Washington State Travel Question

[paul102a3]

Currently sitting in Kennewick, WA with plans to move on to Anacortes for a few days. We then plan to head to the northern section of Olympic National Park.

Routing options from the Anacortes area to Olympic Park appear to be head back east then south and around Olympia then head back north. The other option is the ferry crossing from Coupeville to Port Townsend.

The cost to put the coach on the ferry is not bad compared to the cost of fuel so I am leaning towards the ferry route.

Thoughts and advice on one route vs the other would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Boomer]

If you don't mind the ferry toll, take it.  You will miss a whole lot of bad traffic through the Seattle/Tacoma mess. There is a bridge toll at Point Defiance from Tacoma to Bremerton also if you go that way. If you can, board the ferry at high tide, the ramp can get kinda steep with the low bus clearance.

[bobofthenorth]

By all means take the ferry. While you're in Anacortes make sure to visit La Conner.  If you like boats Port Townsend will keep you entertained for a long time.

[Brassman]

The ferry to Port Townsend is a great way to get to the Olympic National Park from Anacortes. That is, except one of the ferries ran aground and is broken. Long waits without a reservation. Getting a reservation a week in advance would be a good idea for a large vehicle. You can get reservations through WSDOT's website here: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ .

[Lee Bradley]

The Tacoma Narrows bridge is toll from Gig Harbor to Tacoma no toll from Tacoma to Gig Harbor, the direction you would be going .  If you take the Keystone (old name) to Port Townsend ferry call and get a reservation for the boat (sailing time) you what to take.  I would drive down to Edmonds and catch the Edmonds to Kingston ferry. Much more reliable service and bigger ferries. Kingston to Port Angeles is route 104, best road to Port Angeles and includes the Hood Canal Floating Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hood_Canal_Bridge.  That being said if you go the Port Townsend route the city has a nice RV park in town Port Hudson http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/washington/port-townsend/point-hudson-resort-marina right on the water and lower town is walking distance. Port Townsend to Port Angeles  I would take Hwy 20 to Hwy 101 http://www.distancebetweencities.net/port-townsend_wa_and_port-angeles_wa/route. There are four routes out of Port Townsend Hwy 20 takes you to Hwy 101 on the flat all the others put you at the bottom of a hill or half way up a long hill.

[niles500]

the Edmonds - Kingston is also one of the cheaper fares -  FWIW

[Lee Bradley]

Port Gamble on Hwy 104 just east of the Hood Canal bridge is an old company sawmill town (founded mid 1800s) is worth a visit.

[CrabbyMilton]

Did you make time to tour the BOEING plant in Everett? Well worth the visit if you have time.

[paul102a3]

Thanks to all for the information, Anacortes was really neat and La Conner was excellent. Took the ferry with no issues, they loaded us first so we had a front row seat right from the coach.

Thanks again for the suggestions and support.

[Lee Bradley]

Good to hear.  Where to now? You might like to spend a night or two at Salt Creek Park great tidal pools to explore and nicely wooded.  http://www.clallam.net/Parks/SaltCreek.html

[paul102a3]

Not real sure of next destinations. General plan for the next week or two is to hang around the Port Townsand/Port Angeles area so we will definitely check out Salt Creek Park. There is a wooden boat festival in Port Townsend this weekend which should be fun.

Longer term plan is to end up at the Hoover Dam before heading back to Florida sometime in February.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Go down the Oregon coast and take your time! 

[Lee Bradley]

The wooden boat festival is fun.  All the old hippies come out and play.  They have a kinetic art parade.

[J_E]

Port Angeles and out towards Neah Bay, is what I think became the tipping point and caused me to really start to fall for that area of Washington State.  Not sure how I would feel about driving portions of 112 in a converted coach, but its a beautiful drive in a car.  In fact all of the western portion of the 101 is a beautiful drive in Washington.  Spent a few years living in Silverdale and Paulsbo, I would definitely enjoy a trip back to visit... or stay.

[Lee Bradley]

J E you spelled it the way it's pronounced but it is Poulsbo.  I am connected with the town's fifth craft brewery. We had a soft opening 5 days ago.  http://westernredbrewing.com/