Port Angeles

Port Angeles is the largest city in the Olympic Peninsula region of Washington, dubbed as the "Center of it All" for the specific part of the state. It is the county seat of Clallam County. It's a great place to start for a day trip to Hurricane Ridge or a vacation to explore all of the 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. With ferries coming and going all day, Port Angeles is the departure point for a trip to Victoria (British Columbia). Beautiful Pacific beaches are nearby and the lavender fields and berry farms of Sequim beckon all summer. Port Angeles is the place to be when it comes to experiencing all that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.

Due to the vast and spreading area, this article covers listings as far west as Joyce on Highway 112 towards Neah Bay.

Understand
Port Angeles is on the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula at the northwestern side of the state of Washington in the United States. Comparably however, it is closer to Victoria (British Columbia's capital) than the state capital of Olympia!

Like most of Washington, the development of the city revolves around its nature. Pitted closely by the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Angeles is the gateway for outdoor adventure, with roads leading to breathtaking lakes, stunning vistas, and the towering Olympics. Though notably less notorious than its 'angelic' counterpart in California, this quiet town had its great times when the explorers map the area and traders set posts there thanks to its deep waters.

History
The area around Port Angeles was inhabited predominantly by the Indian tribes of Klallam and Makah in an area abundant of natural resources: coniferous forests and deep blue sea that sustain prolific wildlife & marine life for daily survivals.

The first non-native sighting of the peninsula was made by explorer Juan Perez in 1774, while the first sailing along the Strait of Juan de Fuca was recorded by Captain Charles Barkley who named the water body after the Greek explorer (Ioannis Phokas) striving to seek the Strait of Anián, which legend has it is actually this same water passage. The city 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, before it was incorporated to the namesake town in 1861.

Port Angeles' prime location attracts a couple aspiring businessmen to set afoot and develop the land further. Beginning with a port of entry for imported goods in the 1860s to being a federal townsite for lighthouse & military. It was the second city fully plot by the federal government after Washington, D.C, earning the city a nickname "Second National City". Alongside the federal government, entrepreneurs were trying their luck by erecting timber businesses and a fisherman wharf, and along with it commercial industries for incoming settlements. Through the next 100 years, some of the largest sawmills have bankrupted and replaced by other money-making sectors, yet the city has always been a lovable place to live: not too quiet like a village, but not too crowded like metropolitan cities.

Today, the city has a population of around 50,000 with both outside settlements and Indian natives living in harmony.

Climate
Like the rest of western Washington, most of the rain falls in fall and winter before tapering off in spring and gloriously sunny on most summer days. Comparatively speaking however, the amount of rain the city gets is one of the lowest in the peninsula at 25 in thanks to the Olympic rain shadow; Forks, a town 60 mi 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.

By car
The 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 away in 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 Route 104 before merging with Highway 101. Travelers from south of Seattle can take the Interstate 5, exit to Highway 16 (passing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) through the Kitsap Peninsula, before merging with the Highway 101 portion that goes along the Hood Canal. Travelers from Olympia or points south can get off I-5 at Hwy 101 and follow the road through Shelton, Brinon and the Hood Canal up to Port Angeles.

By plane
The William R. Fairchild International Airport is on the west side of the city. The airport is used primarily for charter and general aviation purposes. The nearest airports for commercial flights are Victoria International Airport in Sidney, BC, 27km north of Victoria; and Seattle Tacoma International Airport  in Seattle. Be sure to have the proper travel documents to cross the border between Canada and the United States if arriving and/or departing through Victoria.

See the other modes of transportation below for traveling into Port Angeles from both Seattle and Victoria.

By boat
Port Angeles has a direct connection to Victoria, BC on Canada's Vancouver Island. One can also get to the roads towards Port Angeles after using the Washington State Ferries that dock at Port Townsend or Kingston.
 * Port Townsend from Coupeville on Whidbey Island.
 * Kingston from Edmonds (WA-Hwy 104/Hwy 3). Follow WA-Hwy 104 from the ferry terminal up towards the Hood Canal Bridge via Port Gamble. From there continue towards Highway 101.
 * Port Townsend from Coupeville on Whidbey Island.
 * Kingston from Edmonds (WA-Hwy 104/Hwy 3). Follow WA-Hwy 104 from the ferry terminal up towards the Hood Canal Bridge via Port Gamble. From there continue towards Highway 101.

