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Peninsulas Olympic National Park

Travel Alerts

Visitors and residents can find travel advisories and alerts related to transportation, wildfires, and other natural impacts below. Please check back often for updates. State of Washington Tourism recommends that visitors consult local official resources for the most up-to-date information on safety and closures.

Wildfire Updates & Resources

You can view the status of large wildfires on the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center’s Large Fire Information page. Check the state Department of Transportation website for road conditions and closures in your travel area.

For air quality and smoke conditions, head to the Washington Smoke blog, which is a partnership between state, county, federal agencies, and Tribes. For tips on wildfire safety, check out Recreate Responsibly’s wildfire resources.

Major Closures & Traffic Advisories

Olympic Peninsula Construction Projects

Travelers to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Ocean Beaches should prepare for extra travel time in 2024 due to numerous construction and maintenance projects. Key impacted areas include:

Work will result in reduced speeds, lane shifts, occasional detours, and extended wait times. For a complete list of projects and detailed information, explore projects by county.

Johnston Ridge Observatory

Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens is closed for the foreseeable future following a landslide on State Route 504 around milepost 51. For updates on when the visitor center will reopen, check here. 

Helpful resources:

New Mount Rainier Timed Entry Reservations for 2024

For summer 2024, Mount Rainier National Park is piloting a timed entry reservation system that aims to improve the visitor experience by reducing wait times, congestion, and other impacts during the busy summer months. Here’s a brief look at what to expect:  

Some areas of the park do not require a timed entry reservation. These are:

Additional exceptions for reservations include:  

Helpful Resources: 

Ferry Disruptions

Washington State has an extensive network of ferries connecting visitors and residents to points throughout Western Washington. For alerts, schedule changes/route cancellations, and more, please check the Washington State Ferries alerts bulletin.

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