francisco Eliza in 1791 as it provides a haven from the rough seas of the strait. Port Angeles' prime location attracted aspiring businessmen to set afoot and develop the land further, and it was incorporated in 1861. Intended to be the main port of entry for imported goods into Washington Territory, it was the second city fully plotted by the federal government after Washington, D.C, earning the city a nickname "Second National City". Alongside the federal government, entrepreneurs tried their luck by erecting timber businesses, a fisherman wharf, and commercial industries for incoming settlements. Over the next 100 years, some of the largest sawmills went bankrupt and were replaced by other money-making industries. Today, the city has a population of around 50,000, including nearby settlements and tribal communities....
Climate
Like the rest of western Washington, most of the rain falls in fall and winter before tapering off in spring into gloriously sunny summers. However, the amount of rain the city gets is one of the lowest in the peninsula at 25 inches (640 mm) thanks to the Olympic rain shadow; Forks, a town 60 miles (97 km) west of Port Angeles, gets more than thrice the amount of annual rainfall! Though snow is a rare occurrence, it is more susceptible than Seattle due to its unique topography: frigid cold air that occasionally blows from Canada slams into the Olympics above Port Angeles, often times keeping the low temperature longer than other areas of the peninsula. Thanks to the moderating ocean effect, summers are comfortably warm with high temperatures usually no higher than the 70s °F (about 26°C), and winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing except during the above situation. The main road traversing Port Angeles is the US Highway 101, which loops around the Olympic Peninsula.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe main road traversing Port Angeles is the US Highway 101, which loops around the Olympic Peninsula. The nearest major towns are Forks, 1 hour to the west, and Sequim, 30 minutes to the east. Travelers from Seattle or points north can get into the area in just 2 hours using a ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, and then continuing to State Route 104 before merging with US-101. Travelers from south of Seattle can take the Interstate 5, exit to State Route 16 (across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) through the Kitsap Peninsula, before merging with the US-101 portion that goes along the Hood Canal. Travelers from Olympia or points south can get off I-5 at US-101 and follow the highway through Shelton, Brinnon and the Hood Canal. The 48.11617-123.492581 William R Fairchild International Airport (CLM ) is on the west side of the city. The airport is used primarily for charter and general aviation purposes....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Public transportation is provided by Clallam Transit. The fare for each bus ride is $1 for adults, $0.50 for youth and seniors with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit card. Routes 20, 22, 24, and 26 serve the city proper while Route 30 serves the US-101 corridor before continuing towards Sequim. The bus does not run on Sundays with the exception of the Strait Shot (#123) route. Most visitors go to and around the town by car, especially those who would venture far out into the Olympic National Park or anywhere off the US-101 corridor. Parking is generally easy to find, but the downtown area only allows 2 hours of street parking. Taking a bus from Sea-Tac and renting a car here may cheaper than renting a car at the airport, especially with the 12% airport surcharge and the 100-mile drive. Check the car rental companies' websites for rate differences between the airport, Seattle proper, or Port Angeles.
Where to Stay
Group travelers can find a better deal by renting vacation homes around the area. For small groups that want a stay of homey feeling, there are also multiple choices of BnB accommodations. Many budget hotels are located downtown, with easy access to restaurants and shops. Most telecom companies are able to stream 4G-LTE internet speed at the downtown area, but it can quickly deteriorate the further away you are from Highway 101. In the national park, coverage can be spotty at Lake Crescent, to non-existent at Hurricane Ridge. You may get Canadian networks at times which could lead to roaming costs; but it will be helpful for Canadians calling back home. The area codes for Port Angeles, and the peninsula as a whole, are 360 and 564. Because their areas overlap, all numbers must be dialed with the area code, including local calls. Take the Olympic Loop for a scenic drive around the Olympic Peninsula:
Money & Budget
Port Angeles has a large selection of outdoors gear and equipment, just in case you need something before venturing out into nature around the peninsula. Being on the water means delectable seafood! Look for salmon, clams, and the sweet and soft Dungeness crabs. The downtown has been gentrifying enough that some ethnic restaurants, especially Asian, can be found. Group travelers can find a better deal by renting vacation homes around the area. For small groups that want a stay of homey feeling, there are also multiple choices of BnB accommodations. Many budget hotels are located downtown, with easy access to restaurants and shops. Most telecom companies are able to stream 4G-LTE internet speed at the downtown area, but it can quickly deteriorate the further away you are from Highway 101.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Port Angeles
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
grasses
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
windows
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park
gray concrete building under blue sky during daytime
Perseid Meteor Shower from Olympic National Park
snow capped mountain under blue sky
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
Ruby Beach captured at sunset near Forks, Washington
grasses