Port Angeles Boat Haven is nestled in the nook of Ediz Hook and is a direct route from Victoria (British Columbia). It is a perfect stop over for boaters plying the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.

By bus
The main bus station is at the downtown for Clallam Transit and Olympic Bus Lines at 123 E Front St, at Front & Lincoln, about 100 m (325 ft) east of the entrance to the Black Ball Ferry Line ferry terminal, by walking along East Railway Ave. Buses travel along US Hwy 101 between Forks, Port Angeles and Sequim. They do not go into the Olympic National Park. They can only drop off along the main road and it is up to the individual to hike into the park or arrange other transportation into the park:


 * Operates routes including:
 * Route 10 from Joyce & Lyre River Makes local stops in and out of town.
 * Route 14 from Forks. Makes local stops in and out of town. Transfer available at Hwy 101/SR 113 junction in Sappho for travel on Route 16 to and from Neah Bay.
 * Route 30 from Sequim Makes local stops in and out of town.
 * Route 123 Strait Shot from Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. Limited stop service. The "Strait Shot" (#123) runs thrice daily (M-Sa) and twice on Sundays in each direction to and from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal (nearest terminal to Downtown Seattle) with limited stops in Sequim, Jamestown, Discovery Bay, Suquamish Way & SR305, and North Viking P&R in Poulsbo. Travel time from Bainbridge Island ferry terminal is 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.

By bicycle
The Olympic Discovery Trail passes Port Angeles from Port Townsend in the east part of the Olympic peninsula to La Push that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The section east of Port Angeles is a well marked car free trail, much of which is paved, and easy to traverse on a loaded touring bicycle. West of Port Angeles is the "adventure" part of the trail, for which a cross-country mountain bike is recommended. The trail is non-technical single track, making it an introductory level XC, challenging but doable on a loaded touring bicycle.

By bus
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 Highway 101 corridor before continuing towards Sequim. The bus does not run on Sundays with the exception of the Strait Shot (#123) route.

By car
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 Hwy 101 corridor. Parking is generally easy to find, but the downtown area only allows 2 hours of street parking. Taking the bus up here (see 'By bus' under 'Getting in' in the above) from Sea-Tac and renting car here may cheaper than renting a car at the airport, especially with the 12% airport surcharge, and driving up here especially. Check the car rental companies' websites for rate differences between renting at the airport, somewhere in Seattle or Port Angeles. Avis & Budget are next door to the Gateway Bus Transit Center while Enterprise is several blocks east on E 1st St.

See
Travelers tend to trek into the Olympic National Park rather than the town itself for sightseeing. However, those who would rather stay in town for at least a day or two should not be left unsatisfied.

Olympic National Park
With the exception of Hurricane Ridge, all attractions are free of charge, with only a short walk needed.

Buy
Port Angeles has the largest selection of outdoor gears and equipment, just in case you can only buy or forget to bring it before venturing out to nature around the Peninsula.

Eat
Being near the water means get ready for 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 seen throughout.

Sleep
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.

Budget
Many budget hotels are located downtown, with easy access to restaurants and shops.

Connect
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.

The area codes for Port Angeles, and Western Washington as a whole, are 360 and 564. Because their areas overlap, all numbers must be dialed with the area code, including local calls.

You may even get Canadian networks at times which could lead to roaming costs; but it will be helpful for Canadians calling back home.

Go next

 * Olympic National Park
 * Sequim - As one of Port Angeles' next door neighbors, it is a bit more rural and still offers somewhat of a small-town atmosphere.
 * Forks - Take the Olympic Loop for a scenic drive around the Olympic Peninsula, including the Hoh Rain Forest and Stephenie Meyers' 'Twilight' town of Forks.
 * Victoria, BC Canada - Take the Blackball MV Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC Canada.