Olympic Peninsula Travel Alerts

The US 101 Hoh River Bridge will close nightly to all traffic from Monday, Sept. 14 to Tuesday, Sept. 22, each night from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. After the night work, crews will close the bridge to traffic for up to six days in a row for three weeks to make the repairs. The full closures are scheduled for the following dates:

* 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29

* 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 to noon, Tuesday, Oct. 6

* 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 to noon, Tuesday, Oct. 13

During these closures, there is no alternative route or detour available across the Hoh River. Repairs on the bridge will prevent travelers from making a complete loop around the peninsula for the better part of three weeks. Do not drive through the road work signage areas as crews will be working.

These closures are for emergency safety repairs. Real-time travel information is available on the WSDOT mobile app, the statewide travel map, or by signing up for email updates about work on state highways in Jefferson and Clallam counties

As of Sept. 14, 2026, the burn ban is still in effect until further notice. Check specific local websites for further details:

For Olympic National Park alerts & conditions, click HERE.

For Olympic National Forest restrictions, click HERE.

For WA Dept. of Natural Resources restrictions, click HERE.

From July 8 through October 15, 2026, the road is CLOSED beyond the Mora Campground for essential road repairs. Rialto Beach is not accessible during this construction period. Consider alternative beach locations such as First Beach (La Push), Second Beach, Ruby Beach, or Kalaloch beaches.

Good news. The Staircase developed area – including the Staircase Rapids Loop trail, campground, ranger station and other facilities – is OPEN. However, the surrounding wilderness area and all other trails remain closed, as repair and recovery efforts continue following last year’s Bear Gulch fire. LEARN MORE

Plan accordingly. The ferries can be busy in the summer, especially on weekends and holidays. LEARN MORE

Current WSF Travel Alerts

Vehicle reservations for the summer schedule (through September 19) on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route are now available to reserve.

Looking for an alternative? Here are some fun alternate routes to consider, each of which offers great things to see and do along the way (for planning purposes only; Google maps do not show real-time traffic):

Northern Route via Whidbey Island

Fjord Route along the Hood Canal

Southern Route via the Coast

Boat traffic means periodic drawspan openings on the Hood Canal Bridge will occur. These openings are usually announced, and they can cause road traffic delays and backups of up to an hour. Please plan accordingly. Periodic maintenance work can also cause delays. Click HERE for the status of the Hood Canal Bridge, or download the app for real-time updates. (Note that for military purposes, the bridge can be closed to road traffic without notice.)

The Hurricane Ridge Road is open daily. Click HERE for current conditions and updates. The park’s webcam can be accessed for a current visual, which helps for trip planning and live weather watching.

Consider the convenience of car-free travel by using the Hurricane Ridge Shuttle from Port Angeles (operating May 24 through September 7, 2026).

Due to heavy visitation and limited parking at the Hoh Visitor Center, visitors should anticipate possible 1-2 hour wait times at the entrance pay station between 9am – 5pm daily. Hint: go early, or go later in the day.

The Lake Quinault area is open and accessible, and the Quinault Ranger Station is open. However, there are some closures nearby that may impact travel plans.

The South Shore Road is closed at milepost 8, due to a major washout.